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Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Portable UHF Radio - Sawtron / Kyodo, c 1980s
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)...After the 1939 bushfires, the Forests Commission invested...After the 1939 bushfires, the Forests Commission invested ...After the 1939 bushfires, the Forests Commission invested heavily in a radically new communications network. After suffering some inevitable delays due to the War, radio VL3AA switched into full operation in October 1945 proudly beaming out 200 watts across the State. But by today’s standards, the technology was primitive and the reception poor unless the user was on a high point somewhere. The radio signal was "line-of-sight" and bounced between fire towers and relay transmitters across the mountains back to the District offices. Rapid improvements in technology led to various models of bulky handheld portables with heavy batteries that always seemed to go flat. In fact, batteries were a constant impediment at bushfires. The more secure and versatile State Mobile Radio (SMR) digital trunk system came into operation in about 1995. Upgraded Tait Radios were purchased in 2014 after recommendations of the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission. But it was the convergence of separate technologies such as 4G mobile phones, high-capacity and light-weight lithium batteries, Wi-Fi, the ever-expanding internet, cloud data storage, digital cameras, GPS, personal organisers and hundreds of supporting Apps into powerful smartphones and tablets which revolutionised bushfire communications from the mid-2000s.Portable UHF Radio with leather carrying case and strap. Charging station. Kyodo Model KC-1109 MOYHU Whitfieldbushfire, radios, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Uniform - Safety Boot (Yellow back), Oliver Stevens in Ballarat, circa 1982
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... to the Forests Commission's own specification. Safety boots were a bit... to the Forests Commission's own specification. Safety boots were a bit ...These boots were manufactured by Oliver Stevens in Ballarat to the Forests Commission's own specification. Safety boots were a bit "hit and miss" back in 1981. As well as the steel toe caps these boots had a screwed, glued and stitched Sherpa-pattern rubber nitrile sole. The sole was oil resistant and didn't melt on hot coals. The yellow heels signified safety boots. There were two styles with different leather and staff were all personally fitted and given their choice of style. The only thing that has fundamentally changed over 40 years is there is much more choice and comfort in boots today. These boots proved to be the catalyst for boot manufacturers realising there was a market outside of the armed forces not being served. Ankle injuries along with elastic sided boots were virtually eliminated by these boots. The iconic Tasmanian company, Blundstone, had a work boot called "Forester" at the time. It had won an Australian Design Award and had a bonded Sherpa sole. Unfortunately, the soles tended to separate from the boot under field test conditions. Eventually they perfected the process Oliver Stevens' main issue was not being able to recruit enough workers to meet the increased demand. Info: Trevor Brown.First safety boots issued to Victorian forest firefightersYellow Back safety boots with leather laces. FCV marked on the heel fire fighting, bushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv), protective clothing -
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate ActionBedford M Series fire tanker
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... its working days at the Forests Commission depot at Gembrook... its working days at the Forests Commission depot at Gembrook ...Ash Wednesday Veteran This Bedford M Series tanker spent its working days at the Forests Commission depot at Gembrook, and among its many forays, fought the deadly Ash Wednesday bushfires at nearby Upper Beaconsfield and Cockatoo on 16 February 1983. Earlier in 1975, the M Series tankers underwent a design change at the Altona North workshops, replacing the cylindrical water tank with a “V” bottom 4090 litre water tank that sat low between the chassis rails to reduce its centre of gravity. Aluminium heat shields were also added to protect the pump operators on the back. While generally considered "bulletproof" the petrol fuel lines on this particular model were very prone to vaporise in the heat causing the motor to stall, often at the most dangerous moment.... in this case frightening the hell out of its driver, affable knockabout bloke, and firefighting legend Lex Wade. Some jokingly said this design quirk was an inbuilt safety feature to stop crews getting too close to the fire in the first place. The Gembrook tanker was later sent into the workshop and all its brake and fuel lines fitted with heat resistant lagging. Fortunately, this remarkable bushfire survivor was rescued from the scrap heap by Lex and fire equipment wizard Barry Marsden upon its retirement from a loyal and lengthy service. After a lick of fresh paint and most of its battle scars "buffed out", this time-honoured veteran now takes pride of place at the Altona North workshop.Bedford M series fire tankerMZF 347fire pump, fire tanker, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Puffing Billy RailwayTACL - Erica State Sawmill Rail Tractor, 1928
... forests commission of victoria... of the Victorian Railways. Its construction by the Forests Commission... construction by the Forests Commission of Victoria was to facilitate ...TACL-Tractor Appliance Company Limited TACL rail tractors manufactured by Malcolm Moore of Port Melbourne Located in the Parishes of Moondarra and Telbit, Gippsland, the tramway terminated at Collins Siding on the Moe Walhalla 2'6"gauge branch of the Victorian Railways. Its construction by the Forests Commission of Victoria was to facilitate the extraction of timber from the Southern and Western slopes of Mount Erica and to replace the outlet tramways destroyed during the disastrous forest fires of February 1926. Tyers Valley Tramway The line, following the Eastern arm of the river, passed Ingrams Siding (7m.) to terminate at a forest area, known as "Ten Acre Block", 8m. 60c. from Collins Siding. The western branch of the line followed the Western Tyers Valley to Growlers Creek, 13m. 40c. from Collins Siding. THE T.A.C.L. TRACTORS at Tyers Valley tramway. On the 19th January 1928, T.A.C.L. locomotive, purchased from Tractor Appliance Co. Ltd. (Malcolm Moore), was delivered. This unit had a 20 h.p. Fordson engine coupled by a chain drive to the two axles, providing a tractive effort of approx. 2000lbs. Wheelbase was 5’ and weight was four tons. It was intended that the two tractor locomotives, working with the grade, would deliver timber from the branch lines to Tyers Junction, from which place it would be steam hauled out to the Collins Siding transfer point. Following a breakdown of the steam locomotive, haulage during the early months of 1928 was carried out by the T.A.C.L. unit, supplemented by the Nattrass, which was, by this time, becoming unreliable. During April 1928, after ensuring that no suitable locomotive was available in Australia, an order was placed with the Climax Manufacturing Co., U.S.A. for the supply of a geared locomotive. A second T.A.C.L. engine was purchased during May and, on the 27th, the local mill owners, having obtained running rights on the tramway, commenced haulage with the Harman. The three tractor units worked the branch lines and transported ballast, whilst the Harman hauled the timber to Collins Siding in rakes of eight trucks (56 tons). The weekly loading of the line for the first, second and third weeks were 54, 62 and 71 trucks respectively. info from : http://www.nmra.org.au/tyersvalley/Tyers-Tram.html Historic - Industrial Narrow gauge Railway - Timber working - Rail Tractor used by the the Forests Commission of Victoria on the Tyers Valley TramwayRail Tractor with Fordson engine coupled by a chain drive to the two axles - made of steel and wrought ironerica sawmill, puffing billy, tacl, rail tractor, tractor appliance co. ltd. (malcolm moore), industrial narrow gauge railway, tyers valley tramway, forests commission of victoria -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Rakehoe, McLeod Tool
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... the Chief Fire Officer for the Forests Commission from 1948-1956... the Chief Fire Officer for the Forests Commission from 1948-1956 ...Bushfire perimeter rather than bushfire area is the main control problem for firefighters on the ground. A conundrum rapidly compounded by spot fires. A small 5 ha fire can be nearly 1 km around the perimeter. That's a long way to build a control line by hand in rough bush. Dry firefighting techniques by hand were mostly confined to “knocking down” or “beating out” the flames, as well as "digging out". Digging or raking a “mineral earth” trail down to bare dirt proved most effective in forest fuels which, unlike grass, tend to retain heat and smoulder. Early tools were whatever happened to be close at hand. They were simple and primitive and included shovels, slashers, axes, hoes, beaters and rakes. A cut branch to beat the flames was often the only thing available. Farming and logging tools, developed over centuries of manual labour, and readily available at local hardware stores came into use, but little thought was given to size, weight, and balance. For years foresters experimented with combination tools. In about 1952 fire beaters and other implements were being replaced with Rakuts. However, its believed the now common Rakehoe is an Australian variation of the American McLeod Tool which was developed in 1905 by forest ranger Malcolm McLeod of the Sierra National Forest. The late Athol Hodgson advised that predecessors, Reg Torbet who had been the Chief Fire Officer for the Forests Commission from 1948-1956, along with his QLD counterpart Clive Price, went in late 1951 as Australian delegates on a 10 week fire study tour of Nth America organised by the United Nations. They came back with a couple of McLeod tools from Canada. Cam MacLeod (different spelling) had been the Head of Fire Research for the Canadian Forest Service at the time and had supplied them. The tools were ideal for deciduous forests in the eastern provinces and Clive arranged to have them manufactured in QLD. The Rakho, as it was then spelled, was first issued to FCV crews 65 years ago in 1955-56. The American Pulaski had been trialled, but never found favour with Australian firefighters.First used in 1955Rakehoebushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Federation University Historical CollectionHandbook, The School Paper Grades V and VI Victoria Education Department, 1964-1966
... forests commission of victoria..., (Victorian) Public Libraries, The Forests Commission of Victoria... libraries forests commission of victoria correspondence school royal ...Three handbooks with green patterns on recto and verso. Linen tape is on the spine. Paper is bound by string, connected at the top and bottom. .1)This handbook is a collection of The School Paper for grades V and VI, by the Victorian Education Department for 1964. It's contents are including by not limited to poetry and short stories submitted to the paper from a variety of authors such as "Beside the Road" by Louis H. Clark, information regarding the events of the time such as Air Force Commemoration Week, writings such as piece regarding self-control while using alcohol. and sheet music for various songs, such as "God save the queen". A history of Port Melbourne is included on page 2. A history of Australia's cattle trade is included on pages 11-12. In addition, A biography of Sid Kidman, Australia's "cattle king" is included between pages 36-37. .2)This handbook is a collection of The School Paper for grades V and VI, by the Victorian Education Department for 1965. It's contents are including by not limited to poetry and short stories submitted to the paper from a variety of authors, such as "Pit-Pony" by S.A. Bainbridge, information regarding the events of the time such as the Fig Harvest at El-Flaye, and sheet music for various songs, such as "Old John Braddleum". The short story "The ANZACS at Gallipoli" includes a photograph of James Simpson Kirkpatrick with his donkey, bearing a wounded soldier (Page 33). A piece titled "A good-bye and a welcome" on pages 50-51 details the farewell to Alex McDonell, the director of Education for Victoria from 1960 to 1965, and the welcoming of Frederick H. Brooks as the new Director of Education in Victoria. A supplement is included in regards to "Scholarships and Allowances available for further education" for July 1965. A biography of Rudyard Kipling is on pages 103-105. A monthly series titled "The Seed from which they grew" detailed the history of some of Victoria's historical institutions: Victoria's Government House, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Victorian Railways, School Broadcasts, (Victorian) Public Libraries, The Forests Commission of Victoria, The Correspondence School, The Royal Mint, Her Majesty's Mail, Victoria Police, and Fire brigades. .3)This handbook is a collection of The School Paper for grades V and VI, by the Victorian Education Department for 1966. It's contents are including by not limited to poetry and short stories submitted to the paper from a variety of authors such as "The Emu" by Joan Wise, information regarding the events of the time such as Australian Literature Week, and sheet music for various songs, such as "Potatoes"'. "The Nation Builders" was a monthy series serialised in the paper about explorers who helped to found Australia, such as Matthew Flinders, Baron Sir Ferdinand Von Mueller, Patrick ("Paddy") Hannan, Charles Yelverton O'Connor, John Ridley, Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, Sir Sidney Kidman, Hugh Victor McKay,Robert Hoddle, and Charles Kingsford Smith. A supplement is included in regards to "Scholarships and Allowances available for further education" for July 1966..1) , "Grade 5 Classroom Copy" and "1964" recto. Pages 17, 32, 81, 97,113, 129 features the text "A.J. Mathieson".Page 49 has the text "Grades 5/6 Staff Copy A.J. Mathieson". Page 17 has tick marks on lower right hand corner. Registration number written on verso bounding as "11735.1" in pencil. .2)"Grade 5 Classroom Copy" and "1965" recto.Registration number written on verso bounding as "11735.2" in pencil. .3)"Classroom Copy", "1966", "5" and a black curved line in the middle of the page recto. Page 1 has "A.J. Mathieson" on the top right hand side in red marker. In the middle of Page 35, there is some text underlined, and the comment "Quote Governor King" in green ink.Registration number written on verso bounding as "11735.3" in pencil.1964, handbook, alex ball, victorian education department, school paper, grade v and vi, hymns, poetry, songs, short story, charles kingsford smith, 1965, 1966, matthew flinders, baron sir ferdinand von mueller, patrick hannan, paddy hannan, charles yelverton o'connor, john ridley, thomas sutcliffe mort, sir sidney kidman, hugh victor mckay, robert hoddle, james simpson kirkpatrick, alex mcdonell, frederick h. brooks, rudyard kipling, victorian government house,, royal botanic gardens, victorian railways, school broadcasts,, victorian public libraries, forests commission of victoria, correspondence school, royal mint, her majesty's mail, victoria police, fire brigades, port melbourne, sid kidman, cattle king, cattle trade -
University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus Archives
Letter, J. Newell, Letter from J. Newell, c. 1948
... forest commission...Letter re forests Commission of Vic. And Wimmera Forest... commission victoria j.newell Letter re forests Commission of Vic ...Letter re forests Commission of Vic. And Wimmera Forest Nurserywimmera forest nursery, forest commission, victoria, j.newell -
Federation University Historical Collection
Letter, Inward Correspondence to the Ballarat School of Mines, 1910, 08/1910
... State Forests COmmission... Forests COmmission Edwin Feild Royal Victorian Institute ...Inward Correspondence to the Ballarat School of Mines, August 1910letterhead, education department, gordon, c. brennan, l. eddy, state forests commission, edwin feild, royal victorian institute of architects, the steel company of australia, james martyn, clarke & co, ludwig alberti, scarsdale, thomas m. jude, justinian oxenham, clara davidson, robert davidson, j. roberts, h.b. silberberg & co, l. gilbert, macquarie steam brick yards, james dewar, r.j. flowerday, staffirdshire reef, john wilesmouth, bank of new south wales, victoria silicate brick company ltd, t.s. huggins, george f. roughhead, federal store, legislative assembly, andrew mckissock, city of ballarat, r. e. williams, ballarat school of mines battery assistant, edgar c. hurdsfield, bairnsdale school of mines, w. kingston, gordon technical college, h.l. langdon & co., felton grimwade, f.f. brunn, bendigo school of mines, gold buyers bill, chaffey salmon & dunne, h.j. thwaites, cobar, henry leahy, h. blyth, s. radcliff, archie buchanan, launceston, fairthorne and sons, sloanes and scotchmans united quartz mining company, james eton, albert bradford, 109 lyons st north -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - JUNE PARRY COLLECTION: MINING IN BENDIGO - LETTER TO MISS J. PARRY
... Forests Commission Victoria... Parry Forests Commission Victoria Whipstick Forest Park Advisory ...Typed letter from W. M. Flentje to Miss J. Parry, Secretary, Bendigo Historical Society referring to the preservation of land to preserve mining relics. Part of the land may extend into private property and some crown Land. He says 'If the Land Conservation Council should decide to add the Crown land part of the area to the Forest Park, then preservation of the area will become our responsibility.' Letter written Forests Cmmission Victoria letterhead. It has a green logo on toe top of two trees, one eucalypt type and the other, a pine. Letter dated 10th December, 1976.document, memo, mining in bendigo, mining in bendigo, letter to miss j parry, forests commission victoria, whipstick forest park advisory committee, w m flentje -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.Document - PETER ELLIS COLLECTION: A GUIDE FOR DRIVERS ON THE WHIPSTICK TOUR
... Forests Commission... Wildlife Division Harley Webster Forests Commission Vincent ...A Guide for Drivers on the Whipstick Tour. First page gives assembly area, driving in convoy and negotiating water or boggy patches across the road. Amended written at the end of the page. Directions with mileage and items of interest for the tour on Sunday September 9th (no year). A Whipstick Map 1971 showing State Forest, Crown Lands, Uncleared Mallee - Private (shown in different colours) Water Reserve and Roads. Noted are Flora and Fauna - Plants, Birds & Mammals, and areas of State Forest and Southern State Forest with Mallee Scrub area noted. Also State Forest & Crown Lands Total Area and a map scale. The Bendigo Whipstick mentions area, suggestions of where the name Whipstick came from, shrubs and flowers with their flowering times, descriptions of some of them and some information on the Mallee Fowl. The Eucalyptus Oil Industry paragraph mentions the beginnings of the industry. Mentioned are the different uses of oils (perfumery, industrial and medicinal) and the different species of eucalypt used for each and various products. Also notes on the growing, harvesting and refining of eucalyptus. P Ellis at the end of the page. The next two and a half pages mentions reserves, and at the end acknowledgements. Includes a spare copy of 'The Bendigo Whipstick' by P Ellis.bendigo, history, early bendigo, peter ellis collection, a guide for drivers on the whipstick tour, the whipstick 1971 map, shire of marong, shire of east loddon, shire of huntly, borough of eaglehawk, city of bendigo, shire of strathfieldsaye, the bendigo whipstick, eucalyptus oil industry, eaglehawk town hall, lightning hill lookout, eaglehawk rifle range, new moon mines, blue jacket reservoir, maggetti's wine hall, camp hotel (ex), skylark dam, eucalyptus oil production, eucalyptus factory, whipstick eucalyptus farm, ruedin's eucalyptus factory, dutch bowls, governor philip, sir joseph banks, john white, baron von mueller, joseph bosisto, commonwealth government, perfumery oils, industrial oils, medicinal oils, p ellis, dr frith, csiro wildlife division, harley webster, forests commission, vincent serventy, victorian national parks association, bendigo field naturalists club -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Ventimeter, Wind anemometer in cardboard tube
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV).... Simple and robust device. Bushfire Forests Commission Victoria ...Bushfire behaviour is influenced by many factors including temperature, relative humidity (RH), forest type, fuel quantity and fuel dryness, topography and even slope. But wind has a dominant effect on the Rate of Spread (ROS), as well as fire size, shape and direction. Wind speed can be measured using a variety of anemometers. This simple hand-held Venitimer was made by Elvometer in Sweeden, probably in the 1960s, and was designed for principally for mariners. Some models have a compass in the handle to measure wind direction. The small inlet hole on the side is faced towards the wind and air pressure lifts small plastic disk inside. The upper tube is tapered so that as wind speed increases more air escapes and stronger winds are needed to raise the disk. Wind speed in MPH is read from the side of the clear plastic tube. The waterproof container has instructions on use and conversion scales. Simple and robust device.Hand- held wind anemometer Instructions on use on containerbushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Surveyor's Pocket Altimeter, c 1940
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... on the accuracy of readings. Forest measurement Forests Commission ...This instrument measures elevation by sensing minute changes in barometric air pressure relative to a fixed datum point at sea level or a known elevation, such as the starting point of a major town during a road survey, and has an accuracy of +/- 20 feet when used in experienced hands. The finely divided scale around the perimeter of the face is marked from 0 to 6000 feet elevation and 25 to 31 inches of mercury (Hg) for barometric pressure The single fine counter-balanced hand or pointer rotates anti-clockwise with increasing elevation and decreasing pressure. The label "compensated" indicates that the instrument is constructed to compensate for the effect of temperature changes on the accuracy of readings. Surveyor's Pocket Altimeter - Aneroid Barometer Type Branded N H Seward, Melbourne. Made in England. With leather carrying case and strap.forest measurement, forests commission victoria (fcv), surveying -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Branding Hammer issued to FCV overseer Jim Browning at Beechworth
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... Harvesting Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) Crown mark one end (453 ...Metal branding hammers were the most common way to control the sale and movement of hardwood timber produce like logs, railway sleepers, fence posts, and poles from Victorian State forests. Royalty was also paid on this basis. The hammer has a crown stamp on one end with a unique number in the middle (453) which identified its owner, and a crows foot or broad arrow on the other. The broad arrow was a symbol traditionally used in Britain and its colonies to mark government property. Forest regulations state that an authorised officer may use the crown mark to identify produce which has been sold and may be removed from the forest, whereas the broad arrow can be used to brand and mark trees which are not to be felled, or to indicate forest produce which has been seized. Hammers were traditionally only ever issued to forest officers and were an important, and closely guarded tool-of-trade. They were not transferred between staff and lending hammers was not permitted. But it was an onerous task for staff to hammer and tally hundreds of logs, or thousands of fence posts each week, so in about 1990 a system was introduced whereby hammers were allocated to logging contractors to grade logs and tally them instead. But there was still spot checking by authorised officers. A register was kept, and contractors paid a substantial deposit to make sure they didn't lose them, but they occasionally turn up by fossickers with metal detectors. While branding hammers are still used in some smaller locations, plastic tags and barcodes are now more common.Metal log branding hammer with a crown stamp on one end with a unique number (453) in the middle which identified its owner, and a crows foot or broad arrow on the other. The unusual bent metal handle was designed to protect user from banging their fingers on the log. It was also fitted with a rubber hand grip. Most FCV branding hammers were issued with wooden handles. The branding hammer 453 was initially issued to Wally Cowell at Beechworth. It was reissued to Jim Browning upon Wally’s retirement The hammer still had a wooden handle, but the it broke and became loose inside hammer head. Russel Pritchard from the Beechworth Depot replaced the handle with a new metal one and put a dog leg in it It mainly branded forest produce cut in Mt. Pilot and Reedy Creek areas. The main logging contractors were Gordon Habeck from Chiltern and Steven Goldsworthy from BeechworthCrown mark one end (453) and Crows foot other endforest harvesting, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Forest Metriverter, Side Rule
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... Commission Victoria (FCV) Ross Penny Forest Metriverter Side Rule ...Decimal currency was spectacularly introduced in an overnight overthrow on 14 February 1966, but it took another 8 years before metrication finally arrived in the forest and timber industry. Eventually, the measurement of logs and sawn timber changed from imperial, and excruciating, measures such as super feet of sawn timber, billets and cunits (100 cubic feet) of stacked pulpwood and hoppus log volumes to simpler cubic metres. Measuring firewood was a particular nightmare. For example, there were standard chords, stove cords, kitchen cords, running cords, face cords, thrown chords, fencing cords, country cords, long cords, raummeter or steres (1m x 1m x 1m). A standard cord of firewood had a volume of 128 cubic feet, measured as a pile 8 feet long, 4 feet high and 4 feet wide (3.624 m3). And how about this for confusing…. in Victoria, an imperial or long ton (by measure) of green firewood was a stack 5 feet long billets (2 axelengths at 2′ 6″ each), one axelength high (2′ 6″) and two axelengths long (5 feet) equalling 62.5 cubic feet. For added befuddlement, there were three different sorts of tons: Imperial tons or long tons, American short tons and metric tonnes (spelled with two n’s). Not forgetting that a cubic imperial ton of firewood (40 cubic feet) which equalled 1.133 cubic metre. The metrication process began in 1974 and was completed by 1976 but the transition was not without its challenges along the supply chain for foresters, overseers, logging contractors, sawmillers, hardware stores and builders alike. Timber lengths changed from feet to metres but were still sold in multiples of one foot or 0.3 m (1.8, 2.1, 2.4, 2.7 etc) whereas a menacing lump of 4-Bee-2 transformed into a rather less colourful 100mm by 50mm. Measurement and calculations of area also became so much easier in hectares rather than complicated acres, roods and perches. The Forest Metriverter slide-rule was issued by the Forestry and Timber Bureau to make metric conversions easier.Forest MetriverterRoss Pennyforest measurement, surveying, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Instrument - Armstrong Rapid Log Calculator, Late 1970s
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... calculators forest measurement Forests Commission Victoria (FCV ...Logs were sold to sawmillers from State forest from 1 July 1974 in cubic metres (true volume). Previously sawlogs had been sold on the basis of Hoppus volume. This simple device with two rotating wheels enabled staff in FCV offices to rapidly calculate log volumes from measurements taken in the bush of log girth and length and recorded on paper log dockets. From the early 1980s automated systems became available with the advent of cheap electronic office calculators and simple computers. An early manual device that was superseded by electronic calculatorsOffice Device Twin rollers used to quickly and simply calculate true log volumes using measurements of girth and length. An allowance could also be made for pipe defects. The top roller was for larger diameter logs.forest measurement, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Phone handset with winder
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... end of the line. Radios Forests Commission Victoria (FCV ...Dedicated phone lines were often connected between FCV District Offices and firetowers or local depots. These lines were activated by winding the metal handle to ring the bell at the other end of the line.Bakelite phone with handset and winder. Made of Bakelite.radios, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Sling Psychrometer
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... humidity Bushfire Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) BACHARACH ...Bushfire behaviour is influenced by many factors including temperature, relative humidity (RH), forest type, fuel quantity and fuel dryness, topography and even slope. Wind has a dominant effect on the Rate of Spread (ROS), as well as fire size, shape and direction. Temperature and relative humidity have major impacts on fuel dryness and therefore upon the availability of fuel for combustion. The amount of fine fuel available can increase rapidly from nearly zero when fuel moisture content is more than 16% after rain or a heavy morning dew, to many tonnes per hectare as fuel dries out later in the day and the moisture content drops below 9%. This explosive escalation in the amount of available fuel can happen over a few hours on hot and windy days. A sling psychrometer is a simple device for determining air temperature and relative humidity. It contains two thermometers, one of which is covered with a wick saturated with ambient temperature liquid water. These two thermometers are called dry bulb and wet bulb. When the sling psychrometer is spun rapidly in the air, the evaporation of the water from the wick causes the wet bulb thermometer to read lower than the dry bulb thermometer. After the psychrometer has been spun long enough for the thermometers to reach equilibrium temperatures, the unit is stopped, and the two thermometers are quickly read. A psychrometric scale on the side of the instrument is then used to convert the dry bulb temperature TDB and the wet bulb temperature TWB into humidity information. The wet bulb temperature is approximately equal to the adiabatic saturation temperature. The thermometers fold back into the plastic handle when not in use. Used to measure temperature and relative humiditySling PsychrometerBACHARACH INSTRUMENTS - Pittsburg PAbushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Increment borer
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... and its growth rate. Forest measurement Forests Commission ...An increment borer is a specialised tool to extract a core sample of wood tissue from a living tree. The tool consists of a handle, an auger bit and a small, half circular metal tray (the core extractor) that fits inside the auger bit. The core sample can be used to count the rings, to reveal the age of the tree and its growth rate.Increment borer. The central core is stuck. AGN Mattison - Sweden #4333forest measurement, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Dugout sign, Post 1966
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... by forest licensees. Ten years later there were 8 new Commission ...Considered in terms of both loss of property and loss of life, the Black Friday bushfires on 13 January 1939 were one of the worst disasters to have occurred in Australia and certainly the worst bushfire up to that time. The fires burnt 2 million hectares, 69 sawmills were destroyed, 71 people died, and several towns and sawmills were entirely obliterated. Among those killed were four men from the Commission The subsequent Royal Commission conducted by Judge Leonard Stretton has been described as one of the most significant inquiries in the history of Victorian public administration. Its recommendations led to sweeping changes. In addition to building dams and water points, the Stretton Royal Commission recommended expanding and controlling the use of bushfire dugouts at forest sawmills. Well-constructed dugouts had saved the lives of many sawmill workers and their families during the 1939 bushfires. But in some locations, they had proved fatal. Dugouts became mandatory for those few sawmills that remained in the forest after the 1939 fires. Many remote logging coupes and FCV roading camps also had dugouts. The local District Forester was required to make annual pre-season inspections of all dugouts on State forests and those within the Fire Protected Area (FPA). Some were built privately on private land. Most were primitive construction with a log or corrugated iron roof covered with earth. A hessian bag often hung at the entrance to keep the heat and smoke out. But they were dark and damp with snakes and other creepy crawlies often lurking inside. By 1940-41 there were 19 new dugouts constructed by the Commission and a further 128 by forest licensees. Ten years later there were 8 new Commission dugouts and 21 new ones built by other interests. By 1960-61 the rate of new builds was declining but the Commission still managed 103 dugouts while 127 were looked after by others. However, as the forest road network improved and gave all-weather access to modern two-wheel-drive vehicles the reliance on dugouts receded.Large metal sign that was positioned near forest dugoutsbushfire, forest signs, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Fire tower warning sign
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)...Bushfire Forest Signs Forests Commission Victoria (FCV ...bushfire, forest signs, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Speedy Moisture Meter, Thomas Ashworth and Co, c 1950
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... fuel moisture content in the field Bushfire Forests Commission ...The most common technique to measure fuel moisture content in Victorian forests until recently was the Speedy Moisture Meter. Originally developed in England during the 1920s for measuring moisture in wheat and other grains it was adapted for Australian forest fuels in the 1950s. Fuel was first ground using a Spong mincer, often attached to the bullbar of a vehicle, and a small sample placed into the Speedy together with a measure of calcium carbide and then sealed. A chemical reaction created gas pressure which was read on the external dial. There were important techniques with cleaning, mincing and using the chemicals with the Speedy to give reliable readings, but it was quick, inexpensive, robust, portable and practical in the field. It was used routinely before igniting a fuel reduction burn or measuring fuel moisture differentials on slash burns. In about 1996, Karen Chatto and Kevin Tolhurst from the Department’s Creswick Research Station developed the Wiltronics Fuel Moisture meter which measured electrical resistance.First reliable tool for measuring bushfire fuel moisture content in the fieldSpeedy Moisture Meter in wooden boxmanufactures marks and instructions on usebushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Lafayette Radio Receiver, Lafayette Radio & TV Corp; New York (NY), Model HE-30, C 1961
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... on an experimental basis to monitor fire radio traffic Radios Forests ...This Lafayette radio receiver (model HE-30) is a basic single conversion tube semi-professional short wave communications receiver. It covers 0.55 to 30 MHz in four bands. The multi-frequency bands was used on an experimental basis in FCV Divisional Offices to monitor district radio transmissions.Used on an experimental basis to monitor fire radio trafficLafayette Radio Receiver HE-30 With operating manualradios, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Forest Phone, Amalgamated Wireless Australasia (AWA), AWA FP-1
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... in the mid 1960s Radios Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) Radio ...In the mid 1960s, Amalgamated Wireless Australasia (AWA) was asked to design a solid-state replacement for the PYE TRP-1 in collaboration with the FCV. The new transceiver was to be more powerful than the TRP-1, with an output power of about 10-12W (compared to 1.5-2W). The set also had to be capable of being used as a walkie-talkie, as well as being suitable for use in a vehicle The FP-1 is a single channel radio that has a crystal for each channel, and an IF frequency of 45 5khz. The receive crystal is 455khz higher than the transmit crystal. It is completely transistorised, and uses AWA and RCA brand transistors. A later version was called the FP5 and had five channels. Introduced to the FCV in the mid 1960sRadio Receiver Forest Phone FP-1 radios, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Basal Area Angle Gauge
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... sweep of the forest from a fixed sampling point using ...Foresters usually measure the diameter of trees at Breast Height – traditionally 4 foot, 6 inches – now 1.3 m – which is termed Diameter Breast Height Over Bark (DBHOB). Basal Area is the cross section of the tree trunk at breast height, and the sum for the stand or group of trees is expressed square feet per acre (after 1973 it was expressed in square metres per hectare). Lots of skinny trees, or a few fat ones, can have the same Basal Area, but when combined with the number of stems, Basal Area is a good indicator of stand density. Two common methods are used to measure of Basal Area – fixed area plots and angle count sampling. 1. Fixed area plots require setting out a small area, commonly 50 m x 20 m, and measuring all the trees at breast height, and doing some quick sums. 2. Angle count sampling involves a simple sweep of the forest from a fixed sampling point using a relascope, dendrometer sight, angle gauge, or glass wedge prism. This wooden builders ruler has been shaped at one end to create a shallow angle (usually less than 3 degrees). Standing in one spot, a sweep is made with the wedge held to the eye, and trees are counted as either “in” or “out”. The number of trees is multiplied by conversion factor of the wedge (10 in this case) to estimate basal area. It’s very quick and effective.Basal Area Angle Gauge The two ends fold up and one end (on the right) has been reduced in width to create a shallow angle for the viewer Home made by cutting down a wooden builder's ruler Many forestry students made their own Basal Area Angle Gauges and its thought this may be oneforest measurement, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Burnt cash box from FCV Macedon Office after 1983 Ash Wednesday Bushfires
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)...Linked to the 1983 Ash Wednesday Bushfires Bushfire Forests ...Linked to the 1983 Ash Wednesday BushfiresSmall metal lockable cash box with handle and tray insert This item was burnt in the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires which destroyed the FCV Office and nursery It was recovered from ashes of the building It was in the office safe and contained charred bank notes and a chequebushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Shooting Prohibited Sign - canvas, 1953
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... of firearms. Bushfire Forest Signs Forests Commission Victoria (FCV ...Signs were erected around the forest to restrict the use of firearms.Shooting Prohibited sign - canvasbushfire, forest signs, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Display panel featuring different types of Victorian timbers, Forestry House - 601 Bourke Street
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... linked to FCV Forestry House in Melbourne Forests Commission ...Timber panels salvaged from the foyer of Forestry House 601 Bourke Street in late1980s. The material for the plaques was assembled in carpenters shop in FCV districts throughout the State. Timber was kiln dried by M. Feiglin & Sons at Nunawading and erected by Peter Danby Pty. Ltd. Two highly decorative panels thought to be carved by Robert Prenzel in about 1908. Closely linked to FCV Forestry House in MelbourneTimber Display PanelTwo highly carved panels thought to carved by Robert Prenzel in about 1908forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Gunter's Chain
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... superseded by steel ribbon tape. Forest measurement Surveying Forests ...Before metrication was introduced into Australia in the 1970s land was measured in chains and links. Many old parish plans show length measurements in chains and links. Area was shown in acres, roods and perches. Gunter's chain was used for measuring distance in surveying. It was designed and introduced in 1620 by English clergyman and mathematician Edmund Gunter (1581–1626). Gunter developed the measuring chain of 100 links. The chain and the link, became statutory measures in England and subsequently the British Empire. After metrication units of length were measured in meters and area in hectares. The chain was later superseded by steel ribbon tape.The 66 foot long brass Gunter's Chain is divided into 100 links (each 7.92 inches long), and marked off into groups of 10 by shaped tags which simplify intermediate measurement. It was heavy but flexible enough to be dragged through the bush on surveying transects.(Hence the common forestry term "chainman). The chain was a precision part of a surveyor's equipment. It required frequent calibration, yet needed to be sturdy enough to be dragged through rough terrain for years. It has brass hand grips at each end of chain. 1 chain = 100 links = 22 yards = 66 feet = 792 inches. 10 chains = furlong 80 chains = 1 mile 1 acre = 10 square chains = 4 roods (1/4 acre) = 40 perches.forest measurement, surveying, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Burning wand - kerosene, c 1950
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)..." design Bushfire Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) Long handle ...The origins of the humble handheld driptorch have been lost in time. They are widely used for ignition in controlled burning operations in forest and grasslands. This "home made" burner wand uses kerosene and dates from the 1950s. It has an unusual long handle with a bend and wick one one end.Unusual "home made" design Long handle burning wand with a wick at one end. Brass flow valve in the middle. Base attached to a container of kerosene and has a screw cap. bushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)Bushfire Awareness - gallows sign
... Forests Commission Victoria (FCV)... from a moving vehicle Bushfire Forest Signs Forests Commission ...Bushfire awareness gallows signs were common features during the summer fire season and hung outside both FCV offices and on major roadways This large metal sign has different text on each side and the text and lettering is simple enough to be read from a moving vehicleBushfire Awareness - gallows signbushfire, forest signs, forests commission victoria (fcv)
