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Latrobe’s ‘safe community’ attracts widespread attention Latrobe’s reputation as a safe community has spread both nationally and internationally, with a range of guests visiting the region to gain a better understanding of community safety. By Latrobe Shire Council - 23rd November 2004 - Back to News A visiting delegation from Greater Shepparton City Council visited Latrobe City last week to examine Latrobe City’s World Health Organisation ‘Safe Community’ program and two aspiring Swedish fire fighters are visiting this week.
Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Darrell White, said that the Shepparton delegation included the Mayor, councillors, Chief Executive Officer, and a representative from the Victoria Police.
"The visitors embarked on a tour of Latrobe City to visit venues where there are recognised safety programs in place. These included the entertainment precinct in Traralgon, the Loy Yang Power Station and Churchill’s Glendonald Estate Neighbourhood Renewal Program.
"The visitors also went to the Youth Substance Abuse Service (YSAS) Safe Space, new corporate headquarters and Justice Precinct in Morwell along with the Hazelwood Power Traffic School, and finally the Emergency Department at the Latrobe Regional Hospital," Cr White explained.
"After returning to the Citizen Service Centre in Traralgon, the delegates heard from various local dignitaries including Lorraine Bartling, Chair of the Latrobe Local Safety Committee, Julie Hocking, Manager Neighbourhood Renewal, Department of Human Services and Senior Sergeant Craig Gye of the Victoria Police," Cr White said.
Latrobe City’s Manager Community Safety, Henk Harberts, said Latrobe was the fifteenth ‘safe community’ accredited by the World Health Organisation, and there are now in excess of eighty accredited communities in the program.
"There are also more than 200 communities aspiring to gain accreditation, and Greater Shepparton is one of them, Mr Harberts explained.
"Through the Safe Communities Program, Latrobe has agreed to promote safety and share community safety experiences on a national level, and this has led to a number of visits to the region recently by national and international guests.
"Two aspiring Swedish fire fighters, Tommy Grip and Jonas Friberg, are also visiting Latrobe City. They are here to study the role of local fire fighters in community safety," Mr Harberts said.
"The Swedish Government recently initiated a two-year academic training course for Swedish citizens wanting to become fire fighters, with trainees able to undertake overseas study as part of the course. Tommy and Jonas have already visited the Melbourne Fire Brigade to gain a better understanding of how Australian fire fighters help to provide community safety. However, Latrobe’s reputation has spread across continents, and the two young men were advised by course leaders to visit the Latrobe region and see first hand how many organisations in the area work together to make the region a recognised safe community," Mr Harberts concluded.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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