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Donation of two rapid-reaction all terrain bushfire fighting vehicles to the Greek Volunteer Fire Fighting Brigade – ESEPA
01 August 2005
The Australian Embassy in Athens, the Government of Western Australia, Hellenic Seaways and Austal shipbuilders have teamed up to donate and deliver two rapid-reaction all terrain bushfire fighting vehicles to the Greek Volunteer Fire Fighting Brigade – ESEPA. The vehicles arrived in Pireaus on Hellenic Seaway’s new Australian-built fast ferry, Highspeed 5, on 29 July. Media are invited to attend handing over of the trucks to ESEPA at the official Commissioning Ceremony of the Highspeed 5 on Wednesday 3 August at 20.30hrs at Piraeus Main Port, Akti Xaveriou - Pagoda. Official guests will include the Minister of Merchant Marine, Mr Manolis Kefallogiannis and the Ambassador of Australia to the Hellenic Republic, H.E. Mr Paul Tighe.
Both the Greek and the Australian communities rely on the dedication, commitment and courage of volunteer fire fighters to help protect life, property and the environment in our rural areas. Australia has internationally recognized bushfire fighting experience and a long tradition of helping other countries’ volunteer bushfire fighting services through the provision of training, expertise and surplus equipment.
When approached by ESEPA for assistance in updating its fire fighting fleet, the Government of Western Australia was delighted to help by donating two especially adapted four-wheel-drive bushfire fighting vehicles. ESEPA has described the two vehicles as ‘perfect’ for meeting its need for ‘first attack’ fire patrols in rough and remote terrain where larger, slower trucks cannot go, and as filling a major gap in ESEPA’s bushfire fighting capacity.
The donation was made possible by the generosity of Hellenic Seaways and the Australian shipbuilder Austal who offered to transport the vehicles from Australia to Piraeus on board Hellenic Seaways’ exciting new fast ferry built in Perth, Western Australia. Hellenic Seaways’ new ferry will not only deliver the fire trucks and a huge boost to Greece’s volunteer fire fighters, but it will also provide an impressive, state-of-the-art addition to Hellenic Seaway’s inter-island services.
The donation is a great example of how co-operation between governments and business, and between Greeks and Australians, can help a worthy cause. The Embassy, the Government of Western Australia, Hellenic Seaways and Austal are proud to help ESEPA with its brave efforts to protect Greece from the destructive effects of bushfires.