By Callum Ludwig
The SES Upper Yarra Unit’s Trivia Night fundraiser was a big success, with over $10,000 raised for the volunteer unit.
The money raised will be going towards vehicle replacements to best help members serve the community.
Deputy Controller of the SES Upper Yarra Unit Hannah Brunton said they had a massive turnout.
“We had about 150 people that came along, over 35 silent auction items that had been donated from local businesses and did six rounds of different themed trivia and games,” she said.
“The amount we raised was really impressive, much more than we were expecting. Nearly $6500 came from our silent auction, which shows how much support we had from our local businesses.”
The SES trucks need to be replaced about every 10 years, and the SES Upper Yarra Unit has to replace a truck this year and next year.
Ms Brunton said only about 30 per cent of the unit’s running costs are covered by the Victorian Government.
“We’ve got one state-owned vehicle, which is our rescue truck but the rest of our vehicles we have to pay to replace ourselves as well as our other costs,” she said.
“If we don’t have the equipment that we need, we can’t do the job that we’re there to do, and that’s to help people in their time of need.”
The SES Upper Yarra Unit will be putting their fundraising total towards an application for the State Government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP). This program provides emergency services $2 for every dollar they raise up to a maximum of $150,000 for essential vehicles and equipment.
Ms Brunton said it was really humbling to receive as much as they did.
“At the end of the day, the people who were supporting us are the people who are likely to call us and there was a lot of people who were willing to donate and willing to support us who we know to be struggling themselves,” she said.
“It was really humbling, really good to see and we felt very supported.”
