MANILLA VOLUNTEER RESCUE ASSOCIATION

Page: 78

Mr PETER DRAPER (Tamworth) [6.17 p.m.]: Tonight I speak about the Manilla Volunteer Rescue Association [VRA], the quiet achievers of the local community. The VRA is the busiest provider of primary response and rescue services in country New South Wales, including motor vehicle accident rescue. Volunteers assist NSW Police, NSW Fire Brigades, the Ambulance Service, the Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service, and they provide these rescue services through a wonderful group of volunteers who have specialist accreditation and field communications. Last year the VRA rescued 771 persons and recovered 126 deceased persons. They were called out to more than 870 motor vehicle incidents in New South Wales, which is nearly 60 per cent of incidents outside Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong. Also, VRA volunteers were involved in rescue operations following Cyclone Tracy in Darwin, the Granville rail disaster, the Newcastle earthquake and the Thredbo landslide.

The Manilla VRA consists of 20 volunteer members from the local community who are on call 24 hours a day. Last year the group provided 21 ambulance assists, 9 police assists, attended 12 motor vehicle accidents, recovered three paragliders and assisted in a house fire. The cost of providing this service to the Manilla community alone would be in excess of $200,000 if paid services were used. Members of the VRA conduct their activities mainly through the support of the NRMA and Clubs New South Wales, the former recently supplying the group with an $8,500 Jaws of Life machine to utilise in road rescue operations. For the 2005-06 financial year the Manilla VRA survived on State Government funding of just $2,500. This limited support forces its members to pay for their own uniforms, fuel and travel for training. The remainder of operating funds for essential equipment and overheads are collected through fundraising activities in the local community that are often co-ordinated by Joe McMannamon.

Despite the challenges faced by Manilla VRA, the members enjoy being part of the group and provide a valuable service to the local area. They are the quiet achievers of country communities, often working unseen by the broader populous. Little recognition is given to members of the VRA compared to other volunteer groups, but those members remain committed. Many of their functions can be distressing to the volunteers and, being members of a small community, many of them have attended horrific car accidents where they know the victims.

Manilla VRA has the unique but highly important task of monitoring paragliding competitions conducted at the Mount Borah paragliding facility. During these competitions, VRA volunteers are given the task of following the flight of competitors, which can be quite erratic on a windy day, and they are required to assist them where necessary. Local volunteers have recounted how they have often had to retrieve a wayward paraglider from a gully or crevice. With Manilla hosting the World Paragliding Championships in January next year, Manilla VRA will certainly have its work cut out. I congratulate Manilla VRA president John Brand and captain Robert Sutherland, as well as the other volunteers, on their efforts for the community.

This year the State Government provided $1.2 million to the State's VRA land-based groups, which is used primarily for insurance premiums and capital purchases of vehicles, buildings and equipment. An additional $255,000 was also provided to the 12 maritime rescue units in the VRA. In 2004 the State VRA made an application to the State Rescue Board for $250,000 to fund competency-based training for its members. This is a very modest request relative to the value of the support and assistance the VRA volunteers provide to the community daily. To the VRA's immense frustration, the application has spent two years in limbo, and news came through recently that the application had not been successful. This has forced the VRA to take $200,000 from its annual capital grants to fund this training, reducing the already small pool of funds available for yearly operations.

Despite being the busiest rescue service outside the Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong metropolitan areas, the VRA still faces many challenges. According to VRA State president Ray Gill, its specialist units are no longer specified in State Rescue Board documentation as being accredited. This oversight has a significant impact on the legal protection of the volunteers and their organisations under section 57 of the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989. The removal of protection for the VRA specialist units is of grave concern and must be rectified urgently. I am pleased that Manilla is coming into the electorate of Tamworth in 2007, as I have many ties to the area. I have worked with the tennis club to resurface the courts, and I am currently working on obtaining the required funds for the new community bus. While working behind the bar at the local RSL club I met my wife, Sharon. We have two wonderful kids, Ben, who is 11, and Eliza, who is 7. We regularly visit Manilla. I look forward to working closely with the local community on many issues of local importance in years to come.

Private members' statements noted.

[Mr Deputy-Speaker left the chair at 6.23 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m.]

Proof, NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard.