Quarterly Journal of Marine Rescue NSW | Issue 5 Dec 2010 Doubtless III : Father’s Day workout for MR Melbourne Cup at a rescue update ...5 volunteers ...11 Camden Haven ...23 Port Stephens - Three Months Kayak search at Woolgoolga...13 Middle Harbour gears up - Three Maydays ...6 for the season ...25 Does this qualify as a Dark and Hectic off-season at Ulladulla...7 Stormy Night?...15 Meet the Members - Wayne Walker ...33 - Bernie Gabriel...37 Thank Heavens for Launching and Retrieving the Phonetic Alphabet...9 Woolgoolga’s rescue vessel MR Safety-net around the from the beach...19 Hawkesbury Canoe Classic...38 Marine Rescue Shoalhaven’s ‘TSRV Crookhaven’ Print Post No: PP255003/09617 What’s new in this issue Page 18 MR vessels assists at Shoalhaven River Crash Cover photo Shoalhaven’s rescue vessel entering the Crookwell 2 From the Editor’s Desk River. Built by Seatamer, the vessel is 9.2m LOA, 3 From the Commissioner Beam 3.2m, draft 0.8m, twin Cummins 210HP diesels, 1500 litre fuel. Range about 400nm. 4 From the Deputy Commissioner 2 x 27Mhz, 2 x VHF and MF/HF Radios, Seatrak, 5 Doubtless 111: a rescue update Furuno Radar, Mobilert MOB system. Min crew 2 6 Port Stephens - Three months - Three Maydays (usual crew 3/4). 7 Hectic off-season at Ulladulla Editorial 8 Drama on the high seas, well on the Parramatta River, anyway Editor: Ron Cole PO Box 6058 West Gosford NSW 2250 9 Thank Heavens for the Phonetic Alphabet Tel: 02 4324 8742 11 Father’s Day workout for MR Volunteers Mob: 0401 143 840 12 Busy October at Lake Macquarie E: [email protected] 13 Hawkesbury search for two missing persons 13 Kayak search at Woolgoolga Design, Layout and Content by the 15 Does this qualify as a Dark and Stormy Night? Publisher, Marine Rescue NSW 16 Whoopee! Sea Rescue One is back in the water Printing, binding & mailing by Galloping Press Pty Ltd 17 ‘CompassNet’ - A new safety network Unit 29/398 The Boulevarde, Kirrawee NSW 2232 18 Presentation of Awards at Swansea Advertising - Statewide Magazines Pty Ltd 19 Launching and retrieving Woolgoolga’s rescue PO Box 610, Fairy Meadow, NSW 2519 vessel from the beach Contact: Deborah Stathakis Tel: 02 4227 4396 20 Centrespread Photo Gallery Fax: 02 4227 4397 22 MR starts work on inland NSW waterways Mob: 0414 319 339 23 Melbourne Cup at Camden Haven E: [email protected] 23 Terrey Hills seeking a Honey Pot Web: statewidemagazines.com.au 24 Training and more at The Entrance Soundings is produced and distributed at no cost to 25 Middle Harbour gears up for the season Marine Rescue NSW. It is wholly funded by its printers 26 Spring Time in Forster Tuncurry and advertisers. Marine NSW is pleased to acknowledge 27 Massive rescue effort off Port Macquarie this invaluable support. 29 Merimbula’s new boat has arrived! © Copyright Volunteer Marine Rescue New South Wales. 30 Memories, fundraising and generous gifts Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited without 31 Weekend at Lake Jindabyne permission of the publisher. 32 First Aid training at Jervis Bay 33 Meet the Members - Wayne Walker 33 Cooperation on the South Coast 34 Marine Rescue vessels assist at Shoalhaven River crash 35 Endeavour at Eden 36 Inaugural Ballina Boat and Leisure Show 37 Leaning Tower at Ballina 37 Community cooperation at Sussex Inlet 37 Meet the Members - Bernie Gabriel 38 MR Safety-Net around the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 39 In Memoriam - Genevieve Darch - Bill Rowley 39 Rescue Sunday at Newport Anglican Church 40 Emails SOUNDINGS MARINE RESCUE NSW Issue 5 - December 2010 1 From the Editor’s Desk The new elected Directors have Another challenge that is becoming clear is responsibility for the future of the the rapid need to adopt new technology for company, and we wish them well in their our radio bases and rescue vessels. New deliberations. equipment involves not only acquisition If you look back through Soundings, the and installation costs, but training and stories have highlighted not only the running costs as well. variety and complexity of the tasks The more we come to rely on technology, undertaken by our marine volunteers, but now largely computer based, the greater is Ron Cole the diversity of the Units that now our dependence on electric power to comprise Marine Rescue in NSW. operate the equipment. As each base becomes better equipped, it will need to At the end of December, Marine Rescue It has also become very clear that each of NSW will have completed its first full year our waterways has its own peculiarities, plan on what to do in the event of a power of Operations. and the local knowledge of our rescue failure or blackout. Though much has been accomplished crews is vital, not only for their safety, but Knowing how to protect equipment and for the safety of those they set out to assist, recover after a power failure is just as during the twelve months and finally the Coast Guard Bases have officially ‘come especially when weather conditions are important as knowing how to use the onboard’, there is still much more to do. less than ideal. equipment in the first place. During December, MRNSW will hold its Just as there are unique features of some I hope you enjoy the current first Annual General Meeting. The waterways, so there is a need for special edition and look forward to training and maybe even special rescue your comments. Above Original Board of Directors who have steered the company during its early vessels for those conditions. One size will all, I wish each reader course and will give way to Directors not always ‘fit all’ and our planning and of Soundings a very training must always be flexible to allow happy Christmas, and a elected by the members. We thank the Original Directors for their sterling efforts for the environmental differences. safe, healthy and on our behalf. Their work has been done in The core training must always be prosperous New Year. the background with little or no consistent and relevant to the tasks we are Ron Cole acknowledgement. asked to undertake. Editor 2 SOUNDINGS MARINE RESCUE NSW Issue 5 - December 2010 From the Commissioner It’s that time of year… It’s that time of year when the workload of our volunteers working with the increases exponentially, whether it is manning the radios, newly elected members of working on the boats, training or on fundraising activities. the Board into the future. This year, the effects of La Niña will see an increase in rain This ‘Boating Season’ we and most probably a greater number of storms off our coast, will introduce the so we need to be prepared, not only for responding to vessels CompassNet system in distress, but also to assist our fellow volunteer emergency (Radio Club, MRSS, services, the SES and RFS, if called upon. As you may have Associates membership seen in recent Notices, orders have been placed for vessels database) and the Glenn Finniss which should start to arrive in early January. These vessels CompassTrack system, that will be fitted out with state of the art equipment which includes will give us an Online Tracking System (OTS) to monitor Log night vision and heart defibrillators. Ons/ Log Offs and assist us in monitoring transiting vessels It is also the time of year where the members vote for the along our coastline. This later system has been eagerly awaited Directors of the Board of Marine Rescue NSW. Our Directors by the boating public and will enhance marine safety in NSW. oversee the activities of our organisation and set our strategic As these are new systems, it is anticipated that there may be direction. Marine Rescue NSW has come a long way in a short some minor issues, so please bear with us in their development. time, and this has been achieved through the actions of your I thank you for your understanding. current and previous Board members. These volunteers have With Christmas rapidly approaching, I extend a heartfelt thank worked hard for you and deserve our highest accolades for the you, to you the volunteers and your families, as you support the role they performed, firstly in their role as Facilitation Group boating public, through dedication and commitment in Members, and secondly in their role as the Original Board. providing a marine rescue and communication services for These committed volunteers are Kay Cottee AO and Dianne New South Wales. I also wish you all the best for the Beamer MP, as co-Chairs, Jim Glissan QC, Michael Stringer Christmas period and a safe and enjoyable New Year. I look AM ESM, Frank Robards ESM, Peter Phillipson ESM, Bill forward to working with you in further developing MRNSW Carter, Richard Taffs, Elizabeth Watts, Neil McCartney, into a nationally recognised professional marine rescue service. Michael Seale, Sharyn Gillings ESM and Simon Denneen. Merry Christmas On your behalf, I thank them sincerely for playing an important Glenn Finniss role in the development of MRNSW, and I look forward to SOUNDINGS MARINE RESCUE NSW Issue 5 - December 2010 3 From the Deputy Commissioner The last two months have been particularly busy, interesting and Operationally, MRNSW is making I believe, very productive for MRNSW. As Deputy progress. In terms of vessels, the first Commissioner, my primary aim over that time was to meet as orders have been placed with Steber, many Unit Commanders, Unit Staff and MR Members as Gemini and Kevlacat. The roll-out of possible, with the view to familiarising myself with each Unit’s these vessels is expected early in the operating environment, infrastructure and equipment.