A BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE
In all fields of endeavour, there are those whose performance stands out as exceptional. Occasionally, an individual appears whose life-long commitment and dedication to a cause is worthy of the highest level of recognition. Marcus B. Grinblat is such a person.
Marcus joined the Victoria Squadron of the Australian Volunteer Coastguard Association (AVCGA) on 7 September 1971 as a junior member and took an immediate interest in the application of marine radio and ancillary equipment in context with boating safety. He was later to apply his expertise in this field to the great advantage of both Coastguard and the boating public.
Marcus became a regular member attached to Victoria Flotilla 01 on 4 September 1974. Throughout the past 31 years (2002), Marcus has continued to serve his base unit with complete dedication. In addition, Marcus has maintained a career-long commitment in various capacities attached to the Victoria Squadron Board, particularly in association with Search and Rescue.
Marcus Grinblat's involvement with the Search and Rescue arm of the AVCGA began early in his career. Marcus quickly moved through all the training grades, proving to be a naturally competent boat handler in all sea conditions. On the 4 January 1976, Marcus was instrumental in rescuing the occupants of a vessel that had capsized in five mete waves. - He subsequently received the Commodore's Gold medal and Gold Commendation Certificate, with the citation "For Outstanding Seamanship and Courage in Hazardous Conditions on 4 January 1976".
Marcus progressed to the highest rating of Patrol Officer and, maintaining his dedication to Search and Rescue, for many years has held this Unit's highest office of Controller Search and Rescue. In this capacity, in liaison with the Victoria Water Police, he has been responsible, for coordinating hundreds of Coast Guard search and rescue operations on local waters resulting in the saving of very many souls.
Becoming the Commander of Victoria Flotilla One in 1984, Marcus served with distinction in this capacity for many years. The National Board of the AVCGA subsequently approved Marcus' elevation to the substantive rank of Commander in recognition of his stalwart service to the Flotilla.
The 1980's were auspicious years in Commander Grinblat's Coastguard career. In that era, he was also the driving force in the procurement of Flag Ship CG31, a 9.5m twin diesel cabin cruiser, capable of prolonged sea duty in Search and Rescue operations. Commander Grinblat was the first skipper of this vessel and remains its Senior Skipper, having personally trained all the present skippers to the standard required for operating a vessel of this type. In addition, he has supervised and participated in its maintenance since the vessel's commissioning for Coastguard use in 1984.
Early in his career. Commander Grinblat foresaw the need for a state-of-the-art marine radio network and was singularly responsible for its establishment and installation throughout the Victoria. To this day, he continues to maintain the network and almost all of the Squadron's radio and electronic equipment.
Throughout his career, Commander Grinblat has been involved in the field of education in all aspects of boating safety. Recently, to satisfy the requirements of the trend towards Competency Based Training, he has graduated at Certificate IV Level in Assessing and Workplace Training. In addition to his many other official commitments, including his current appointment as Training Officer, VF01, Commander Grinblat continues to prepare and conduct both Coastguard and public courses in marine related subjects, including Radio, GPS (Global Positioning System) and RADAR.
Commander Grinblat received the Gold Medallion Award in honour of his 30 Years of Coast Guard Service (2001). Notwithstanding that the 30 year Award in itself represents a milestone in a lifetime dedicated to the service of the boating public through the medium of the Australian Volunteer Coastguard, it expresses little of the character of the man himself. It is typical of the unwavering commitment and unparalleled dedication of Commander Grinblat that, throughout his 30 years of service, in addition to his many other onerous, time absorbing responsibilities, he has fulfilled his obligation to his Base Flotilla, VF01. As a skipper of its fast response patrol vessel he has never failed to attend for rostered duties, often standing duty for other skippers in their absence.
Although irrelevant in the present context, it is of interest that, in his earlier days with Coastguard, Marcus somehow found the time to participate in the annual Melbourne to Hobart yacht race. An unforgettable experience from all accounts, in spite of or because of, the reasons for 'not making it all the way there'.
Commander Grinblat's life-long service to Coast Guard and the boating community by any criterion has been, and continues to be, a commitment and dedication far beyond the normal call of duty.
Jim Bryer
Vice Captain,
Victorian Squadron,
Australian Volunteer Coast Guard
2002
In all fields of endeavour, there are those whose performance stands out as exceptional. Occasionally, an individual appears whose life-long commitment and dedication to a cause is worthy of the highest level of recognition. Marcus B. Grinblat is such a person.
Marcus joined the Victoria Squadron of the Australian Volunteer Coastguard Association (AVCGA) on 7 September 1971 as a junior member and took an immediate interest in the application of marine radio and ancillary equipment in context with boating safety. He was later to apply his expertise in this field to the great advantage of both Coastguard and the boating public.
Marcus became a regular member attached to Victoria Flotilla 01 on 4 September 1974. Throughout the past 31 years (2002), Marcus has continued to serve his base unit with complete dedication. In addition, Marcus has maintained a career-long commitment in various capacities attached to the Victoria Squadron Board, particularly in association with Search and Rescue.
Marcus Grinblat's involvement with the Search and Rescue arm of the AVCGA began early in his career. Marcus quickly moved through all the training grades, proving to be a naturally competent boat handler in all sea conditions. On the 4 January 1976, Marcus was instrumental in rescuing the occupants of a vessel that had capsized in five mete waves. - He subsequently received the Commodore's Gold medal and Gold Commendation Certificate, with the citation "For Outstanding Seamanship and Courage in Hazardous Conditions on 4 January 1976".
Marcus progressed to the highest rating of Patrol Officer and, maintaining his dedication to Search and Rescue, for many years has held this Unit's highest office of Controller Search and Rescue. In this capacity, in liaison with the Victoria Water Police, he has been responsible, for coordinating hundreds of Coast Guard search and rescue operations on local waters resulting in the saving of very many souls.
Becoming the Commander of Victoria Flotilla One in 1984, Marcus served with distinction in this capacity for many years. The National Board of the AVCGA subsequently approved Marcus' elevation to the substantive rank of Commander in recognition of his stalwart service to the Flotilla.
The 1980's were auspicious years in Commander Grinblat's Coastguard career. In that era, he was also the driving force in the procurement of Flag Ship CG31, a 9.5m twin diesel cabin cruiser, capable of prolonged sea duty in Search and Rescue operations. Commander Grinblat was the first skipper of this vessel and remains its Senior Skipper, having personally trained all the present skippers to the standard required for operating a vessel of this type. In addition, he has supervised and participated in its maintenance since the vessel's commissioning for Coastguard use in 1984.
Early in his career. Commander Grinblat foresaw the need for a state-of-the-art marine radio network and was singularly responsible for its establishment and installation throughout the Victoria. To this day, he continues to maintain the network and almost all of the Squadron's radio and electronic equipment.
Throughout his career, Commander Grinblat has been involved in the field of education in all aspects of boating safety. Recently, to satisfy the requirements of the trend towards Competency Based Training, he has graduated at Certificate IV Level in Assessing and Workplace Training. In addition to his many other official commitments, including his current appointment as Training Officer, VF01, Commander Grinblat continues to prepare and conduct both Coastguard and public courses in marine related subjects, including Radio, GPS (Global Positioning System) and RADAR.
Commander Grinblat received the Gold Medallion Award in honour of his 30 Years of Coast Guard Service (2001). Notwithstanding that the 30 year Award in itself represents a milestone in a lifetime dedicated to the service of the boating public through the medium of the Australian Volunteer Coastguard, it expresses little of the character of the man himself. It is typical of the unwavering commitment and unparalleled dedication of Commander Grinblat that, throughout his 30 years of service, in addition to his many other onerous, time absorbing responsibilities, he has fulfilled his obligation to his Base Flotilla, VF01. As a skipper of its fast response patrol vessel he has never failed to attend for rostered duties, often standing duty for other skippers in their absence.
Although irrelevant in the present context, it is of interest that, in his earlier days with Coastguard, Marcus somehow found the time to participate in the annual Melbourne to Hobart yacht race. An unforgettable experience from all accounts, in spite of or because of, the reasons for 'not making it all the way there'.
Commander Grinblat's life-long service to Coast Guard and the boating community by any criterion has been, and continues to be, a commitment and dedication far beyond the normal call of duty.
Jim Bryer
Vice Captain,
Victorian Squadron,
Australian Volunteer Coast Guard
2002