The equipment included global positioning systems for Benalla, Beechworth and Falls Creek and hand held radios for units at Corryong, Yackandandah and Wodonga.

Also receiving equipment were units at Euroa, Chiltern, Mitta, Cobram, Yarrawonga, Myrtleford, Rutherglen, Bright, Tallangatta and Wangaratta.

At least 17 units received equipment at the presentation, which was held at Wangaratta

Wodonga SES controller Read Hedditch said each unit had been given a budget and had been able to choose the equipment they needed for its operations.

“It can be difficult to keep up communications in the middle of storms and the new hand-held radios will help us communicate from one side of the building to another,” he said.

“The $1200 needed to buy those hand-held radios is hard to find in a tight budget so the donations from AAMI give us those extra little bonuses we cannot afford to buy.”