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Bushwalker missing in the Bluies?? 26-Jul-2009 At 12:55:38 PM Tris

Message

On 26/07/2009 devlin66 wrote:
>Especially when people are possibly faking the situations to make money
>from it. It should be legislated that half of any media/publishing money
>goes to the rescue organisation/s involved.

I don't think so.

I still think that any obligation to donate to a volunteer rescue organisation undermines the whole volunteer ethos. This is just my opinion of course.

As for the faking thing, well: I would think that would be covered under the fraud legislation (as in, defrauding the media organisation who gave him the money for his story).

It's hard for me to find the words to exactly define what I feel about this issue, however I will try. When you start requiring (either by law or by social obligation) money to be paid for a rescue, you start moving towards a culture of people and organisations expecting money in return for a rescue. This culture would lead to the increasing reliance on insurance, which would lead to an inaccessibility to our sport by less well off people.

This brings to mind the origins of the first brigade. It is rumoured that Nero (Emperor of Rome from 37 AD to 68 AD) starting a fire brigade in the city of Rome. With his brigade of men he would go to wealthy persons homes and set fire to them. They would then demand money from the occupants of the home to put out the fire.

I am by no means trying to imply that modern volunteer (or for that matter paid) rescue personal are focused entirely on wealth generated from rescues. I am just trying to illustrate the kind of culture I see as being a detriment to our current society.

I even believe that no money should be expected if the situation arose out of stupidity or negligence.

Now, finally, I will state that I am not a member of any volunteer rescue service. People who are members of these services may have different opinions (and these are most likely more valid).

Tris