Changing tide for Coastguard Redcliffe

Coastguard Redcliffe will soon be part of Marine Rescue Queensland and is expected to make the full transition during the next six months, adopting new branding, and receiving a new boat and much-needed injection of funds.

The change, from July 1, is part of a move to establish a state-wide integrated marine rescue service which brings together coastguard and volunteer marine rescue groups under the one umbrella.

It means the organisations will now be funded by the State Government, providing more resources, vessels, safety equipment and protections for volunteers.

Recently appointed Marine Rescue Queensland Chief Officer Tony Wulff says the entire transition will take 12-18 months, but units in South East Queensland will adopt the changes in the next six months.

“The purpose behind it is to primarily ensure we can deliver the best service we can to the boating public and support the volunteers in the best way we possibly can, to deliver that service sustainably and into the future,” Tony says.

“Financial sustainability is the big one. It’s getting harder and harder to run these units individually and independently up and down the coastline.

“There’s been some fantastic support from community and major partnerships in the local community to support each of the 46 units across the state. (But) to run a service like this takes quite a bit of money and a sausage sizzle at Bunnings once a week is just not quite enough to keep it going.

“From a volunteer perspective, they can focus on what they want to do which is supporting the public, whether it’s from the radio room or on a boat, and not have the burden of fundraising over their heads every minute of the day to make sure they can keep the lights on.”

Redcliffe Commander Ron Grundy, who has been at the helm for five years, welcomes the change.

“In the long-term, it means more financial security for us. We have a new boat on the way that MRQ are paying for. That’s due before the end of this year to replace our 24-year-old boat that we currently use for operations – mainly for medivacs – and it’s also our head SAR (search and rescue) co-ordinating vessel,” Ron explains.

“That’s money we’d never be able to raise. It’s a couple of million dollars that boat.”

Business as usual

As for on-the-water operations, Tony and Ron say there will be little change and the goal is for boaties to not notice the difference beyond the new brand.

“The branding will change but that’s about it. We’ve deliberately designed the transition program to have absolute minimal impact on the boating public. All of the ways the boating public currently communicate with coastguard here at Redcliffe and the VMR units across the state will stay the same,” Tony says.

“Always (make) contact before you go out and log on and log off when you come back. There’ll be some added support. There will be a 131 number – 131 MRQ. That will be routed to the local area, whether they’ve transitioned or not.”

Coastguard Redcliffe, which will now be known as Marine Rescue Queensland Redcliffe, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and Tony says the history of the organisation will be respected and preserved.

“Fifty years of history is where the knowledge and experience come from. The volunteers here at Redcliffe have benefited from the volunteers before them and before them again to really understand the waterways here and the environment they work in,” he says.

“When they’re out there in a time of need, it’s usually not those bluebird, champagne sailing days … there’s a bit of weather out there and it looks a bit different and it’s a bit hard and uncomfortable on a boat … the 50 years of experience that’s come before that means these volunteers can get out there and save people.

“Preserving that history is really important.”

Volunteers will continue to be at the heart of the organisation.

“Marine Rescue Queensland will always be a volunteer organisation. The service will always be delivered by volunteers and the tasking and service delivered on the ground will always be led by volunteers,” Tony says.

“The final decision on whether a boat goes out to rescue someone sits with Ron, even in the MRQ world.”