Two years of abseiling and rope rescue training.
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| Voluteers during a training session at Dwejra |
Two years ago, the Malta Red Cross Society Gozo Branch, initiated a new project, that of an abseiling team. Etienne Micallef, the secretary general for the branch contacted the volunteers to enrole those who were interested in this area and eventually the training. Eventually, an nice group was formed and training was begun with the help of Joseph Theuma, an abseiling enthusiast and volunteer of the branch himself. The first training session, was conducted on the 16th January 2005, at Dwejra - San Lawrenz.
The main reason for the first few sessions was sheer fun and to experience a good dose of adrenaline, which made everyone's heart pump to the limit. But eventually, after each session, most members started to feel a sense of satisfaction that you have learnt something. Most members, started to become familiar with the technicalities of this sport, like 'safety checks', 'belaying' and other techniques, until one day there were some members who were capable perform abseiling sessions without supervision.
The first official project for this newly formed team, was that of the Cittadella Cleanup. The Ministry for Gozo, issued some tenders for this project and our proposition was chosen. Stone erosion is accelerated when plants grow in the crack of the bastion walls and so a speedy intervention was necessary to preserve these imponent walls. The newly formed team, armed with herbicide and abseiling equipment were a common sight for those passing in the vicinity during the cleanup. This project was a unique training experience for our volunteers.
Other social activies associated with this team were abseiling sessions organised for St. Aloysius Students and another event done for University Students.
Some months ago, Cap. Rossano, from the Italian Red Cross visited our branch to give some volunteers and members of this team, a theoretical and practical course on Search and Rescue Techniques, focusing mainly on Rope Rescue and Abseiling, and these volunteers were eventually certified as S.A.R.T. instructors.
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