New Zealand Due for a Win in the Australasian Road Rescue Challenge
21st July 2010Three very experienced Road Crash Rescue teams gear up to do something that no New Zealand team has done since 2004 – win the Australasian Road Rescue Challenge.
Road Crash Rescue teams from Morrinsville, Whitianga, and Greytown Volunteer Fire Brigades are packing their bags for Melbourne to compete in iRescue 2010 – the Australasian Road Rescue Challenge – from 24th to 27th July.
New Zealand last reigned as champion when Thames won it all in Melbourne in 2004. Each of the three New Zealand teams competing this year has participated in the event several times before, and has racked up valuable experience.
The national champion Morrinsville team has competed in the Australasians four times – twice placing fourth and twice finishing second.
“We have three very strong, very experienced teams competing this year, and I’d say we’re due for a win,” says George Verry, United Fire Brigades’ Association Chief Executive Officer. “But no matter the outcome, all the teams will take away valuable knowledge that will ultimately make them better firefighters.”
In road rescue challenges, emergency response crews are put in real-life scenarios and assessed on the technical aspects of cutting open vehicles, carrying out medical procedures, and rescuing “victims”.
The UFBA selected the top three teams from the recent UFBA National Road Crash Rescue (RCR) Challenge to represent New Zealand in iRescue 2010. Morrinsville finished first in the Nationals, Whitianga second, and Greytown third.
Sponsored by Reliance Petroleum and overseen by the Australasian Road Rescue Organisation, iRescue will bring 15 rescue teams from organizations in Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong together to share knowledge and put their road rescue skills to the test.
The Challenge will be streamed live on the internet - so fans back home can watch as New Zealand once again vies for the top spot of Australasian Road Rescue Champion. For more information, visit www.ses.vic.gov.au.
ENDS
Contact:
Christa Lawlor
PH. 04 971 7887
C. 0210 266 1299