Success Measured by Learning
Morrinsville Team Leader Andrew “Skinny” Lingard called the Australasian and World Road Rescue Challenges “the best learning experience that can be offered to any brigade member, which can be taken back to their home town and be put into practice in help saving lives on our roads.”
That means a lot coming from a member of a team that has consistently been rated highly in Australasia during recent years. Skinny puts these Challenges - which can be so highly competitive - right into perspective.
Teams train several times per week for months leading up to Road Rescue competitions - especially for international events. Of course, it’s nice to win or to receive an award for a top place. “But it’s not about winning, it’s about learning,” says Australasian Road Rescue Organisation Executive Officer Paul Jerome.
ARRO’s Technical Committee and Scenario Setters put in many months of planning to ensure that all the scenarios teams face are realistic and provide the best learning outcomes. You can witness the precision of the ARRO staff by watching how they painstakingly line up and angle the cars before dropping them from several storeys high - ensuring the impact occurs exactly as it would in a road crash. This attention to detail guarantees a valuable training experience for the teams.
C’mon, Give it a Go!
The UFBA, the Fire Service, the Assessors, and even the teams already competing want to see more teams get involved. Morrinsville and Feilding have already said they’d love to provide guidance and support for anyone thinking about getting a team together.
Historically, UFBA challenges have appealed to primarily volunteer brigades. But many of the international teams we saw compete in the Road Rescue Challenges were paid staff. Any brigade member - career or volunteer - will get good value out of these competitions. It is experience you just can’t get anywhere else.
If you’re thinking about getting into Road Rescue Challenges, or just a little curious, take the next step and talk to one of the current teams, an assessor, or a member of the UFBA Challenges Committee. If you don’t know who to talk to, get in contact with the UFBA Events Team at events@ufba.org.nz. They’ll put you in touch with someone who can answer your questions.