Two years after the Black Summer bushfires threatened the Central Coast, two local volunteer emergency service organisation supporting remote, regional and rural communities, are sharing over $400,000 in grants for projects that will assist in their recovery and strengthen their emergency response capabilities.
Berkeley Vale Rural Fire Service and Wyee Point Rural Fire Brigade will both receive funds out of the 35 organisations haring the funding pool.
Berkeley Vale RFS received $5,822 to purchase battery operated rescue tools and associated equipment such as hand-held radios, updated GPS units and a backpack resuscitator that will enhance emergency response activities and community safety.
Wyee Point RFB received $5,000 that will be spent on a community awareness notice board and online training television that will boost community emergency messaging and volunteer training capabilities with the provision of a community notice board.
These grants have been funded the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s (FRRR) Volunteer Emergency Services Fund (VESF) program, thanks to a generous private donor, grants range from $2,232 to maintain fire-crew hydration through the installation of a car fridge, to $25,000 to increase access to life saving equipment with the purchase.
The VEFS supports the ongoing bushfire recovery and preparedness taking place in eligible fire affected communities across NSW.
FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said “these grants will support rural communities and protected the volunteers who are leading the pathway to recovery.
“Programs like this are crucial to the long-term resilience of these communities.
“Providing the necessary resources and support for these volunteers will not only bolster the preparedness of these fire-affected areas but will also enable our volunteers to recover, both physically and mentally, as they continue to serve rural Australia in the safest and most effective ways possible.
“In this round, we saw a lot of requests for support in purchasing and upgrading emergency equipment.
“Whether it’s additional firefighting trailers, community emergency messaging systems or emergency medical equipment, these organisations will be better equipped to save lives,” Egleton said.
More information about the grants can be found on FRRR’s website.
The next and last round of the program is expected to open in February 2022.
The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal is the only national foundation specifically focused on ensuring the social and economic strength of remote, rural and regional communities.
FRRR’s unique model connects common purposes and investments with locally prioritised needs, to create communities that are vital and resilient.
Since FRRR’s start in 2000, it has nearly delivered $135M to more than 12,000 projects.
Harry Mulholland