Vic Coast Guard benefit from Club Marine Boat Show

by Samantha Bennett on 28 Jun 2007 Yet another reason to visit the 2007 Club Marine Melbourne Boat Show from July 5-9, is to support the chosen charity organisation; the Victorian Coast Guard, keeping you safe in all your marine activities.

The Coast Guard will be running boat licence courses twice a day, every day at the Show with all the proceeds from this fantastic initiative going towards keeping the Coast Guard afloat.

Ron Sheppard, Squadron Training Commodore of the Victorian Coast Guard, says the Club Marine Melbourne Boat Show is a vital resource for the squadron.

'We need the funds raised at this show to put towards maintaining our boats, so we can have them ready for the search and rescues we perform every day of the week,' said Sheppard.

'You may remember last week’s incident where a boat hit a pylon off east Geelong and started sinking. They were rescued at 5am, just before their boat sank. That kind of rescue wouldn’t be possible without funding from events like the Melbourne Boat Show.'

The Coast Guard is hoping their presence at the 2007 Club Marine Melbourne Boat Show will help to raise their profile, especially ahead of their new responsibilities as the fire brigade of the sea.

As part of a memorandum of understanding with the Combined Fire Authority, the Coast Guard is set to offer another aspect of protection at sea, with the new responsibility of taking care of fire and emergency services off land.

Lindsay Grenfell, Chief Executive Officer of the Boating Industry Association Victoria, says he is proud to help the Coast Guard in raising both funds and their profile for the good of the boating industry.

'We always strive to have a charity at the Melbourne boat show and the Coast Guard is a wonderful organisation that is always available to provide rescue services to the boating public,' says Grenfell.

'As the Coast Guard is unfunded in many aspects, the BIA Victoria is pleased to provide funding for their worthwhile cause.'

The Victorian Coast Guard will run their licensing courses twice a day at a cost of $70 per person, all of which will go directly to the organisation. The course will include a two-hour demonstration covering all points of marine safety and boat handling concluding with the Boat Licence exam.

Visit the official website at www.biavic.com.au.

For more information on the Victorian Coast Guard visit the website at http://www.coastguard.com.au/location/victoria.html

2007 Club Marine Melbourne Boat Show
Melbourne Exhibition Centre, July 5-9.
Thursday to Saturday - 10am – 9pm
Sunday - 10am – 7pm
Monday - 10am – 8pm

Tickets available at the door:
$17.00 Adult
$12 Student, Pension and Concession card holders (with I.D.)
$8.00 Children under 16
$40.00 Family (Two adults and their children)