United front: Tatura SES unit controller Bec Gould, Shepparton Search and Rescue president Nacole Standfield, and VICSES readiness and response acting chief officer Alistair Drayton with the memorandum of understanding.
This year two emergency services groups will celebrate 10 years of the original signing of a document to benefit residents of the Goulburn Valley.
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Shepparton Search and Rescue and Victorian State Emergency Service signed an original memorandum of understanding document a decade ago to allow the Shepparton Search and Rescue unit to assist VICSES in times of floods and storms in the region.
That initial signing was bolstered last week, with the most recent signing of an updated MOU between the two groups replacing one signed four years ago.
VICSES senior assistant chief officer Ray Jasper said the new document would secure an ongoing collaboration to support the Greater Shepparton community.
“This MOU is about taking the partnership between Victoria State Emergency Service and Shepparton Search and Rescue to another level and it allows us to continue to provide a crucial service to the Greater Shepparton community, as seen extensively throughout the October 2022 floods, with VICSES Tatura unit working closely with Shepparton Search and Rescue crews across hundreds of water rescues,” Mr Jasper said.
“We’ve long recognised the excellent service Shepparton Search and Rescue provides during emergencies and we are keen to strengthen this relationship into the future.
“This MOU shows a commitment by both organisations to work together and ensure the services provided to the local community are of the highest quality, and what the community sees, is a seamless and efficient response to all emergencies.”
Joint effort: Shepparton Search and Rescue and VICSES members at the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
Shepparton Search and Rescue president Nacole Standfield said the MOU was reviewed every few years.
She said the newest one would improve resource capabilities and would mean VICSES would be able to call on the Shepparton Search and Rescue unit if it needed more manpower during floods or storms.
“In the past 10 years we’ve continued to strengthen and build the relationship between the two groups and will continue to do so into the future,” Ms Standfield said.
“I’m really excited to sign another MOU to continue the relationship built over the past 10 years.”
This MOU is the only one VICSES has with an independent organisation.
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