“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”
John F. Kennedy, 20 January 1961.
If ever there has been an address to captivate, not just the American people, but the world at large, it is President Kennedy’s inaugural address to the nation.
Volunteerism is a demonstration of doing something for your country. I have personally dedicated 43 years of my life to various organisations, marine rescue, coaching kids soccer and service in the Royal Australian Navy as a permanent and reserve member.
I joined the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association’s Cadet Unit on the 13 August 1975 at age 13. I still have a copy of my original application, which included an indemnity clause stating, ‘its officers and members shall not be actionable or in any other way liable in respect to any injury, damage, or loss that I may suffer, in the course of, or while on a Coast Guard vessel’. Terms, parents would be reluctant to agree to today. Officially, in those days, Cadets did not participate in search and rescue, unofficially the nature of the job meant if you were on a rescue boat and a job came up, you went!
As ludicrous as its sounds, sending youngsters out on rescues actually shaped them into mature young adults, for this form of activity provided a sense of purpose and undertaken with a specific goal to achieve – to perform rescue SAFELY for self and others.
Discipline, in those days, was driven by the association’s mission statement, ‘in promoting safety in the operation of small craft, it guards the coast in the most effective way, initially by Education, Example & Examination and finally by Search & Rescue’.
The three ‘E’s as we knew it, whose primary objective was to make search and rescue unnecessary. The association’s trainers and leaders, were mainly ex-service personnel, many that had served in World War II. The induction that cadets received, within a regimented hierarchy, provided both an interest and challenge in the field of personal achievement, the discipline essential in learning of things about boats and the cantankerous moods of the sea.
Later, as young adults, many chose service organisations as careers. From my 76’ intake, four cadets, including myself, joined the RAN, a fifth became a Paramedic with Ambulance Victoria and from an earlier intake, one became a Custom's Officer serving on Patrol Boats with the Boarder Protection Force - testament to the success of the cadet training curriculum.
The spirit of volunteerism was clearly instilled in me, and after naval sea-time, I returned to the association which I considered as my ‘return of service obligation'.
During my time as a member, I had the privilege of meeting some great people, friendships that have continued for more than forty years. My most memorable and fulfilling experience in the association was facilitating the formation of the Gippsland Squadron, which was an outcome of the Ernst & Young Review in 2002 and spearheaded by the officer in charge of the Gippsland Water Police, Sergeant Richard Mostard. Formerly, the rescue units were independent associations, with the exception of Mallacoota which was already a chartered Flotilla, Ocean Rescue Marlo, Lakes Entrance Ocean Rescue, Paynesville Rescue Squad and the two Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol units located at Port Albert and Port Welshpool, amalgamated initially to form as a division.
The main characteristic that stood out among the members of these units was the ‘willingness to change’. The fact that they were already service providers to the Gippsland Water Police demonstrated that they already possessed the knowledge and skills to carryout rescue work safely. All that had to be done was to carry-out a formal record of prior learning process so that individual's skills could be endorsed to national maritime standards. The late Ray Lyons, a professional trainer and assessor, managed the administrative process under the auspices of the AVCGA Registered Training Organisation status. Consequently volunteer members received full recognition for their competencies, and a sense of pride was felt on receipt of certificates of attainment.
The amalgamation seemed to evolve naturally, as all the work was being done within Gippsland, DISPLAN meetings, chaired by Richard Mostard, was the forum to review progress and bring issues to the table for discussion. For the first time units worked in collaboration to create a consistent approach to both training, operations and administration. For me, I had both the privilege of being elected as the first Port Albert Flotilla Commander, the reigns which were handed to me from the late Kevin Feltham whom was the Coastal Patrol’s Unit Commander. Once all units were chartered as Flotillas, I was elected as inaugural Squadron Commodore of the Gippsland Squadron.
I have no doubt, that the amalgamation of the independent units, including the formation of new Flotillas located at Portland and Warrnambool, injected new talent into the Coast Guard. Marine Safety Victoria created a very attractive search and rescue funding model, through the 'Boating Safety and Facilities Grant Scheme', which enabled rescue units to acquire purpose built vessels.
Today, after two government reviews into volunteer marine rescue services in Victoria, namely, the Ernst & Young Review (2002) and more recently the Parliamentary Inquiry into Marine Rescue services in Victoria (2014), volunteer marine rescue services now have a formal alliance to government under the banner of Emergency Management Victoria (EMV). EMV has provided a government insurance policy, adopted asset service agreements at unit level and introduced a recurrent funding model, all of which relieves the service providers of onerous fund-raising events - recommendations adopted by government as a result of the inquiry.
This ‘change’ in management of marine rescue services is not unique to Victoria, but is well established in WA, NSW, SA & Tasmania. In Queensland, post the Blue Water Review, marine rescue services will integrate VMR and AVCGA Flotillas into a new organisation under the Queensland Fire & Emergency Services.
Change in the field of marine rescue was inevitable, like the commercial industry, managing risk in a sector that is exposed to hazards associated with rescuing those in peril on land or sea, requires a high level of competency. Office bearers must demonstrate a duty of care to its members by adherence to safety management plans in addition, survey standards of marine rescue assets and competencies of crews must be maintained. These responsibilities demonstrates how units manage risk, a legal responsibility under the terms of both the Associations Incorporated Reform Act 2012 (Vic) and Victorian Workplace legislation.
Whilst change for many has been difficult, i'm confident 'the ends will justify the means', ensuring that volunteer rescue organisations will continue to be the most effective force in providing this crucial service to the community. Government reviews have always established the foundations to increase volunteer membership and shape the sector for the next generation.
Just as the amalgamation of units under one association in Gippsland augmented both the reactive (SAR) and the proactive (VHF networks) functions of marine safety in the region. The formation of the MSAR Office within EMV will provide the support mechanisms, in particular governance, to enable the volunteers of all units and flotillas across the state, to carryout the response function safely, without the burden of administration and fund raising events.
The emphasis of change must always address the needs at unit level, to enable the rescue function to be executed when activated - the principle reason for being.
At the time of pulling this website together I was retired from volunteer marine rescue, I have since rejoined the Port Albert Flotilla where I assist with Training and Administration. I also enjoy fishing from my own boat mainly in the waters around Port Albert, Cliffy Island and Port Welshpool. I get an immense feeling of pride when I see the local flotilla vessels on the water and hear traffic on the local repeaters, knowing that I was one of the team members that made a contribution.
I leave you with a quote by Benjamin Franklin which I believe is the perfect metaphor.
“For the want of a nail the shoe was lost,
For the want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For the want of a horse the rider was lost,
For the want of a rider the battle was lost,
For the want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe-nail.”
Richard Burgess
John F. Kennedy, 20 January 1961.
If ever there has been an address to captivate, not just the American people, but the world at large, it is President Kennedy’s inaugural address to the nation.
Volunteerism is a demonstration of doing something for your country. I have personally dedicated 43 years of my life to various organisations, marine rescue, coaching kids soccer and service in the Royal Australian Navy as a permanent and reserve member.
I joined the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association’s Cadet Unit on the 13 August 1975 at age 13. I still have a copy of my original application, which included an indemnity clause stating, ‘its officers and members shall not be actionable or in any other way liable in respect to any injury, damage, or loss that I may suffer, in the course of, or while on a Coast Guard vessel’. Terms, parents would be reluctant to agree to today. Officially, in those days, Cadets did not participate in search and rescue, unofficially the nature of the job meant if you were on a rescue boat and a job came up, you went!
As ludicrous as its sounds, sending youngsters out on rescues actually shaped them into mature young adults, for this form of activity provided a sense of purpose and undertaken with a specific goal to achieve – to perform rescue SAFELY for self and others.
Discipline, in those days, was driven by the association’s mission statement, ‘in promoting safety in the operation of small craft, it guards the coast in the most effective way, initially by Education, Example & Examination and finally by Search & Rescue’.
The three ‘E’s as we knew it, whose primary objective was to make search and rescue unnecessary. The association’s trainers and leaders, were mainly ex-service personnel, many that had served in World War II. The induction that cadets received, within a regimented hierarchy, provided both an interest and challenge in the field of personal achievement, the discipline essential in learning of things about boats and the cantankerous moods of the sea.
Later, as young adults, many chose service organisations as careers. From my 76’ intake, four cadets, including myself, joined the RAN, a fifth became a Paramedic with Ambulance Victoria and from an earlier intake, one became a Custom's Officer serving on Patrol Boats with the Boarder Protection Force - testament to the success of the cadet training curriculum.
The spirit of volunteerism was clearly instilled in me, and after naval sea-time, I returned to the association which I considered as my ‘return of service obligation'.
During my time as a member, I had the privilege of meeting some great people, friendships that have continued for more than forty years. My most memorable and fulfilling experience in the association was facilitating the formation of the Gippsland Squadron, which was an outcome of the Ernst & Young Review in 2002 and spearheaded by the officer in charge of the Gippsland Water Police, Sergeant Richard Mostard. Formerly, the rescue units were independent associations, with the exception of Mallacoota which was already a chartered Flotilla, Ocean Rescue Marlo, Lakes Entrance Ocean Rescue, Paynesville Rescue Squad and the two Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol units located at Port Albert and Port Welshpool, amalgamated initially to form as a division.
The main characteristic that stood out among the members of these units was the ‘willingness to change’. The fact that they were already service providers to the Gippsland Water Police demonstrated that they already possessed the knowledge and skills to carryout rescue work safely. All that had to be done was to carry-out a formal record of prior learning process so that individual's skills could be endorsed to national maritime standards. The late Ray Lyons, a professional trainer and assessor, managed the administrative process under the auspices of the AVCGA Registered Training Organisation status. Consequently volunteer members received full recognition for their competencies, and a sense of pride was felt on receipt of certificates of attainment.
The amalgamation seemed to evolve naturally, as all the work was being done within Gippsland, DISPLAN meetings, chaired by Richard Mostard, was the forum to review progress and bring issues to the table for discussion. For the first time units worked in collaboration to create a consistent approach to both training, operations and administration. For me, I had both the privilege of being elected as the first Port Albert Flotilla Commander, the reigns which were handed to me from the late Kevin Feltham whom was the Coastal Patrol’s Unit Commander. Once all units were chartered as Flotillas, I was elected as inaugural Squadron Commodore of the Gippsland Squadron.
I have no doubt, that the amalgamation of the independent units, including the formation of new Flotillas located at Portland and Warrnambool, injected new talent into the Coast Guard. Marine Safety Victoria created a very attractive search and rescue funding model, through the 'Boating Safety and Facilities Grant Scheme', which enabled rescue units to acquire purpose built vessels.
Today, after two government reviews into volunteer marine rescue services in Victoria, namely, the Ernst & Young Review (2002) and more recently the Parliamentary Inquiry into Marine Rescue services in Victoria (2014), volunteer marine rescue services now have a formal alliance to government under the banner of Emergency Management Victoria (EMV). EMV has provided a government insurance policy, adopted asset service agreements at unit level and introduced a recurrent funding model, all of which relieves the service providers of onerous fund-raising events - recommendations adopted by government as a result of the inquiry.
This ‘change’ in management of marine rescue services is not unique to Victoria, but is well established in WA, NSW, SA & Tasmania. In Queensland, post the Blue Water Review, marine rescue services will integrate VMR and AVCGA Flotillas into a new organisation under the Queensland Fire & Emergency Services.
Change in the field of marine rescue was inevitable, like the commercial industry, managing risk in a sector that is exposed to hazards associated with rescuing those in peril on land or sea, requires a high level of competency. Office bearers must demonstrate a duty of care to its members by adherence to safety management plans in addition, survey standards of marine rescue assets and competencies of crews must be maintained. These responsibilities demonstrates how units manage risk, a legal responsibility under the terms of both the Associations Incorporated Reform Act 2012 (Vic) and Victorian Workplace legislation.
Whilst change for many has been difficult, i'm confident 'the ends will justify the means', ensuring that volunteer rescue organisations will continue to be the most effective force in providing this crucial service to the community. Government reviews have always established the foundations to increase volunteer membership and shape the sector for the next generation.
Just as the amalgamation of units under one association in Gippsland augmented both the reactive (SAR) and the proactive (VHF networks) functions of marine safety in the region. The formation of the MSAR Office within EMV will provide the support mechanisms, in particular governance, to enable the volunteers of all units and flotillas across the state, to carryout the response function safely, without the burden of administration and fund raising events.
The emphasis of change must always address the needs at unit level, to enable the rescue function to be executed when activated - the principle reason for being.
At the time of pulling this website together I was retired from volunteer marine rescue, I have since rejoined the Port Albert Flotilla where I assist with Training and Administration. I also enjoy fishing from my own boat mainly in the waters around Port Albert, Cliffy Island and Port Welshpool. I get an immense feeling of pride when I see the local flotilla vessels on the water and hear traffic on the local repeaters, knowing that I was one of the team members that made a contribution.
I leave you with a quote by Benjamin Franklin which I believe is the perfect metaphor.
“For the want of a nail the shoe was lost,
For the want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For the want of a horse the rider was lost,
For the want of a rider the battle was lost,
For the want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe-nail.”
Richard Burgess