MAKING WAVES Illawarra Region News
Herculean effort by Shellharbour volunteers Training day shakes off Covid cobwebs
A
run on the waters off Shellharbour in mid-October to test the newly repaired steering on SH30 turned into an impromptu opportunity to ‘shake off the lockdown blues’ and get in some training. After extensive on-water testing found the steering on Shellharbour 30 to be performing well, and with perfect weather and sea conditions, skipper Geoff Troth and crew Steve Thompson, Greg Khan, Eva Goodchild and rescue mannequin ‘Hercules’, decided to use the opportunity to get in some training. Over the next four hours, the crew and skipper were put through their paces practicing marine drills, scenarios, mooring, confined space manoeuvring and coastal landmark familiarisation. Hercules the rescue mannequin
Shellharbour 30 hosts members of the public at the new Waterfront Shell Cove marina. Photo: Geoff Troth.
(called so because it takes the strength of Hercules to lift him, especially when wet), joined in the training as the casualty in person overboard drills, and was the focus of a game of ‘who can get the life ring over the rescue dummy’. After months of lockdown, it
was an enjoyable but tiring day for everyone, Hercules included. A few weeks’ later on the last weekend in October, the Waterfront Shell Cove, a major coastal residential, commercial and tourist development, welcomed the first boat to its new 270 berth marina.
Members of the Shellharbour unit aboard Shellharbour 30 dropped by to check out the new development, tying up at the central pier where they gave interested members of the public tours of their rescue vessel. Geoff Troth
First job for Jervis Bays’ new vessel Multi-vessel assist baptism for new rescue vessel
W
ith new rescue vessel Jervis Bay 40, ‘John Gallimore’, signed off as operational in mid-October, duty patrols and training resumed, allowing a few teething problems and some minor maintenance to be completed. The last day of October saw a landmark event, with Jervis Bay 40 attending her first rescue. The target was a motorised fishing vessel with engine problems off Collingwood Beach. Skippered by Gregory Atkinson, Jervis Bay 40 towed the vessel with one adult and two children aboard to a safe mooring within Jervis Bay, as returning the vessel to Currambene Creek was not deemed safe due to a large swell. Jervis Bay 20, skippered by Unit Commander Tony Dagger, then collected the three passengers and delivered them safely to shore. This
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multi-vessel assist was coordinated by the MR Jervis Bay radio base, and proved a valuable training exercise for the duty crews to familiarise themselves with boat handling in large swell conditions. MR Jervis Bay has appointed a new Training Officer, Ernie Panucci, after the departure of Steve Hutchinson. Sincere thanks to Steve for his hard work and achievements as Training Officer, and a big welcome to Ernie. The easing in Covid restrictions has allowed training to recommence for both radio and crew trainees and has also allowed induction of new members to proceed, with a warm welcome to new members Daniel Blattner, Debbie Holmes, Frances Koster, Jackie Schultz and Koula Mantzioris. Anita Smith.
Jervis Bay 40 has its first job safely in tow. Photo: Cara Pacitti
