Community bottle and can collector donates $5,000 to Marine Rescue Shellharbour

Dave Williamson or ‘Scooter Dave’ as he’s known around the Illawarra has made another generous donation from his bottle and can collecting, this time supporting the Shellharbour Marine Rescue Unit.

Scooter Dave presented Shellharbour Unit Commander Rick O’Connor with $5,000 during a ceremony at the Towns Street Marine Rescue base.

Shellharbour Unit Commander Rick OConnor and Scooter Dave

Mr Williamson has battled has been battling a respiratory illness over the past six weeks but on his better days still ventured out on his scooter to collect bottles and cans from community contributors and discarded items left near and around the Windang Bridge.

Scooter Dave unfortunately suffered a medical episode while cleaning his home on Sunday (May 14) and was transported to Wollongong Hospital for treatment.

He spent the night in care and has been discharged but requires ongoing treatment.

Just over 24 hours before his health turned, Scooter Dave handed over his latest bottle and can collecting proceeds to Marine Rescue Shellharbour.

“It’s because of what Marine Rescue does.

“If people break down in their boats they go out and they help them and bring them back in and make sure they get back home safely.

“They’ve got to have all the people to do the Marine Rescue, they’re volunteers most of them and they’ve got to have people to help them out, their fuel and all the different things that they need the money for so I think it’s a good cause to be able to donate to,” Mr Williamson said.

Scooter Dave with Shellharbour Marine Rescue

It took Scooter Dave around six months to collect the 50,000 bottles and cans needed to make his latest $5,000 donation.

Shellharbour Unit Commander Rick O’Connor has been a long time follower of Scooter Dave’s work in the community and made him an honorary member of the Shellharbour Unit because of his generosity to the service.

“We’d like to thank him for his donation, it’s greatly appreciated and will go a long way to serving our community further.

“He’s always welcome down here at Marine rescue Shellharbour and as an honorary member we hope to see him around all the time,” Mr O’Connor said.

Illawarra Zone Duty Operations Manager Stuart Massey with Scooter Dave

Marine Rescue NSW Illawarra Zone Duty Operations Manager Stuart Massey said Scooter Dave’s $5,000 donation will help the Shellharbour unit immensely.

“It’s fuel in the tank, it’s putting lights on, it’s keeping our operation going so we can go out there and help members of the public when they’re in distress on the water,” he said.

Marine Rescue NSW is financially supported by the NSW Government but also relies on fundraising to assist with operating costs at its 46 units across the state.

“Each of the Marine Rescue units does fundraising and that fundraising is very important to help us do what we do, to go out there and help the boating community of NSW.

“It’s really important if members and members of the public can get behind us to help ease that burden that we currently have,” Mr Massey said.

Scooter Dave has made cash donations to dozens of organisations and Illawarra community groups over the last six years and he plans to make another donation before the end of the year which will take his tally past $60,000.

“I’m often asked why I do it.

“The answer is simple, because I can,” Mr Williamson said.

For more information visit www.marinerescuensw.com.au