Northern Rivers News MAKING WAVES
Wooli unit promote bar safety Local weather data initiative increases boater safety
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rossing coastal bars can be very dangerous, with many factors to consider when making a crossing. Channels through the bars can change frequently, as can waves with the tide and weather. Even in apparently calm conditions, vessels can be swamped, damaged or wrecked, which can result in death. For Marine Rescue Wooli, of specific concern are the emergency responses that involve capsized and swamped vessels in close proximity to the Wooli Wooli River entrance. In recent times these have included a local charter boat, a university dive boat, a professional fisherman and numerous recreational fishers whose vessels capsized and were washed onto adjacent beaches or dragged out to sea on ebb tides. Unit Administration Officer, Steve Reading, has examined the data from our incident reports. During
the period 2018 to 2021, eight vessels capsized on the Wooli Bar, and a further four were swamped and washed onto Jones and Wooli beaches. The early part of 2021 saw three capsizes in three months. For the period 2014 to 2021, the average number of capsizes on the Wooli bar was four a year. Always check conditions before you go and be prepared to cancel or delay the crossing and if in doubt, don’t go out. Transport for NSW has webcam vision of coastal bars to help boaters and skippers prepare for a safe crossing, but not for the Wooli Wooli River. Marine Rescue Wooli has lodged a submission prepared by Steve for a bar camera for Wooli to address this. In the meantime, to help boaters plan ahead by checking local conditions, the unit has made publicly available 24/7 the wind
Don’t become a bar statistic.
and weather data from the marine radio base’s weather station. Member Chris Firth installed a Davis Meteobridge enabling data from the Davis Vantage Pro weather station to
be sent directly to the internet to be viewed via the free WeatherLink app on smart phones or the WeatherLink software on a PC. Richard Taffs
Iluka Yamba acknowledge member diversity Youth and senior volunteers recognised
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ne of the major strengths of Marine Rescue NSW is the diversity of skills and life experience of the volunteers who are the backbone of our organisation. At Marine Rescue Iluka Yamba we are fortunate to have a great diversity of ages within our membership. Our younger members bring enthusiasm, a fresh outlook and boundless energy. One example is 29 year old Emily Richards, who is employed as a General Duties NSW Police Constable in Grafton. With her growing experience in a highly disciplined career and her keenness to contribute to the unit and the community in general, she is fitting in very well as she works towards her chosen rating as rescue vessel crew. Our senior members bring
Emily Richards
Frank Bond
the experience that only age can provide. As an example of a hard-working, highly skilled and experienced senior, it is hard to look past one of our skippers, Frank Bond. As a 74 year old electronics technician with decades
of experience in his trade, Frank not only brings a steadying influence and experience as a skipper, he manages all aspects of vessel maintenance, modification and repairs for the unit. Under his steady hand our ageing Class 3 rescue vessel is not only fit
for purpose but has been modified to be an ever more usable and reliable rescue platform. Thank you Emily and Frank, and all our members, for your contribution. Ken Brandli SOUNDINGS | MARINE RESCUE NSW
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