Welcome to “Chicken Chinwag”, a recurring column written by Neighbourhood Watch Cowra (NHW Cowra) to raise awareness and highlight issues relating to community safety.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual General Meeting/Community Forum and voted to name our mascot. The name, chosen by Cowra local Lynnette Beer, is: Neighbour-hen.

You might be wondering - what’s with the chicken?

NHW Cowra created a mascot to help make our message more memorable.

“Neighbourhood watch” is a pretty dry and abstract concept, so to make our purpose more real and tangible we created ‘Neighbourhen’.

As a largely agricultural community, we often put more emphasis on the security of our livestock than our own belongings.

A grazier will be paranoid about closing the gates after mustering, or that the chicken coop is locked every night to keep out foxes - but the same operator will leave their work car unlocked every night.

It sounds silly, but it’s relevant when you consider that the majority of vehicle thefts occur to cars that are unlocked with the keys inside.

This links to the overall purpose of NHW Cowra, to raise awareness and educate the community about preventable crimes, crises and issues so that our emergency services can focus on higher value targets.

The main business of the Annual General Meeting was to elect a new committee. Mr Henry Downing was elected unopposed as the new president of Neighbourhood Watch Cowra, with Nikki Kiss OAM becoming Vice-President.

Fire and Rescue NSW Captain Stephen Overman addressed the forum. He stated that this winter had been a relatively quiet one with regard to residential fires, but we all need to remain vigilant. Smoke alarms are legally required in all residences and can be fitted and checked by NSW Fire and Rescue for high risk residents. If you are in a rental property and require information about this, NSW Fire and Rescue can provide resources and information.

Mr Overman said that a major cause of concern has been road safety, with an increase in accidents due to wet roads and poor visibility this winter. This highlights the broader pressures and responsibilities of all emergency service personnel in the area.

He pointed out that there will be an increase in burning off in the coming months prior to summer and sent out a general reminder to apply in good time for permits to do so.

With the arrival of cooler weather, appliances such as electric blankets and heaters get pulled out of storage and plugged in. Electric blankets should be checked regularly for faults such as broken wires and frayed cords.

To test an electric blanket lay it flat on top of the bed, then switch it on for five minutes before putting it on the bed for use to confirm it is okay. The use of a fire guard around heating appliances can prevent fires caused by accidental bumping and keeping clothes and furniture at least one metre away from heating appliances is important.

When using a clothes dryer, make sure the lint filter is cleaned out after every cycle. Remember to clean behind the dryer and the exhaust port at least every 6 months. It is also important to ventilate rooms where a dryer is being used.

The use of outdoor heaters and barbecues indoors is one of the most dangerous mistakes that can be made.

These devices emit carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous gas that you can’t see, taste or smell. It is produced from burning fuels like gas, wood and charcoal, even if there is no smoke.

Common sources of carbon monoxide include barbeques, charcoal briquettes/beads and grills, outdoor heaters, gas lanterns and generators.

Working smoke alarms are a vital aspect of fire safety, as you don’t smell smoke if you are asleep. It is a good idea to have a set day/time each year to check alarms and put in fresh batteries.

Inspector Tom Murdoch, the newly appointed Police Inspector for our district, also addressed the forum. He pointed out that over the last five years, the crime rate has been fairly steady in Cowra, with some peaks and troughs. He stressed the importance of community information in keeping our community safe, and that providing police with dash cam or CCTV footage can be of great assistance in solving crimes.

Although the Cowra Police Station is not manned 24 hours, their on-call response times are rapid; with all officers living in the community they serve.

That concludes the first edition of Chicken Chinwag, we hope that it continues to serve Cowra and surrounding area residents.

If you have any questions the best way to reach us is via our Facebook page @NHWCowra.