Community members meet local heroes at Williams emergency service open day to encourage recruits and awareness

The Williams community flocked to meet their local volunteer and career heroes at Lions Park earlier this month with the opportunity to enact real life emergency scenarios, encouraging future recruits.

Williams Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, St John, and police were joined by Freddy the fire engine and Constable Care for a local emergency service open day on April 11.

A free sausage sizzle and goodie bags were on offer and small donations were made through drink sales.

Both the ambulance and police vehicles were open for people to go inside and explore.

Both firetrucks were on display with rescue gear, plus an old car where attendees pretended to be trapped and the volunteers demonstrated how they would cut them out in a real scenario.

Williams volunteer fire and rescue brigade Lieutenant Ian Bell said the open day was aiming to spread awareness of their services and recruit some extra hands because they’re “low in numbers” and members are not available every time an emergency occurs.

“We’re always looking for members, that’s the bottom line,” he said.

“To get full on active members is not easy.

“We don’t want to be called out and find we haven’t got anyone that’s available to turn up, which from time to time we’ve only had one person available and we can’t turn out with one person so we’re relying on neighbouring brigades to assist.”

Mr Bell said out-of-town members signed up to help the brigade but must travel quite far when an emergency occurs, including from Boddington and Wandering.

He said they often had handfuls of juniors join the brigade but they often left town for employment opportunities.

Mr Bell said he hoped the open day and demonstrations could help boost local volunteer numbers, inspiring others to sign up and help their community where it counts.