Whitfords Volunteer Sea Rescue Group receives grant from CYCA SOLAS

by Jennifer Crooks on 21 Mar 2013 CYCA SOLAS Trusts has provided Whitfords Volunteer Sea Rescue Group Inc. (WVSRG), Western Australia, with $11,054 to fund 20 life jackets and 15 GME Personal location beacons.

Whitfords Volunteer Sea Rescue Group Commander Mark Carruthers said these items would improve the WVSRG facilities, and are imperative tools for marine rescue and the safety of WVSRG crews.

'On behalf of the members I would like to thank the CYCA SOLAS Trusts for this grant. The safety of our members is very important and this allows us to have the best equipment onboard our vessels to protect our members incase anything does happen whilst they are providing the very best of sea rescue services in Western Australia,' Commander Mark Carruthers said.

The Whitfords Volunteer Sea Rescue Group Inc. (WVSRG) has been in operation in the local area for over 40 years, serving the local boating community by providing a 24 hour support base, assistance and educational facilities for the public in the Northern suburbs of Perth

Whitfords Volunteer Sea Rescue Group is the largest and one of the busiest volunteer sea rescue group in Western Australia, performing approximately 300 rescues each year. They are one of three independent groups who, in conjunction with Fremantle & Cockburn Volunteer Sea Rescue, constitute an alliance contracted by the State Government to provide sea rescue services for the entire Perth metropolitan area.

In the last 12 months WVSRG performed over 250 rescues and also provide training courses for the public including recreational skippers ticket, national power boat courses, navigation and radio.

CYCA SOLAS Trusts Chairman Matt Allen announced the funding, which is the third donation made to a Western Australian search and rescue organisation.

'Volunteer marine search and rescue organisations are the lifeblood of the Australian community, providing vital services to the community at large. We trust this donation will allow Whitfords Volunteer Sea Rescue Group the opportunity to continue to provide the resources to the wider Perth community,' Chairman Allen said.

'The CYCA SOLAS Trusts continues to actively contribute to key volunteer marine, search and rescue organizations Australia-wide,' Allen said.

The CYCA Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Safety of Life at Sea Trusts (SOLAS) was set up as a charitable trust in 1999 as a result of the tragic events of the 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The CYCA SOLAS Trusts objectives are to:
• Provide assistance (financial and other) to immediate families of those lost at sea during Yachting Australia sanctioned races
• Make donations and provide support to search and rescue organisations
• Foster and fund research and training to improve safety and rescue procedures and equipment used in ocean races.

Since they were established, following the loss of life in the 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the Trusts have donated more than $815,000 to organisations nationwide including New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT, and the Trusts continues to explore new organisations to Cruising Yacht Club of Australia