Newsletter
December 2012
Issue No. 24
Well, here we are at the end of
another year. And what a busy year it has been. Our Register continues to grow.
We are pleased to say we currently have 1,783 registrants. We trust that your decision to register will
bring you peace of mind and greater confidence in knowing there is a structure
in place to assist you in the event of an emergency.
From a Police perspective the
Register offers contemporary, after hours and emergency contact details which
will significantly enhance responses from police and other emergency services.
The Register’s Annual General
Meeting was held on 19 September and the 2012/2013 Committee elected. We welcomed some new faces to the Committee
and retained some volunteer members who have served on the Committee for
several years. With Jenny, Pam, Faye,
Gail, Helen, Gail, Jill, Rhonda, Carole, Phil and John on board, our Committee
has a variety of skills and expertise that will serve the Register well over
the next twelve months. Already our
Promotions team has been hard at work seeking new avenues to promote our
Register and its service in the community.
As Registrants, you too can
assist in promoting our Register.
Perhaps you have a relative, friend or neighbour who may benefit from
joining the Register. Have a chat with
them and encourage them to collect a brochure and registration form from their
local Pharmacy on the Bellarine Peninsula.
Planning has already begun for
our annual Victoria Police Band Concert.
Next year’s event will be held on Sunday, 19th May, at
Portarlington Parks Hall. Lock this date
into your calendar and bring your friends along for a very pleasant afternoon
of music.
On November 8, Register
representatives accepted a generous grant from the Drysdale and Portarlington
Community Grants Program. This grant
will fund a new laminator for the Office and a shade structure for use at
outdoor Register promotions.
During the life of our Register,
we have been generously supported by the Community Grants Program and we are
most appreciative of their support.
Two of our Committee members
attended the Community Registers Workshop at Darebin on 29 October, 2012, where
Community Register representatives from across the State came together to
network, discuss issues and share ideas.
Four workshops were conducted throughout the day that focused on
Networking, Recruiting and Training Volunteers, Marketing and Promotion and
Digital Networking.
A volunteer reference group has
been set up consisting of representatives from Victoria Police, Neighbourhood
Watch, several Local Government areas and volunteers and tasked to continue to
build the network and bring to fruition many of the ideas put forward at the
Workshop.
On behalf of the volunteers of
the Bellarine Police Community Support Register Inc. I take this opportunity to
wish you all a safe and happy Christmas with family and friends and a New Year
filled with good health and good times.
We look forward to assisting you in 2013.
Kind regards
Rhonda Rotherham
Chairperson
Bellarine Police Community
Support Register Inc.
WE ARE CLOSED from 12 midday on Friday 21 December until 9.30am on
Monday 14th January 2013 so you won’t be receiving your phone calls
from us during that period.
PET CARE
We all know that our pets
can be an extremely important part of our family, and therefore we must give
some extra thought to their health and welfare during periods of severe weather
conditions
· Have a ‘pet survival plan’
including transport requirements if needed
· All animals should have an
adequate supply of cool, clean water. During the summer animals drink much more
than in winter
· Old animals, and the very
young, are very susceptible to heat and cold
· Animals suffering from heat
exhaustion will pant, lie on their side, and be listless and disoriented. In
severe cases they may become unconscious and die.
BE SECURE FOR SUMMER
With a huge influx of tourists and holiday makers
about to descend on the Bellarine, now and throughout the summer holiday
season, it would be prudent to take extra care with home and vehicle security.
PARK SMART
LOCK IT, REMOVE IT OR LOSE IT!
It is NOT smart to leave your vehicle
unlocked with valuables inside. Your
items will be more likely to be stolen.
Much valuable police
time will be taken up recording such thefts – thefts that could be so easily
prevented if vehicle owners took responsibility.
REMOVE ALL VALUABLES FROM YOUR CAR AND LOCK IT AT ALL
TIMES WHEN UNATTENDED!
·
DO NOT leave valuables on
view in your vehicle. Remove GPS units,
mobile phones, I Pods, laptops, CDs, money, bags, tools, sunglasses, sporting
gear, et cetera.
·
LOCK your vehicle. Always remember to lock it, even if it’s in
your driveway!
·
DO NOT place items in your
boot, console or under your front seat.
If you are driving and need to park in a public place and you realise that
you have valuable items in view, you should stop BEFORE you reach your destination and place them out of sight in
the boot. If you do it when you
reach your destination you will just be telling anyone who is watching that you
have just placed valuable items in your boot.
·
REPORT any suspicious
incidents to Police on 000.
· REMOVE all valuables from vehicles when parked.
· LOCK your home when you leave – even if you are just around the corner!
·
LOCK your front door if out in the
back garden, and vice versa.
·
Lock your sheds and garages.
·
DO NOT leave ladders or tools out for
others to possibly use against you to gain unauthorised entry to your home..
·
DO NOT leave property such as wetsuits,
surf boards, bicycles et cetera in front yards, or on verandahs and decks, or
any other places that are easily accessible to passers-by.
·
Photograph your valuable property
such as jewellery, generators et cetera so that our Police can have some hope
of identifying items that they may recover.
RECEIPTS FOR DONATIONS
Due to the costs and time
involved in providing receipts for donations it has become necessary to only
issue receipts for cash donations, or when a receipt is specifically requested.
This will greatly assist us in providing the best service for you.
From all the volunteers of the BPCSR we hope you have a
wonderful Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year
Please
support our supporters …
Our founding sponsor is -
We are also supported by –
All Saints Anglican Church Op Shop Barwon Heads
Rotary Club of Queenscliff
