The Yarrawonga SES was already equipped with the jaws of life (hydraulic rescue tool) as well as a boat to complete water rescues, however both were reaching, if not at, their expiration dates.
The Victorian SES through state funding bought the jaws of life worth $120,000 as well as the boat with no charge to the local SES unit with Unit Controller Jason Forber saying this new machinery is the latest and greatest of what Holmatro (rescue equipment manufacturer) do.
“What we had before this was petrol powered, hydraulic pumps that powered the tools. Now these new ones are lithium battery powered,” Mr Forber said.
“We received two Rams, pedal cover, spreaders, incline covers and the combi tool with all retrofitted to the truck.
“They work faster than the old gear and are stronger to help us keep up with changing car technologies with variable speed.
“It is a game changer for SES and rescue, it really is. They are more ergonomically friendly. The old ones only had half a handle while these have one right the way around, making it easier to hold as well as built in LED lights for jobs at night.
“Now we can have three tool operators, walk up have one tool each then round robin the car to have casualties out way quicker and easier.
“It will literally shave about eight minutes off set up time once we arrive on scene plus it eliminates trip hazards with no hydraulic lines around the scene anymore.
“A lot of people have raised concern about the battery and going flat. Each battery contains enough juice to power the tool for an hour and 15 minutes non-stop. The average extraction that the tools may be required for are 20 minutes.
“We also have three spare batteries and they are all interchangeable.”
Mr Forber said the new machinery got delivered a week or so before Christmas with the crew going straight into training with them before the festive period.
“Now when the pager goes off at two o’clock in the morning and we come screaming down to the shed, we have the best that Holmatro have to offer, to get people out of the cars faster and safer,” Mr Forber said.
“Last year was a better year for the crew using jaws of life as luckily we did not have to use them much at all however a few cases required extraction.
“For us this is exciting. This is gear we didn’t imagine having 5 – 10 years ago.
“Yarrawonga is lucky, we have a really talented road rescue team here who are really good at what they do.
“Having this new equipment to complement the skilled labour they have got is fantastic.”
As well as the jaws of life, the local unit received a new boat several months ago which replaces the riverboat that was at the SES for 29 years.
“Our old boat served us well but a new one was well and truly needed,” Mr Forber said.
“It has the latest Hummingbird depth sounder technology and we also received a new boat trailer that is designed to launch anywhere.
“It is run in and has been out doing a few safety runs with events in the region recently.
“It is a pretty big motor for a littlish boat but the big motor allows us to get across the lake quicker if something has happened on the far Mulwala side.
“It’s been good to receive new equipment but we just don’t want to use it now as we want the community to remain safe.”
Membership is also looking up for the Yarrawonga unit.
“SES is always looking at how they can change things for the better, make things safer not just for the crews responding but the communities we are going out to help,” Mr Forber said.
“Membership of the Yarrawonga SES is the highest I have seen it in my time which is great for our local community, knowing there is more hands-on deck.
“It’s good seeing everything come together, off the back of the pandemic everything sat idle but we are now seeing new equipment being delivered and more and more people joining the SES which is fantastic.”
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