ETC contributes to backyard coverage of Coffs SES

The Coffs Harbour City unit of the State Emergency Service is now better equipped to respond to emergencies with the construction of a new $64,000 backyard shed.

Unit Commander Bill Roffey said the new clearspan shed, partially funded by the ETC Community Support Fund, provided full backyard coverage of the unit.

“The new shed provides better storage, with a mezzanine floor, plus a dedicated workshop where the maintenance of equipment can occur, as well as allowing a faster and more organised response to rescues,” Mr Roffey said.

“It was a mishmash of sheds previously and people were prone to taking doors off trucks because when they leave to attend a road crash their adrenalin is pumping.”

Mr Roffey said the new shed would also improve the welfare of the unit’s 80 members/volunteers.

“When it’s bucketing down with rain it will be nice for our volunteers to be undercover when getting in and out of vehicles, preparing sandbags or maintaining vehicles,” Mr Roffey said.

“We are a volunteer organisation. No one in the Coffs Harbour unit gets paid to do the job that we do. People come out and give their time as a way of giving back to the community.

Mr Roffey acknowledged ETC, North Coast Shed Market, Watson’s Aluminium, Piggot Electrical and Coffs Harbour City Council for their involvement and contribution to the project.

“Thanks to the ETC Community Support Fund for its generous support,” Mr Roffey said.

“The Funds contribution of $15,000 towards this project goes some ways towards making our volunteer member’s live a little easier when it all hits the fan.”

ETC Chairman Rod McKelvey said it was a pleasure to be able to support the local SES.

“The ETC Community Support Fund is designed to help organisations improve the social and economic development of local communities,” Mr McKelvey said.

“ETC is proud to be a not-for-profit company and we are confident the money we are donating will help make a more positive future for our community.

“Since 1989, ETC has placed over 51,000 Australians into jobs, trained more than 23,000 people, helped over 34,000 small businesses to start-up and grow, and contributed in excess of $25 million to the local communities in which we operate.”