What’s the one piece of safety advice you would pass on to the next generation?

We asked some of the people we interviewed in this edition what key piece of safety advice they would share to the younger generation. Here’s what they said…

Peter York, Mallacoota, VIC

‘Use common sense and obey the rules.’

Jason York, Mallacoota, VIC

‘Maintain your boats. Oil and grease are cheap— engines and boats are not.’

Dennis Sten, Darwin Waterfront, NT

‘Be safe and respect others on the water. Remember if you can’t save yourself, you can’t save others.’

Darryl Burns, Mallacoota, VIC

‘Maintain your situational awareness, have an appreciation of what’s going on in the landscape and the risks.’

Ben Belling, Port Lincoln, SA

‘Be aware of your surroundings, pay attention and don’t be complacent. That applies to every industry.’

Mark Raff, Southport, QLD

‘Being a responsible person on a boat starts with the skipper and crew, who must be across all regulations. Once the safety boundaries have been communicated, everyone can be responsible for upholding them.’

Dave Phillipson, South Island, NZ

‘Electronic aids are well and good, but remember that your best navigational tool is your Mark 1 eyeball!’

John Minehan, Mallacoota, VIC

‘Avoid complacency. In this industry, the moment you think nothing is going to happen, you really need to be vigilant and always strive for improvement in the way you operate and the systems you use. That’s part and parcel of what we’re trying to do— continually improve the way we do things.’