How we trust our volunteer rescuers
by Ken McManus/Sail-World on 19 Jun 2013
Australia’s happiest volunteers - from Botany Bay SW
Australian rescue volunteers have a lot to be happy about today, and it's not just one more sailor's life that they have saved. They have just found out that they are again in the top three most trusted professions in Australia.
The results of the 2013 Australian Readers Digest Most Trusted Professions poll were released today, indicating that it’s the people who protect, care and give who have earned the nation’s trust.
With firefighters and paramedics sharing equal top placing, rescue volunteers came in at number three – the same position as in 2012 - in the survey of 1200 Australians asked to rank 50 professions.
Nurses, pilots, doctors, pharmacists, veterinarians, air traffic controllers and farmers rounded out the top 10.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Stacey Tannos said he was proud to see rescue volunteers ranked so highly by the Australian people.
'Marine Rescue NSW volunteers, along with all their rescue and other emergency services colleagues, are an incredible force for good in our community,' he said.
MRNSW has 3200 volunteers in 47 units along the NSW coastline and inland on the Alpine Lakes in the Snowy Mountains and the Murray River at Moama. They provide vital emergency search and rescue, boating safety education and a marine radio safety net for boaters on NSW waters.
'Our members give their time freely to assist and protect boaters on our waters and it is rewarding to know that people appreciate their hard work and commitment,' Commissioner Tannos said.
'Giving something back to their community is a powerful motivation for our volunteers and they will be grateful to see that they are highly trusted and respected.'
He said MRNSW volunteers were skilled, experienced and trained to professional standards.
'They are standing ready to help, no matter whether that is rescuing a boater from a sinking vessel, towing in a fisherman whose tinnie has broken down or providing first aid in a medical emergency.'
For the full list of Most Trusted professionals, see http://www.readersdigest.com.au/most-trusted-professions-2013
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