
THE Narre Warren State Emergency Service (SES) received extra equipment this week to help it continue its much-needed work across the City of Casey.
A ladder, reels and other rescue tools were included in the package which was provided as part of insurance company AAMI’s annual $500,000 sponsorship of Victoria SES (VICSES).
The presentation was made at the SES headquarters in Southbank, Melbourne, on Monday.
Under the program, each of the VICSES’s 140 operational and 10 support units receive essential rescue equipment that is used to carry out invaluable work throughout the community. AAMI Victorian executive manager Sue Jellie said the sponsorship was in its sixth year.
“Since 2003, AAMI has funded more than $1.5 million worth of rescue equipment, with items such as GPS transmitters, car stabilisation kits and chainsaws going to every SES unit across Victoria as part of our extensive partnership,” Ms Jellie said.
“The equipment provided in today’s handover will be a major boost to the Narre Warren unit’s capacity to respond to emergencies.”
VICSES chief executive Mary Barry said the partnership was vital to the ongoing success of the SES. “The contribution that AAMI makes is of immense value to VICSES volunteers – the equipment funded by AAMI helps our 5500 volunteers provide a vital emergency service role in their local communities,” Ms Barry said.
“We are pleased to be able to continue to partner with AAMI in identifying the individual equipment needs of each unit,” she said.
Ms Jellie said: “We’re pleased to support the VICSES, whose volunteers give so generously of their time in training and responding to natural disasters and other emergencies, such as major weather events, road accidents and search and rescue operations.”