Hunts Marine supports school program

by Bob Wonders on 25 Nov 2009
An innovative boat driver training program devised by a southern Sydney high school has won valuable support from high-profile dealership Hunts Marine.

Greg McNeil, a marine technology teacher at Menai High School, has gratefully accepted an all-new boating package donated by Hunts Marine for use in a new ‘Boat Smart’ program to deliver boat driver training to high school students.

Mr McNeil, who is also vice-president of the NSW Marine Teachers Association, said NSW Maritime last year certified qualified Marine Technology teachers to examine high school students for their boating licence test.

'We have developed the Boat Smart program as a practical training scheme to provide basic on-water experience for students,' he explained.

Hunts Mariner has donated a 4.7-metre Quintrex Escape powered by a 60hp Yamaha outboard engine, with the vessel scheduled for a five-year span as a training craft for the students.

Hunts Marine managing director Jon Hunt said the dealership was ‘more than happy’ to be involved.

'Such an education program will benefit not only those who participate, but the wider community on our waterways as well,' he said.

The program has already attracted support from the Boating Industry Association of NSW and NSW Maritime, both of whom have indicated additional funding to assist the scheme.

Roy Privett, general manager of the association, said the scheme deserved industry support as a means of introducing young people to recreational boating.

'This is a program that will enhance safe boating practices and meets an industry objective in promoting safe boating and educational practices,' he said.

'Jon Hunt is to be congratulated for recognising the importance of this project and for continuing support for it over the next five-years,' he added.

Mr McNeil described Hunts Marine’s backing of the scheme as 'a huge boost to local boating education.'

'Jon has also agreed that the program should be expanded to include all southern Sydney Marine Technology High Schools teaching the boating section of the Department of Education and Training syllabus,' he added.

Practical session will now be offered to students in the region, with ‘hands-on’ boat driver training on both the Port Hacking and Georges River waterways.

Students will experience basic boat handling, safety and navigational activities within the scheme.