The president, Jon Russell, claims some volunteers have effectively been on ‘strike’ and not attending call-outs, a claim hotly disputed by other volunteers, including brigade captains.
While it is obvious there is strong support for the Mid Murray Zone team from many quarters, it is certainly not universal.
A volunteer in an executive position on one local Rural Fire Brigade has contacted the Pastoral Times and wanted to provide “support for your article in the PT”, adding “there is definitely tension between volunteers and (paid) staff”, especially senior staff.
The volunteer said it is “a well known fact” that if you do not support one senior person “things can be made difficult for you”.
“There are volunteers who will not speak up as the minute you do there is a target on your back, and they are in fear of retribution,” said the volunteer, who made the comments on the condition of anonymity for fear of this very same retribution, saying if we published their name they would “definitely be on the office hit list”.
The volunteer said there had been a crisis meeting last year after a very experienced and well respected group captain had been stood down, with a letter sent “relating to the action we took (withdrawing our volunteer services)”.
The volunteer, in a letter to the Pastoral Times, said:
“I am a member of the RFS and I wish to commend you not condemn you for the article in the PT regarding the RFS.
“I thought it was a well-balanced article and actually highlighted the need for more RFS volunteers.
“As volunteers we are not paid and we cannot attend every single call out made. We live busy lives with work and personal commitments.
“The article portrayed facts about brigades being unable to attend certain incidents and this should in no way be seen as an attack on local brigade volunteers.
“It is in fact the Mathoura Brigade that has seen a number of its active members withdraw their volunteer services, leaving the brigade with a skeleton crew.
“There has been growing tension between salaried staff and experienced RFS members for several years and this escalated in September last year following an incident that cannot be discussed due to Code of Conduct and to respect the privacy of the volunteer involved.
“This has come on top of an unprecedented number of suspensions, stand downs and walkaways by senior experienced volunteers throughout the zone.
“If there is a problem, or you are not ‘liked’ by staff, they have the power to accuse you and ruin your reputation without recourse. The first thing the RFS do is ‘gag’ you, so there is only one side of the story.
“The system does not allow you to have your say without the fear of retribution and dismissal. The RFS will do anything to protect the ‘RFS Brand’.”
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