General News
22 December, 2025
Next generation rescue
THE second of 57 new next generation State Emergency Service heavy rescue trucks has been handed over to the Wedderburn unit.
SES chief officer Alistair Drayton and operational staff were in Wedderburn on Monday night and said the truck’s arrival was a boost for the capabilities of the unit.
Acting operations officer Layton Miller said: “As demand for emergency assistance continues, we’re proud to see our volunteers responding to critical incidents equipped with advanced equipment and state-of-the-art tools”.
Unit controlller Michael George said the next generation truck was a significant leap forward in rescue capability, safety and comfort for volunteers.
Key features of the vehicle include enhanced ergonomic design, LED and cabin door lighting, a passenger facing iPad mount, wind speed detection capability, dedicated storage for food and hydration for extended operations, a chainsaw work bench and improved locker stowage for easy access to equipment.
Mr Drayton said the next generation fleet had been designed by SES volunteers.
The truck was awarded the 2025 IPWEA Fleet Innovation Award for its ground-breaking work in developing the vehicleand acknowledged best practice, continuous improvement and innovation in fleet design,
The arrival of the NextGen HRT comes alongside the rollout of state-of-the-art battery-powered hydraulic rescue equipment, which will be housed on the new vehicle.
The untethered, battery-powered tools remove the need for external hydraulic pumps, giving volunteers greater freedom, flexibility and manoeuvrability when responding to rescue incidents, particularly in hard-to-reach locations.
The Wedderburn unit has 14 volunteers and responded to 98 requests for assistance in the last financial year.
Ripon MP Martha Haylett had planned to attend Monday night’s handover but following Sunday’s mass shooting on Bondi Beach, attended the Caulfield Shule to pay her respects to the Jewish community.