QUEENSLAND
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) recently took part in the Get Ready Lockyer Valley event at Ferrari Park in Laidley.
The event, hosted by the Lockyer Valley Local Disaster Management Group and funded through the Get Ready Queensland program, brought together over 20 agencies from the community to collaboratively enhance community resilience for emergencies and disasters.
Get Ready Lockyer Valley provides a unique opportunity to have all emergency services in the same place at the same time to provide disaster preparedness, response and recovery education in a fun, interactive way with demonstrations, workshops, interactive activities and displays.
A highlight of the day was the agency mascot dance-off, featuring Swiftwater Matt (Queensland Fire Department), Cluedo (QPS), Paddy (State Emergency Service), and Blazer (Queensland Fire Department) dancing to the Macarena and Nutbush. Swiftwater Matt and Cluedo advanced to the final, where Cluedo won with moves worthy of Dancing with the Stars.
Government agencies, non-government agencies, and non-for-profit organisations all participated, contributing to a fun filled day for the local community which included a range of workshops such as sandbagging, emergency kit preparation, animals in emergencies, and kitchen fire demonstration.
QPS were well represented through district disaster management, district crime prevention, road policing and emergency management coordinators.
The intent of the day is to spread awareness of the importance of preparing for disasters. Everyone in the Lockyer Valley is affected when there is a disaster event – whether it is around isolation due to floods, smoke due to bushfire or severe storms that can affect anyone. Residents of the Lockyer Valley know it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ the next disaster event will happen, QPS said in a statement.
For more information, head to Get Ready Queensland.
