Strong support for Marine Rescue Levy from those who know

by Ken McManus on 16 Jun 2010 It’s often not until a boater needs some help that they realize how important the Marine Rescue volunteers are. Here’s what some who have been on the receiving end have to say about the proposed levy.

'I think a levy is a fantastic idea. I’m all for it.'

During the January school holidays this year Kenton McLeod from Davistown checked the weather forecast and it looked OK to take his two young children fishing outside Broken Bay in his 18ft half cabin cruiser.

He’d only been anchored for about 20 minutes when the seas started to get much bigger than he expected and his daughter began to feel seasick. But when he tried to start his motor, it wouldn’t.

He called Marine Rescue Central Coast to ask for help and was astonished when the volunteers arrived in just eight minutes - they had been on a training exercise just inside Brisbane Water. 'I think a levy is a fantastic idea,' he said. 'I wasn’t far out when I had that problem but I was very anxious until those guys arrived. If this levy will help them give this kind of service everywhere, I’m all for it.'


'When you’re 20 miles out to sea and the motor won’t start …'

In January this year Rodney Gunn from Coffs Harbour was 20 nm 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 to get that far out 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.'

After thirty hours adrift: 'It’s priceless! $7.50 is nothing!'

When the 5.5-metre fishing boat ‘Predator’ capsized off Kiama one Saturday morning in 2008, it was 24 hours before the two fishermen on board were reported missing. Volunteer marine rescue vessels immediately began to search and volunteer 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 the proposed funding levy for volunteer marine rescue, Trajan’s brother, Ljupco, said 'It’s priceless! $7.50 is nothing!'

'In a split second we were all under the water'

When Gary and Sue Cameron and three friends were heading out from Coffs Harbour to go fishing one fine Sunday morning they didn’t expect to find themselves in the water watching their boat continue on its own. A rogue wave had caught their boat and tipped 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 marine rescue volunteers were on the job within 18 minutes of the five being tossed overboard, other boats joined in the search and all were found and brought safely to shore. In a letter to the Coffs Coast Advocate, Gary and Sue Cameron and their friends wrote to give their grateful thanks to all involved including the rescue volunteers.

When asked what they thought about the Marine Rescue funding Levy of $7.50 on Boat Licences and Registrations, Sue Cameron said, 'Only $7.50? They give their time 24/7 manning their station watching over both the pro fishers and guys like us. $7.50 a year is a bargain for what they do.'

'When you’re in a situation like we were - you wouldn’t think twice about it'

When Scott Easton of Canberra and two mates struck mechanical problems, 15 nm off Batemans Bay in their 5.9-metre boat as they tried to return home after a day out fishing, they activated their EPIRB.

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 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.'

Everyone who cares about having help handy when it’s needed, should go to the Marine Rescue Levy Survey on the NSW Maritime website to support the proposal before the survey closes on Friday. Go to www.maritime.nsw.gov.au and help secure the financial future of Marine Rescue NSW.