| Are you cyclone and storm ready? |
 As you're aware, Cyclone Olga passed through our region whilst travelling south. Although we were fortunate enough to escape any major devastation, this is still a timely reminder to make sure we are cyclone and storm ready. One of the most important steps you can take is to prepare a household emergency kit and an evacuation kit.
To help you prepare for the summer storm season, the Department of Emergency Services has provided a list of items that are essential in the event of an emergency. For more information, visit http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/emq/css/emergencykit.asp Fortunately, we can count on the fact that our emergency service personnel are highly trained professionals with the expertise and experience to respond to incidents when we need them the most. The men and women of our local SES undertake extensive training to be the first line of response should the worst happen. To better support the 40,000 Queenslanders who currently volunteer their time to work with the State Emergency Services, I encourage you to consider a New Year's resolution with a difference - to become an emergency service volunteer. The Department of Community Safety (DCS) has recently launched its Volunteer Management Strategy (VMS) which outlines programs to improve training and reduce time constraints for volunteers and initiatives to reduce out of pocket expenses. Whether it is serving as a State Emergency Service member, Rural Fire Service firefighter or a QAS first responder, volunteering with the DCS offers a unique, exciting and challenging experience. For more information on how to become a volunteer, go to www.emergency.qld.gov.au/volunteers/opportunities.htm I thank our volunteers for their marvellous efforts during 2009 and urge anyone looking for an interesting and rewarding challenge to visit the website.
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