Super-sized first mission for Eden unit • Program helps create the leaders of tomorrow

Super-sized first mission for Eden unit

Dawn rescue brings sick sailor safely to shore

Having just completed their training, Marine Rescue Eden have undertaken their first official rescue mission, supporting NSW Police Marine Area Command in the retrieval of a sick crew member from the bulk carrier Daiwan Falcon.

The vessel had not long left Eden bound for New Zealand when a crew member became ill, forcing it to make an unscheduled return to port for the crew member to receive urgent medical attention.

As the rising sun coloured the southern skies on Saturday 14 May, Marine Rescue Eden rescue vessel X30, with crew Guy Illy, Garry Thornton, Greg Madden, Tom Cousin, Fay Cousin, Roger Barson and Malcolm McConnell, headed out to the pilot pickup point at the entrance to Twofold Bay, about two nautical miles offshore. Accompanying them on their maiden mission was Eden Water Police vessel Falcon.

The sun rises as X30 approaches the Daiwan Falcon. Photo: Fay Cousin

While the weather conditions were favourable, a swell of around 3.5 metres made for difficult conditions for the transfer of the crew member from the bulk carrier onto the Eden Water Police vessel Falcon, with X30 standing by to retrieve anyone who might have accidentally fallen into the water.

Falcon and X30 then moved to calmer waters where the crew member was transferred to the Marine Rescue Eden rescue vessel.

Once the patient was safely aboard X30, it proceeded to the wharf at Snug Cove and a waiting ambulance. Here the final transfer occurred, with the crew member assisted to the ambulance who then transported him to the nearby Bega Hospital for treatment.

Congratulations to the members of Marine Rescue Eden who have trained hard over the past few months to get themselves ready for this, their first call-out. Thank you too for the efforts of the trainers in helping them to achieve this significant milestone.

Program helps create the leaders of tomorrow

Members attend first post-COVID leadership program

Australia’s capacity to respond to disasters relies on emergency management volunteers, such as Marine Rescue NSW.

The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience runs a Volunteer Leadership Program to equip volunteers within the emergency management sector with the skills and confidence to grow as leaders.

The Program experience is immersive and collaborative, bringing together volunteers from different organisations and agencies to build knowledge and share experiences with each other.

Six members of Marine Rescue NSW attended the May course at Port Macquarie: Murray O’Dea (Port Stephens), Dave Bigeni (Port Macquarie), Ray Angel (Port Macquarie), Mark Neller (Hawkesbury), Grant Morehouse (Port Jackson), and Graham Gibbs (Port Macquarie).

The course afforded the attending volunteers the opportunity to network with peers from other emergency service organisations, to discuss and reflect upon recent events, and to learn skills to better equip them to deal with future emergency response situations.

The course also gave invaluable insight into personality traits and how people act during stressful situations. Knowing how to recognise these traits helps our future leaders better understand how to deal with and get the best

Marine Rescue NSW leaders of tomorrow at the leadership program. Left to right are: Murray O’Dea, Dave Bigeni, Ray Angel, Mark Neller, Grant Morehouse, Graham Gibbs.