Emergency on ski slopes for Services

Members of the Air Force are eligible to compete in the Victorian Emergency Services Snow Championships (ESSC), at Mt Buller on August 13.

The ESSC is in its 17th year, and represents a rare opportunity for personnel of all ranks, ages and corps from all locations to race in a competitive but friendly environment against personnel in other emergency services.

Participating services include State and Federal Police, Ambulance, MFB, SES, Air Force, Army and Navy personnel, as well as the relevant sections of the Prisons Service, Parks Victoria and the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, plus the Sheriffs Office, and the Surf Lifesavers Association.

The one-day event is the major gathering of its kind in Victoria each year.

ADF representative Captain David Pearson says the honour of being Service champion is always up for grabs after the five-year record of the Victoria Police as overall winner was broken last year by the Country Fire Authority.

“As it is a teams event, the Air Force could easily win in 2003 simply by force of numbers, as all competitors add to the total score,”

Teams of three can be nominated by entrants, or you can enter as an individual and be placed in a team according to your service.

Accommodation is available at the Police Ski Lodge at Merrijig.

A full race package will be available for participants, including discount and/or free lift tickets, meals, accommodation, transport and race entry fees.

For further information contact David Pearson by email at vpsc_race_dept@hotmail.com, or Ken Tucknott on (03) 9457 4444 or Adrian Healy on 0417 568 523 or (03) 9247 5617.

Last year’s aggregated ESSC results can be viewed on the Mt Buller web site.

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