Shoalhaven members appear in stroke video • Board on the road again

Shoalhaven members appear in stroke video

Couple share their experience to help others

When Marine Rescue Shoalhaven volunteer Anne Simpson saw her husband Mark Asper sitting fully clothed on the toilet with a blank expression on his face, she knew something was seriously wrong.

Her Marine Rescue NSW first aid training immediately kicked in, and Mark was soon on his way to hospital, having suffered a stroke.

Fortunately Mark has made a good recovery and is back with wife Anne helping out at the local Marine Rescue Shoalhaven base.

Mark and Anne recently shared their story in an ABC 7.30 Report story about a new tele-health service, Telestroke.

For patients in rural and regional Australia, Telestroke puts a stroke specialist electronically in the emergency department of a rural hospital such as the one Mark attended in Nowra, to give patients vital early assistance.

Thank you to Mark and Anne for sharing their experience, and building awareness of this important service.

Mike Boadle

Mark Asper shares his stroke story on ABC’s The 7.30 Report

Board on the road again

Illawarra units host visiting Board members

The Marine Rescue NSW Board meets every two months at a formal meeting with the service’s senior executive, and to review reports from each business unit.

In between these formal meetings, the Board have informal meetings at regional Marine Rescue NSW units. These meetings are very beneficial, enabling the Board to thank unit members and to have a chat about any issues of concern. These meetings also give the Board a feel for the unit, which helps in future planning.

Over the past few years COVID has put a hold on these meetings, so the visit of the Board in late May to three Illawarra units was most welcome.

The unit visits started with Marine Rescue Jervis Bay, and after talking with unit members, the Board were delighted to take a run along the sea cliffs at Point Perpendicular in Jervis Bay 40, the biggest vessel in the Marine Rescue NSW fleet.

The next day the Board travelled south to Marine Rescue Sussex Inlet, who put on a display of their

Attending members of the Board at the Sussex Inlet unit.

Rescue Water Craft operations before taking the Directors for a run on their rescue boat to the local bar. The day was rounded off with a visit to Marine Rescue Ulladulla to meet with members and have a look over their base and vessels.

The Board members were impressed by all three units visited, and with the enthusiasm and dedication of their members.

The Directors who attended were Board Chairman Jim Glissan, Darcy Hendrickson, Ray Mazurek, Kevin Marshall, Glenn Felkin and Jim Wright.

Jim Wright