Sarda - Latest News and Events

 

MARCH 2013

 

ALEX FRASER GROUP RECYCLING

SARDA would like to announce a mutual partnership agreement with Alex Fraser Group Recycling Victoria who will supply SARDA Usar K9 teams with varied Usar rubble props at their sites in and around Melbourne Metropolitan areas and outer Melbourne.

SARDA has had the use of a purpose built site at their Laverton North site in 2012 courtesy of Malcolm Kay - HSSE Manager and site manager for their assistance in 2012 and now at their Clarinda site in 2013. 

We would like to thank Simon Hoy - Site Manager at Clarinda and prop builder Adrian for their support and forsight into helping our teams create an operational status by building replicas of disaster sites that we may encounter on deployment.

We look forward to accessing these sites for training and workshops in 2013 and beyond. Please checkout our facebook page with pics of our K9 teams working these sites;

https://www.facebook.com/SearchandRescueDogsAustralia?ref=hl

SARDA has commenced 2013 with new agility equipment and scent discrimination props to assist the K9 teams to be as efficient as required for operational status and deployment.  The different props made available to SARDA teams, has made the enthusiasm of dogs and handlers increase and the challenge has created a more efficient outcome.

2013 is going to be a very busy year for SARDA, with three workshops planned, FSA, Basic & Advanced Assessments in the calendar plus a National workshop planned for October.

NEW MEMBERS

SARDA would like to welcome 4 new members in 2013 and wish them all the best for their future with our team.

JANUARY 2013

 

SARDA was invited to the Boronia Rotary Club Annual Dinner along with Inner Wheel Club of Boronia as guest speaker last night (Tuesday January 29th, 2013).

The presentation went really well with our DVD plus "River" strutting his stuff (in semi-retirement). The audience of around 80-90 attendees were extremely receptive of the hard work the SARDA volunteers and their dedication to produce trained search & rescue dogs, so much so that they raised an enormous amount on the night and SARDA is now the recipients of funds raised at their Annual Golf Day in February and other fundraising days on their 2012 calendar. THANK YOU SO MUCH BORONIA ROTARY CLUB & INNER WHEEL CLUB OF BORONIA, so appreciative of your support.

 

 

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME TO 2013

 

Sarda would like to extend warm wishes to all Canine Teams both Nationally and Internationally for a very safe and happy 2013.

In December, Julie Cowan returned from successfully completing the TEEX Canine Search Specialist and Canine Search Manager's Course as detailed below.  A big thankyou to the sponsors who supported this trip.

 

SARDA will re-commence training on February 16th, and the 2013 training calendar is currently being processed. It looks like a VERY busy year with 3 workshops, assessments and training camps to country Victoria for both building and rubble training, and again thanking all those companies and organisations who so generously allow our canine teams access to these sites and are always on hand to help if necessary.

Again, many thanks to EAGLE PACK for their continued support in providing their top quality working dog food to our dog teams-this is such a huge assistance to the handlers. 

Other corporate supporters are;

• Bayside Community Dog Training School;
• Frankston Heights Veterinary Centre;
• Bayer Australia
• Country Fire Authority - Metro & Mornington
• Melbourne Metro Fire Brigade (Usar)
• Shire of Cardinia
• Highmark Footwear - Thaipan Footwear
• Mt. Martha CFA
• Mt. Eliza Secondary College
  

 

 

 

DECEMBER 2012

 

Sarda has now entered the rest period for dogs and handlers.  At our breakup breakfast recently, with all good breakfast food cooked for handlers (and small amount for the dogs, all handlers reflected on the positive achievements during the year.  We welcomed new members and their dogs and all look forward to a great 2013 training schedule ahead. 

 

Thank you to all those who assisted during the year from coming to training sites to be victims; all those companies who assisted in supplying new training rubble sites and building sites; all those who assisted in fundraising during the year. 

 

Another BIG THANK YOU to Eagle Pack for their support over the year in supplying *Eagle Pack Adult Performance Dog Food and also the *Eagle Pack Puppy Nutrition for the new puppies in the team.

 

With the support of fundraising and sponsorship, Julie Cowan is attending a Canine Search Specialist Course at College Station, Texas for the next two weeks.

Thank you to those who worked hard to fund this excellent opportunity for added knowledge and strategy to apply to Australian Urban Search Dog Teams.

 https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Disaster+City+Texas&

 

 

NOVEMBER 2012

 

TRAINING WEEKEND WITH SOUTH WEST VICTORIAN DOGS

SARDA has completed another combined Usar training weekend with South West Victorian Dogs.  Sarda is enjoying the assistance given by companies that

allow the dog teams to utilise their rubble sites for all training scenarios and again we thank them for their contribution in allowing us access at weekends to use their sites.

 

Here is a few photos taken last weekend;

 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/go0y9sbr2pw8i5k/5vil73AtOQ

 

SUNRISE BUSINESS BREKKY SESSION AT LINDENDERRY

 

Sarda representative Julie Cowan was invited to attend Sunrise Business Brekky Session at "Lindenderry at Red Hill" on Friday November 16th, 2012.

Thank you to Veronica and her team for the invitation and 'yummy' breakfast put on by Lindenderry and getting the word out about our constant ability to train our dogs to operational status without any support from Government really surprised the corporate guests attending.

 

Thank you to Bunnings Warehouse Frankston for their kind donation of a Gazebo for the team - great for our hotter weather training sites. This was as a result from SARDA attending the Emergency Service Expo at Bunnings Frankston in October, 2012.

 

SARDA has been asked to attend various functions and meetings as guest speaker to promote the dog teams in their endeavour to have operational status for future deployment for all emergency service agencies.  These organsations frequently donate money that is collected to assist our teams.

 

Because we do not get any Government funding, most of the training expenses are borne by the handlers themselves but with the generous sponsorship from EaglePack, HighMark Footwear, Mornington Peninsula Shire and other small businesses, we can alleviate some of the cost.  Insurance and training ground costs are also an added expense.

 

The end of the training year is coming quickly as the summer months are way too hot to train plus the snake population is out and about. We have a well earned summer break to 'recharge our batteries'.

 

The SARDA breakup is on December 1st, with all members attending an early BBQ breakfast plus fun activities and reflect on the year, it is always a great morning. Obviously pics will be put up on the site.

 

Julie Cowan is attending a Usar Canine Search Specialist Course at Disaster City -Bryan College Station in Texas from December 7th until December 17th.  Unfortunately due to the constraints of quarantine etc and cost, Julie is not taking a dog.  Two SES members from NSW are also attending this course. 

 

Thankyou to TEEX Urban Search & Rescue Division for their support and also SARDA members for their fundraising to assist the cost of the course.

 

Thank you to CFA Usar for their contribution in organising excellent rubble training sites for the teams and look forward to utilising these facilities and thank you to the Companies supplying these sites and their cooperation as well, to provide different Usar props/rubble sites.

 

 

 

October 2012

 

Sarda members have been busy with both training and weekends where we are required to attend Emergency Service Expo's. 

 

SARDA, along with other Emergency Service Agencies - CFA, SES, CoastGuard and other agencies attended two day expo at Bunnings Frankston.  This gives the public an opportunity to meet and greet all agencies and view what they are required to do if there is a community emergency. 

 

SARDA dogs gave a demonstration in the CFA smoke room set-up and also locating and alerting to a child hidden in the carpark in a trailer.  This is extremely hard for the dogs given the crowds of people in attendance and defining an individual scent.  All went well and the dogs found quickly and efficiently in both areas.  We would like to thank Bunnings Frankston for their generous donation of a Gazebo to SARDA for shade for the dogs and handlers during adverse weather... as seen in the photos in gallery.

 

SARDA SPONSORSHIP WITH EAGLEPACK

 

SARDA welcomes EaglePack as their new sponsor and we are excited to have taken delivery of both EaglePack Puppy and Adult Natural dog food, EaglePack/SARDA uniforms plus EaglePack/ Sarda Canine vests. Thank you EaglePack, we hope to have a long standing relationship with you.

SARDA welcomes Belinda Powell’s new Labrador puppy “Asha” to the team and we wish them all the success they deserve in training this puppy to operational status. Belinda’s sardog “Kuno” is training for Basic Operational status after gaining FSA status.

Both Basic and Advanced Assessments are going to be held later in the year as we have to obtain clearance for the Usar site earmarked for Usar Assessment purposes.

SARDA member Andy Liberts is currently recovering from surgery and we wish him all the best that life has to offer on a speedy recovery and will be welcomed back to the team as early as he feels he is able.  Andy has been a longstanding SARDA member (14 years) and is always available to victim every weekend.