June 2010 - Boating Industry Association of NSW

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has worn out more experienced volunteers than a lifetime of going to help people whose day on the water has become an emergency that needs immediate help. The volunteers have only ever wanted sufficient funding to enable us to do the job we joined up to do – helping ensure the safety of life at sea – instead of spending more time fundraising than training and helping those who need it. But make no mistake about it. Fundraising will continue. The marine rescue volunteers will only achieve about half of what is needed from the proposed levy. We will still be seeking the support of the business and general community to raise the rest. As a single, integrated organisation we will achieve that aim with greater benefits for the corporate sector whose sponsorships will send a powerful message to their customers that they know how to be good corporate citizens. But as a single organisation that already has 30% more members than the three organisations who provided these services before, Marine Rescue NSW knows that this task will not be as desperate and frustrating as in the past. The debate over the justice or otherwise of an extra $7.50 a year on boat drivers licenses registrations has clearly demonstrated that there is very limited knowledge of just what the marine rescue volunteers of NSW actually do. A short summary of some key facts may help to improve the knowledge. Marine rescue volunteers currently operate 56 separate units, accredited by the NSW State Rescue Board, along the NSW coast from the Queensland to the Victorian border. Tweny seven of these provide 24/7 service. Volunteers have previously raised over $3.5 million yearly to supplement the state’s former annual grants of $1 million to $1.3 million shared among the three VMROs. Marine rescue volunteers provide the only marine radio network for the hundreds of thousands of registered vessels that use these waters and depend on an efficient radio service to receive weather updates, navigation warnings and send calls for help when an emergency occurs. In 2009 almost 3,000 vessels and over 7,000 people were rescued or assisted by the volunteers in events from lifethreatening emergencies of a sinking boat or being stranded 20nm offshore with a dead engine or simple problems like mechanical failure in a busy harbour or running aground on mud banks up a river. The majority, 56% of all vessels assisted were under 6- metres with a further 22% up to 9-metres. That’s almost 80% of all vessels of the size owned by the average family whose funds don’t extend to the luxury class. But big boats also receive their fair share of our help – through radio services. Last year we also gave over 10,000 vessels the opportunity to provide position reports and the security of Offshore Tracking as they cruised the coast with the knowledge that someone responsible knew they were out there in case of an emergency. These are the boats in the more costly classes. And we had over 100,000 local radio logons for boaties just out for a day and knew it was smart to ensure we knew they were out there as well. In its normal 12 month financial year 2009, just one of the three volunteer marine rescue organisations provided Boat Licence training for over 2,000 people in a face-to-face, hands-on environment where the participants can actually ask questions and get answers from experienced skippers – and better understand the reasons for the rules and regulations of boating. Pro-rata across the three VMROs that’s likely to be around 3,000. Sorry to be uncertain but we’ve only been operational since 1 January and we don’t have all the stats aggregated yet. By the same process of estimation the volunteers have also trained over a thousand people to obtain their Marine Radio Operators Certificate so they know how to use their radios. Many people who are rescued by the volunteers simply say thanks at the time and go on their way, but some take the time to let us know how truly grateful they are for our efforts. As a contrast to the complaints about a safety levy that represents a couple of extra cappuccinos or one extra bag of frozen bait, or a couple of extra coldies at the club – over an entire year – here are some different perspectives about people in boats of all sizes who have experienced the relief of having a marine rescue volunteer turn up when needed. March 2008 – 5.5-metre fishing boat Predator capsized off Kiama. Two men reported missing 24 hours later and volunteer marine rescue radio operators broadcast an ‘all ships’ alert to look out for any signs of them. Rocky Pirello, skipper of the trawler Rockfish, saw something in the water near Ulladulla and hauled in his nets to check. It was the missing men clinging to their upturned boat after more than 30 hours in the sea and drifting more than 50 nautical miles. Owner, Trajan Siljanovski and his mate were taken to shore and then to hospital where they quickly recovered from their ordeal. When asked what he thought about volunteer marine rescue, Trajan’s brother, Ljupco, said “It’s priceless! $7.50 is nothing!” July 2008 – Five people heading out to fish from Coffs Harbour when suddenly a rogue wave flips their boat and tips everyone into the sea. The boat didn’t capsize and kept going with all their safety gear on board; marine radio, mobile phones, life jackets – everything. Luckily another boat spotted the driverless runaway and called for help. Water Police and the Coffs Harbour volunteers were on the job within 18 minutes of the five being tossed overboard, others boats joined in the search and all were found and brought safely to shore. In a letter to the Coffs Coast Advocate, the five gave their grateful thanks to all involved including the rescue volunteers who give their time “24/7 manning their station watching over both the pro fishers and guys like us.” July 2009 – Scott Easton of Canberra and two mates struck mechanical problems in their 5.9-metre boat 15 nm off Batemans Bay as they tried to return to port after a day out. They activated their EPIRB and the 52ft Encounter from Ulladulla set off in a pitch black night for a long trip to reach them. The EPIRB signal also brought in two helicopters and HMAS Newcastle which stood by the stricken vessel awaiting the 8 - June 2010 BIA of NSW LOGBOOK
arrival of Encounter. A line was attached and the vessel towed safely back to Batemans Bay where a smaller volunteer rescue boat that was able to cross the Batemans Bay bar took over the tow. When asked about the proposed levy Scott Easton said “When you’ve been in a situation like we were you wouldn’t think twice about it! And it can happen to anyone.” January 2010 – Rodney Gunn from Coffs Harbour was 20nm out on a fishing trip when his motor wouldn’t start. A regular user of the volunteer marine rescue radio service, Rod called for help and the Coffs Harbour rescue vessel was on the way. Rod said, “I’ve always dreaded the thought that something might go wrong with my single engine. I was out there with my family and you can’t imagine the relief I felt when those volunteers arrived. I knew they would have used a lot of fuel so I gave them a good donation to help pay for it. I think levies are ideal to make sure this kind of help is always there.” These are just some of the many real-life stories in which marine rescue volunteers find themselves playing a part. There are hundreds of others – some major, some minor, but each just as important at the time to the people involved as those above were to those boaties we helped. The Marine Rescue Levy will ensure that we will continue to deliver our services. & Boating Industry Association Stationery Products Marina Association stationery Marina Craft Berthing, Storage and Mooring Agreement Printed in duplicate for licensor, licensee. Essential for marina operators $25.00 per pack of 25 Marine Brokers stationery Authority to Sell $22.50 per pack of 25 Contract for Sale of a New Boat $37.50 per pack of 25 Statutory Declaration $12.50 per pack of 25 Vessel Details - Power $16.50 per pack of 25 Vessel Offer to Purchase $16.50 per pack of 25 Vessel Selling and Purchasing Agreement $22.50 per pack of 25 MIMRA stationery ‘Customer item ID’ card $25.00 per pack of 100 ‘Next Service’ sticker $10.50 per pack of 50 ‘STOP - Do not operate’ tag $48.00 per pack of 100 50 Point Safety Check stationery Registered providers only Checklist forms $20.00 per pack of 50 Flyers $25.00 300 flyers Replacement stamp $35.00 General Fuel tester $10.00 A4 frame $10.00 $9.95 postage and handling. Prices include GST You can download a copy of the Stationary Order Form from the Members Area of the BIA website www.bia.org.au 1_BIA stationeryServices_Advert.indd 1 29/4/10 11:50:04 AM BIA of NSW LOGBOOK June 2010 - 9
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June 2010 - Boating Industry Association of NSW

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