TWELVE regional community organisations across SA have been awarded RAA regional safety grants to help fund critical projects to improve safety and wellbeing.
Among the recipients are seven Country Fire Service brigades, which will be able to buy firefighting, rescue and first-aid equipment to enhance the level of service they can provide to their respective communities.
Other grant recipients include Centacare, which received funding to boost suicide intervention support in drought-affected regions throughout the Eyre Peninsula, Mid North and Far North, while Renmark West Primary received funding to install new security cameras on school grounds.
RAA spokesperson Amanda Trainor said 50 applications were received from regional community groups for this year’s RAA Regional Safety Grants, which provided much-needed support to small communities.
“It can be really difficult for small communities in country areas to raise money for important projects, which is why RAA’s Regional Safety Grants are so important,” she said.
“RAA is pleased to be able to provide $50,000 worth of grants to 12 worthy causes across the state this year, which all share a common goal of keeping South Australians safe.”
Bute CFS received funding for lighting equipment for the vehicle to assist rescue operations at night; Rockleigh CFS will double its 22,000 litre water capacity; Millicents CFS has bought first aid training equipment, including an advanced CPR mannequin and defibrillator; Truro CFS brigade will also buy a defibrillator; Williamstown CFS will buy a pedal cutter to help extract trapped vehicle occupants following road crashes; Kingsley CFS will upgrade its wall map in the communications room at the base station; and Monash CFS will buy an Oxy-Viva 3 Resuscitator machine, which provides resuscitation, suction and oxygen therapy in emergency situations.
Eyre Peninsula-based Big Swamp Community Centre Incorporated will develop a central meeting point for the local community to take refuge in during times of bushfire and farm evacuations, including a water storage tank and firefighting pump.
