avcga-nf2

Hey everyone I am a little breathless at the number of responses. You are a lovely bunch of people. I apologise for not getting on-line until tonight but I had a Flotilla meeting to run last night and today I had to earn a buck... so I can afford to do what I love. I'm not going to be able to get to all of the questions tonight but I will try to answer most by the weekend. So without much ado... "Flightmanager" said... Cath , just one question springs to mind , when you throw out a line to catch a man , what bait do you use ? Ross, even on such short acquaintance, you should know by now that the only bait I need to catch a man is charm, wit, personality and a big yellow boat! Marlin Broadbill 7.3m Catamaran, Twin 1.7 TD Cummins engines, Alpha II sterndrives in 2C Survey. 'Flightmanager' It was a geat pleasure to meet you and Jack yesterday... Actually. The pleasure was all ours. Both Jack Herman & I were seriously impressed with you cooking up a storm for the Fishraiders on your birthday. Outstanding. 'Flightmanager' How do I go about joining? It seems that Ross couldn't wait for me to get back on-line for an answer. When I looked at my email this morning, the national webmaster of the Coast Guard website had forwarded to me a membership enquiry from a man called Ross. I didn't realise who he was until tonight. Talk about bowled over. I reckon his good lady, Cath, will want to keel-haul me. But the question was put and it would be rude not to provide an answer for everyone. But be warned. I am going to be brutally honest. Probably more so than my organisation would recommend. But I have promised you guys proper answers to your questions. So here goes. Joining is easy. Staying is hard. If you are in good health, can see, can hear and enjoy being in the company of other people, we will likely take you. While having boating or radio experience is a definite plus you really don't need any boating knowledge at all. We will train you. Male or female. We are an egalitarian organisation. When Jack & I joined the Botany Bay flotilla of Australian Volunteer Coast Guard 4 years ago we had only ever been on a small boat once in our lives. We are both pretty handy in rescue boat now. Who should apply? What we want, as a marine rescue organisation, are people who want to give something back to the community, who are dedicated, passionate, resilient and are prepared to learn. Why? Simply put, you have to be a complete nutter to want to join any of the marine rescue organisations. Whether you want to join us - the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, or the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol or Volunteer Marine Rescue, there will never be much funding or government support for what you do. There are no votes in it. So... here is the brutally honest part about being a volunteer... all our AVCGA volunteers pay to join. We buy our own uniforms. We raise money to buy and fit out our rescue vessels. We raise money to fuel and maintain our boats. We also raise money to fit-out and run the marine radio bases that keep a listening watch over you guys. Essentially, we raise money so we can have the right to go out to assist or rescue people who find themselves in trouble on the water. It is trying, tiring and some days completely frustrating. But we love what we do, so we just do it. Minimum Training Requirements In addition to all this, if you want to part of a rescue crew, you have to agree to undertake and complete the minimum amount of training, specified by the State Rescue Board, necessary to be able to look after yourself, your crew mates and the people you need to assist. When you think about it. It is a completely reasonable requirement. But it is time consuming. In the first year to 18 months of your membership you are likely to be very busy doing courses, both in the class room and on the water. And that's why we say that you should only join if you have the approval of your family. It is a big commitment. However, once you have completed that minimum training you can choose to do nothing more than your operational duties for the rest of your volunteer days. We have many members for whom that minimum participation is pure happiness. However, if you enjoy the intellectual and physical challenge and fancy yourself as a rescue skipper you can continue training. Every flotilla in our National organisation has a slightly different way of operating. That flexibility allows the flotillas to set up operations that work in well for their community. At Botany Bay Flotilla, our rescue crews are expected to do one day of boat duty once a month and half a day of radio duty once a month. Our vessel is on the water every weekend and public holiday of the year from 7am till sunset and is on call 7 days a week. Our radio base operates every weekend and public holiday from 7am until sunset. Our class-room training is usually held on Wednesday nights either in the St George area or at Bankstown Grammar High. Our practical training is carried out on board the vessel or at the radio base on duty days. Of course, I haven't mentioned any of the good bit about being a member, like meeting and being in the company of so many exceptional people. There is one man in my flotilla who has been assisting and rescuing boaties for 34 years. Others have dedicated over 25 years. These guys are sensational skippers and boatmen and so completely generous with their knowledge. When our organisation was young they used their own boats to rescue people. When I joined the organisation I knew nothing about boats. Now, I can't get enough. I can't wait for my boat or radio duty to roll around again. I want to know everything there is to know about the sea and boats. I want to hang out with the people who are smart enough to not want to go out when the conditions are bad but who do so anyway because they are needed. If after what I've said above hasn't completely alienated you, you can, as MrsSwordfisherman says, go to the Australian Coast Guard's website and make a "regular" membership enquiry to your local flotilla. We are the largest volunteer marine search and rescue organisation in the southern hemisphere. We have flotillas and radio bases in QLD, NSW, VIC, TAS and SA so we are likely to have a group near you. The other membership option on the website is called an associate membership, which essentially means becoming a supporter of one of our radio bases. You pick the radio base which covers the area in which you do most of your boating an pay annual membership which helps to keep the base running through out the year. There is a lot more to it than that. If you are interested in knowing more about that type of membership and what benefits you get just ask and I'll post the details. I need a bit of sleep so I'll sign off for the moment. I'll try and get to the rest of the questions tomorrow night. Cheers Cath

Fishraiders Thank you for the kind welcome. Over the coming years, I look forward to getting to know you all. Swordfisherman and MrsSwordfisherman assure me there over 4500 of you addicted fisher-folk, so I concede it will be a huge challenge. But after such a sensational social day yesterday it's a challenge I'm prepared to take a crack at. And now for the terrible confession... While I grew up near the beach, I've never fished in my life. The lines I cast are either tow ropes or rescue lines and when I haul something out of the water it's usually a man. Inevitably - a very big man. So I'm not going to be much use to guys on the fishing front. If fact, I'm likely to be asking the dumb questions. And I'm sure the in my flotilla will join up in the coming days and give me as much stick on-line as they do in person.But if you've got questions about boats and boat safety then I, and my flotilla, will be pleased to provide an answer if we can. Our Association believes that education is the best form of rescue. I also hope that, over time, you'll get to know the wonderful volunteers of my Botany Bay Flotilla and of our sister flotillas in NSW and the rest of Australia. I am very proud to be part of such a knowledgeable and selfless group. In the first instance, we'll just be quiet observers in your excellent club. But if you need us, we'll be there. We are very pleased to be a part of Fishraiders. Cheers Cath