Sergeant Tony Haining from Olinda police is in southern California learning how the Americans tackle their fire and water problems. 54877
By Russell Bennett
Olinda police sergeant Tony Haining has been appointed by Rotary to lead a team on a ‘fire and water’ group study exchange.
The exchange’s topic was chosen due to the severe fires experienced by both Victoria and southern California, and the difference in how the Americans manage their stifling climate.
“California is one of America’s biggest food bowls,” Sgt Haining said.
“But the area we’re going to only gets eight to 10 inches of rain per year.”
Those chosen for this year’s exchange include 31-year-olds Kenn Beer, Karen Mead and Brynoy Grice and 26-year-old Andrew Leitch.
Mr Beer is a VicRoads engineer specialising in clearing roads in disaster areas and Ms Meed is a trauma psychologist with experience in helping survivors of the Black Saturday fires.
Ms Grice works for the Department of Sustainability and Environment in water management, while Mr Leitch is Rochford Wines’ head winemaker. His objective while in California is to study the effects of smoke taint on crops.
“The idea for the exchange is for four to five young people, aged between 25 and 45, to go to another country and study their vocation,” Sgt Haining said.
It’s also a cultural exchange so they get to go and research their own business – say you’re an accountant, you go and see how accountants do it over there.”
The group will spend most of October in Rotary’s Santa Barbara district which is approximately half the size of Victoria.
“Our area, district 9810, is called Montrose and District,” Sgt Haining said.
“It’s given the name ‘from the base to the hills’ because it extends from Brighton all the way up through here (the ranges) but the Santa Barbara district is massive.”
A group from California will visit in March next year to observe how Australians deal with Mother Nature.
“They’ll come over for four to six weeks and we’ll show them around the hills,” Sgt Haining said.
While Sgt Haining is the only Rotary member of the group, all the arrangements for the exchange have been made by the organisation.
“Over there we’re hosted by Rotarians and everything is done through Rotary but this special focus exchange is not a normal group study,” he said.
While Rotary group study exchanges are quite common, Sgt Haining said the topic of this year’s set it apart.
“A normal group study exchange is for anybody but this one is specific to fire and water, for a specific purpose.”
