New search and rescue vessel to be commissioned in Kioloa

by Ken McManus on 18 Nov 2011 A $130,000 offshore search and rescue vessel will be officially commisioned by Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Stacey Tannos at 1:00pm in Kioloa on the South Coast tomorrow (November 19).

Commissioner Tannos will join volunteers from Marine Rescue Kioloa to commission the boat, formally open extensions to the Unit’s base and present Long Service Medals to eight members in recognition of their diligent service.

Commissioner Tannos said Kioloa 20, a 6.2m Cobia Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB), had already proven a valuable addition to marine search and rescue capability in the busy boating area of the South Coast.

'Kioloa 20 is another tangible demonstration of our volunteers’ rock-solid commitment to saving lives on the water,' he said.
Commissioner Tannos said the Kioloa Unit’s members provided a valuable safety net for the local boating community through their emergency search and rescue response, radio monitoring and boating safety education.

'These members have worked tirelessly to serve their boating community while also fund raising and working on the extensions to their base.

'The original building was opened in September 1995 but has now been extended to accommodate the unit’s newer, larger vessel.

'The volunteers have put more than 3000 hours of their own time and labour into the project. They are to be congratulated for their resourcefulness and determination to see the project through.

'Thanks also must go to the builders, clubs and residents who have supported the building work, along with many regular visitors to the Kioloa area, who also made a significant contribution.'

Commissioner Tannos said the eight Kioloa members to receive Long Service Medals had contributed a total of more than 90 years’ service to Marine Rescue NSW, established in July 2009, and previously, the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol.

'Our volunteers are the great strength of Marine Rescue NSW,' Commissioner Tannos said.

'All of these volunteers have served their community with distinction. As they have demonstrated, our volunteers are committed to saving lives on the water and give their time unstintingly to provide a vital emergency service in areas such as the South Coast.'

Earlier this week the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Heinz Mueller visited South Coast units at Batemans Bay, Tuross, Narooma, Bermagui, Merimbula and Eden.

'Each of the 3,200 members in our 45 accredited Marine Rescue units deserves thanks for their hard work and dedication to this organisation and the boating public,' Commissioner Tannos said.

'In addition to Search and Rescue, our members also provide continuous radio communication from the Queensland border to Victoria and a range of boating safety education courses.

'They also give their time to attend training to maintain their own high levels of skills and to energetically raise funds in their local communities.

'I am well aware that the people of the South Coast have been generous in their support for the work of their local units over many years and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them as well.'

The Commissioner reminded boaters to always log on and log off with their local Marine Rescue radio base whenever they were on the water, especially over the busy summer boating season.

Kioloa Long Service Medal recipients:
Elsie Collins - 20 years
Peter Homes - 10 years
Sean McGinn - 10 years
Frederick Noble - 10 years
Lillian Patterson - 10 years
Louise Andrews - 10 years
Joan Noble - 10 years
Kevin Hill - 10 Marine Rescue NSW website