Tropical Cyclone Alfred response
Queensland’s volunteer marine rescue expertise was once again in the spotlight as the state’s three marine rescue services worked together to help protect Queensland’s on-water community during Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Thirteen units from MRQ, Volunteer Marine Rescue Queensland (VMRQ) and Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA) from Bundaberg to Currumbin crewed 22 vessels and responded to more than 85 activations and calls for assistance over a six-day period.
MRQ Jacobs Well volunteer Leanne Walsh shares TC Alfred information with a resident on a liveaboard vessel.
New vessels
Volunteers from MRQ Mackay this week took delivery of their new Noosa Cat 4100. The crew conducted sea trials and acceptance before the vessel was taken home to its new home port.
VMR Southport is also on track to receive its new Noosa Cat 300 vessel (pictured below, left) in May. Sea trials and acceptance are planned for later this month.
Southport’s vessel is the first of three Noosa Cat builds. Work has already begun on VMR Round Hill’s new vessel, while the build for AVCGA Brisbane’s new vessel is about to start fabrication.
All three vessels will be provided under the Queensland Government’s $22.3 million Vessel Replacement Program.
Meanwhile, AVCGA Noosa’s new 11.3m Naiad, built by Yamba Welding and Engineering, is set for seal trials and acceptance on 14 April 2025.
MRQ Mackay’s new Noosa Cat 4100.
AVCGA Noosa’s new 11.3m Naiad.
VMR Southport’s new Noosa Cat 300.
MRQ Operations workshop with Maritime Safety Queensland
Some of the MRQ Operations team were involved in a workshop with Maritime Safety Queensland this week on the Sunshine Coast.
The workshop (pictured below) focused on legislation, policy and procedures for vessel operations, aided with scenario-based learning to assist both agencies to understand best application of legislation and resources.
The was first of many collaborative workshops for both agencies to assist in providing greater insights to legislation requirements.
Queensland Volunteering Conference 2025
Great discussions were had around volunteering in the marine sector during a two-day Queensland Volunteering Conference at the State Library.
MRQ’s People and Capability Director Leigh Sorensen and Recruitment and Sustainability Coordinator Sharn Gittins represented MRQ and took a number of takeaways from the conference:
- volunteering does not exist in isolation
- celebrate volunteers and their achievements
- believe in yourself – you are in charge of your own frame of mind
- the term ‘busy’ is a frame of mind – our days are full of opportunities
Further details on the conference are here.
Volunteering Queensland CEO Jane Hedger (right) with MRQ People and Capability Director Leigh Sorensen and VMRAQ Vice President John Jacobsen (left) and VMRAQ Treasurer David Walker.
Coxswain training for MRQ Hervey Bay and Mackay
Volunteers from MRQ Hervey Bay and Mackay units have undertaken Commercial Coxswain and Senior Coxswain training.
In Hervey Bay, MRQ Regional Training Coordinator Michael Sense teamed up with VMR State Trainer Andy Ross to undertake assessments for existing members to complete their Commercial Coxswain certificate.
Some of the practical assessments covered passage planning, environmental practices, engine operations, mechanical diagnostics, effective communications and towing assessments.
The training of the three volunteers now enhances Hervey Bay’s capability to support local boating communities with rescue services.
We are also excited to welcome two new trainers to MRQ Hervey Bay – Mark Livingstone and Tony Core – which now increases the training capacity to five.
Meanwhile, MRQ Mackay volunteers completed an intensive Coxswain practical course, with participants who had completed their online theory and took part in on-water practical and land-bases scenarios.
These included: passage plan navigation exercise, towing and being towed assessment in the operation of a vessel up to 12 meters as a master, operation of inboard and outboard motors and completion of the search and rescue module to allow the participants to progress to Senior Coxswain ranking, among other tasks.
This training allowed the participants to move into a Skipper Mentor program which ensures the growth of the base’s coxswain pool to ensure they offer the on-water community the best quality service.
OffshoreSMS training
With the recent OffshoreSMS system changes and many new units coming on at pace, the OffshoreSMS team had a busy week of training units which saw them board four flights in five days.
Matthew Davis, Justin Jowett and Hannah Todd flew to Cairns then drove to Port Douglas to train the volunteers on the new log pathways. A big thanks to Ross Wood, Fred Swainston and the MRQ Port Douglas volunteers for a highly productive session.
Early the following day the team flew to Hervey Bay to train the volunteers on the new log pathways as well. Lead by David Smith, Graeme Davies, Kathy Bond and Kevin Lategan, the volunteers took onboard the training and are now confident to pass this knowledge onto their crews.
The next day was spent at VMR Bundaberg ahead of its transition to MRQ on 22 April 2025. Mat Louden and his team was taken through the final OffshoreSMS training session. There was a great turnout with Masters and Senior Crew in attendance and the unit is now well placed for its upcoming transition to MRQ.
Transition update
Two more VMR units are transitioning to MRQ this month, which is the start of a busy few months as MRQ aims to transition the remaining VMR units by June.
VMR North Stradbroke Island becomes part of the MRQ family on Tuesday 8 April 2025, followed by VMR Bundaberg on 22 April 2025. This marks the eighth and nineth VMR units to transition since MRQ launched on 1 July 2024.
VMR Torres Strait units Thursday Island, St Paul’s and Masig, along with a new unit – MRQ Kubin Village – will transition in May.
MRQ aims to support all 25 VMR units to achieve transition mid-2025.
VMR North Stradbroke Island R U Ready event
VMR North Stradbroke Island volunteers are one step closer to joining MRQ following the unit’s R U Ready event.
MRQ’s Stephen Collins, Isabel Stuart, Laurel Edgerton, Scott Boyle, Mohan Damacharla and Lynne Wood travelled to North Stradbroke Island and assisted the 30 volunteers with new MRQ ID cards, uniforms and IT-related questions.
North Stradbroke volunteers are excited to transition to MRQ on 8 April 2025.
VMR Bowen has also begun its transition journey and we’re looking forward to getting to know the volunteers and hopefully welcoming them to MRQ.
MRQ’s Laurel Edgerton, Isabel Stuart, Stephen Collins, Lynne Wood, Mohan Damacharla with VMR North Stradbroke Island Unit Support Coordinator and VMRAQ secretary Ann Ivory.
National Medal recipient
VMR Bowen volunteer/skipper and former Vice President Adam Gatkowski has been awarded a National Medal.
Adam was presented his National Medal by fellow National Medal holder MRQ Executive Program Manager Danny Baade (pictured below) during a visit to North Queensland last week.
The National Medal is Australia’s most awarded civilian medal and recognises long and diligent service by members of recognised government and voluntary organisations who risk their lives or safety to protect or assist the community in enforcement of the law or in times of emergency or natural disaster.
Adam joined VMR Bowen more than 25 years ago and follows in the footsteps of his parents, dad Zbigniew (better known as Ted) who was a former Treasurer and mum Suzanne (Sue) who was a former Secretary and is the current Treasurer.
Congratulations to Adam on this prestigious medal.
Boat safety
As thousands of Queenslanders take to the water over the Easter long weekend, here is a friendly reminder to educate yourself on the latest lifejacket regulations.
New lifejacket regulations came into effect from 1 December 2024 and enforcement will begin on 1 July 2025.
A lifejacket is mandatory when:
- boating alone or only with children under 12 years on an open boat less than 4.8m in length
- crossing designated coastal bars on an open ship and on an open area of a boat of any length and on certain craft
- children aged one years old or older and under 12 years old are on an open boat or an open area of a boat of any length
- night boating, between sunset and sunrise on an open boat less than 4.8m in length
These rules apply to a wide range of boats and crafts, including small sailboats, pedal boats, rafts (including inflatables), rowboats (except Club Surfboats by Surf Life Saving Australia), and sea/surf kayaks.
For further details on lifejacket laws, visit Maritime Safety Queensland.
Source: Queensland Police Service, April 2025.
