Local Volunteers

I’d like to introduce you to Cessnock District VRA Rescue Squad; you’ve probably heard of them but may not be quite sure what service they provide to the local community.

All members of the squad are volunteers and receive absolutely no financial payment for their service. The squad is generally made up of around twenty accredited rescue operators and trainees as required. The squad is on call 24/7.

Coverage area is from F3 roundabout Beresfield, Buchanan, Freemans Waterhole, Kulnura, Wollombi, Pokolbin, Keinbah, Sawyers Gully, Cliftleigh and points in between. They have sheds at Cessnock and Kurri both housing a primary response rescue truck and a fully equipped 4wd.

The squad is called upon for transport accidents (planes, trains and automobiles), animal rescues, searches, inland waterway rescues, vertical rescues (cliffs etc), domestic and industrial rescues, storm and tempest response along with any assistance required by all other emergency services. They average between 100 and 200 call outs per year, however during events like the June2007 storm they attended more than that in 1 week.

The major point I would like to make about the squad is that they are primarily self funded (funds from community, businesses, grants and other duties) some corporate and government funding is received. The Cessnock District VRA Rescue Squad is widely regarded as one of the best equipped and trained rescue squads in NSW. There are many reasons for this, however the primary reason is due to the commitment and dedication of the volunteer members who strive to continually set the benchmark and provide the people in the Cessnock Shire with the best rescue service possible.

What I would ask is if you have been helped in anyway by the Squad let us know about it, we will display it here as a response, and most importantly when you see them providing car parking at all the major events in Cessnock and Pokolbin, drop a gold coin in the donation buckets or alternatively they do have money boxes in various businesses e.g. Cessnock – KFC, Video Ezy, BP Aberdare, Millfield – Paxton – West Cessnock and Bellbird Takeaways and at Kurri – KFC, Kurri Workers Club and BP Stanford Merthyr. Unfortunately we never know when we or a member of our family will need their assistance. I personally would like to thank them for “lending a helping hand, anywhere, anytime”.

Gail

March 2nd, 2009 | Leave a Comment »