Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg in Burnett Heads, Queensland | Non-profit organisation

Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg

Locality: Burnett Heads, Queensland

Phone: +61 7 4159 4349

Address: Radio Base -51 Harbour Esplanade 4670 Burnett Heads, QLD, Australia

Website: https://vmrbundaberg.com.au

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24.01.2022 Tow 19th July2020 Mid afternoon on Sunday, Bundy Rescue 2 was activated to go to the assistance of a 6.5 metre half cabin cruiser with two people on board, some 13 nm east of Burnett Heads. The vessel’s single outboard motor was experiencing gearbox problems and it required a tow back to the Burnett Heads boat ramp. The 26nm round trip was completed in 2 hours in calm conditions, just after last light.... Crew: Bill Ker (Skipper), Peter W, Karl, Michael, Rod S and Cam, with Thomas on radio. Photos: Activation track; Assisted vessel under tow; Last light is approaching.

23.01.2022 Good to put some faces to names. So much is learned from these debriefs. Thanks for hosting.

23.01.2022 Bundaberg Police Patrol Group Inspector Ann Vogler presenting Bundabergs VMR President Erwin Hoffmann with 2 small GPS units to be used during Search and Rescues. These units allow the track data to be sent and directly downloaded and overlayed on charts to allow the Police search commanders to visually see areas searched and gaps missing in search patterns. Another tool to ensure areas are thoroughly searched.

23.01.2022 Some new crew at VMR’s AGM The 2020 Annual General Meeting was held at the Burnett Heads Community Centre on Tuesday evening. We used this venue as it allowed appropriate social distance between members. The 2020-21 Executive includes Erwin Hoffmann as President, Rod Studholme as VP, Darryl Copithorn as our new Secretary and Eugene Zanozin as Treasurer. Karl Bowman and Sandra Rhoades join Eric Beckman, Matt Louden, John Bedford, Tony van Wijk and Graham Kingston on the Mana...gement Committee. We were joined by two of our Patrons, Stephen Bennett (MP for Burnett) and David Batt (MP for Bundaberg). In a short address Stephen emphasized the need for sustainable funding of the volunteer marine rescue sector and its formal recognition as an emergency service. David presented Years of Service Badges to Karl Bowman, Trish Glass and Jim Wilkinson. Photos: The socially distanced AGM, David Batt with Karl Bowman, Trish Glass and Jim Wilkinson.

23.01.2022 Tracker buoys to the North Cardinal at Break Sea VMR Bundaberg was tasked by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) today to attach two tracker buoys to the North Cardinal mark at Breaksea Spit, which is a critical navigation structure for commercial shipping and transiting yachts north of the Breaksea Shoal north of Sandy Cape on Fraser Island. The mark had a nonfunctioning light and had become detached from the universal joint securing it to the concrete ballast bl...ock. As the mark was now secured only by two safety chains there was a danger the 38 m and 17t structure could break free heavy weather and become a hazard to navigation. The tracker buoys would allow determination of locations for hazard warnings and structure recovery should it break free. A marine exclusion zone has been declared around the Cardinal, with hazard messages appearing on radar and chart plotters. An audible message is broadcast on the VHF DSC channel. The weather forecast indicated that Tuesday morning was the only window with potentially suitable weather for the job this week. Bundy Rescue 2 with 9 crew departed Base at 06:00 and arrived at the Cardinal at 08:15. A strong Coral Sea current and a swell meant the structure was moving up and down as well as rotating some 30-40 degrees. The structure appeared to have floated upwards with heavy marine growth 3m above the water level. It took just on an hour to attach the two tracker buoys. This involved well coordinated crew work with our helmsman as Bundy Rescue 2 was within 3m of the moving structure at times. The 98nm round trip was completed at12:30 where the crew took a lunch break before recovering Bundy Rescue 2 for refueling and wash down. Crew: Graham (Skipper), Erwin, Rod S, Campbell, Darryl, Desley, Steve, Jim W and Peter W Radio: Dave Photos :North Cardinal, Buoy away, Buoys in the current, Ropes lodged in marine growth, Buoys away from Cardinal See more

22.01.2022 Video of moving North Cardinal mark

22.01.2022 Some video from our training exercise with the Bundaberg based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Helicopter off Bargara today. RACQ LifeFlight Rescue - Bundaberg, Wide Bay & North Burnett

22.01.2022 Did you see our trailer in the CBD Pavillion yesterday? We are promoting boating safety. Come and have look and have a chat to the members there. We are also selling tickets to our only fundraiser this year. A $3000.00 gift voucher donated by Harvey Norman, Bundaberg to be drawn just before Christmas. Imagine winning that. The trailer will be at various locations including Harvey Norman, Tackleworld, North Bundaberg Boat Ramp, Burnett Heads Boat Ramp for the next couple of months leading up to Christmas on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Our major fundraiser (Family Fishing Classic) for the year was cancelled due to COVID19. Come and support your VMR. Thanks to those that bought tickets and also those that made cash donations. All donations over $2.00 are tax deductible. Thanks to our sponsors. Tackle World Bundaberg, Harvey Norman

21.01.2022 Awards for VMR Bundaberg On 26th November 24 VMR Bundaberg members were presented with the Emergency Services Volunteer pin. The award was proposed by Hon. Craig Crawford, former Minister for Fire and Emergency Services. The award recognizes volunteers who have committed at least 12 months service to an Emergency Services agency. This includes VMR. The pins were presented by VMRAQ State President Graham Kingston who noted the relevant heraldry on the pin. The central blue... Maltese cross represents faith, justice, temperance and fortitude, and is also a Queensland emblem. The four colour spots recognize the diversity of contributions by emergency service volunteers. The gathering also allowed Glenn Vertigan to be presented with his National Medal. This medal recognizes at least 15 years of service to the nation in Military, Policing or Emergency Services. Glenn’s commitment included service with RAN, Rural Fire Service and VMR. Well done Glenn, who has recently also qualified as a Commercial Coxswain with VMR Bundaberg. Photo: Glenn Vertigan receives his National Medal from Graham Kingston

20.01.2022 Lovely morning here today. Bundy Rescue had a sleep out after night training last night.

20.01.2022 Towing a 7m runabout with disabled engine

18.01.2022 Our new Multi-Function photocopier / printer VMR Bundaberg was the very fortunate recipient of a donation from the Order of the Eastern Star lodge. This donation allowed us to purchase a multi-function photo copier / printer that replaces an aging photocopier and four printers. The new unit has been fitted with a plaque recognising the donation from the Order of the Eastern Star.... Several of the old printers will be made available to squadrons in need of such printers. Photos: The new unit; The plaque

18.01.2022 Marine Rescue Bundaberg trained with the Bundaberg based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Helicopter off Bargara today. This training provides invaluable benefit to both organisations and we are pleased to be associated with them. Todays training consisted of the helicopter deploying a life raft in a simulated vessel sinking or persons in the water scenario. We then placed two life like dummies into the life raft. The helicopter crew then winched down to the raft and retrieved the "victims". In another exercise two crewman were winched down to our vessel and subsequently retrieved form our vessel. We are fortunate to have the helicopter based in Bundaberg and staffed by such professional crews. Some video footage to follow in a separate post. RACQ LifeFlight Rescue - Bundaberg, Wide Bay & North Burnett

16.01.2022 Fridays recovery of upturned catamaran. See below post for further details.

15.01.2022 VHF Radio course at VMR Yesterday saw 9 students participate in VMR Bundaberg’s VHF marine radio license course made available to the general public and VMR members. Course manager, John O’Callaghan, said that regulations from the Australian Communications and Media Authority required users of VHF Marine radio to have the appropriate operator’s license. John said A VHF marine radio is an important part of safety equipment on vessels going to sea, as mobile phone coverage is... quite unreliable once more than about 15nm from land based towers. VMR provides a free 12 hour, 365 day monitoring of VHF marine radio for log on / log off and safety messages. The course participants were introduced to the basic theory of VHF marine radio and then undertook practical exercises in protocols for calling and receiving radio messages. A short examination paper was completed, allowing participants to apply to the Australian Maritime College for a Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP). The next course will be run early in 2021. Anyone interested in the next course can call the Base on 4159 4349 to register interest. Photos: Practice in correct calling procedure; Eyes down for the exam.

15.01.2022 Volunteer Marine Rescue today went to the assistance of a catamaran whose engines had broken down. The short tow from Oaks Beach to the Port Marina was completed without incident. Skipper Erwin with crew of Jim W, Rod, Pete W, Darryl C and John S on radio.

14.01.2022 Congratulations to all involved. And a big thank you to Rotary and the Prince family.

14.01.2022 VMR visits LifeFlight Whenever VMR and LifeFlight crews meet it is usually for a briefing at the VMR Base before the LifeFlight crews are focused on staying on station above an underway Bundy Rescue 2, while the VMR crew is focused on a constant speed and heading, as well a assisting with receipt of rescue swimmers and equipment onto Bundy Rescue. Today however we had a much more relaxed meeting where LifeFlight hosted active members of VMR Bundaberg to an inspection of the n...ew flight base at Bundaberg Airport. Our crew was given a detailed briefing of the capability of Rescue 522 and its equipment for both medivac and marine SAR. Rescue Crew Officer Chris Jowsey said the interaction with VMR was extremely valuable for training and reaccreditation of the flight crew in marine operations. As with VMR, LifeFlight is operating in a potentially hazardous environment and like VMR when a rescue is underway the job has to be done safely and effectively the first time. Our crews will be training again together offshore on Monday 21st September. Photos: Rescue 522 approaches Bundy Rescue; Rescue swimmer in bound; VMR at Rescue 522; VMR VP Rod thanks Chris for hosting the visit.

14.01.2022 Bundy Rescue 2 track to North Cardinal & Exclusion Zone Photos attached to this post show the 98nm trip of Bundy Rescue 2 for the activation at the Breaksea North Cardinal mark and the exclusion zone around the mark. The purple triangles in the zoomed exclusion zone are the tracker buoys which are about 25m from the structure.

13.01.2022 The duty skipper and crew were kept busy yesterday (Saturday) with training starting at 8am with both our vessel on the water in and around the port area, with our smaller vessel heading upstream to the town reach and later joining Bundy Rescue for some towing and rafting practice. Training had just been completed when the first job came in. A well maintained yacht that had recently had a major refit was reported to be taking on water at a greater rate than the bilge could ha...ndle up in the town reach at Bundaberg. Skipper Mat and crew of Cam took our diesel pump up to the yacht by road and was able to assist the grateful yachtie in averting a major catastrophe. Our second job came in about 6.45pm and was a 1/2 cab Haines with 2 POB about 12nm east of Bundaberg which had broken down and required a tow back to Bundaberg. The job was completed and our vessel refuelled and washed down by 10.50pm. Skipper Mat and crew of Glenn V, Jim W, Jimmy P and Bob H with Cam on radio. Photos of our base and vessel, Bundy Rum receiving the heaving line for a tow and the Special Mark in the swing basin at the Port. See more

12.01.2022 On the 13th and 15th July VMR Bundaberg conducted a joint training exercise with Bundaberg LifeFlight Helicopter which involved putting a crewman on a yacht from the helicopter whilst it was underway and then retrieving that crewman. This is simulating a very technical rescue and we are very happy to be involved in these types of exercises with Bundaberg LifeFlight. Thanks to our resident cinematographer Cam for facilitating this exercise and for putting together this excelle...nt footage. And thanks to Peter Marris and Chris Jowsey from LifeFlight for providing the helicopter footage and putting together the exercise. Mariners in this area should feel very confident that should they get into any trouble there are professional and trained persons that will do everything possible to rescue them. RACQ LifeFlight Rescue - Bundaberg, Wide Bay & North Burnett https://youtu.be/CkJ2mXATHdA See more

08.01.2022 A huge shout out to the Burnett Heads Crafty Ladies Activity Group (CLAG). What a surprise yesterday morning to attend the base and find a cheque that you donated from your fundraising activities. In our current climate we have limited opportunities to fundraise to provide our service to the boating community and these donations certainly help to keep us afloat. You can rest assured the funds will be put to good use.

08.01.2022 New training area for LifeFlight and VMR crews VMR Bundaberg exercises several times each year with the RACQ LifeFlight helicopter to allow reaccreditation of crews for marine winching operations. This week a new area of cooperation was developed for LifeFlight crews to train with a sailing yacht underway. One of our VMR members has a 47’ yacht and volunteered it as a training platform, as interaction with a sailing vessel underway, as might be expected in a rescue scenario.... This interaction was not something the LifeFlight crews get to practice regularly. On Monday and Wednesday VMR members crewed the yacht, while Bundy Rescue 2 stood by as a safety vessel. Calm conditions on Monday allowed two sorties to put a LifeFlight crewman onto the yacht. Stronger winds on Wednesday generated 1 1.5m of sea and allowed only one successful interaction. Wednesday’s conditions were more realistic of a rescue scenario, as rescues of people from yachts do not always occur in ideal conditions. VMR was pleased to assist in this training activity, and thanks the Captain Cam for allowing the use of his yacht for the exercise. Photos: Track of the LifeFlight helicopter for two sorties on Wednesday; Helicopter astern Bundy Rescue; Crewman to the yacht; Hi-Line onto the yacht; Crewman in bound.

08.01.2022 Early call for assistance Our radio operator took a call from a disabled 6.2m vessel at 06:10 on Tuesday morning. The vessel had departed Burnett Heads earlier that morning, but lost propulsion about 11nm NNE of Burnett Heads. A crew was on hand by 07:00, but Bundy Rescue 2 could not be launched until 08:00 due to the 0.77m low tide at 07:06. Rendezvous with the vessel with 4 POB suggested they may have had a drive shaft of gear box failure.... The tow back to Burnett Heads was achieved at 9 knots due to the sloppy conditions after a 25nm round trip. The skipper was a VMR member and his boat levy more than covered the cost of the tow. It pays to belong. Crew: Graham (Skipper), Jim, Campbell, Bill Kirkpatrick, Peter W, John C. Radio: Dave Photos: Tying off; Underway. See separate video

07.01.2022 Certificate of appreciation for SAR assistance

07.01.2022 Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg received a visit from Mim Sinclair, Secretary of the Order of the Eastern Star, Bundaberg Hall Management Association at Saturdays training session where she presented a cheque for $5500.00 to President Erwin Hoffmann. This money will be used for the purchase of a multi-function photocopier to replace our ageing printers, photocopier, scanners and faxes. This could not have come at a better time in a year where our major fundraising activities were cancelled due to Covid19. The Order Of The Eastern Star is an international, fraternal organisation for women and men. We thank you for your kind donation.

06.01.2022 VMR Bundaberg rescues two fishermen from life raft Bundy Rescue 2 departed Base at 03:45 this morning after activation by Police to go to the assistance of two men in a life raft after the sinking of their trawler some 23nm north of Burnett Heads. Significant other resources were also activated for this incident including two LifeFlight helicopters and the AMSA Challenger jet from Cairns.... Bundy Rescue 2 arrived on scene just after 05:00 and was tasked by Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra to recover the men from the life raft. The transfer was completed in a sloppy sea just after sunrise. The raft was also recovered onto Bundy Rescue 2 and the active EPIRB turned off. Bundy Rescue 2 returned to Burnett Heads at best speed (24 knots) in the prevailing conditions to rendezvous with a QAS ambulance as one of the men sustained a leg injury while boarding the life raft. A Securité message was broadcast by the VMR Base to warn shipping of floating debris in the vicinity of the incident. Crew: Graham (Skipper), Glenn, Cam & Peter W. Radio: Rod S & John S Photos: On scene at sunrise; The raft and helicopter

06.01.2022 Thursday afternoon Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg were activated by Maritime Safety Qld and the Hervey Bay Water Police to reports of an upturned power cat 8nm N/E of the Burnett River. It was established that this vessel was the one that had overturned west of Wathumba Creek on Fraser Island and the rescue of 4 men from the upturned hull by Bundaberg's RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Helicopter on Sunday 8th. Skipper Bill and crew of Peter W, Gail C, Darryl C, Karl B and Dermot M were despatched. However in the fading light the vessel was not located. After reports on Friday morning the vessel was located off Bargara. It was unable to be righted and the tow back to the Burnett Heads boat harbour proved a slow haul at 2.5kts. This 2nd activation was undertaken by Skipper Bill and crew of Jim w, Rod B, Cam H and John C.

04.01.2022 VMR Bundaberg were recently presented with a certificate of appreciation from the Hervey Bay Water Police for their significant contribution in the search for a missing fisherman in waters on the western side of Fraser Island. Photo is of VMR President, Erwin Hoffmann, accepting the certificate from Sgt Paul Bacon and S/Const Nick Swan both of Hervey Water Police

03.01.2022 Night training and 40nm tow In order to keep our crews current across a range of operational conditions Bundy Rescue 2 was activated on Wednesday evening for a night training run. The objective was to address issues of situational awareness at night and to respond to the various beacon signals in a run from the East Cardinal to the Town Reach. The most frequent comment was it’s different at night! Most of the crew had a hands on experience at the helm during the evening.... Another useful outcomes was that we could report to MSQ the buoy BR12 was unlit. The evening finished at 22:00. Then at 08:00 on Thursday several of the Wednesday crew backed up to respond to a 7m runabout that had broken down 20nm NE of Burnett Heads with 2 POB. The activation was undertaken in calm conditions for the 41nm round trip to Burnett Heads. All washed down by 13:00, but no whales sighted. Crew Thursday: Graham (Skipper), Jim, Cam, Tony & Rob Radio: Steve and Roger Photos: It is different at night; Track for the Thursday activation; Vessel on tow; A bigger swell. See video post.

02.01.2022 VMR Hosts Local Councillor and Exercised with LifeFlight Yesterday we were please to host a visit to the Base by Cr Tanya McLoughlin, the Bundaberg Regional Council representative for us at Burnett Heads. Tanya was given an overview of operations and Base tour by VP Rod Studholme. Cr McLoughlin then joined the crew of Bundy Rescue 2 for an introduction to vessel capability. A man overboard and patient recovery exercise was undertaken. The at 14:00 Bundy Rescue 2 was waiti...ng about 4nm offshore for the arrival of the LifeFlight helicopter. The exercise for yesterday was training for the winchman. The sortie had a rescue swimmer deployed to the stern of Bundy Rescue while underway at 8 knots to the wind. As this was a challenging deployment in the choppy conditions, the second deployment had Bundy Rescue running down wind at the speed of the swell so that swimmer could be deployed onto the forward deck. This was a smooth operation. We are always happy to participate in these exercises for the benefit of both crews. Crew: Graham (skipper), Jim W, Darryl, Desley, Peter O, Les. Radio: Dave & Tony Photos: Cr McLoughin observes the MOB CPR exercise; Rod & Cr McLoughlin; AIS track of Bundy Rescue for the river run and LifeFlight exercise.

01.01.2022 Disabled 6.2m vessel towed to Burnettt Heads