31/3/01
The City of Rockingham is this weekend staging an impressive display of the emergency services available in their local community.
Thousands of people are expected to visit '2001: An Emergencies Expo' at Rockingham Oval, an event organised by the Rockingham Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) and sponsored by local businesses.
Just some of the agencies attending the two-day event are the WA Police Service, State Emergency Service, Fire and Rescue Service, Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades, Volunteer Marine Rescue Service, Unexploded Ordnance Service and St John Ambulance.
Member for Rockingham Mark McGowan MLA will officially open this third bi-annual Emergencies Expo on behalf of Emergency Services Minister Michelle Roberts at 1pm today.
"No community is immune from emergencies, and the Rockingham-Kwinana area with its mix of residential and industry is certainly no different," Mr McGowan said.
"It could be a major traffic crash and rescue operation, a structure or bush fire, chemical spill, storm damage, a land/sea search, or a cliff rescue.
"Whatever the nature of the incident, we need to be ready. This Emergencies Expo will clearly demonstrate both the level of preparedness and cooperation that exists between the various agencies.
"By checking out the many displays and viewing live demonstrations, people can appreciate at first hand the vital role all these groups play in assisting the community in times of disaster.
"There are more than 24,000 dedicated volunteers in the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) alone, and volunteers from all agencies deserve a big vote of thanks for giving so generously of their time to help others when catastrophe strikes."
The Expo will showcase millions of dollars worth of highly specialised emergency services vehicles and other equipment which will be put through its paces on both days.
Other attractions of the Expo, which was first held in 1997, are music by the Western Australian Police Pipe Band, the landing of Polair 61 - the Police Airwing's helicopter after a winching demonstration, sky divers, SES tracker dogs and the mounted search team, and a dramatic pyrotechnics display by firefighters from the Fire and Rescue Service.
Additional organisations represented at the Expo are the WA Department of Transport, Family and Children's Services, Advance Life Ambulance Service, the Salvation Army, the Fremantle Port Authority and Rockingham-Kwinana District Hospital.
A contingent of young Emergency Service Cadets from the Rockingham Unit will also demonstrate their firefighting skills.
"I would urge the people of Rockingham-Kwinana and residents of Perth to make a point of seeing for themselves the outstanding skills and community spirit which exists among the emergency service organisations," Mr McGowan said.
