INVERELL and Ashford State Emergency Service units received two new vehicles into the fold on September 25.
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Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, Inverell mayor Paul Harmon, SES brass and a raft of SES volunteers from across the region arrived to welcome the additions.
Mr Marshall presented Inverell unit controller Dale Hersee with keys for a new, custom-fitted, medium storm-response truck, replacing their 20-plus-year-old vehicle.
“Which is the eleventh truck we’ve produced in this production run,” Acting North West regional controller Anthony Galvin said.
“It’s a totally new vehicle and concept to the service and it’s a great milestone for the service in terms of improving our capability and improving our service to the community.”
The new Inverell truck is part of a standardised design concept, so as the vehicles are moved around a region, all volunteers will know exactly where to find stowed equipment.
Long-time Inverell unit controller Charlie Moir was honoured with a plaque to commemorate his SES service and contributions at the event.
Mr Moir was also integral to the new vehicles.
“I’m on what they call the executive fleet steering committee, and I’ve been party to this from the word go, and this is the end result,” he said.
It’s a great milestone for the service.
- Acting North West SES regional controller Anthony Galvin
He said he was very satisfied with the outcome for the SES.
“Absolutely. It came from owning no vehicles, to now I think it’s something like 500.”
Tenterfield unit controller Richard Dennison volunteered to join the fleet design team a year ago.
“It’s something new to learn, I have a background in vehicles, more the interior side of it than the mechanical, it puts new perspective into what to look for,” he said.
“The list of things that are on there is standardised already, so it just makes it easier to find it, updates the fleet to more user-friendly, safer.”
Mr Dennison said there are now 13 such vehicles across the state, and about each region will have one.
Former Ashford unit controller, now Deputy North West regional controller Brian Parsons said the new Ashford multi-purpose vehicle was validation of the unit’s service.
“This vehicle has the capability to respond to events better during times of crisis,” he said.
Mr Parsons said the two vehicles will be utilised across the region.
“If one community’s hit, we usually rally units to go and help, and obviously the Inverell unit would go and help Ashford in a storm even, which is what that (new) truck’s for.”
