Marine RESCUE ASSISTS Two vessels on Sunday
30 August
2010
The volunteers
at Marine Rescue Central Coast had spent a quiet weekend with only
training exercises to occupy their time. Around 1600 hours on Sunday
duty radio operator, Ken Sharp, received a phone call from the
Police. “Could we please find a vessel, with a man and his dog
stranded on the foreshore between Pt Frederick and Point Clare, near
a wharf that has three flag poles”?
The man’s wife
had been put ashore together with the mobile phone. Somehow she had
made her way to Gosford Boat Ramp, called for help and was now
waiting with the car and trailer.
Peter Alderton,
Ted Leeson and Gordon Porter aboard Brisbane Water Lifeboat,
began a search and despite the vague directions eventually found the
4.3m vessel, the man and a damp almost hypothermic dog near a jetty
at the south end of the Point Clare shoreline. The vessel was taken
to Gosford ramp and the family reunited.
As the rescue
vessel was returning to base, around 1650 hours, radio operator Ken
Sharp tasked the crew to an urgent assist in Broken Bay. He told the
crew, “We have a 5.5m bowrider with four people on board. They have
a fuel problem and cannot start their vessel. The seas are reported
as 2.0m and the southeastly is blowing 20 knots and rising. The
skipper is very concerned about the safety of the boat and the
people on board”.
Brisbane Water Lifeboat made a fast
passage under flashing “Reds and Blues” to Broken Bay while, on the
radio, Ken Sharp re-assured the people on the vessel that help was
on the way. The rescue boat located the bowrider anchored west of
Lion Island about 1730 hrs.
The tow back
to Gosford was very tricky, particularly crossing the bar at Little
Box Head due to the run-out tide and 2.0m seas, the worst possible
conditions for a night bar crossing. The people on board were
eventually dropped off at Gosford Sailing Club and the skipper
assisted to his mooring at Pt Frederick. The rescue boat and crew
logged off at 1930 hours.
WEEKEND WATCH ACTIVITIES
9
August 2010
A night exercise was held on Brisbane Water by the volunteers from
Marine Rescue Central Coast on Saturday night (Aug 7). As a result
of assessments made during the exercise two members, Bob White and
Roger Palmer, met the standards required for promotion to rescue
boat coxswain.
On Sunday Aug 9, after removal of a log near the Rip Bridge that
was endangering navigation, Central Coast Lifeboat, with
Anthony Porter as skipper, assisted a 6.0m runabout with electrical
problems. The vessel, with four people was located about 10:30am
about 1km offshore, east of East Reef. The rescue crew passed over a
battery-pack that enabled the vessel to be restarted, and return to
safety under its own power.
YACHT
AGROUND IN OYSTER LEASE
18
July 2010

A
phone call early on Sunday morning July 18, alerted the volunteers
on duty at Marine Rescue Central Coast to the predicament of a 50’
yacht and its crew of five. They sought assistance as they had run
aground about 1.00am. As the daylight made their surrounding clear
they found themselves hard and fast in an oyster lease at the
northern end of Paddy’s Channel in Brisbane Water.
Skipper Cameron Veacock and crewman took the rescue vessel,
Central Coast Lifeboat, to the area. The yacht was well out of
the Channel and with low tide fast approaching there was little that
could be done until the high tide, still many hours away. The yacht
crew evacuated the two women on board by dinghy to the rescue boat
as they were concerned about family at home. The rescue boat
delivered the women to a private jetty at Daley’s Point. The three
men stayed with the yacht and after 2.00pm, some 13 hours later,
they were able to extricate themselves on get on their way.
Fishermen Rescued at night off Macmasters Beach
28
June 2010

Central Coast
Lifeboat
Around 5:00 pm on Saturday June 26, just as the southerly change was
chilling the air, the Marine Rescue volunteers at the Central Coast
Unit’s Point Clare Base were tasked by the Police to assist two
fishermen in a 5.1m runabout about ½ nm off Macmasters Beach. The
men could not start the boat’s engine and needed assistance to get
back to Davistown.
Terry
Reynolds and his crew, Ian Morrow and Gary Marshall, on Central
Coast Lifeboat, immediately set out in the failing light for the
GPS position provided by the Police. The position was loaded into
the rescue boat’s ‘GPS Plotter’, and that in turn provided the crew
with a course to steer to locate the disabled vessel. Communication
with the men was by mobile phone, not ideal in the circumstances.
With seas of 2.0m and rising occasionally to 3.0m and the southerly
blowing at 20 knots with higher gusts, the rescue crew finally
spotted a lonely anchor light glowing in the darkness. As they came
up to the boat they found two relieved fishermen.
The
rescue crew had to provide assistance to free the disabled boat’s
anchor as it had become well imbedded in the rough conditions. Then
began a long and uncomfortable tow back to the calmer conditions in
Brisbane Water. The men and their boat were dropped off at the
Lintern Street Ramp around 8:00pm.
Solar Grant to Central Coast Marine Rescue Volunteers
Friday 18 June 2010

Deputy CMDR Tony Long looks on as Marie
Andrews MP presents a $5000 grant cheque to assist installation of a
solar electricity system to CMDR Ian Gallard.
On Friday 18 June, the Member for
Gosford,
Marie Andrews, presented a $5000 helping hand from the State
Government to volunteers from the Central Coast Unit of Marine
Rescue NSW.
Marie Andrews said, “This $5000 Government
grant will assist with the installation of a solar energy system at
the Point Clare Base. A solar energy unit will help provide
cost‑efficient power for the operation of the unit's radio room and
boat lifts for its two rescue vessels".
The Marine Rescue volunteers sought assistance from
Marie Andrews who made representations to Emergency Services
Minister, Steve Whan, on behalf of the Central Coast Unit.
Marie Andrews said “The volunteers from Marine Rescue
play a vital role in assisting and protecting the Central Coast's
large boating community. Whether they are monitoring the airwaves,
crewing rescue vessels or doing essential training, administration
and maintenance work, the members of Marine Rescue put in countless
hours to keep our
local boaties
safe.
The volunteers at the Central Coast Unit are
recognised for their skills, experience and dedication to the safety
of people on our waters and I thank them all for their unwavering
commitment and hard work."
Unit Commander, Ian Gallard, accepted the cheque on
behalf of Unit’s members. He thanked Marie Andrews for her help and
asked that she thank Steve
Whan
for providing financial support for this worthwhile project.
Ian Gallard stated, “Once installed, the
photovoltaic solar system will help offset the ever-growing
electricity costs of running the Marine Rescue Radio Base and its
associated equipment 7-days a week. New technology and new equipment
to improve communications all mean increased use of electricity, so
we appreciate this assistance to alleviate the ongoing costs.”
Change of Command at Central Coast Marine Rescue
3
June 2010

Retiring Commander Pat Fayers
The
first Commander of Marine Rescue Central Coast, Patricia Fayers, has
stood down after almost four years in charge, initially of Coastal
Patrol and since January 1, of Marine Rescue Central Coast. Under
Pat’s command the Unit has maintained its proud tradition of service
to the boating public and has significantly improved the
infrastructure of the Unit. The members moved a motion of thanks for
her dedication.
Elections for the positions of Unit Commander and Deputy Unit
Commander were held at the inaugural Annual General Meeting of the
Unit on Wednesday night June 2. After the secret ballot and
counting of proxy votes, the Returning Officer, Sherwin Hensby,
announced the result to more than 60 members in attendance. The
Unit’s volunteer members elected Ian Gallard as Unit Commander for a
two year term. Tony Long was elected as Deputy Unit Commander.

Commander
Ian Gallard
Ian
Gallard, who lives at Umina Beach, has been a member of the
volunteer rescue unit for more than four years, in fact since he and
his wife Lyn came to reside on the Central Coast. Ian has been an
active member since joining, not only with boat and radio duties but
also with the administration responsibilities that are necessary to
maintain a viable 24/7 operational unit.
Ian
has senior business management experience with Qantas, P&O and
RailCorp. Supported by wife Lyn, Ian promises continuity within the
Unit while managing the inevitable changes that are occurring as
Marine Rescue NSW develops.

The
new Deputy Commander, Tony Long, (pictured above on Brisbane
Water Lifeboat) has been a member of the Unit for just over two
years. He says he has one wife, Christine, and two young adult
children. The family moved to Green Point from Port Macquarie in
2004. Tony is no stranger to volunteer marine rescue as, in Port
Macquarie, he was involved with VRA-Marine. He is Chief Inspector of
Police attached to Tuggerah LAC. As a result of his 25-year police
career he has significant Emergency Management experience.
He is
a passionate boater and fisherman, and he has been active throughout
his marine rescue volunteer membership. As well he has handled
roster duties for the Unit’s 120 strong membership. His enthusiasm,
dedication and management skills will assist Marine Rescue Central
Coast continue its tradition of service to the community
SUNDAY WAS NOT WITHOUT INCIDENT
17 May
20101
The
volunteer crews at Marine Rescue Central Coast attended three
incidents on Sunday 16 May. Around 1130 hours the Brisbane Water
Lifeboat, skippered by Anthony Porter assisted by his
crew, Richard Manning, Sue Lang and Geoff Morris, was sent to
Iron Ladder Beach in Broken Bay to assist a 5.0m runabout with
mechanical problems. The boat, with three people aboard was located
and then towed to the ramp at Lions Park, Woy Woy.
While this vessel was under tow the crew on duty at the Point Clare
Base heard a strange motor noise from a 6.0m fibreglass runabout
passing the Base on Brisbane water. In astonishment they watched as
the outboard motor detached from the boat and disappeared. The man
on board paddled his now motor-less boat to the Base jetty. One of
the Marine Rescue members drove the owner to Woy Woy to his car and
trailer. He returned to Point Clare where he was assisted to put his
boat onto his trailer. It was learned that he had recently purchased
the boat and this was his first outing.
Another call for help was received at 1645 hours from a 6.0m
runabout with mechanical problems. The three people on board
requested a tow back to the launching ramp at Gosford. Brisbane
Water Lifeboat had reached the north end of Paddy’s Channel as
darkness descended and heavy rain began to fall. The cold and wet
rescued and rescuers were happy when their day out ended safely.
A
SINKING FEELING ON SUNDAY
10 May
2010
At
3.30pm on Mother’s Day, Ian Brown and his crew on Central Coast
Lifeboat were conducting a training exercise on the bar at Box
Head when they received an urgent radio call from the radio base of
Marine Rescue at Point Clare, ‘We have a report of a launch with
eight people on board sinking in Paddy's Channel”.
The
crew responded immediately, and with emergency lights flashing they
raced to Paddys, arriving in just 12 minutes after receiving the
call. They soon discovered a hire launch near an
oyster lease at the northern end of the channel. The boat had its
stern nearly submerged, and its bow was raised and people on the
cabin roof. The three men, three
women (one pregnant) and two children on board were bailing
frantically. Six were wearing life jackets.
The
marine rescue crew were told that the hire boat had strayed too
close to the oyster lease and struck a submerged post holing the
hired launch. The wet and distreesed families were transferred to the rescue boat, and
some were treated for shock and hyperthermia. The families were taken to
the hire company marina at Ettalong. The company was able to
retrieve its damaged vessel.
Marine Rescue NSW Easter Boating Safety Net Tip
Log on AS you leave for safer Easter
boating

The Easter Weekend will see locals and visitors to the Central Coast
get out on the water to enjoy a few days boating before the colder
weather sets in. With more boats there are on the water, the more
risk there is for something to go wrong.
Imagine this. You’ve been out with a couple of mates for a day’s
fishing at a favourite spot 24 nautical miles out. You’ve had a
sensational day with more fish than you’ve caught in years. But at
2:30 that afternoon you’re hit by a big wave, your big catch shifts
and next thing you know the boat has capsized and you’re all in the
water. Your radio’s under water and useless but you’re all wearing
your life jackets and you used your radio to log on with your local
Marine Rescue base when you left port.
This is exactly what happened just a few months ago to three men off
Port Macquarie.
When the Port Macquarie Marine Rescue radio operator hadn’t heard
from the boat at the agreed time, the rescue crew swung in to action
and began a search. It was 10 to 10 that night when Port Macquarie
Rescue One found them – the fishermen had been in the water for over
seven hours and drifted more than 13 nautical miles from their
capsize position.
All three men were suffering from hypothermia from their long
immersion but their lives were saved because they logged on before
leaving. The skilled Marine Rescue volunteers had the search plan
and local knowledge that kept those men in the Marine Rescue Safety
Net.
On the Central Coast you can ‘Log-On’ With Marine Rescue Units at
Gosford, Terrigal, Norah Head or The Entrance. The volunteers at
these units are listening on the marine radio channels to ready help
you. Logging On is like an insurance policy should something go
wrong.
You’ll find the volunteers are helpful, knowledgeable and very keen
to help you stay in the Volunteer Marine Rescue Safety Net.
SAFE DISPOSAL OF DISTRESS FLARES
Wednesday
17 March 2010
A new - trial new system for the disposal of out-of date distress
flares has been announced by NSW Maritime.
CMDR Pat Fayers of Marine Rescue Central Coast said, “Safe disposal
of out of date flare has been a problem for many years, and we are
delighted to learn of this initiative from NSW Maritime”
On the Central Coast, expired flares can now be placed into special
containers at the NSW Maritime Service Centre in Donnison Street,
Gosford,
between 030 and 1630 hrs Monday to Friday.
The flares will be stored for collection and then transported to the
Sterihealth
facility at Silverwater, Sydney. The expired flares will be
destroyed at ultra-high temperature under strict environmental
conditions.
The new flare disposal system was the result of a close partnership
between NSW Maritime,
WorkCover
NSW and the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water.
The trial will run until July 2011 and will be reviewed before that
date.
BOAT
CAPSIZE ON BAR AT LITTLE BOX HEAD
Sunday March 14, 2010

Ted Leeson, assisted by Ken Sharp administers some First Aid to
the injured man
At
1240hrs on Saturday (March 13), Marine Rescue Central Coast was
alerted by radio by a Fishing Club member that a 6.0m Haines 1800S
Ski-boat had capsized while crossing the bar at Little Box Head. The
report indicated that there were three people in the water.
The
police were notified and Central Coast Lifeboat was tasked to
assist. As Skipper Norm Smith and his crew, Ian Brown, Ken Sharp and
Ted Leeson were hurrying to the scene they were advised that two of
the people had been picked up by a Motor Cruiser, and that the third
person was on the Fishing Club member’s runabout.
Seas
on arrival at Little Box Head were found to be short, very lumpy and
about 2.0m. The bow of the capsized boat was just visible, floating
vertically due to the weight of its 225HP motor. With the assistance
of a local SLSC RIB, a tow line was attached to the capsized vessel
and it was dragged to Lobster Beach.
A
NSW Maritime vessel collected the three men from the overturned
vessel. One had a badly lacerated toe and was transferred to
Central Coast Lifeboat for first-aid treatment and subsequent
transfer to an ambulance at Woy Woy. The Maritime BSO transported
the other men to Apple Tree Bay to collect their car and boat
trailer. The ski-boat skipper told the MRNSW crew that, “we were hit
by a wave and just flipped”.
With
the assistance of two SLSC members as well as three members of the
public at Lobster Beach, the ski-boat was righted and pumped out
using equipment from the Marine Rescue vessel. Once afloat the
$30,000 ski-boat was towed to the inner ramp at Lions Park, Woy Woy,
arriving around 1530hrs.
The
rescue was a great example of cooperation among several agencies and
as well, it
was a powerful demonstration to the men involved of the importance
of wearing lifejackets and the reason why they’re mandatory when
crossing a bar.
Rescues on Saturday and Sunday
February 22, 2010

Marine Rescue Skipper Anthony Porter
Three
men at Ettalong in a 4.0m runabout with mechanical problems radioed
Marine Rescue Gosford for assistance around 2:00pm on Saturday (Feb
20). They were pleased to see Brian Warburton and his crew, Bob
White and Roger Palmer, on Central Coast Lifeboat. The
runabout was towed to its launching point at Palm Beach.
On
Sunday (Feb 21), around noon, the skipper of a 7.0m Bayliner at
Noonan’s Point with three people onboard reported that it had a
mechanical failure and sought assistance to return to its mooring at
Koolewong. The Central Coast Lifeboat, with Anthony Porter in
command, was soon on the scene and the vessel towed to its mooring.
ONLY
ON SUNDAY - TASKS FOR MARINE RESCUE
Sunday 31
January 2010

After
a quiet Saturday it turned out to be a busy Sunday (Jan 31) for the
volunteers at Marine Rescue Central Coast. Skipper Terry Reynolds
and his crew, Ron Jackson, Richard Manning and Gordon Ellis, on
Central Coast Lifeboat, were off Palm Beach from about 9:00am
assisting as one of the safety boats for the Palm Beach ‘Big Swim’.
Around 11:30 as they followed the last of the swimmers towards
Whale Beach they were directed to assist a 5.8m half cabin runabout
was disabled with an electrical fault. The boat, shown above, with
one adult and two children on board had phoned to seek help and was
about 2.5nm offshore east of Barrenjoey. The vessel was located
readily because around 15 minutes later they supplied a GPS
position. Seas were a lumpy 2m swell so then began the uncomfortable
2-hour tow back to Lintern St Ramp at Davistown. The rescue crew
were certainly ‘late’ for lunch.
Brisbane Water Lifeboat,
under
the control of Skipper Anthony Porter was out on a
crew training exercise with Roger Palmer, Alan Reid and Vern
McDonald, when around 3:20, following advice from a commercial
vessel, it went to Lobster Beach to investigate a report of a boat
in trouble.
On
arrival the crew found two people aboard a 4.5m runabout with a
seized engine seeking help to get back to the ramp at Pretty Beach.
The men gratefully accepted a tow.
MARINE RESCUE CENTRAL COAST’S AUSTRALIA DAY
27 January 2010

Central Coast Lifeboat at Gosford Waterfront for the Australia Day
Festivities
The volunteers at Marine Rescue Central Coast were on radio watch
from 6:00am on Australia Day, ready to ‘log-on’ and provide a safety
net for all those enjoying their day on the water.
Both rescue vessels, Central Coast Lifeboat and Brisbane
Water Lifeboat, were checked and made ready for the days
activities. Central Coast Lifeboat, crewed by Cameron
Veacock, Gordon Ellis and Pat Fayers, lead the Parade of
Boats organised by Gosford Council as part of the Australia Day
waterfront festivities. More than 60 yachts and power boats joined
the parade from Point Frederick to Gosford. Brisbane Water
Lifeboat, crewed by Terry Reynolds, Steve Finney and Bill Egan,
was ‘tail end Charlie’ bringing up the end of the parade. Both
Rescue Boats then acted as marshals and safety vessels for the other
water activities undertaken.

Gordon Ellis
supervises the tow of the fireworks barge to Woy Woy
Late afternoon, Central Coast Lifeboat, towed the fireworks
barge from Gosford to its spot hidden in the mangroves at Woy Woy
for the evening’s fireworks display at 9:0pm. To maintain a
mandatory safety zone around the barge, the tow was escorted by
Brisbane Water Lifeboat. After the display and in the dark, the
barge had to be extracted from its spot in the mangroves and towed
under escort back to Gosford.
It was a long but enjoyable and satisfying day for the Central
Coast community and its Marine Rescue volunteers.
CAUGHT IN THE SOUTHERLY
24 January 2010
A quiet and uneventful day at MARINE RESCUE Central Coast was ending
on the evening of Saturday 23 Jan. The duty crew were glad to be
closing down at 6:02pm after a very hot day and were enjoying the
cooling effects of the 40 knot southerly. Then the phone rang. A
resident at Saratoga called in to report that he had seen through
his telescope a man in boat waving an oar. He said the boat appeared
to be in difficulties but because of the rain and spray driven by
the howling southerly wind he wasn’t sure.
The duty radio operator rang Gosford Police to ask if they had any
other reports of a boat in trouble. They advised that they had
received a mobile phone call from a man in a boat in that vicinity
and had sent a car to investigate. Central Coast Lifeboat was
immediately despatched with Norm Smith as skipper and Ian Brown and
Ted Leeson as crew. The radio room contacted the boat to determine
an accurate description and position. They learned that there were 5
people on board the 15’ half cabin launch. Its motor had ‘died’ and
it was being blown south rapidly. They said they were about
half-a-mile off Peeks Point.
The rescue boat crew located the distressed boat with the five
people huddled inside the cabin to avoid the wind and rain. After
some difficulties in the rough condition the tow line was attached
and reluctantly some people left the cabin to balance the boat to
enable a safe tow to the ramp at Saratoga. The group had been out
fishing, had seen the southerly coming and while returning home the
motor had failed.
Central Coast Lifeboat
and its crew returned to base around 7:30pm with the sound of ‘thank
you’ ringing in their ears. Without the call from the man with the
telescope and the dedication of the volunteers at MARINE RESCUE
Central Coast, the day’s fishing could have ended in tragedy and a
wrecked boat.
NOTHING IS EVER SIMPLE
14 January 2010

Yacht under tow in Broken Bay in southerly during thunderstorm -
photo Dennis Byrne
Around 5:46pm on Wednesday (Jan 13) the duty radio operator at the
Point Clare base of Marine Rescue Central Coast, Alan Howes, sent
his duty crew, Terry Reynolds and Dennis Byrne, aboard Central
Coast Lifeboat to a simple job in Gosford Boat Harbour. A 30’
yacht with two people aboard had run aground and required help to
get free and back into deep water. This task was completed by 6:15pm
and the rescue boat was returning to its berth at Point Clare. The
crew called the base to advise that their task was completed.
It
was then that the radio operator advised that he had received a VHF
radio ‘Pan Pan’ call (an urgent call for help) from a vessel in
trouble in Broken Bay, about 1nm off Lion Island. The 50’ yacht had
one person on board, its roller reefing gear had jammed with the
foresail about 2/3rd rolled, and the engine would not
start. The skipper provided a GPS position to assist the rescue crew
go straight to the location. The wind was 30 knots and gusting from
the Sth/East, seas were 3m and rising. This yacht had a problem.
Police were notified and Marine Rescue Central Coast was tasked to
assist.
Terry
and his crew reached the yacht about 6:50pm. By then it was just ½
nm off Lion Island. Conditions had deteriorated with a thunderstorm,
heavy rain and squally winds making life unpleasant and seas very
confused. The rescue boat crew got a line aboard the yacht and began
a tow towards Pittwater. Progress was slow because of the strong
southerly and the wind in the jammed sail. The yacht skipper and
boat crew decided to head west to shelter under West Head so the
owner could free the jammed sail. This was successful and it was
then decided that the safest location overnight would be Refuge Bay.
The yacht was placed on a mooring in Refuge about 9:30pm.
The
lifeboat and its weary crew finally got back to the Point Clare base
about 10:15pm; so much for a simple and quick job before dinner.
COASTAL PATROL OPERATIONS CHANGE TO MARINE RESCUE NSW
30
December 2009

Commander Patricia Fayers
Effective from 6:00am on January 1 Coastal Patrol Divisions,
including Central Coast will cease to exist as operational entities.
From that time and date all operational activities including marine
radio and search and rescue will become the responsibility of Marine
Rescue NSW.
Coastal Patrol Central Coast that operates from Point Clare and
Terrigal Haven will change its radio call signs from Coastal Patrol
to Marine Rescue Gosford and Marine Rescue Terrigal from that
moment.
Unit Commander, Patricia Fayers said,’ This is both a sad yet
exciting time. It is sad that the Patrol is ceasing after 39 years
on the Central Coast, but our members are excited and enthusiastic
to continue their service to the community under the banner of the
new organisation.’
All operational assets of Central Coast Division will become the
responsibility of Marine Rescue NSW. Patrol membership will move
from the Patrol to Marine Rescue NSW. The changeover process,
including base and vessel identification, uniforms from Coastal
Patrol to Marine Rescue NSW will be gradual and all Divisions will
continue to operate as normal to provide a safety net for the
recreational boaters on the Central Coast
RESCUE SUNDAY FOR COASTAL PATROL CREWS
13 December 2009

Central
Coast Lifeboat and Brisbane Water Lifeboat ‘on the job’
on Brisbane Water.
December 13 proved to be ‘Rescue Sunday” for the boat crews on duty
at Coastal Patrol Central Coast Division.
Around 11:00 the Point Clare base received a broken up 27MHz radio
message from a runabout in a fishing competition with engine trouble
somewhere north of Maitland Bay. With assistance from the radio
operator at Coastal Patrol Terrigal Haven it was determined that the
4.5m vessel with 2 POB was 2nm east of Third Point. Bill Egan,
Cameron Veacock and Gordon Ellis aboard Central Coast Lifeboat
located the vessel in 2m seas. The stricken craft was towed back to
safety at Lions Park at Woy Woy.
While this tow was underway, at about 11:50 another participant in
the same fishing competition radioed for help due to a fuel problem.
The 5.0m runabout with 3 POB, was at Lobster Beach. Brisbane
Water Lifeboat, with Terry Reynolds and Collis Harvey aboard was
despatched to assist. The runabout was towed back to the Blackwall
Ramp.
On
its return Central Coast Lifeboat was despatched to aid a
dismasted catamaran but found the Patrol’s services were not
required as a passing yacht was already assisting.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY ON DREDGE AT LITTLE BOX HEAD
12 December 2009

Photo:
Helicopter crew assessing possibility of landing on the dredge, it
landed on nearby Lobster Beach and the medical crew on board were
transported to the tug by Waterways RIB.
Coastal Patrol was involved with
the evacuation of a worker from the dredge working on the bar at
Little Box Head at the entrance to Broken Bay early on Saturday
afternoon, December 12.
Around 13:30 hours duty
radio operator Ron Jackson had a call from the local Waterways
Safety Officer seeking urgent assistance to transport NSW Ambulance
paramedics from Ettalong Public Wharf to the tug, Betts Bay,
at Little Box Head. A male worker on board was suffering severe
abdominal pains and immediate medical assistance was required.
Skipper Terry Reynolds
and his crew, Brent Malcolm and Gordon Ellis, on Brisbane Water
Lifeboat collected the paramedics and transported them to the
tug. Once on board the tug the paramedics decided that the
man should be evacuated by helicopter. On arrival the helicopter
pilot assessed the location. He asked that all vessels in the
immediate vicinity be asked not to use radar or MF/HF radios while
the helicopter was nearby due to possible interference with
instruments. He also asked that the channel be closed while they
landed a crew by long wire. Eventually the pilot decided they could
not land on the dredge or tug due to the amount of equipment
onboard, so the helicopter landed the doctor and another paramedic
on Lobster Beach. From there they were transported to the Betts
Bay by the Waterways Rigid Hull Inflatable boat.
Once the man was
stabilised it was decided that the best evacuation plan was for the
Coastal Patrol rescue vessel to transport the man on a stretcher
back to the ambulance waiting at Ettalong Public Wharf. The man was
finally carried ashore about 15:30 hours, and then was taken to
Gosford Hospital.
Addenda: We learned on Sunday
that the worker involved passed kidney stones overnight in
Gosford Hospital and was able to return home on Sunday Dec 13.
His boss says he expects him to be 'back on the job' on the
dredge early in the week.
MARINE RESCUE NSW DIRECTORS VISIT CENTRAL COAST
9 December 2009

Directors Michael Stringer
(left) and James Glissan (standing) in MRNSW uniforms, with Patricia
Fayers, Commander of Coastal Patrol Central Coast Division.
Marine Rescue NSW is a
new force in Australian volunteer marine rescue services. It draws
together highly trained people from the three existing volunteer
marine rescue organisations in NSW and will provide improved
coordination of search and rescue, radio communications and boat
safety education for the boating community.
Until now, volunteer
marine rescue activities in NSW have been carried out by Australian
Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA), Royal Volunteer Coastal
Patrol (RVCP) and the Volunteer Rescue Association, Marine Branch
(VRA Marine Branch). These three groups operate a total of 56
accredited marine rescue bases along the NSW coast and perform
almost 70 percent of all rescues in NSW.
Members of all three
organisations have worked together to forge a single entity for the
future. There has been widespread consultation on the creation of
this new service that has attracted strong support throughout the
volunteer marine rescue community.
Two Directors on the
Board of Marine Rescue NSW, James Glissan (previously AVCGA) and
Michael Stringer (previously RVCP) visited the Central Coast on
Monday Dec 7 to update local volunteers on the progress to a single
unified organisation. About 50 members attended the meeting held at
the Point Clare Base.
Those present were
advised that MRNSW now has 2300 members in NSW.
Commissioner Glenn
Finniss has been appointed the Acting Head of MRNSW. Glenn has
30-years of NSW Police Service including 29-years with the NSW Water
Police, and for the last 9 years he was responsible for Marine
Search and Rescue in NSW.
The Directors advised
that detailed planning and budgeting is underway, including the
appointment of Strategic Integration Teams to ensure that MRNSW
Operations and Administration are optimised for the benefit and
safety of the recreational boating community.
Volunteers in MRNSW
uniforms will soon appear on Central Coast waters in vessels changed
from traditional Coastal Patrol or Coast Guard colours to the new
MRNSW livery.