Edenhope SES requires support from Goroke SES for roadside rescue

Edenhope SES lacks the amount of trained volunteers required to fully operate an emergency truck, and relies on support from Goroke SES to respond to emergencies.

SES Midwest region assistant chief officer, Stephen Warren, said the shortage may lead to delayed emergency response times in the area.

"The effect is going to be, if someone has a road accident in that area and they need rescuing there is going to be a bit more of a delay," Mr Warren said.

"The rescue truck is actually at Goroke at the moment, but we are bringing in another rescue truck to Edenhope next week so they can train and practice on all the tools.

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"The main thing is yes we've got a gap and we need more volunteers there. It is not ideal for that area at the moment."

Mr Warren said finding volunteers for the SES is difficult due to the long and rigorous training required to become a volunteer.

Many regional emergency services have had similar issues around volunteer recruitment, as towns such as Edenhope face issues of rural decline and an aging population.

Edenhope SES currently has 12 active members. Last year Edenhope SES responded to 31 requests for assistance, including five road rescues.

In a statement, a Victorian government spokesperson said the road rescue truck at Edenhope was temporarily relocated to Goroke due to a lack of qualified road crash rescue responders.

"Our SES volunteers are committed to providing the best service to Victoria, and the Wimmera community should be in no doubt that they will receive the best emergency response, wherever they live," The government spokesperson said.

"We'll continue to provide our volunteers with the tools and resources they need to continue this important work."

The rescue truck has now been returned to Edenhope SES, where roadside crash rescue operations will continue with help from Goroke SES.

Victorian SES identified the need to support local SES units finance and training in its 2017 Operational Capability Strategy 2017 - 2022.

A Victorian government spokesperson said this support was reflected in the $54 million invested in SES facilities across three state budgets.

"VICSES' Operational Capability strategy commits to identifying 'local solutions to local problems', with the midwest a region regularly working with units such as Edenhope to actively seek and promote volunteerism," The spokesperson said.

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