Coast Guard Man of the Year 1968
Coast Guard Man of the Year
Nominated by Victorian Flotilla One Frankston
circa 1968
Hans Schwob joined the AVCG in 1967 and in the first year he passed the Public Instruction Course, Boat Master and Advanced Piloting Course, thus qualifying for 3rd Officer. He has also attained the skipper-ship of CG01, the Flotilla owned boat. Hans is Section Leader of all AVCG diving activities and an active member of the Search & Rescue Squadron.
Over the past twelve months this member (in his capacity as diving instructor) compiled the first theoretical and practical diving tests for the AVCG divers. These tests have been approved by National Board.
This was achieved by contact with the Royal Australian Navy diving section and civilian diving instructors. With those contacts plus 10 years of personal experience was able to compile these tests and so bring our divers to a high standard incorporating the latest methods and techniques.
Recently examinations were conducted and now the AVCG has qualified divers ready for any job that may arise. Monthly exercises are conducted to make sure that the section is at its peak. In conjunction with the diving section Hans also assisted Dr Mecca with his research regarding ‘survival in the Water’. Hans remained in the water for almost half an hour while temperatures and reaction were noted. This took place during the cold winter months.
Han’s boat ‘Simba’ has been called several times for search and rescue duties over the last twelve months. On one occasion he was responsible for recovering an 18 foot cruiser in the Carrum Bight which had drifted from Sorrento in a storm and overturned. Hans organised the up-righting of the craft and with the assistance of other boats and divers bailed it out and towed it undamaged to shore.
On another occasion he rescued two elderly men in a small boat who were caught in a fourty knot gale, four nautical miles off Seaford. They were located just before nightfall by aircraft. Simba found them in very rough and dangerous seas. A line was secured aboard and was safely towed to shore.
When a diver was reported missing off Torquay Hans organised in conjunction with the search and rescue squadron three boats with divers onboard to attend. The scene was reached withing one and half hours and fifteen minutes later divers were searching two hundred feet below.
On the return journey to Frankston the RIP was successfully navigated in darkness on an ebb tide.
All boat races that the AVCG patrol, ‘Simba’ is in attendance for this duty. During the St Kilda – Cowes – St Kilda race ‘Simba’ was stationed at the RIP. Contact with Point Lonsdale light house Hans was able to use the facilities of the signal station. This enabled both visual and radio watch to be kept on the contestants.
On several other occasions Hans has assisted other search and rescue vessels at various incidents on the bay including a few false alarms.
Hans is most active in the Flotilla attending all meetings, training sessions and exercises. Hans is a qualified skipper of CG01 and is rostered for duty once per month. When on duty he usually trains some of the younger members of the Flotilla. He also helps in the training of crew in boat handling aboard ‘Simba’.
Hans also assisted Hans Haas when filming seals at Seal Rock and furnished him information and details of the rescue attempt of the Prime Minster the late Harold Holt. Hans and his diving team were despatched by Victoria Police and were the first divers on scene.
Hans his keen to further promote the aims of the AVCG by assisting at recruiting drives and bring to the notice of other boatmen the AVCG public education courses and radio services.
Nominated by Victorian Flotilla One Frankston
circa 1968
Hans Schwob joined the AVCG in 1967 and in the first year he passed the Public Instruction Course, Boat Master and Advanced Piloting Course, thus qualifying for 3rd Officer. He has also attained the skipper-ship of CG01, the Flotilla owned boat. Hans is Section Leader of all AVCG diving activities and an active member of the Search & Rescue Squadron.
Over the past twelve months this member (in his capacity as diving instructor) compiled the first theoretical and practical diving tests for the AVCG divers. These tests have been approved by National Board.
This was achieved by contact with the Royal Australian Navy diving section and civilian diving instructors. With those contacts plus 10 years of personal experience was able to compile these tests and so bring our divers to a high standard incorporating the latest methods and techniques.
Recently examinations were conducted and now the AVCG has qualified divers ready for any job that may arise. Monthly exercises are conducted to make sure that the section is at its peak. In conjunction with the diving section Hans also assisted Dr Mecca with his research regarding ‘survival in the Water’. Hans remained in the water for almost half an hour while temperatures and reaction were noted. This took place during the cold winter months.
Han’s boat ‘Simba’ has been called several times for search and rescue duties over the last twelve months. On one occasion he was responsible for recovering an 18 foot cruiser in the Carrum Bight which had drifted from Sorrento in a storm and overturned. Hans organised the up-righting of the craft and with the assistance of other boats and divers bailed it out and towed it undamaged to shore.
On another occasion he rescued two elderly men in a small boat who were caught in a fourty knot gale, four nautical miles off Seaford. They were located just before nightfall by aircraft. Simba found them in very rough and dangerous seas. A line was secured aboard and was safely towed to shore.
When a diver was reported missing off Torquay Hans organised in conjunction with the search and rescue squadron three boats with divers onboard to attend. The scene was reached withing one and half hours and fifteen minutes later divers were searching two hundred feet below.
On the return journey to Frankston the RIP was successfully navigated in darkness on an ebb tide.
All boat races that the AVCG patrol, ‘Simba’ is in attendance for this duty. During the St Kilda – Cowes – St Kilda race ‘Simba’ was stationed at the RIP. Contact with Point Lonsdale light house Hans was able to use the facilities of the signal station. This enabled both visual and radio watch to be kept on the contestants.
On several other occasions Hans has assisted other search and rescue vessels at various incidents on the bay including a few false alarms.
Hans is most active in the Flotilla attending all meetings, training sessions and exercises. Hans is a qualified skipper of CG01 and is rostered for duty once per month. When on duty he usually trains some of the younger members of the Flotilla. He also helps in the training of crew in boat handling aboard ‘Simba’.
Hans also assisted Hans Haas when filming seals at Seal Rock and furnished him information and details of the rescue attempt of the Prime Minster the late Harold Holt. Hans and his diving team were despatched by Victoria Police and were the first divers on scene.
Hans his keen to further promote the aims of the AVCG by assisting at recruiting drives and bring to the notice of other boatmen the AVCG public education courses and radio services.