Marine Rescue Port Stephens Granted $10,000 by NSW Government for Floating Dock Nelson Bay (Tomaree Peninsula areas) Port Stephens News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - September 4, 2018 Duty MLC Catherine Cusack with Liberal Party Candidate Jaimie Abbott and some of the Marine Rescue Volunteers. Photo by Marian Sampson. MARINE Rescue Port Stephens is staffed by volunteers. Modern Media: Advertise with News Of The Area and you get your ad in 1) in Print, 2) on the News Website (like this ad), and 3) on our Social Media news site. A much more efficient way to advertise. Reach a HUGE audience for a LOW price TODAY! Call us on 02 4983 2134. Or media@newsofthearea.com.au Or CLICK FOR ADVERT QUOTE These locals give up their time, and at times put their lives on the line to help those in trouble in our waters. The crews turn out on twenty minutes notice, and until recently they were forced to change into their safety gear and be briefed for their missions on the dock, often in bad weather. Colin Foote of Marine Rescue Port Stephens told News Of The Area, “We need to raise an additional $150,000 each year to keep the two boats on the water and run the radio base, it costs around $200 per hour per vessel during each call out that Marine Rescue responds to.” The team at Marine Rescue has just released their two year dream to commission a floating dock where they can store their safety gear, change and conduct their briefings. The floating dock was custom built by local company Varley Group and was kicked off by a NSW Clubs Grant through Wests Diggers, Nelson Bay. This week the NSW Government has kicked in an additional $10,000 grant towards the floating dock. The dock is believed to be the only one of its kind and has only been possible through generous donations and support from Marine Rescue Port Stephens patrons and volunteers. Duty MLC for Port Stephens Catherine Cusack and Liberal Candidate for Port Stephens Jaimie Abbott toured the facility and met long term volunteers and the vessel crews. Tony O’Donnell of Marine Rescue said, “When it comes to performing a rescue, we don’t judge, we just go.” Liberal candidate for Port Stephens, Jaimie Abbott said, “Marine Rescue Port Stephens responds to an average of 300 incidents every year, making their service vital in our community.” While Marine Rescue does ask for donations from those who use their services they only recover approximately 40 percent of the cost of each rescue from the vessels and crews they save. By Marian SAMPSON Duty MLC Catherine Cusack with Liberal Party Candidate Jaimie Abbott aboard the Marine Rescue Vessel the John Thompson. Photo by Marian Sampson.
