Diggers Grant Sees More Trained Volunteers Assist With Marine Rescues

Harbord Diggers has continued its support of water safety initiatives with Marine Rescue Middle Harbour receiving a grant for its volunteer training program.

Marine Rescue Middle Harbour is currently supported by 74 qualified volunteers made up of men and women from the community, who each give up hundreds of hours of their time every year to train, be on call 24/7 and assist on the water to provide emergency services on Sydney's waterways.

The $15,000 grant that was given to Marine Rescue Middle Harbour by Harbord Diggers via the 2023 ClubGRANTS will enable the organisation to train 10 extra volunteers as crew members and undertake 30 hours of on the water training.

Mounties Group recognises the importance of fostering a safe and secure maritime environment. The grant provided to Marine Rescue Middle Harbour will be instrumental in acquiring additional volunteers, training them appropriately and conducting specialised drills and up-skilling programs.

The Marine Rescue volunteers are committed individuals who are required to complete extensive training over a 12 to 16 month period to qualify as crew members. The initial training covers core skills and competencies including First Aid and advanced resuscitation using AED's and providing oxygen, marine radio operations, fire fighting, and sea survival before they start training on rescue vessel skills out on the water. Crew members are led by a Vessel Master who has overall responsibility for the vessel and crew safety.

"At the heart of our mission is a commitment to community safety, and thanks to the invaluable support from Mounties Group funding, we can assist 10 dedicated volunteers to be trained to the operational crew level," said Treasurer and Units Executive from Marine Rescue Middle Harbour, Glen Lighton.

"This pivotal investment covers the operational on-water training costs, allowing these individuals to support our rescue vessels and extend assistance across the vast expanse of Sydney Harbour, its surrounding beaches, and the coastline stretching offshore up to 50km.

"The funding not only elevates our volunteers to operational readiness, but also plays a vital role in offsetting the extensive costs associated with operating rescues, ensuring that our training programs are robust and our commitment to community safety is unwavering," he continued.

Marine Rescue Middle Harbour serves recreational boaters on Middle Harbour, Sydney Harbour and adjacent offshore waters. Based on the eastern shores of The Spit, Marine Rescue Middle Harbour operates two rescue vessels.

"Mounties Group is proud to champion community safety through our commitment to funding operational on-water training for the Marine Rescue crew at Middle Harbour," said Mounties Group President, John Dean.

"Through our ClubGRANTS program, we are privileged to contribute to a diverse range of community projects that make a meaningful difference to locals in our community, in this case those on our waterways," he added.

In total, the 2023 ClubGRANTS program will see Mounties Group give back more than $1.16 million to more than 77 projects across Sydney and the Central Coast.