Deepwater State Emergency Service (SES) Unit have emerged victorious from the annual SES North West Region Rescue Competition conducted at the Inverell SES Training Facility over the last weekend of March.
The Rescue Competition provided a unique opportunity for volunteers from North West SES Units to come together in a learning forum with a spirit of friendly rivalry.
The Rescue Competition showcased the skills of SES volunteers and participating teams were presented with a series of challenging rescue scenarios.
The stands tested such skills as general rescue, storm response, sandbagging, first aid, shoring and team-work. After a day of intense competition Deepwater SES Unit emerged victorious being awarded the Andy Roberts Memorial Rescue Challenge Shield.
North West SES Learning and Development Officer Jean-Mary Botfield co-ordinated the Competition and said, “The Inverell SES Training Facility is the perfect location for teams to be put through a range of rescue scenarios.
The challenging stands ensured that volunteer skills and ingenuity were well tested. The competition tested a range of skills used by volunteers in responding to requests from the community. Rescue competitions also provide the opportunity to share ideas and skills and to make new friendships.”
SES volunteers from Bingara and Warialda at the Rescue Competition – (left to right) Michael Manttan, Geoff Leech, Peter Turnbull, Alf King, Brian Dixon and Tony Manttan.
Bingara SES volunteers Alf King, Peter Turnbull and Geoff Leech teamed with Warialda SES members Michael Manttan and Tony Manttan to form the Gwydir Shire Team to participate in the competition.
Gwydir Shire SES Local Controller Peter O’Brien assisted in judging the Rescue from Heights stand. Volunteers attended the competition from Tenterfield, Deepwater, Inverell, Bingara, Warialda, Moree, Boggabilla and Mungindi.
