Volunteer Coastal Patrol was founded in
1937. It is the oldest maritime Search and Rescue organisation in
Australia and the largest Search and Rescue group in NSW. The Patrol
was granted the ‘Royal’ prefix by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2 in
1973.
Central
Coast Division of the Patrol was formed on 1st August 1971,
following a meeting called on 14 June to determine local interest
and support. Initially the Division
operated its marine radio services from a caravan on the waterfront
at Gosford adjacent to Iguana Joe’s at that time the site of the old Aquatic Club.
Central Coast Division moved to its present location in Goodaywang Reserve, at
the end of Kurrawa Avenue, Pt Clare in 1974, on land provided by
permissive occupancy from the Dept of Lands and with agreement from
Gosford City Council
The original building was constructed with help from the Federal
Government's ‘Red Scheme' (a work-for-the dole
programme). Barry Cohen MP officially opened the marine radio base on 16 August
1975. By 1994, the Division had outgrown its original building and
additions were made including a boatshed/workshop, a training room and a
small
office for the Division Commander.
Mandatory changes to volunteer training requirements
lead to a need for further additions and changes in 2004. These
included a new roof, replacing the original asbestos fibro, enlarged
training facilities, an additional toilet, washroom, workshop, and a
bunkroom. Fifty percent of the $112,000 cost for these changes was provided from
an Australian Government grant from its Regional Partnerships Programme. Jim Lloyd MP
opened the completed renovations on 12 June 2004.
Soon after its move to the Pt Clare site Central Coast Division took over
responsibility of the Terrigal Haven Radio Base from Broken Bay
Division. Central Coast Division began operations at Terrigal Haven
on 26 December 1976 as ‘Coastal Patrol Terrigal’. In addition to its
operations at the principal Pt Clare base.
During 1979 and 1980 the Division took care of the MV Krait that had
been restored by Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol members and was used
as a training vessel by the Patrol. For the history of the Krait see
the Krait page.
Disaster
struck Terrigal Base on the 26 July 1996. The entire building and
its contents were destroyed by fire. Like phoenix, and after a lot
of hard work by the members, a new building rose from the ashes. The
new marine radio base officially opened in January 1998 by Jim Lloyd
MP.
Initially Central Coast Division provided marine radio monitoring only on
weekends, but as demand and Patrol membership grew the radio
monitoring expanded to 7 days a week. At first all search and rescue
activities were carried using private vessels owned by members. At one stage
the Division had 12 privately owned vessels on its ships register.
In
1988 the Division purchased its first corporate vessel, a 7.3m De
Havilland Trojan, designated Centaco 1. The vessel was second hand.
All refurbishing and fit-out was undertaken by the members. Hi
Torque Marine provided sponsorship and Centaco 1 became ‘Hi Torque
Rescue’ until she was sold in 2001 following launch of a replacement
vessel.
Central
Coast
Division signed a contract for a 'in survey' purpose built lifeboat in 2000.
The new
Gosford lifeboat, ‘Spirit of Federation’ began her sea trials on
24 November 2000 and was officially commissioned for Patrol service
26 July 2001. The 7.5m vessel had a 310 HP Yanmar turbo diesel with Hamilton Jet
power and was accredited as a Category 2 Marine Rescue Unit by the
NSW State Rescue Board. In October 2007, during a refit, terminal
electrolysis was found in the vessel bottom plating and ladder
frames. The vessel's hull was unable to be repaired safely and was
scrapped.
The Division had no choice but
to replace the hull. Once the required paperwork was completed and
funds raised a new
hull
was ordered from Seatamer Marine Manufacturing at Redhead. The
Yanmar turbo diesel, Hamilton jet, gearbox and much of the safety
equipment from 'Spirit of Federation' was incorporated into 'Central
Coast Lifeboat'. The vessel was built to 2C Survey Standard and
was accepted by the Division after sea trials in April 2008.
During
April 2000 the Division was authorised by the State Rescue Board to
operate a Category 1 (inshore) lifeboat. The Division reconditioned
a 4.3m Quintrex Punt fitted with a 30 HP Outboard to meet the SRB's
requirements.. The lifeboat was named Centaco 3. By 2006 the demand
for the Divisions services was such that it commissioned a
replacement for Centaco 3.
On the 22nd November 2006 a
5.90m Category 1 Lifeboat, 'Brisbane Water Lifeboat' (Centaco
2) joined the
Central Coast Division fleet. This
lifeboat is
powered by a Yanmar turbo diesel engine (250 HP) with a Hamilton Jet
for propulsion. Centaco 3 has been retained for use as a training
vessel to help new members become familiar with boat handling and
our local waterway.
To better maintain our lifeboat and ensure they are always 'ready
for action' the Division successfully sought
a
dollar for dollar grant from Dept of Agriculture Fisheries and
Forestry (DAFF) for two 'Boat Lifts'. These vertical lifts are
installed beside the Division jetty at Pt Clare and enable the
lifeboats to be raised out of the water when not in use.
The Division also received help from DAFF and
the
Rotary Club of Gosford to install a 8 KVA 240 volt emergency
generator so that the radio base is able to maintain its services
during blackouts and storm emergencies. The Rotary Clubs of Gosford
Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club combined to assist the Division
install a 20m bi-fold radio mast to help improve radio
communications.
In 2008, Central Coast Division has
more than 100 members who
give freely of time as volunteers to provide radio monitoring 12
hours daily Monday to Thursday, and continuous 24 hour radio
coverage Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. Search and
Rescue crews are on duty or on call to man the rescue vessels 24
hours a day.
