Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Hervey Bay is now part of Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ), marking a new era for the Fraser Coast’s on-water community.
The 70-strong volunteer unit, which formed more than five decades ago, is the fifth Volunteer Marine Rescue unit in Queensland to transition to MRQ since 1 July 2024.
MRQ is Queensland’s first state-wide, State Government-funded volunteer marine rescue service dedicated to saving lives at sea and supporting those on or near the water.
MRQ is part of Queensland Police Service, which is responsible for coordinating the state’s disaster and emergency services response – but MRQ is a separate service with its own identity, structure, governance and uniforms.
VMR Hervey Bay typically averaged more than 340 activations a year, ranging from medivacs tasked by Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and search and rescue (SAR). Volunteer members also assist with scattering of ashes on request, provide safety backup for local boating competitions and vessel management during local events.
Some SAR exercises have spanned a number of days. VMR Hervey Bay also co-operates with LifeFlight for training exercises, combining LifeFlight’s helicopter retrieval skills with VMR Hervey Bay’s marine retrieval skills.
MRQ Hervey Bay has two vessels to its fleet. Its primary vessel Rescue 1 is a 12-metre catamaran set up for SAR and medivacs, while a 9-metre Noosa catamaran is used for towing disabled vessels.
VMR Hervey Bay volunteers clock more than 300 volunteer hours each week keeping the Fraser Coast’s on-water community safe. This includes radio operators, volunteer members assisting with QAS medivac emergencies and training exercises.
MRQ Hervey Bay operates from its base at Urangan Boat Harbour, with an operational area inside K’gari (Fraser Island) from Stewart Island in the Great Sandy Strait to Long Shoal.
MRQ Hervey Bay follows the transition of MRQ Victoria Point on 19 November 2024, MRQ Currumbin on 14 November 2024 and MRQ Gladstone and Mackay units on 1 July 2024.
Marine Rescue Queensland Chief Officer Tony Wulff said VMR Hervey Bay’s move to MRQ was an exciting step for marine rescue in the Fraser Coast.
“This is a milestone for MRQ Hervey Bay and the Fraser Coast’s on-water community,” he said.
“We know the community has relied on the Hervey Bay volunteers for more than five decades and they will continue to do so and the same, friendly faces will still be there.”
“The government’s commitment to marine rescue and the on-water community to keep everyone as safe as possible is testament to the thousands of marine rescue volunteers across our great state.”
MRQ Hervey Bay Unit Commander John Gibson said their volunteer members were looking forward to continuing their long-standing relationship with the community, but this time wearing the blue and yellow MRQ uniform.
“We have always had strong ties to our community, starting in 1972 when the unit was known as Air Sea Rescue. I am proud to lead it today as we become MRQ Hervey Bay,” he said.
“We have a diverse range of callouts, and areas we cover and our volunteer members are multi-skilled, responding to everything from a medivac on K’gari, to a boatie setting off an emergency flare or running out of fuel.”
Further information can be found here: Marine Rescue Queensland.
