Media Release

In response to a Northern Territory wide offer from St John Volunteers, the Victorian bushfire effort has requested the specialist support of NT St John Volunteers in the fight against continued bushfire threat in Victoria.

On Tuesday 3rd March 2009, 5 Northern Territory St John Volunteers will travel to the St John National Emergency Centre in Victoria to assist in coordinating the response to continuing fire emergencies and dispensing communications  between emergency services and those at the fire front.

“Volunteers will travel from Darwin, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, representing a Territory wide contribution to fighting the Victorian bushfires,” said Steve Peers, St John Ambulance NT Commissioner and Volunteer Manager. “I am incredibly proud of the dedication of our Volunteers and their willingness to donate their time and skills to assisting the emergency services efforts against the continuing threat of fire in Victoria, even from as far away as the Northern Territory.”

The team of St John Volunteers will depart tomorrow and commence work immediately, working on a rotating roster in the St John National Emergency Centre. A second team of St John Volunteers is currently being coordinated for possible departure on Tuesday 10th March 2009.

After more than three weeks of battling Australia's worst bushfires, Victorians have again been warned to expect savage winds and high temperatures until Wednesday this week. Hot temperatures and strong winds are predicted for Victoria today, with Monday declared another day of total fire ban in Victoria as emergency services gear up for another run of severe bushfire weather to rival the Black Saturday and Ash Wednesday disasters.

St John Ambulance Australia NT Inc would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the St John Volunteers assisting in providing emergency services support to the bushfires. On behalf of St John Ambulance Australia NT Inc, we would like to express our sincere sympathy to the many Australians impacted by the devastating loss caused by the Victorian bushfires.