By PETER DOUGLAS
EMERALD SES has continued its great work in stocking up on much-needed emergency services equipment.
Last October, Emerald SES made a decision to replace its four-wheel-drive Nissan Patrol, which came after an SES Victoria safety alert regarding the overloading of vehicles.
Dale Frankland from the local unit said the vehicle replacement was overdue.
“We have chosen to replace it with a twin cab Colorado,” he said.
“In October last year, the Emerald SES made a decision that we would see what we could do about raising some money towards it.
“Then, earlier this year we made a decision to apply for a government grant that may add yet another vehicle in a two-for-one scheme.”
Mr Frankland said the unit was hoping to find out soon if their application had been successful.
“In the meantime, we have raised $30,000.”
In more positive news, the unit was also one of 34 volunteer units in Victoria to receive an allocation of new equipment.
As part of the annual AAMI equipment handover program, volunteers were able to select which items were most needed.
VIC SES members Peter Kopp and Mr Frankland collected for the unit a pole saw, a sked stretcher and Packexe window film.
AAMI has been a community partner of VICSES since 2002, providing funding for all VICSES units to purchase new equipment every year.
The organisation supplies 1450 items to volunteers across Victoria.
SES Victoria chief executive officer, Stephen Griffin, said volunteers worked tirelessly to educate and prepare their communities.
Meanwhile, the unit is opening its doors to the public on Sunday, 4 October, for people to discover more about the local unit.
While not directly a recruitment event, any inquiries would be welcomed.
The unit will have a sausage size fired up from 11am to 2pm to feed the anticipated crowd.
