Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron and Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato hand over the keys of a new rescue truck to Emerald SES volunteers Gerard Kennedy, Rob Tillman and Penny Edwards. 23315 Picture: Tania Martin
By Tania Martin
HILLS rescue missions and storm clean-ups have been bolstered by a new state-of-the-art SES truck.
The $250,000 rescue vehicle was last week delivered to Emerald SES as part of a State Government commitment to emergency services.
Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron and Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato handed over the keys last Thursday, 2 October.
The truck was a part of a State Government 2008-09 budget $4 million vehicle upgrade program for VICSES.
Ms Lobato said the truck would be a major boost to the Emerald unit which was one of the busiest in the state.
Emerald SES receives an average 600 call outs a year, with the majority of calls for storm damage.
In April the unit responded to more than 200 calls after severe storms wreaked havoc on the hills.
Unit controller Gerard Kennedy said the truck was bigger and faster than the old vehicle with the capacity to carry up to seven people rather than five.
Mr Kennedy said it would also be a lot faster.
“On many occasions in the old truck it was hard to get up the hill with all the equipment,” he said.
“We would have the sirens going but we would be travelling at just 30 km/h.”
The new truck also features built-in storage racks and compartments that slide out and tilt to allow equipment at the back of the truck to be easily accessed by volunteers.
Mr Kennedy said the new design of the truck with the roll-out trays would also be better.
He said they would no longer have to strain their backs getting heavy equipment out of the truck.
This state-of-the-art truck also features its own electrical power, compressed air and a light mast.
Mr Cameron said the new truck was part of the government’s support of emergency service volunteers across the state.
“This truck will be used to respond to emergencies such as motor vehicle accidents, search and rescue operations and natural disasters,” he said.
