Australia Day - Have a safe, fun and memorable day on the water

by Ken McManus on 22 Jan 2015 Marine Rescue NSW has encouraged boaters taking in the Australia Day action on Sydney Harbour to have a safe, fun and memorable day on the water.

Volunteers aboard three vessels from Marine Rescue Port Jackson and Middle Harbour will join the thousands of boaters taking to the Harbour for the day’s festivities.

The crews will provide operational support to assist boaters and maritime authorities around the exclusion zone in place between the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House from 11.45am to 12.15pm for the Salute to Australia.

A 21 Gun Salute will be fired at noon from Bradfield Park at Kirribilli and received by dignitaries on the RAN flagship HMAS Canberra. A flyover by RAAF fast jets will complete the Salute to Australia.

The two units will then be cooking up a mountain of snags on board the barbecue barge in the Athol Bay Playground, where a range of free family entertainment for small recreational vessels will be on offer from 2pm to 6pm.

This will include a water playground featuring a climbing wall, trampoline, slides and a maze of fantastic inflatables. Jazz singer Darren Percival will star on the Cruising Concert stage and folk/soul songstress Ngaiire will perform on top of an audio tower in the middle of the bay.

The MRNSW volunteers will be on board the barge from 1pm, with sausages available in exchange for a gold coin donation. The barbecue runs until 5pm or whenever the last sausage goes, whichever comes first

In the evening, the volunteers will head over to Cockle Bay to join the parade of working vessels, which will take the salute before the NSW Governor, General David Hurley, Premier Mike Baird and a huge crowd.

Marine Rescue NSW reminds skippers to ensure everyone on board their vessel for the day is wearing a lifejacket at all times. If you need help, contact Marine Rescue Sydney on your marine radio or call Triple Zero.

For more information please click here.