Marong SES wins $100k for truck, first had to fundraise half that amount

The Victorian government has given Marong's State Emergency Services unit almost $100,000 towards a new truck, but only after volunteers fundraised half of that amount.

The $97,000 grant will mean the Marong service can replace the utility vehicle and trailer it currently uses for road rescues.

Unit controller Kevin Cahill said the money would mean quicker response times now teams did not have to tow their equipment.  

But the government grant program does not come without financial obligation for the SES, who are given $2 for every $1 it has fundraised. 

Marong unit members gather donations by running car parks at community events and partnering with the local pub’s monthly poker night. 

They will also trade in one of their unit’s vehicles in order to afford the upgrade.   

Members must also find funds for operational expenses that remain outstanding after annual contributions from the state government and City of Greater Bendigo. 

Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards said a review into emergency services funding was underway.

"Anything the state government can do to support them is really important, and that review will be looking at other ways we can support our amazing volunteers," she said.

“We have a lot of crashes around our region and it’s very important that SES here at Marong have the capaicity to go out and use those vehicles to support people who are involved in car crashes.”

But she said fundraising had always been a part of the work of emergency volunteers, explaining many of them had a talent for gathering donations. 

She also conceded many volunteer organisations she visited were struggling to attract and retain members. 

Emergency services minister James Merlino said his government had flagged SES funding as an issue for consideration, saying he hoped to see the service achieve “a sustainable footing”. 

“This will be in consultation with Emergency Management Victoria, the SES, Local Government Victoria and the Municipal Association of Victoria,” he said.

“We will ensure that no local volunteer unit experiences any loss in funding.”

About 50 people gave their time to the Marong SES unit and Mr Cahill said he hoped to recruit more members in September. 

But fundraising demands took a toll on his peers. 

“Everyone knows we're volunteers, we have jobs during the day and night,” he said. “You volunteer to help people, and then you have to go and rattle tins.”