DECEMBER
SARDA Victoria members were invited to attend the Big Day Out for Dogs held by Dogs Victoria on Sunday December 13th, 2009. We set up a stand and spoke to patrons about the role and work of the search & rescue dog in emergency situations.
Thank you to all members and dogs who participated and it was well received by all.
See Pics in Gallery .
NOVEMBER
29/11/09
Sarda Victoria held the second part of their Progress Check/Foundation Skills Assessment in the Search category at the CFA Training Facility, Fiskville. The first part (Obedience/Agility/Alerts) was held on Saturday November 21st.
We would like to thank the CFA and the Usar Task Force for their assistance in conducting the Assessments which was very much appreciated. It was a very long day and at the end of the day, all K9 teams were successful in reaching their goals set for 2009 and look forward to continuing their solid work in 2010.
We would like to thank all those involved as we could not have conducted any sort of Assessment without their assistance. See Gallery for photos.
USAR K9 TRAILER SPONSORSHIP
SARDA Vic would like to thank TOLEDO TRAILERS for their generous sponsorship in generously contributing to the purchase of a new 4-berth Dog Trailer. We sincerely thank Toledo Trailers, Patrick and Cathy for their generosity and also WesternPort Signs for their contribution to the detailed signage on the trailer. Pics in Gallery.
SARDA MEMBER'S ENGAGEMENT
Sarda Queensland celebrated the engagement of members Simon Trace and Emily Anderberg, we wish them both a very happy future together. Simon is training Border Collie Alpha and Emily is training Border Collie Bravo.
SARDA MEMBER'S MARRIAGE
Sarda Victoria recently celebrated the marriage of members Jason Powell and Belinda Sombekke and we wish them both very best wishes for the future. They both have Golden Retriever Kuno. Pics in Gallery.
MASTER DOG BREEDERS & ASSOCIATES ANNUAL AWARDS
Julie & Andrew Cowan & SARDA Vic. have been nominated in the 3rd annual MDBA 2009 awards for the section:
"Excellence in Contribution in Canine Affairs"
Sarda Vic are feel very honored that they have been nominated along with Julie & Andrew and thank the MDBA for allowing us to share the excellent results that search and rescue dogs can provide for the Community. Voting is via the MDBA website when all category nominations have closed. 
JUNE
The SARDA National Canine Usar Workshop held over the recent Queen’s birthday 3-day weekend was a complete success.
We were blessed by the weather, it held off until Monday night and has not stopped raining since– we do need the rain though.
The standard of canine teams that attended ranged from operational to beginner teams.
New Zealand National Training Coordinator and Lead Assessor, Brenda Woolley, along with NZ Lead Assessor and trainer Linda Pike, arrived on Friday morning and were welcomed by AQIS in a very professional manner. Other interstate canine handlers and dogs arrived during Friday and Friday night.
On Saturday, the focus was on Fundamental Skills so firstly Brenda and Linda just wanted to see the level of achievement of each canine team and from there completed a VERY successful day, highlighting each team their strengths and weaknesses and advised each handler where they needed to be (or already at) to pass the Fundamental Skills Assessment. It was very encouraging to see that the standard was high and maintaining that standard was going to be continued through regular training.
Saturday night was aimed at observing where the canine teams were at in a building search scenario. We had the use of a 2-storey closed Catholic School and it was highlighted that not all Usar deployments were just collapsed buildings and rubble, that we may have to search a structure that was still intact and to be able to quickly and efficiently search a building. Our knowledge of thermal air current in buildings is critical so Brenda and Linda were on hand to observe all the canine handler's ability to assess the surroundings and their dogs’ body language in this situation. Searches were set up from beginner teams to the operational teams and Brenda offered different exercises for excellent outcomes and we all came away from this training session with new ideas with their successful outcome.
On Sunday we had the use of the CFA Training Facility at Bangholme College which was only a 25 minute travel time for everyone. The facility was made available by the CFA and thanks must go to Aaron Gardener & staff for their Sunday assistance and direction on the days training requirements. We commenced with simple runaways with all dogs reaching a very highly motivated state and then we were given scenarios on the purpose built Usar rubble site. Brenda was very impressed with the construction of the prop, mainly with regard to the outer wall insulating the site to keep the young beginner dogs within the prop interior. The younger dogs maintained so much focus within the confine of the rubble pile which assisted in their concentration of the job at hand. The operational dogs were given challenges which they successfully accomplished with accuracy and skill.
On Monday we continued the days’ training at the CFA Bangholme College under the supervision of Bill Ellis and staff and we chose to have the use of one Usar prop and we were also able to have the use of the Temple of Doom, a purpose built breathing apparatus training facility which was an excellent facility to hone the canine team skills of building search in such an adverslely designed prop.
The whole weekend was a complete success and we are simply indebted to Brenda and Linda for their skill and enjoyable personalities in conducting this workshop and all canine handlers and helpers (subjects) who attended, all gained so much more knowledge within the Canine Usar structure.
At the end of the workshop, Brenda and Linda highlighted (privately) to all canine handlers, each of their successes, strengths and weaknesses and gave an honest opinion as to where each team stood in their path to Usar Canine operational standard achievement and advised their future training structure.
Thank you to Brenda and Linda for their assistance, knowledge and training in reiterating our similarities to our newly sanctioned Australian best practice guidelines which aligns with New Zealand Usar Canine BPG.
Thank you to all the interstate travellers to the workshop and bringing their dogs and I’m sure they are already soaking up all the activities and we look forward to another state hosting a similar workshop. Thank you to all support crew who attended and assisted in being victims (subjects) the whole weekend.
Finally, I would like to thank, most sincerely, the cooperation of the CFA and the MFB for their overwhelming contribution to this workshop, we would never have been able to run this type of workshop without their assistance.
Special thanks must go to Bill Drysdale, Manager Tactical Response - Metropolitan Fire Brigade for his support and encouragement, John Bell, Business Manager, CFA Training College (CFA) for his advice, support and coordination, Aaron Gardener and Bill Ellis & pad operators for their cooperation and assistance on the two days at Bangholme College and also the catering staff at the College.
FEBRUARY 2009
SARDA DEPLOYMENT TO KINGLAKE AND MARYSVILLE BUSHFIRES
Two SARDA Vic K9 teams were deployed by the MFB Usar Taskforce to assist in the location of remains of victims of the bushfires that ravaged the above areas for 4 days immediately after the fires.
The deployment was painstaking and arduous and the dogs both continued to show their eagerness and willingness to work under very trying circumstances.
The time saved by the efficiency of the K9 teams was well received by Police Forensics and Emergency Service Task Force and really put the effictiveness of a well trained Usar K9 to the fore as being a reliable rescue resource.
After the extensive briefing on Monday, Feb 9, 2009, MFB Usar Taskforce/CFA Usar Taskforce and the SARDA Usar Operational K9 teams deployed to Whittlesea on Tuesday followed by immediate placement to areas surrounding Kinglake, Kinglake West, Pheasant Creek & Strathewan. Each property was thoroughly searched and remains located very quickly, other properties were searched and cleared by the dogs and in some areas remains were located after it was believed that there was no-one at the properties. We continued all day on Wednesday 11th and on Thursday Feb 12th we were deployed with the MFB & CFA Usar Taskforce to Marysville to work in conjunction with the Qld Police Dog Squad, who had deployed with 2 cadaver dogs. We remained working at Marysville until Friday Feb 13th and waited for the New Zealand Police Cadaver Dogs who were deployed to continue this arduous task as our "tour of duty" had come to and end.
It was without doubt that the dogs proved an efficient resource to all the DVI and Usar Taskforces and many thanks must go to the Bill Drysdale, MFB Manager Tactical Response, MFB Usar Taskforce & CFA Usar Taskforce who were extremely generous in their care and understanding of the task at hand and ensured that at all times, the SARDA K9 teams were well equipped and totally given the utmost care.
Please read below for further sponsor acknowledgements...............
DECEMBER 2008
SARDA DEPLOYMENT TO LORNE
SARDA Vic were deployed by Vic Police Search & Rescue to assist in the search for two missing youths who tried to enter the Falls Festival via a remote entrance and became lost. The two youths were lucky enough to be able to walk out of the bush unharmed.
OCTOBER 2008
NEW ZEALAND USAR SEARCH DOG ASSOCIATION ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS
Julie Cowan attended the anuual NZ Usar SDA annual Assessment conducted by the Christchurch unit.
Four Christchurch members were accredited with their Advanced Operational Certification, one with Basic Operational Certification and one Auckland member was accredited with Advanced Operational Certification.
A huge thank you to Sgt. Paul George (Lead Assessor), NZ National Training Cooordinatior Brenda Woolley and the Christchurch team for their hospitality during my stay.
SEPTEMBER, 2008
Combined workshop with SARDA Victoria and SARDA NSW which assisted the new members of SARDA NSW in all aspects of training K9 teams for USAR qualification and deployment.
JULY 2008
NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL USAR SEARCH DOG ASSOCIATION TRAINING WORKSHOP
Two Sarda members attended the NZ National Usar SDA K9 Training Workshop on July 24th - 27th, 2008, which was held in Christchurch. Members of the Search Dog Association attended from Auckland, Wellington, Wanagaui, West coast and Christchurch.
The disaster training sites were very challenging and provided all dog teams with and insight as to what to expect in an actual disaster. Friday provided the beginner dog teams with an excellent, but again challenging, rubble site and with the assistance of the senior trainers soon had confidence and control expected of teams at the primary level.
In the afternoon we transferred to a larger rubble site which was awesome and challenging for all the teams, even the beginner teams had the confidence and control to work their dogs with great success.
Urban Search and Rescue is not just working on rubble and Friday night proved a huge challenge at the now closed Christchurch Women's Hospital. All dogs and handlers once again rose to the challenge and with the extreme cold weather proved that the dogs were able to successfully work under dire conditions.
Jim Stuart-Black, National Manager Special Operations, New Zealand Fire Service was in attendance for the entire workshop and his input and guidance was invaluable. Jim, in his role as Incident Controller for this night exercise on the workshop, really gave the K9 teams a thorough insight to the requirments an IC would be responsible for from the K9 rescue teams on site during rescue operations; after completion of each search and at the debrief, each K9 team was put through a series of questions regarding their particular rescue.
Saturday morning was a test for k9 handlers at Woolston Fire Station where two RATS (Rope and Technical Support) Instructors were on hand to put the handlers through a series of exercises that may be required during an actual deployment. It is not just the ability to train a k9 for rescue purposes, but the handler must be physically and mentally fit. This required the handlers to scale a ladder up a 7 storey (50meter high) building and abseil via rope to the ground. The next exercise was carried out with handlers carrying suitable breathing apparatus, which is heavy and awkward, through a heated area with obstacles to be navigated. All k9 handlers were praised for their efforts by the TaskForce personnel involved and again a debriefing was conducted by Jim Stuart-Black. This was followed by all K9 handlers to be put through their agility paces via access to the Christchurch SDA Agility equipment.
FIRST AID COURSE - SDA USAR VETERINARIAN JENNY WATERS
Jenny Waters, SDA Usar Veterinarian, gave all K9 handlers first hand instruction into the care and necessary first aid that would be required on deployment in the case of K9 injury. This was an excellent insight into what to look for within the capability of the working K9 and what each individual K9 would require. Each handler had to be able to carryout basic first aid assistance to their dogs via eye & nose flushing and through to bandaging. Thank you Jenny for your valuable input.
Saturday afternoon was split between rubble sites and then alternated, some piles being rock and debris and the other site being the biggest "wood" pile I have ever seen. This "wood" was compacted ply board and made the victims very warm being hidden but very "invisible". Due to the inclement and cold weather, it made the exercise very slippery and all dogs and handlers again worked under extreme conditions and were extremely successful with this exercise.
Sunday morning commenced with the required Obedience with Instructors again putting K9 teams through the necessary obedience component qualifications. Then it was off to another rubble site which again was a challenge but all K9 teams successfully completed.
Sunday afternoon saw the K9 teams all disperse to make their flights back to their own territory and us back across the Tasman to Australia.
During the whole workshop, the commaraderie between the handlers, instructors and helpers was excellent. The get-togethers over meals showed how each country can work as a united front with all like-minded people using their skills and knowledge to assist each other, this is invaluable in the case of an International disaster.
We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and thank the NZ Usar SDA for their hospitality and we look forward to conducting a similar exercise in Australia and having the teams come across to combine knowledge and expertise.
A HUGE thank you to the NSW Usar Fire & Rescue TaskForce for their assistance.
Pics of the above will be up within the next few days.
SARDA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS/SPONSORS
Being a volunteer self-funded unit, we could not operate without the generosity of those organisations who quickly and diligently donate their resources, whether it be financial or not. To those companies etc below we would like to say a huge thank you for their consistant assistance;
TRENIGANS DOG PRODUCTS
A huge thank you to Barbara from Trenigans for their support and sponsorship to the SARDA K9 Teams with supply of Hi-Viz British Slips Leads.
http://www.trenigens.com.au/
MASTERPET AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD - The Pet Authority
Thank you to MasterPet Australia for their generous donation of K9 treats -Jerhigh Variety Packs for training of the SARDA K9's and thank you to Kristy Phipps - National Sales Support Analyst (NSW) for her continued support of the SARDA team.
BAYER AUSTRALIA - the sar K9's require the best internal and external products and Bayer Aust. supply all SARDA k9's with Advocate and Drontal on an annual basis. Many thanks to Kirsten Durie for her continued support on behalf of Bayer.
BAYSIDE COMMUNITY DOG TRAINING SCHOOL- This community dog club based at Bentleigh have continually supported SARDA by providing funds annually for their Insurance, safety wear, equipment such as new radios and GPS's.
SHELL AUSTRALIA - Shell Australia has been a constant support to the SARDA unit by allowing full access to various sites around metropolitan & country areas for Usar training and also area searches. They are always readily available to assist upon request whether it be a demolition agreement or clearing on one of their sites for access to the SARDA team.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - As schools in the metropolitan area are closed, the region leaders are in contact with the SARDA team and allow the K9 teams access to these very valuable properties to assist in building searches.
WHELAN THE WRECKER - for their assistance in allowing the SARDA team to train before, during and after a demolition has taken place.
SOUTHERN PENINSULA RESCUE SQUAD - This allows the SARDA teams to become efficient in air travel via the SPRS helicopter.
COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY -Huge thanks must go to the CFA for their constant support in allowing the SARDA team to train on all their disaster sites at SETG, Fiskville, Huntly & other smaller areas that training is required.
PENINSULA DOG CLUB -for their huge donation toward the constant cost of training the SARDA dog teams.
FRANKSTON HEIGHTS VETERINARY CENTRE - for their ongoing sponsorship by providing free service to the SARDA k9's.
HIGHMARK FOOTWEAR - Highmark Footwear are ongoing supporters of SARDA and have supplied the necessary footwear for members to wear that regulation fire and safety require. Many thanks to Russell and Terry for their continued support.
COMMERCIAL SANDS - This recycling site is made available to SARDA K9 teams on a regular basis and are always keen to support the training of the disaster dogs in areas that simulate an actual disaster.
TRU ENERGY - Tru Energy allow the SARDA team to continue their training at their fully operational Yallourn Power Station. Thanks to Mark and his team for their input into required safety training for the SARDA members to keep us up to date on current safety requirements.
PUP LIGHT -Many thanks to Eugene, Australian distributor of Pup Light, for their generous sponsorship of lighted collars for the SARDA K9 teams to be warn in night searches.
SARDA DEPLOYMENT - MARCH 27TH 2008
Victoria Police Search & Rescue deployed two Sarda Operational Dog Teams to search Mt.Dom Dom, east of Melbourne, to assist in a search for a missing bushwalker. The terrain was extremely tough and the two Sarda dog teams searched from the base of the mountain to the top and cleared the area that they were given to search.
The two dogs teams were deployed twice again by Vic Police S&R to search other areas of interest. No evidence of the missng bushwalker has been uncovered.
http://www.bsar.org/
OCTOBER 2007 - USAR/AREA-WILDERNESS BI-ANNUAL ASSESSMENT
 SARDA conducted their Bi-annual Assessments for the two operational SARDA K9 teams. Tom Middlemas from Scotland conducted the assessments and a training workshop over a period of 3 weeks with all SARDA members from both Victoria and NSW.
The first Usar Assessment was carried out over 4 sites provided by CFA and we would like to thank most sincerely CFA Instructor Myles O'Reilly & CFA members. All SARDA members, K9 teams and support undertook this Assessments with Tom Middlemas as the Assessor and Myles O'Reilly and assistants guiding the SARDA teams in correct protocol on rescue deployment.
The second Usar/Area Wilderness Assessment was held over a 5 day period at TruEnergy -Yallourn Power Station and we would sincerely like to thank Mark Nash and his team for their assistance in making this fully operational site available to create an environment that the SARDA K9 teams would have to work in if required to deploy at a similar site. The K9 teams had to work in one of the turbine buildings which consisted of 16 storeys of grid mesh flooring, extreme heat, noise with an accute degree of difficulty. The K9 teams and support were given tasks and scenarios and their strategy was also tested within the assessment guidelines as well as the K9 ability to locate and alert. The area/wilderness search assessment was conducted around the exterior of the TruEnergy Yallourn Power Station which consisted of bush, river and pondage.
The third Usar Assessment was conducted at Mount Royal Hospital (Royal Melbourne Hospital) and we would sincerely extend our thanks to RMH Administration for their assistance in making this site available for SARDA Assessments. This Usar Assessment was conducted as a Usar/building search which the K9's found extremely interesting and a degree of difficulty as well. This is where the search strategy is critical which the K9 teams and support utilised accordingly.
The two SARDA Operational K9 teams passed the above Assessments which gives them International Accreditation for another 2 years. The Accreditation is for Level 3 Full Search Dog plus Advanced Usar. Our newest K9 team,16week old puppy "Flite" (black Labrador) who was exposed to all the above to neutralise and condition her for her future as a sardog. Thank you to SARDA members who assisted in all aspects of the Assessments and workshop and to Tom Middlemas for his expertise and guidance in conducting the training workshop as well as the Assessments.
Pics of the above Assessments will be posted shortly.
SEPTEMBER 2007 - DEPLOYMENT
SARDA K9 teams were called to a housefire in NarreWarren to help locate a suspected deceased person in the remains of the house fire. After discussing with Victorian Police, CFA, SES & Vic. Police Forensic that SARDA K9's are trained to locate & alert on breath and bacteria it was decided to allow the dogs to search the site. Bacteria from a deceased person can be detected for up to 36 hours (depending on weather conditions). Two SARDA K9's searched the site with no result. Later in the day CFA & SES cleared another area of the site and one SARDA K9 team was called back to search the area that was unavailable the previous day. Nothing was found at the site and one week later the person in question was located in NSW.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22372376-2862,00.html
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