Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Support Brigade
2015 Mayoral Dinner
Around 30 Support Brigade members attended the annual Hornsby Shire Mayoral dinner on Friday July 31. All brigades from the region attended, which is held annually to thank brigades for their vountary service. Awards were presented to the brigades that had performed best in the annual brgade competitions held recently.
The night was enjoyed by all and our thanks go to Hornsby Shire Council for holding the dinner.
October Hazard Reductions
Support Brigade crew members were involved in a number of Hazard Reduction burns across the weekend during the period October 9-11 2015.
Activities were many and varied, ranging from the delivery of meals to multiple locations, managing a Staging Area, supplying Field Logistics and assisting with the operation of an airbase (multiple helicopters were involved in the hazard reductions, for reconnaissance and water bombing).
The weekend showed a good cross section of the sort of support that our brigade is often called on to supply
Aerial Water Bombing Exercise
Members of Support Brigade took part in a waterbombing exercise involving 3 helicopters and 3 fixed-wing aircraft from Friday August 7 through to Sunday August 9.
Working at Cowan Airbase, Support crew were primarily involved in the deployment and operation of the 18,000 litre buoywall which was used by helicopters to pick up water for targeted bombing runs.
Members also assisted with transportation, helicopter refuelling and road advisory signage.
Support Brigade is being increasingly asked to be involved in an aviation capacity, something which offers a large variety of potential roles.
April Training Day
Today's training session for the Brigade was based around Aviation management in the RFS. Around 15 members were given a broad overview of the operations of helipads and airbases, and the roles that members could be asked to carry out in future.
With our brigade increasingly taking on roles in Aviation management and support, this was an important and enjoyable day for those in attendance.
2015 Annual General Meeting Results
The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Annual General Meeting was held this evening. Around 45 brigade members attended.
The following field officers and office bearers were elected for 2015-16:
| Field Officers | Administration | |||
| Captain | Ben de Leon | President | Bill Scott | |
| Senior Deputy |
John Nelson | Vice President | Geoff Turnbull | |
| Deputy 2 | Alan Barnwell | Secretary | Dave Cordery | |
| Deputy 3 | Geoff Percival | Treasurer | Stephanie de Leon | |
| Deputy 4 | Chris Robison | Training Officer |
Geoff Percival | |
| Deputy 5 | Geoff Turnbull | Assistant Training Officer |
Phil Gallop | |
| Deputy 6 | John A'Beckett | Equipment Officer |
Terry Walters | |
| Deputy 7 | Peter Brogan | Station Officer |
Rex Callaghan | |
| Deputy 8 | Paul Browning | First Aid Officer |
Ian Griffith | |
| Deputy 9 | Phil Gallop | RFSA Delegate |
Dave Cordery | |
| Social Convenor |
Janice Turnbull | |||
| Social Committee |
Marg Arscott, Dawn Henry, Stephanie de Leon | |||
The outgoing captain, Alan Barnwell, presented the Captain's Encouragement Award for 2014-15 to Geoff Turnbull. Alan was especially thanked by all in attendance, including an Inspector from the District Office and Group Captain 1, for his outstanding leadership in the evolution and development of the Support Brigade into an effective unit, and received a special presentation.
The evening finished with supper.