Cheque for Australian Volunteer Coast Guard

by Jennifer Crooks on 20 May 2008 Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Brisbane Flotilla is the latest recipient of a donation from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Safety of Life at Sea Trusts.

A cheque for $6,000 was presented to Allan Tennant of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard (AVCG), to ensure that one of the flotilla’s vessels CG1 has its electrics and wiring fully refurbished to ensure its operationally viability.

CG1 has completed many hours of service for the AVCG Flotilla and assisted the yachting community in the vicinity of Moreton Bay on many occasions such as coming to the assistance of a dismasted yacht with 8 passengers on board and seeing the safe return of all to Manly Harbour.

The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Brisbane is located in Manly Boat Harbour and services the boating communities who use Moreton Bay and the Brisbane River. AVCG area’s also covers the Port of Brisbane, Brisbane city river reaches, waters out to and around Moreton Island and the South Passage Bar between North Stradbroke and Moreton Islands.

Located in the largest recreational boat harbour (over 1,450 vessels) on the eastern seaboard, the 100 members of Coast Guard Brisbane respond to requests for assistance from some 300 vessels a year as well as monitoring marine radio emergency frequencies, undertaking vessel logging and providing public education programs. AVCG Brisbane’s vessels also support community events including Brisbane's popular Riverfire and will receive around 40 requests each year from the Qld Ambulance Service and Water Police to provide assistance.

AVCG Brisbane has three primary rescue vessels, which provide capacity to undertake rescue work in open waters up to 50 nm seaward or to work in shallow bay and mangrove areas.

In making this donation, CYCA SOLAS Trusts Chairman, Matt Allen said 'We are pleased that SOLAS can actively contribute to key search and rescue organizations. Due to the nature of ocean racing and other outdoor recreational activities, our search and rescues services are vital in saving lives.'

'Volunteers are often at the heart of these search and rescue organisations, so it is important to recognise the valuable contribution these dedicated individuals make to the community by the SOLAS Trusts donation,' added Matt Allen.

On behalf of the members of AVCG Brisbane, Flotilla Commander Allan Tennant acknowledged the valuable contribution of CYCA’s SOLAS Trusts to search and rescue. 'It is with the assistance of CYCA SOLAS Trusts that we will continue to provide first class marine rescue to Brisbane and Moreton Bay. This donation means that our volunteers can be assured that our rescue vessels are well equipped and reliable in the toughest of conditions,' he said. …/2
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One of the CYCA’s SOLAS Trusts objectives is to assist search and rescue organisations Australia wide. In the nine years since it was established, in excess of $430,000 has been donated to 15 organisations in every Australian state as well as the ACT. This is the third Queensland donation; the first was in 2004 when RACQ CareFlight received a cheque for $20,000 to purchase an emergency beacon homing system, and the second was for $13,000 to Volunteer Marine Rescue Southport/Surfers Paradise to equip and outfit one of its new (in 2007) rescue vessels.
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