VICSES Warracknabeal Unit unveils spacious new headquarters

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) Warracknabeal Unit volunteers will be better prepared to respond to emergencies since their recent move to a new, larger headquarters in the heart of their community.

Warracknabeal volunteers welcomed VICSES staff, local first responders and the wider community to their new Devereaux Street base on Saturday morning, showcasing their adopted home at the town’s former CFA headquarters.

With the move made possible courtesy of funding from VICSES via the State Government as well as unit-raised community funds and recent grant success, the site sparkled as volunteers toured attendees through the new premises, highlighting a wealth of additional space for volunteers to train and prepare for emergencies.

Featuring an expanded garage space for the unit’s fleet of rescue vehicles and a dedicated meeting room, training room and office spaces, the new facility provides ample room for the unit’s existing volunteer-base as well as catering to further potential growth within the unit.

A concreted rear space ensures volunteers have the room necessary to hone their emergency skills, including vital road crash rescue proficiency and storm, flood and other hazard response, while dedicated sheds and quick-access lockers ensure unit equipment can be stored efficiently.

The new headquarters also offers a dedicated turn-out space with individual lockers for volunteers and a twin bathroom upgrade, delivering a substantial upgrade from the unit’s previous location on nearby Lyle Street, offering improved facilities for members, current and future.

Since moving into the new facility last November, VICSES Warracknabeal Unit volunteers have been called to almost 40 requests for assistance in their community, including 15 reports of downed trees and six incidents requiring road crash rescue support.

Volunteers have also provided assistance to other local first responders on several occasions in that same timeframe, signifying the ‘We Work As One’ approach emergency service emergency service providers in Warracknabeal and across Victoria pride themselves on.

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

Quotes attributable to Mick Evans, VICSES Warracknabeal Unit Controller:

“Our new home has made a huge difference for our volunteer-base, who now have plenty of space to ensure they’re as prepared and ready as they can be to support our communities in their time of need.

“It’s pleasing to see these plans come to fruition and deliver a base of operations which will benefit our volunteers and the wider community into the future.

“It’s fantastic to be able to showcase this outstanding new headquarters and thank our community for the support they provide us each and every day.”