This week, part of the Support team was mobilized for its traditional April refresher course. The sun was out all week.
The objectives of the course were to use the material from the Support section by working on projects useful to the municipalities of our organization. civil protection personnel were thus able to practice machines such as chainsaws, demolition machines or the basic pioneer tools (shovel and pickaxe).
Personnel deployed:
20 civil protection members, comprising
- 6 officers
- 1 non-commissioned officer
- 13 soldiers
Missions accomplished:
Site 1: Genthod Cemetery
Rehabilitation of burial sites
Removing ten gravestones in a single day was a considerable challenge. Using demolition equipment, hand tools and, above all, their own physical strength, Valavran’s civil protection personnel completed the work efficiently and carefully, with respect for the site.
The result reflected the team’s dedication: all the stones were removed in a single working day. At the end of the week, the municipality delivered the soil needed to finish the work, allowing the civil protection personnel to level each site precisely.
Discreet, but essential work — at the service of the town and its inhabitants.
Project 2: Lullin Park in Genthod
Continuing their intervention at the Genthod cemetery, civil protection personnel at Valavran also took charge of the restoration of a walking path in Lullin Park. With the Cabstar, the organization's transport vehicle, they went to collect the fresh wood chips needed for the site.
Wheelbarrows, shovels and rakes in hand, the team then spread the shavings over the entire path, offering walkers a renewed surface, more pleasant and safer underfoot.
A simple, but concrete gesture — so that everyone can enjoy the park with complete peace of mind.
Project 3: Parc du Marais in Grand-Saconnex
Creation of locations for benches
In the Marais park, the Valavran staff carried out the construction of two locations intended to accommodate future benches. A project which, behind its apparent simplicity, mobilized both mechanical machinery and manual know-how.
The first step consisted of digging two rectangles of approximately 4 m² using a mini mechanical excavator. The civil protection personnel then shaped logs of wood to form the boundary structures, firmly anchored in the ground. Once the frame was in place, the team filled each location with material, before carefully compacting everything using a hand tamper – ensuring a stable and durable surface.
These two locations are just waiting for their benches to allow park visitors to enjoy a well-deserved moment of rest.
Project 4: Nant du Pry in Céligny
Restoration of the river bed
The Nant du Pry, a small river crossing the town of Céligny, had not been maintained for many years. Two teams from Valavran mobilized to breathe new life into it.
On site, the findings were clear: trees felled across the watercourse, invasive vegetation, obstacles accumulated over time. Wearing fishermen's boots, civil protection personnel entered the river without hesitation. Chainsaws and cable winches in hand, they methodically cleared each obstacle, restoring the freedom of the current to flow freely.
A demanding project, with its feet in the water, but the result speaks for itself: the Nant du Pry is breathing again.
Project 5: Complete cleaning of Le Brassus
After the Nant du Pry, the two teams from Valavran continued their mission of maintaining the waterways of Céligny, this time tackling the main river of the commune. A major project, carried out from the highway to the heart of the village along the river.
The work was considerable: numerous fallen trees obstructed the river bed along the entire route. As during the previous intervention, civil protection personnel worked with boots on their feet, chainsaws and cable winches in action – but on a completely different scale. Each trunk cleared, each obstacle removed, is a little more life returned to the river.
The efforts have not gone unnoticed: the water flow has already significantly improved, a tangible sign of a job well accomplished.
