Victorian made safety products and strong jobs growth major highlights of Marine Week launch

by Mike Sabey on 28 Jun 2002 The fourth annual Victorian Marine Week, which was opened yesterday at St Kilda by the Minister for Manufacturing, Mr Rob Hulls highlighted locally made products which are saving lives on the water and the strong jobs growth in the marine industry.

The Victorian marine industry contributes over $1 billion a year to the State’s economy.

Strong industry jobs growth: The Minister announced the results of the Boating Industry Association Jobs Survey and Activity Analysis which has just been completed.

He said “The Association’s survey demonstrated the great career opportunities on offer in Victoria’s world-class marine industries with 209 new jobs being created in the next 12 months.”

After the launch the minister took to chilly Port Phillip Bay and enjoyed a waterski before demonstrating a range of safety products.

The Minister demonstrated the following lifesaving safety equipment…

Pains Wessex (marine flares, Seamark dye and EPIRBs)

Marine Safety Australia (inflatable liferafts, inflatable vests etc)

Ronstan (navigation safety lights)

Bass Strait Boats (builders of a series of newly designed Volunteer Coast Guard rescue craft)

Ski Craft (manufacturer of the VWSA’s official Skicraft 19 Ski Show Team tow boat, which towed the Minister for Manufacturing).

Jobs Survey Highlights: The survey took in 65 companies in Victoria’s marine manufacturing sector together with the 50 new jobs at the new Savage Boats plant and 70 new jobs at Whittley Marine.

In the next 12 months Victorian marine manufacturing industry expects to create more than 209 new positions. In the next 3 years the Victorian marine manufacturing industry expects over 353 new positions will be generated.

- Over 80 apprenticeship positions

- Over 70 manufacturing positions

- Over 50 engineering and mechanics positions

- Over 30 Administration and sales positions

Boating Activity on the increase: The BIA’s CEO Lindsay Grenfell says, “It is very pleasing to report boating activity is on the up. Total Victorian boat registrations, driven by larger and more expensive boats, has reached an all time record 144,000 this year, up 12.8% in just three years!

“Meanwhile Yachting Victoria says its state wide club membership numbers grew a healthy 7% last year, indicating people are taking up sailing in greater numbers.”

Victorian Marine Week 2002 is an initiative of the Boating Industry with the strong support and backing of the Victorian Government.

It is an important adjunct to the Melbourne Boat Show, which is the major annual promotional centrepiece for the marine industry.

Marine Week Activities at a Glance:

1. Schools Learn to Sail Program 21-26 June Albert Park Lake

2. Marine Week Launch Wed 26 June at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron – 10am

3. Students Careers Education Seminar Wed 26th June at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron – 10am

4. Marine Week Awards Dinner Wed 3 July Crown Casino - @ 7.00pm

5. Club Marine Melbourne Boat Show Thurs 4 – Mon 8 July

6. Industry Forum Breakfast Friday 5 July Crown Casino – 7.45am

7. Regional Tour Program October-November 2002

Learn to Sail: For a week from the June 21-26, students have experience first hand, the thrill of sailing through a Learn to Sail program on Albert Park Lake.

Marine Week Launch: The media launch held at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (St Kilda) brought together a diverse range of leading local manufacturing companies. The Minister for Manufacturing Hon Rob Hulls announced today new Marine Industry funding, job opportunities being created and he helped demonstrate lifesaving safety equipment.

Marine Week Awards Dinner: To be held on Wednesday 3 July @ 7.00pm, at Crown Casino, the black tie Marine Week Awards Dinner seeks to promote the industry’s high achievers. Award

Categories:- Apprentice of the year award, Export award, Best business community relations award, Safety award, Manufacturer award, Business/school relations award, Industry Achiever award.

Marine Week Education Seminar: On Wednesday 26 June a Careers Education Seminar will be conducted at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (St Kilda) to educate young school leavers on potential career paths in the marine industry and to illustrate that there are alternatives to the currently in vogue fields of Information Technology and Hospitality & Tourism.

Talks will be given by industry role models from retail, manufacturers, computer design and TAFE.

Marine Week Forum Breakfast: On Friday 5 July @ 7.45am at the Crown Casino over 130 Boating Industry members are expected to attend the Forum Breakfast.

Keith Corr, Dealer Principle of New World Honda will talk about customer service lesson that can be learned from the motor industry.

Ronstan’ s Alistair Murray will speak on “Business Leadership” and Jeff Gresh, GM of Holden Racing and Kmart teams will speak on promotional lessons the boating industry can learn from V8 racing.

Marine Week Regional Tour Program: The Regional Tour program will be undertaken in October-November. The Program will involve and educate young people about the variety of marine industry careers available. In addition it will provide information on:-

* Safety on the water

* New boat operators licenses

* Educational seminar concentrating on career opportunities

* Learn to Sail program

More Information: Lindsay Grenfell Boating Industry Association Tel +61 3 9328 4855

Julie Waddell Boating Industry Association Tel +61 3 9328 4855

Linas Zalk Marine Week Coordinator Tel +61 3 9819 4842

Website: www.biavic.com.au

Media Enquires: Michael Sabey, Sabey & Associates Tel +61 3 9533 8030 Mob 0418 354 732

sabey@bikepaths.com.au