Keeping units rescue-ready

One of the Central Coast units preparing for the exercise

More than 100 Marine Rescue NSW volunteers from all eight units in the Hunter/Central Coast region took part in a major regional Search and Rescue Exercise hosted by the Lake Macquarie unit around Swansea Heads on July 29-30.

Marine Rescue NSW Hunter/Central Coast Zone Duty Operations Manager, Inspector Steve Raymond, said the annual exercise was coordinated by Marine Area Command and involved other agencies including the Westpac rescue helicopter.

“These exercises are held to put all our training into practice so that we’re coordinated together and that we can work easily together next time we meet for a real job,” he said.

Raymond said the training was crucial to ensure Marine Rescue NSW volunteers are rescue ready.

The on-water component began on Saturday when a search and rescue scenario was delivered by Marine Area Command.

It involved the Central Coast, Terrigal, Tuggerah Lakes, Norah Head, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Lemon Tree Passage and Port Stephens units.

Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.

Source:
Marine Rescue