Cobram Rotary gives generously to emergency services

By Gabriel Garcia

Oct 5, 2023

The Cobram Rotary Club has given donations to the Cobram SES, CFA and the Royal Flying Doctor Service in a ceremony held at the new Cobram SES headquarters.

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The event on Wednesday, October 4 was attended by members of the three services and members of the Rotary Club, who got to see some of the state-of-the-art equipment the Cobram SES uses.

Cobram Rotary Club acting president James Cornish said the event was all about giving thanks.

“We wanted to get together, have a look at the new building and also pass on our thanks to those three agencies for the good work they do,” he said.

Mr Cornish said the organisation hoped that the three monetary donations, one for each service, would help to protect lives and property.

“They enhance the community safety in terms of protecting people and property, and we’re very lucky,” Mr Cornish said.

After the ceremony, Cobram CFA Brigade captain Matt Dehne said the donation was most welcome.

“It means a great deal because with that donation we’ll be able to purchase new equipment for our members and our trucks, which goes a long way and helps us stay safe out on fire ground,” Mr Dehne said.

State-of-the-art: The Rotary Club’s donation will be used to fit out the new Cobram SES building. Photo by Gabriel Garcia

His words were echoed by Cobram SES deputy unit controller Luke Herezo, who said the donation would allow the unit to purchase equipment not readily available.

“These are the luxury items that we wouldn’t normally be able to afford in any other way,” Mr Herezo said.

Though the donation to the SES has yet to be earmarked for anything in particular, Mr Herezo said it would be used to fit out the new SES facility.

RFDS transportation co-ordinator Mark Nordbye hopes to use the donation to help keep operations going, as the federal grant that helped kick-start the RFDS client transport program in Cobram is set to expire next year.

“We’re now in the process of working out how we can keep funding this program for many more years to come.”