Local emergency service personnel were kept well-fuelled during a major coastal disaster simulation recently, thanks to catering support from the Bairnsdale Rapid Relief Team (RRT).
Organised by the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) Eastern Region, the PacWave 26 exercise provided an opportunity for agencies across the Pacific region to test emergency response arrangements for a simulated tsunami threat in real time.
The high-level exercise brought together Victoria’s major emergency management and response agencies. Key leaders in attendance included Emergency Management Victoria chief officer Tim Wiebusch and VICSES chief officer Alistair Drayton.
To support the demanding operational schedule, a team of 10 local RRT volunteers set up catering operations on site, cooking and serving 45 hot meals to agency representatives and frontline personnel throughout the day.
RRT local team leader Nicholas Hocking said it was an honour for the Bairnsdale team to support crews tasked with keeping regional communities safe.
“It was a privilege for our Bairnsdale volunteers to be on the ground supporting the crews taking part in PacWave 26,” Mr Hocking said.
Mr Hocking emphasised the critical role inter-agency training plays in disaster preparedness across East Gippsland and the broader state.
“Exercises like this are so important for making sure our emergency services are ready to keep communities safe when it matters most,” he said.
“We are always honoured to do our bit to support the people behind that vital preparation.”
As the charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, the RRT was established in 2013 to assist frontline workers and emergency services during disasters, crises and community events.
