Port Fairy Marine Rescue Service (PFMRS) members will no longer have to tow the rescue boat with their own cars after gaining more than $62,000 in state government funding.
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It is one of 34 Western Victoria emergency volunteer organisations to benefit from almost $350,000 through the Emergency Services Volunteer Sustainability Grants program.
Other big winners include the Port Campbell Surf Lifesaving Club ($29,500), Portland Surf Lifesaving Club ($33,500) Lismore SES ($25,000) and Portland Fire Brigade ($21,500).
Funds will be used to improve facilities, purchase operational equipment and for volunteer training and development.
Port Fairy Marine Rescue Service president Russell Lemke said the funds would be used to purchase a new ute and boat trailer, which they would not have otherwise been able to afford.
“To have a vehicle that’s specifically for that job is going to be a great relief for volunteers who presently have to use their own vehicles,” Mr Lemke said. “It’s going to be a great help.”
He said they needed a vehicle that could tow the three tonne rescue boat and were looking to purchase a Isuzu D-Max which had a dual-cab and could carry volunteers to local jobs and rescues further afield.
“We’ll have a full suite of equipment to perform the job we need to do,” he said.
He said the 10-year-old galvanised iron trailer was “basically not roadworthy” and would be replaced with an aluminium one.
The group will receive $55,448 for equipment and $7500 for training and development.
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney congratulated grant recipients.
“(I) hope that it assists them in the outstanding job they do in keeping the community safe,” she said.
She said the program was established to ensure volunteers could continue “their crucial work, protecting Victorian properties and lives”.
Groups can apply for a grant by visiting the Emergency Management Victoria website. Other recipients include Framlingham CFA (Merri Group) ($1700) and Mepunga Hopkins Curdies CFA ($1140) for operational equipment and Warrnambool Flotilla 16 ($7500) for training.
Groups to improve their equipment include Corangamite CFA Group ($3230), Leslie Manor Fire Brigade ($3300), Lismore CFA ($6450), Lismore CFA ($1230) and Princetown CFA ($1140) for operational equipment, training and development. Four Surf Coast/South Barwon region groups and 11 Colac/Otway Shire region applicants were also successful in the grants program.
