Quarterly Journal of Marine Rescue NSW | Issue 2 March 2010 ‘Time Out’ saved at The Snake Wrangler Nothing is Camden Haven … p5 of Cottage Point … p10 ever simple … p17 Boat sinks off New base opened May Day call Minnie Water… p7 at Sussex Inlet … p11 for Narooma … p36 Minister McLeay visits ‘Thank You Meet the members Lake Macquarie … p10 Brunswick’ ... p13 … pp33, 35, 37 and 39 Marine Rescue members honoured on Australia Day … p4 Print Post No: PP255003/09617 What’s new in this issue Marine Rescue honoured on Australia Day 4 Cover photo Marine Rescue Ulladulla’s Category 3 Rescue Vessel, 2 From the Editor’s Desk Encounter, during sea trials following its annual refit 3 Commissioner’s Column and change to MR livery. Photo: Jamie Roberts. 4 MRNSW honoured on Australia Day Encounter is an all weather craft, LOA 15.85m, beam 5 ‘Time Out’ saved at Camden Haven 5.2m, draft fwd 1.1m, aft 1.5m, power 2 x Caterpillar D343 diesels, speed 18 knots, range 250nm, fuel 2800 6 Marine Rescue full ahead litres, crew min 6. Electronics: Furuno radar/plotter, 7 Man saved off Minnie Water Seiwa plotter, RDF, radios - HF/MF, VHF and 27MHz. 8 Capsize Danger at Forster 8 A Bad Day at Black Rock Editorial 9 Ballina first aid exercises Editor: Ron Cole 10 Minister McLeay visits Lake Macquarie PO Box 6058 West Gosford NSW 2250 Tel: 02 4324 8742 10 The Snake Wrangler of Cottage Point Mob: 0401 143 840 11 New Sussex Inlet base opened E: [email protected] 13 “Thank you Brunswick” 13 Not so ‘Bulletproof’ Design, Layout and Content by the 15 Hanging out at Hanging Rock Publisher, Marine Rescue NSW 16 Hawkesbury assists ‘Merlin’ Printing, binding & mailing by Galloping Press Pty Ltd 17 Nothing is ever simple Unit 29/398 The Boulevarde, Kirrawee NSW 2232 18 Helo evacuation at Little Box Head Advertising - Statewide Magazines Pty Ltd 19 Raffles and rescues at Coffs Harbour PO Box 1000, Gladesville NSW 1675 Contact: Deborah Stathakis 20 Photo Gallery Tel: 02 9817 7364 22 Hawkesbury arranges ‘Safety Net’ for BtB Fax: 02 9879 7235 23 Harbour Cruise Membership Promotion Mob: 0414 319 339 24 Merimbula visits RCC E: [email protected] 25 Sea of Blue at Central Coast Web: statewidemagazines.com.au 26 ‘Lakeside Blues’ at The Entrance © Copyright Volunteer Marine Rescue New South Wales. 27 Commissioner’s Column continued Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited without 27 Flag presentation at Forster Tuncurry permission of the publisher. 28 Changes at Port Stephens 29 Busy at Eden 30 Terrey Hills celebrations 31 Ulladulla plans and prepares 32 ‘James T. Lees’ to stay in Bermagui 32 Fatal yacht crash enquiry blames GPS 33 Meet the Members - John Finn 34 Terrey Hills takes on water 35 Meet the Members - Simon Denneen 36 May Day Call 37 Meet the Members - Owen Danvers 38 Jesse’s big fundraiser 39 Meet the Members - John Thompson 40 We get Emails SOUNDINGS MARINE RESCUE NSW Issue 2 - March 2010 1 From the Editor’s Desk Well here we are The magazine also relies on support by This has always been the case but has with the second its advertisers. Members of Marine become easier with a single entity for issue of Soundings. Rescue can assist by letting advertisers all Marine Rescue volunteers. know that they have seen their There is much still to be achieved in There was a positive reaction advertisement and encouraging others from members to our first issue, this first year. Not least is the to use the magazine to promote their Constitutional requirement for a Unit and our thanks go to Ken products and services. We welcome Annual General Meeting to be held in McManus for help with new supporters and advertisers and we June each year. At the Unit AGM production management to set also welcome suggestions about elections are to be held for the Unit the design and style standards. potential advertisers. Please email your Commander and Deputy Commander. recommendations to the editor. The constitution can be found on the Soundings is a magazine for members The recreational boating community of Marine Rescue, its supporters and MRNSW website, as well as the new has adapted quickly to calling Standard Operating Procedures and for the boating community. For it to be ‘MARINE RESCUE...’ on the radio. successful it relies on contributions Regulations covering many aspects of Unit radio operators have also adapted Marine Rescue activities as approved from each of the Marine Rescue Units to responding as Marine Rescue but in NSW. If you are disappointed that by the Board of Directors. Unit not as easily. After years of use it takes Commanders and members should be your Unit does not have a contribution a conscious effort to avoid replying included in this issue, then it means aware of the Regulations and SOPs. with the former unit name. This will be But enough of this bureaucracy. that none was received in time. You overcome with time, as will the change must encourage those responsible at of livery on rescue vessels, radio bases It is exciting to read and hear of the your Marine Rescue Unit to send in a and stationery. In a short time Marine changes to the MR radio network, of quarterly report, to email incident Rescue will be the only name to call new buildings being opened and the stories, media releases and photos. We and memories of the old khaki and unit teamwork coming together, will welcome all these contributions, orange will be part of the proud history particularly in Search and Rescue. so that Soundings truly reflects the of volunteer marine rescue in Volunteering is very rewarding. wide range of activities of all Marine Australia. This issue has stories about Ron Cole Rescue NSW members and their units. cooperation between adjoining units. Editor Great Circle Marine has added a emergency, it will deploy to its new life saving device – the Rescue full 7.62 metre length as it floats Streamer – to its already impressive with the current. range of life rafts and other safety The Rescue Streamer™ equipment. ➞ Mariner is 12.2 metres long but Wonderfully simple, but highly stows into a remarkably effective, the Rescue Streamer™ compact unit. It’s great for Distress Signal attaches to people or offshore cruising or fishing as life rafts providing a continuous, highly Person with PFD (life-jacket) only The survivor wearing a PFD and Rescue Close up of Rescue well as remote land visible pointer to where you are that can Streamer can clearly be seen Streamer showing destinations, and it’s ideal for be seen over a mile away and works at an altitude of 500 feet. international life rafts on boats or aircraft and until you’re found. distress signal all emergency kits. The Rescue Streamers are marked There are two types of streamers; one for The streamers are a with the international distress signal and have personal use and one for use in boats, kayaks, worthwhile, low cost investment that may save a life. sealed air-filled struts to keep hem open on land vehicles and aircraft. The Rescue Streamer™ More details available from Great Circle Marine on and afloat in the water. They are light-weight and do Survivor is the size of a mobile phone and designed 1300 306 381 or check out the website not need batteries, or depend on electronics or for personal use. With its built-in clip, it attaches to www.greatcircleliferafts.com.au pyrotechnic devices to let rescuers know where you clothing, life vests or PFD’s. On release in an <http://www.greatcircleliferafts.com.au can be found. 2 SOUNDINGS MARINE RESCUE NSW Issue 2 - March 2010 Commissioner’s Column Marine Rescue Operational switched on you will have heard a Furthermore, it is our intention through a growing number of other responsible better coordinated application process to skippers logging on and off with a Marine State and Federal Grants, plus an Rescue Radio Base using the Call Sign expected increase in Government ‘Marine Rescue’. funding, corporate sponsorship and assisted local fundraising activities, that With some radio bases indicating a 400% Marine Rescue NSW will in future increase in traffic, it is clear that the NSW provide the vessels that the local boating public is supportive of a single volunteers have previously worked so volunteer marine rescue response tirelessly to obtain. throughout the state. On behalf of the Marine Rescue NSW This prompted the decision to allow all members I thank the State Government NSW AVCGA Flotillas to also use the Glenn Finniss for the recognition bestowed upon the Marine Rescue call sign while negotia- Commissioner, Marine Rescue NSW marine rescue volunteers at the Australia tions continue with their National Board Day festivities in Darling Harbour. With Marine Rescue NSW to help them secure their own assets here operational as of January 1, the in NSW. It was a pleasure to have a number of our volunteers representative of the original excitement and enthusiasm has I state again, unequivocally, that these three organisations, introduced to Her assets which include vessels, bank moved up a gear. Excellency, the Governor of NSW, accounts and equipment that have been Professor Marie Bashir, and the Premier We now have 32 Units from the previous raised locally through the hard work and of NSW, the Hon Kristina Keneally MP. three organisations fully operational as fundraising activities of the local Marine Rescue NSW and that number is volunteers themselves, will stay locally at continuing to rise. those Units. Marine Rescue NSW will not If you have been out and about on our move or touch those assets, or other waterways with your marine radio future assets funded by local programs.