New bike park reveal boosts VICSES Bellarine Unit’s rescue readiness

29/07/2026, 4:34 PM
VICSES volunteers gained valuable experience utilising a single wheel 'mule' stretcher to transport patients across the Ocean Grove District Ride Centre's undulating terrain.

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers on the Bellarine Peninsula have been given a unique opportunity to refine their skillset by undertaking a series of rescue simulations at a yet-to-be opened mountain bike park at Ocean Grove.

VICSES Bellarine Unit volunteers recently joined representatives from Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria at the brand-new Ocean Grove District Ride Centre, simulating the rescue and retrieval of injured patients and working closely with partner agencies to familiarise themselves with the park’s unique layout.

The site, which features an asphalt pump track as well as a series of jump lines catering to riders of all skill levels, is set to open in the coming weeks and expected to attract cycling enthusiasts from across the City of Greater Geelong and beyond.

Around 35 emergency services volunteers and staff were in attendance on 18 July, gaining valuable experience transporting patients down from and around the park’s jump infrastructure using a single-wheel stretcher affectionately known as a ‘mule’.

Widely used across the VICSES fleet, the mule allows volunteers to safely retrieve and transport patients down steep, bumpy or otherwise challenging terrain and often into the care of paramedics for further treatment.

The exercise provided the perfect opportunity for VICSES Bellarine Unit volunteers to strengthen partnerships with fellow first responders from Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police.

The exercise also allowed the strengthening of valuable inter-agency partnerships in the local area, improving awareness of each emergency service’s capabilities and increasing the likelihood of responding crews having familiarity with each other in a real-life critical emergency.

The training session follows a busy 2025/26 for VICSES Barwon area volunteers, who were called to more than 2,400 incidents during the most recent financial year, including more than 100 which involved aiding other emergency service agencies on more than 100 occasions.

To find out more about volunteering with VICSES, visit www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us

Quotes attributable to Shae Walton, VICSES Operations Manager – Barwon Unit Support Area:

“VICSES volunteers take great pride in contributing and always being a highly visible presence in their local community.

“While our volunteers hope never to be required to respond to an emergency at this new site, interagency training opportunities such as these ensure our members are prepared and ready to respond safely and efficiently if ever needed.”