Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant, was today joined by Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams to present Marine Rescue NSW volunteers on the Mid North Coast with a $9200 grant for new equipment to help them respond rapidly to boaters in trouble.
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Marine Rescue Crowdy Harrington unit will receive a new trailer for the unit’s 6.8 metre rescue vessel Crowdy 20.
“Marine Rescue volunteers need to hit the water as quickly as possible when responding to boaters’ calls for help,” Mr Grant said.
“The current trailer used to transport the rescue vessel to the water is past its use-by date. This funding will help ensure our volunteers have the equipment they need to keep us safe in the water.”
Crowdy 20, the unit’s secondary rescue vessel, is housed on its trailer under cover at the unit’s $215,000 training facility and boat shed, opened last November.
It is a rapid response vessel for incidents on the Manning River and can travel up to seven nautical miles offshore. The unit’s larger vessel, the 9.5m Naiad Crowdy 30, is moored in Crowdy Head Harbour.
Mrs Williams said the Marine Rescue Crowdy Harrington volunteers work tirelessly to protect local and visiting boaters on this busy coastline.
“In the past year, the unit has responded to 15 life-threatening emergencies on the water. This grant for a new trailer will mean the volunteers can continue their proud record of saving lives on the water,” Mrs Williams said.
Marine Rescue Crowdy Harrington Unit Commander Karen Farrell thanked Minister Grant and Mrs Williams for the grant funding, which she said was a welcome boost for the unit’s 60 members.
“This is fantastic news for us. Our volunteers devote a lot of time and energy to responding to emergencies, training and fundraising for our operations and equipment that will support their vital work,” Ms Farrell said.
“Our old trailer has outlived its useful life. We were worried it would fail but to be able to replace it straight away will mean we can be confident in our ability to respond swiftly and efficiently when we get a call for help.”
