Inspector Andrew Mayfield, from Rescue and Bomb Disposal in Sydney, was in Armidale training police from the Western region of the newly formed rescue squad, on how to use the new Arizona Vortex tripod equipment.

“This technology can be used for industrial access or to go off cliff faces in recovery or rescue situations,” he said.

The general duty officers from Moree, Narrabri, Tamworth, Quirindi, Werris Creek, Armidale and Bourke were selected to be part of the newly created team in 2015.

Inspector Mayfield said before the rescue squad was formed, police rescue crews were having to come from far away.

In 2016, they completed extensive rescue training during a six week course in Goulburn.​

The boys, wearing white, also tried out the new harness system off the cliffs at Dangar Falls, near Dorrigo, on Tuesday.