Emergency Services has ‘bean’ on the run in South Australia

Volunteer barista Rob Adami with the new coffee set-up. Image: Supplied.

BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE 

The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) in South Australia has recently rolled out a new response vehicle equipped with a coffee machine. 

The set-up, which is located on a harness system in the rear of a Hilux utility, has been in operation for about six weeks. Over that time, SAES teams have used it about once a week, with coffee-loving volunteers Rob Adami and John Briggs primarily serving as baristas.  

SA Response Coordinator Reno Elms said he saw the coffee machine as a “God thing”. He said the team talked about how they wanted to be able to serve a “nice coffee” to Country Fire Service volunteers, and also those in isolated areas when there was an incident. Reno said the difficulty with the larger trucks was that truck drivers were required, and the places they could be driven were limited. 

“We’ve wanted to build up our volunteers [and] we’ve wanted to rebuild a relationship with the CFS,” he said. “There was a little bit of money available to get a coffee machine. Then there was a storm a few years ago up in the Adelaide Hills and we thought, wouldn’t it be good if we could take something hot [like coffee] up there.”  

“That’s where the idea [came from].”  

He said that through the generosity of Woolworths, the team was able to purchase two coffee machines, and with the team able to recently obtain a new Hilux, the plan was put in motion. It was also a way to keep involving volunteers in the work of the SAES throughout the year. 

“It’s one part of our strategy to engage our volunteers other than in the high-risk weather [seasons],” Reno said.  

The SAES volunteers and coffee vehicle with the Dalkeith CFS team. Image: Dalkeith Country Fire Service Facebook page

So far, the coffee vehicle has been used in Port Lincoln, Eudunda, Dalkeith, Concordia and Salisbury, as well as other locations, for a range of events including anniversaries and training exercises.  

The machine is able to operate on either mains power or an LED battery, on which it can run for about two hours. Reno said the team was very thankful for the support of Woolworths. 

“We’re grateful [for] the Woolworths backing of SAES [who have] supported a lot of these new ventures,” he said. “We wouldn’t be able to do it [without] Woolworths’ support.”