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« on: August 13, 2008, 10:40:15 AM »
Guys,
It dissapoints me that there seems to be an attitiude of resentment pervailing this thread and having read through I feel compelled to set a few records straight.
1.Burnside is not a "rich" brigade there seems to be an idea that we live in a community that is throwing money at us...well let me tell you something, ..The money that were putting into our new appliance has been raised over the last 26 years and was started when we took delivery of our last Volvo pumper by some forward thinking people at the time who realised that in twenty years this appliance will need to be replaced
I personally spent much of my early CFS career selling lamingtons or raffle tickets or meat trays or election collection or etc etc (you get the idea) and the whole time the money was raised in order to buy a new fire appliance.
I think you will find that if your brigade had saved its money (even in hackam..he he) instead of spending it on "I want it now" items then you would be in a position similar to Burnsides.
2. So we are getting a Volvo Pumper... well it hasnt been easy ....this process started 15 years ago with the formation of a committee to look at what our current appliance is doing and what it is likely to be doing in the future and consequently making allowances in terms of design to accomodate these future requirements.
We then examined what the current appliance capabilities were and drew up a list of requirements that the future appliance needed ...bear in mind we were running 90m reels and pto pump in 1983 when CFS was just getting its head around 30M reels and a GAAM MK300D.
What followed were 13 years of discussion with a parade of Infrastructure & Logistics Managers and Chiefs
The process has taken a tremendous amount of effort over a number of years so it is disappointing to see it being trivialised.
Finally, Burnside has lifted the Bar for expectations of a urban interface appliance and the ball is now in your court to run with it ..If we had accepted a Dennis or Type 2 then that would be all anyone could expect.
The question is are you (your brigade) willing to put in the hard work , not spend money on stuff you dont really need (save for 26 years), and stand your ground when the CFS tries to roll over you and give you an appliance you dont believe is fit for purpose, will you present a solid argument as to why you deserve something better and something that will last longer and be fit for purpose in 20 years time when the decision makers saying NO to you now are long gone.
end transmission
Rainer
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