Boost For Wisemans Ferry
Volunteers at Wisemans Ferry RFS are set to receive a major tech boost to vastly increase their communication capabilities. The unit, which serves the valley covered by four Local Government areas, was affected by major communication outages during the floods in 2022 for several weeks.
A $12,200 grant from Endeavour Energy will enable the Unit to purchase a satellite star link phone plus Smart TV for use for training, a laptop, mobile and iPads for the unit’s trucks. Wisemans Ferry RFS president Kim Brownlie said “It’s going to make a huge difference to our communications capabilities.”
She said it will also enable residents unable to access mobile phone service to come to the RFS unit and use the link to let people know they are safe. The satellite technology will allow communications even when others in the community are isolated due to network outages.
During the 2022 floods the community lost power for three weeks when Telstra, the only service operator in the area, was down.
Kim said: “The satellite link will literally be a life saver.” She said during the floods the major outage meant they could not let the community know what the RFS was doing, what roads were closed or what help was available and residents had no way of letting the RFS unit know where help was needed.
The grant was made through the 2025 Powering Communities grants awarded to community organisations located across the Endeavour Energy network area. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $15,000 to support vital community initiatives.
Leanne Pickering, Endeavour Energy’s Chief Customer and Strategy Officer said, “We are thrilled to support these incredible organisations and the vital work they are doing in their communities.
“We were overwhelmed with the community’s positive response to the program receiving more than 250 applications for so many well deserving projects.
Our committee of advocates rigorously reviewed each application against the grants’ criteria and had the very challenging task of selecting recipients to deliver very important outcomes to help our communities to thrive.”
