Healesville SES Deputy Controller Geoff Stott, Healesville Rotary Club’s past president Graham Chester and financial planner for local AMP and Healesville Rotarian Laurie McDonald.By Melissa Donchi
THE Rotary Club of Healesville has assisted the local state emergency service (SES) in purchasing a brand new lighting mast for a primary rescue vehicle.
The lighting mast is fitted to the vehicle and works to illuminate the scene of an emergency helping staff to see everything clearly.
Through a series of fundraising events, including a collection at the Healesville Races, a film night and a rock ‘n’ roll dance, the Rotarians had been collecting money for the lighting mast since March this year.
Still a fair way off their target funds, Rotarian Laurie McDonald, who is a financial planner for AMP, decided to approach the AMP’s community foundation program for help.
AMP has a proven track record in the community having helped purchase GPS navigating systems for Yarra Valley ambulances.
Luckily, they were able to match the Rotary funds dollar for dollar and within no time at all the SES were fitted out with a brand new lighting mast.
Former Rotary president Graham Chester said the club had made it their mission to get the lighting mast for the SES.
“They do such a good job in our community and we wanted them to have the best resources possible,” Mr Chester said.
“We had been fundraising for some time but without the help of AMP, I don’t think they would have gotten the light as quick as they did.”
