Founded in 1971 by a group of local Burdekin boaties and fishermen keen to look after each other, as well as visitors to the region, in a time when private vessels doubled as rescue vessels and the radio building was nothing more than a caravan towed to Alva Beach, Volunteer Marine Rescue Burdekin (VMR) has been going strong for over 50 years ever since.
Now a more formal volunteer organisation, VMR has dedicated rescue boats, while operating out of two modern buildings that house their radio facilities, rescue boats, vehicles, and equipment. They’ve come a long way from their early days.
Legends of their first rescue boat, the famed ‘Tonya Leigh’ still echo around the Burdekin today. Stories still describe her exceptional performance and reliability during some of the roughest sea rescues in the region, such was her awe and aura.
54 years of hard work and commitment by a small band of dedicated volunteers, has seen VMR Burdekin go from strength to strength.
However, they will soon be taken in by Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ). So what does this mean for VMR Burdekin moving forward?
L-R: Long-time members, Ernie Rose, Claude Sutcliffe, VMR President Ian Sutcliffe, and Matt Patane, have been saving lives for decades. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen
Founded in 1971 by a group of local Burdekin boaties and fishermen keen to look after each other, as well as visitors to the region, in a time when private vessels doubled as rescue vessels and the radio building was nothing more than a caravan towed to Alva Beach, Volunteer Marine Rescue Burdekin (VMR) has been going strong for over 50 years ever since.
Now a more formal volunteer organisation, VMR has dedicated rescue boats, while operating out of two modern buildings that house their radio facilities, rescue boats, vehicles, and equipment. They’ve come a long way from their early days.
Legends of their first rescue boat, the famed ‘Tonya Leigh’ still echo around the Burdekin today. Stories still describe her exceptional performance and reliability during some of the roughest sea rescues in the region, such was her awe and aura.
54 years of hard work and commitment by a small band of dedicated volunteers, has seen VMR Burdekin go from strength to strength with some 600 volunteers on their books. However, VMR will soon be taken in by Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ), a state government sea rescue branch. So, what does this mean for VMR Burdekin moving forward? Even their president, Ian Sutcliffe, is unsure.
“We think we will be renamed, ‘Marine Rescue Queensland Burdekin’, but as yet, we haven’t even been told that. So, it’s all a bit of an unknown to us right now,” Ian declares.
A boilermaker by trade at Inkerman mill, Ian, who has been around the group since his dad was skipper of the rescue boat in the early days, has come a long way when he was just a kid and out fundraising for VMR. Now President, he’s both excited by joining forces with MRQ and sceptical.
Excited, because it will mean a lot of the money issues and responsibility of raising funds, will now rest with MRQ. And sceptical because there has been very little consultation or interaction to discuss what the relationship will look like, and how it will work moving forward.
“As far as I know, MRQ are going to be paying for a lot of the repairs on the boat, and they’re also going to pay for all our running costs. But I'm not too sure whether they'll also cover the repairs on the truck. I hope they do, because trucks cost money as well,” Ian says.
He speculates, however, that with a lot of VMR’s funding being taken care of, this will invariably free up more time for volunteers, noting that it will reduce the need for fundraising.
“Volunteers have to work for a living as volunteering doesn't pay. If the government can pay for a lot of stuff to get done around the place, then it just frees us up a lot more. You'd be surprised just how much is involved. If anyone wants to do a fundraising day or something, they ring me, and then I have to coordinate amongst volunteers and set it up. So having government support is a very good thing,” Ian says with relief.
During rescues, VMR Burdekin coordinates with police and other rescue organisations for missions.
“As far as rescues go, a lot of our jobs are police activated. They're the ones that call in other rescue organisations as to who they deem they want. We also have a duty phone, and that is the first point of contact for VMR Burdekin. Someone will ring and say, ‘Hey look, my husband's overdue. He's out at the reef. Can you go and find him?’ So, we'll organise a crew and head out and find them.”
“Last April, two guys went missing out in the bay. We were the first ones called to go and start looking for them. Water police then contacted Bowen VMR and also Townsville Coast Guard. Between all three organisations, we did eventually find them,” Ian shares.
While the water police are always in charge of a rescue operation, when it comes to specific areas, the police rely strongly on local knowledge, and cede responsibility. For example, if it's in VMR Burdekin’s area, then they’re in charge of that area.
While the group has 600 members, only a fraction (maybe 50) participate and contribute their skills and time on a regular basis. With membership costing only $100 annually, which includes one free tow and offers new members the chance to complete shipboard safety skill set, the real value comes, however, in the form of decades of boating wisdom from their older members, who are all too keen to share their expertise and knowledge. That in itself is priceless!
It’s easy to attend a VMR Burdekin meeting, where you can learn more about them the volunteer opportunities they have, training such as man overboard drills, and fire and motor exercises.
“If we're coming to rescue you, you need to be confident that we know what we're doing,” Ian states.
VMR Burdekin is always looking for new and younger members to join. Members all say, ‘It’s a great, fun place to volunteer,’ and many lifelong friendships are formed. Best of all, you get to save people’s lives.
“The importance of saving lives at sea and the gratitude expressed by those being rescued is unparalleled. There’s an enormous sense of satisfaction knowing you’ve saved a life and helped a family and a community. When there's no one else around to help them out, they are incredibly grateful.”
“Our role is to save lives at sea, that's our motto,” Ian smiles.
If you’re keen to become a volunteer for the VMR, email: burdekin@marinerescueqld.org.au or call Ian on: 07 4783 1014. They’d love to have you aboard!
L-R: Older members, Ernie Rose, Claude Sutcliffe, VMR President Ian Sutcliffe, and Matt Patane, have been saving lives for decades. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen
VMR volunteers in front of their insignia. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen
L-R: Two rescue boats, 54 years of service, countless lives saved. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen
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