Shepparton Search and Rescue to expand training facilities

By Monique Preston

Nov 23, 2022

Grant: Shepparton Search and Rescue has received funding that will allow for the expansion of training facilities. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Shepparton Search and Rescue Squad is expanding its yard to allow members to do more training exercises.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

The squad recently received $92,000 as part of the Victorian Government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program.

The money will be added to $71,000 in funding from Greater Shepparton City Council to build a new fence to expand the boundary of the squad’s headquarters.

Most of the money will be spent on new fencing, while some will be used to install a motorised electronic gate at the yard and for some driveway works.

Squad vice-president Michael D’Elia said as the nearby Shepparton Youth Club rooms had been demolished, the squad had been able to expand its boundary by an extra 12m.

It will also take over some vacant land, allowing it to double in size.

Mr D’Elia said the extra space would be used to allow the squad to have more vehicles on site to use for road rescue training.

Currently, only two could be stored there at once, but this would allow for 10.

Mr D’Elia said the squad hoped to expand its training facilities even further in the future.

While the expanded area will help with the training of Shepparton Search and Rescue members, Mr D’Elia said the squad hoped that in the future other emergency services would also be able to use the training facilities.

Shepparton Search and Rescue was among 250 organisations across the state to receive grants through the Victorian Government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program.

Other organisations in the region to receive grants included Echuca-Moama Search and Rescue, which received almost $115,000 to upgrade vital rescue equipment and boost its capabilities.

Nagambie and Euroa fire brigades also received money to put towards new vehicles.

Mr D’Elia said the grants provided a fantastic opportunity for volunteer emergency groups to purchase new equipment or buy new vehicles.

“We are very lucky that we’ve got a number of them (over the years),” he said.

“It continues to establish us in the emergency services network.

“We can develop training facilities, which means better training for our members and it is better for the community as a whole.”