Unit Beginnings

Following a heavy storm across Altona in 1982 resulting in 2 fatalities and 20 people injured, the City sustaining a large amount of property damage in and around the Altona area. The residents at that time had to rely on neighbouring municipalities with VICSES Units for assistance. The assistance provided consisted if covering roofs of damaged houses clearings fallen trees, and assisting the community to recover from this event. This process took several weeks. A meeting was called by the Mayor Cr Bill Sommers to form a VICSES Unit in Altona, on this occasion the community support lapsed.

The Victoria State Emergency Services Altona Unit formed after a further public meeting which again sought support from the community. At that meeting Cr Doug Grant supported by Cr Sommers spoke of the need, and the fine asset the City would gain in having a Volunteer Unit of the Victoria State Emergency Services based in Altona.Cr Grant sighted the outstanding efforts of nearby VICSES Units during the recovery from the recent heavy storm. Cr Grant stated that the Altona Unit would have the full support of the Mayor and Councilors of the City. The Regional Officer Mr George Newton outlined the responsibilities of being a volunteer member of the Victoria State Emergency Services, and invited those present ti register for membership and undertake rescue skills training.

On the 25th July 1983, a gathering of some 37 residents began rescue skills training at the Altona Council Dept in Sugargum Drive, the location of the Units local headquarters. Regional Officer Mr George Newton coordinated instructors from the Footscray, Essendon, Keilor, Broadmeadows and Northcote VICSES Units to train and examine the Altona recruits.

On the 7th November 1983 the Unit was Commissioned as the Victoria State Emergency Service, City of Altona Unit,under the control of foundation Unit Controller Mr Andrew Park. Regional Officer Mr George Newton presented the 24 qualifying Unit members with their registration cards as full members of the Victoria State Emergency Service. Mr Newton handed over to Mr Park the primary responsibility for the VICSES activities in the former cities of Altona and Williamstown. At this time 20 years on, the Unit still has 6 active members of the original 24 foundation members.

Unit Local Headquarters

The Units first training area was the Altona Council's staff's mess room,where all the basic training commenced. Out first administration office,communications and operations center was a transportable hut which was located next to the original Unit garage and store, over which our present Headquarters now stands.

In 1988 with the Unit membership growing and increased equipment levels, the members approached the former Altona City Council for assistance to extend the premises. The Council, seeing the need to improve the Units LHQ, expanded its facilities from a single brick garage and transportable hut, to the Store/Workshop and Carport, giving us a larger building and enhanced security.

In late 1992, the Controller, Leigh Hardinge, sought the assistance of the former Altona City Council, to support an application to the Federal Government's Local Capital Works Program, to provide funding to allow the completion of our local Headquarters. A substantial grant was approved and further supplemented by an Altona City Council grant. On the 2nd of May 1993, the Mayor Cr Les Crofts and the Federal Minister for Finance the Hon. Ralph Willis MP, member for Williamstown, opened the enhanced LHQ. The Unit members now being able to train in a purpose built facility for VIUCSES activities within our City for the benefit of our community.

Unit Vehicles

Our first vehicles included a 1978 Holden ute and a trailer on loan from the Altona City Council, a surplus to requirement Datsun ute was donated by the Altona Petrochemical company. Approximately 12 months later we received a Bedford Armoured Car from Mayne Nickless (Armaguard).

The Unit members again began fund raising in 1988,and with eh aid of a private, interest free loan in 1991, purchased the Ford Twin Cab rescue Truck to replace the aging Datsun ute. We purchased a second Flood Rescue Boat FRB 54, and The All Aboard Club Williamstown donated a support trainer which further complimented the Units activities. In 1996, the members through fund raising over a three year period, purchased a Toyota 4Wheel drivesTroop Carrier from the Victoria State Emergency Service to further nehance our community service.

Flood Rescue Boats

In late 1984, following the arrival of the Flood Rescue Boat (FRB 54), a number of the Altona Unit members began Flood Rescue Boat training and the first six members qualified as Coxswains and Forward Hands. They, being the first FRB crews in the former Metro North and South Regions.

In 2001 with Unit funds combined with funding from the Community Safety Emergency Support Program, the Unit purchased an inflatable runner boat (IRB 92) and trailer to enhance the Units equipment in response to urban flooding events.

Over the years the Altona Unit has trained many members from Central Region in the skills of flood boat rescue. Just as we learnt our skills from other Units, the then Regional Director Mr Brad Beckwith invited our Unit Training Officer; Captain Alf Penns, to begin training members from other VICSES Units in the region in Flood Boat Rescue operations. Chelsea, Doncaster, Footscray, Geelong, Healseville, Lilydale, Melton, Nunawading, Pakenham and Werribee Unit members have been trained at Altona to further enhance their Units skills and add value to their respective communities.

Many hundreds of residents of our community have been assisted by the Altona VICSES volunteers as well as the rural Victorian and interstate communities, the volunteers giving freely of their time both inside and outside the former Cities of Altona and Williamstown, now forming the greater part of the City of Hobsons Bay. Giving assistance to combat the effects of windstorm and flood, assisting other VICSES Units in our Region, the Police, CFA and other community groups.

In other activities,the Unit membership participates in the Hobsons Bay City Council Emergency Management Planning Committee, Altona Police and Community Consultive Committee, and local festivals; providing displays speaking to local groups and Service Clubs on the function of VICSES volunteers in the community.

This in turn has assisted the Altona Unit to obtain improved equipment and financial support from local industry and Service clubs, which has enabled us to better serve our community. The Altona Unit Members wish to acknowledge the strong ongoing support by the Hobsons Bay City Council.