While Marine Rescue Central Coast patrolled the northern reaches of Brisbane Water on New Year’s Eve to help local boaties maintain a safe but enjoyable distance from the Gosford NYE Fireworks display, three other Central Coast members were part of the huge safety operation on Sydney Harbour.
Jane and Raymond Lewis and skipper Anthony Porter were aboard Central Coast 22, a small part of the team tasked with ensuring the safety of revellers on the harbour.
“It was a hard, but rewarding shift,” Jane Lewis said.
“We left the Point Clare base about 1pm on New Year’s Eve with unit commander Ian Morrow to tow the vessel to the Maritime Base at Roselle.
“After a briefing, we launched the boat at about 1700 hours and then became part of a huge fleet of safety vessels involving up to 40 crew members on several Marine Rescue units from Sydney and surrounds, as well as NSW Water Police and Australian Federal Police.
“Our main mission was to keep the revellers out of the exclusion zone.”
Lewis said most spectators on crafts were really co-operative and extremely well behaved.
“The three of us worked pretty much non-stop to help keep the boat-going public safe as they enjoyed the $6M fireworks display,” she said.
Raymond Lewis said the crew returned to the Central Coast base at about 4am on New Year’s Day.
“We were exhausted but very satisfied with the job done,” he said.