By DANI ROTHWELL
EMERALD and Pakenham Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) units have received new equipment.
AAMI’s equipment handover program has been running since 2002 and provides VICSES units with new equipment every year.
The Emerald unit received a polesaw, stretcher and road rescue equipment and the Pakenham unit received cord reels, half spine board, stabilising equipment, rescue tools and driver bit sets.
Emerald unit members Peter Kopp and Dale Frankland collected their unit’s gear.
Peter has been volunteering with VICSES for two and a half years and has volunteers with Rotary overseas.
Pakenham unit members Matt Spiteri and Hassan Faad collected Pakenham’s new equipment.
Hassan has been a VICSES volunteer for more than two years.
“I enjoy the diversity of the Pakenham unit,” he said.
VICSES volunteers work to educate and prepare their communities for hazards and perform accredited training year-round to keep their skills sharp.
AAMI has contributed more than $5 million to VICSES, providing the equipment to volunteers and supporting community awareness campaigns such as StormSafe Week.
