The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association Inc.

 

 

The History of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association Inc.
In Chronological Order of Events

Chapter Three - 1971 to 1975

28th Apr 1971 Under the Queensland Companies Acts, 1961 to 1964, A Certificate of Registration of a Foreign Company was duly signed on 28th April 1971. State Commodore Reg Leigh Smith was the Agent appointed in Queensland No. of the Company was 888/71.. (Copy of this document is attached) The A.V.C.G.A. is a registered charity.
7th Nov 1971 Due to technical difficulties encountered with the Common Constitution in South Australia, the S.A. Squadron Board lodged with the National Board a modified version of that document on 7th November 1971. This Constitution was subsequently registered under the name of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard of South Australia Incorporated, after sufficient by-laws had been drawn up to ensure unity with the National Body.

Registration of the Association to this date being effected in the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.
1971 - QF10 Mossman, QF11 Yeppoon, QF7 Mackay, were being established.

QF10 Mossman/Port Douglas was established in 1971, the area of responsibility being north to Cape Tribulation and south to White Cliffs. Their Charter was presented by National Commodore Fred Lee in 1973. The headquarters building was opened in 1978.

QF11 Yeppoon area served is from Capricorn Coast north to Broadsound and south to Cape Capricorn. National Commodore Fred Lee presented their Charter in 1973.
20 Mar 1971 Copies of the Constitution were formally presented to the National Board and it was agreed that these be sold at $1 each, proceeds being placed in a special fund to be used for further publications.
9th Jul 1971 Commodore W. Henry submitted Training Orders and Rating Orders. Bound copies were $1 per copy.

Consideration was to be given to the formation of a northern Division in Queensland. N. Miles was to be appointed Senior Flotilla Leader for Flotillas formed north of and including Mackay.
15th Apr 1972 The North Queensland Squadron was formed on 15th April 1972, its area of responsibility extends from Cape Bowling Green, 25 nautical miles south of Townsville and along the Australian mainline Coast Line to Skardon River in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Squadron is now comprised of ten operational Flotillas The Squadron received its Charter on 15th November 1975 signed by National Commodore Fred Lee.
Jun 1972 QF14 Ingham Ingham, situated 110kms north of Townsville and 29kms from the mouth of the Herbert River was named after William Bairstow Ingham an entrepreneur who took up a Sugar Plantation known as "Ings" in 1874. The first meeting for Coast Guard Ingham was held in June 1972 at the Victoria Hotel in Ingham. Meetings continued to be held at various hotels until the Coast Guard Base at Lucinda was officially opened on 10th June 1978. On 7th December 1974 the Ingham Flotilla commenced radio watch with radios temporarily housed at the Chapman's residence at Lucinda until the Coast Guard Base was completed. The area of operation is north to Ramsey Bay, Hinchinbrook Island and south to Great Palm Island. A Charter of Operations signed by National Commodore Fred Lee and State Commodore Norm Miles was granted to QF14 Ingham on 6th September 1974.
The first Rescue Vessel "Jaycees 1" was launched at the Taylors Beach boat ramp on 21st February 1976, and was replaced on 12th December 1982 by a 28foot Power Cat "Jaycees 11" powered by 2 x 200HP Mercury Outboards. In November 1999 a third vessel " Snow Stafford" was purchased.
The Flotilla received a Citation and Commodore's Gold Award on 26th November 1977 for the rescue of the racing yacht "Odessey", conducted during Cyclone Wato Rea (27th April 1976). During the operation which lasted eleven hours, the superstructure of " Jaycees 1" suffered severe damage.
19th Aug 1972 At the National Board meeting held at Southport, it was authorised that a complete record of all members' personal particulars and qualifications should be completed. A sample record sheet was distributed
(AVCGA Membership Card)

Commodore Les Swift, Victoria Squadron was granted Life Membership of the Association.
8th Nov 1972 QF2 Brisbane (Manly) The inaugural meeting was held on 8th November 1972 with nine members in attendance. Bert Macchion was elected Commander and Len Young as Vice Commander.
The Flotilla first operated from a caravan along the foreshores of Waterloo Bay, Manly. The pontoon consisted of two 44- gallon drums tied together with two painter's planks as a walkway and a makeshift handrail. Land was offered to the Flotilla on Manly Harbour. In 1975 a timber shack was donated to the Flotilla and on weekends 12v batteries were used to run the light and the two radios, as CB radios had just come on the market. The Flotilla, registered as Brisbane Coast Guard received its Charter signed by National Commodore J. Arnott and State Commodore M. Sivyer, 13th November 1973 Seven years later the Flotilla headquarters at Manly Boat Harbour was officially opened by the then Premier of Queensland Sir Lew Edwards on 6th October 1979.

As the result of a deal struck with Len Field (a designer/builder of Hydrofield boats) that if members of QF2 were to supply the labour to construct the factory he needed to produce his product, he would in return for their voluntary labour, supply the first 20'6" Hydrofield hull free of charge. This was the first vessel QF2 was to own and was powered by 2 x 105hp Chrysler motors. In 1979 CG1, an 18tf Sharkcat with 2 x 140hp Chrysler Chargers was purchased. Shortly after a 20ft Crowncraft built by Dick Yowe ( a long serving member and Commander of QF2 for many years) was purchased as a second back up vessel and dive boat. Mid 1980 a 26ft Cougar Cat, CG 11 was bought.
In 1997 CG1 was replaced with a 32ft Cougar Cat which was fitted with an infrared night vision camera. In 1999 CG11 was sold and replaced with a 32ft aluminum cat and was replaced in 2004 with a 26ft Sharkcat. A 6.0m Rigid inflatable named CG22 - RL.Yowe was purchased for use by advanced crew members with NTO410 qualifications.
Jul 1973 QF3 Redcliffe . QF3 was a flotilla in formation as early as 21st August 1971 but it was not until July 1973 that several community minded people met to consider forming a Coast Guard Unit similar to those operating in other areas. as a result of a boating accident off Scarborough in Moreton Bay, Queensland,, during the Easter holidays 19973 where some lives were lost The efficient organisation and services provided by the Coast Guard in other areas had been recognized.
The inaugural meeting of QF3 Redcliffe was held on 30th July 1973 at the Scarborough Marine Centre and was chaired by Flotilla Leader L. Maccion of QF2 Brisbane. Elections were held with Mr. G. Sorley being elected Flotilla Leader, R. Lennox elected Senior Vice Leader, and I. Fien, Staff Officer. The first membership application was received from Mr. S. Youitt and the membership fee was set at $10. The Flotilla operated out of a caravan until the Base and Operations Centre was completed and officially opened on 1st May 1983 by Mr. Terry White, Minister for Welfare Services in Queensland. The first Flotilla owned rescue vessel was a Nova 1700, complete with 115hp motor for a cost of $3600 officially launched on 7th December 1976. The Flotilla received its Charter signed by National Commodore F. Lee and State Commodore Reg Leigh Smith on 27th November 1974.
In August 1991 members began the construction of their new rescue vessel at the Hydrofield factory under the supervision of Mr. Len Field. After 3,978 voluntary man-hours the Hydrofield vessel powered by three outboard motors was launched on 19th July 1992. The purchase of a new rescue vessel "Redcliffe Leagues" proved to be a disaster as it was not built to correct specifications and a legal battle ensued. This was finally resolved in 2004.
9th Oct 1973 QF15 Innisfail came into being when the Johnstone Shire Council Chairman, the late E.H. Webb called a public meeting on 11th August 1973 where it was resolved to form a boat safety organisation . QF15 Innisfail was formed in October 1973 with George Horsford being the first Commander. QF15 covers an area south to Clump Point and north to the Mulgrave River.
Initially radio watches were manned from members own flotilla auxiliary vessels parked on the harbour foreshore. A disused 'white ant eaten' shack was transported to land at Mourilyan Harbour which had been granted by the Department of Harbour and Marines. The shack was practically demolished by members to allow alterations and renovations to render the building functional. The building commenced operational use in April 1974, power being supplied by batteries until electricity was connected in March 1975.
The first rescue vessel 'Coastguard 15" a 24ft aluminium De Haviland with twin 115hp Evinrude motors costing $15,000. was purchased in August 1975. The vessel was blessed and commissioned on the same day as the Flotilla received its colours and official Charter signed by National Commodore J. Arnott and State Commodore N. Miles, on 28th September 1975.

A building committee chaired by George Horsford commenced construction of a new headquarters in January 1982 which was officially opened by the then Premier of Queensland, The Honourable Mr. J. Bjelke-Petersen on the 27th November 1982. In October 1979 the first vessel was replaced with "The Spirit of Innisfail"an 8.2m Juguar Hydrofield with 200hp Mercury outboards. This vessel was replaced with a 34ft Randell, "Spirit of Innisfail 11" in January 1987. The current vessel "Just Laray" a 45ft Randell West Coaster powered by a 385hp Volvo diesel engine was Commissioned by Commodore Graham Clarke in January 1992. A 5m RIB Swift vessel "The Zap" powered by a 80hp Yamaha is used for inshore and river rescues.

In October 2003, QF15 Innisfail celebrated its 30th anniversary.

NOTE: A full thirty-year (30) History of QF15 Innisfail is included in the Documents referred to in the History of AVCGA folder.
Dec 1973 QF4 Caloundra: Following a public meeting organized by the APEX Club, QF4 Caloundra became part of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association in December 1973. National Commodore Fred Lee presented its Charter on 28th November 1974. Flotilla Leader was Mr. Les Wolfe. Members' vessels were used in the beginning and the Flotilla operated from a "ramshackle" shed on their proposed site at Tripcony Park. The Flotilla Jet Boat "Lady Byrne" was launched on 24th July 1977 and was replaced with a new Shark Cat on 14th December 1980.
The State Governor, Sir James Ramsay on 9th February 1985, officially opened the headquarters building.
13th Feb 1974 Mr. Jim Dickie, President of Crown Control Corp. USA presented to the New South Wales Squadron their first owned vessel, a 21ft Swiftcraft, equipped to a high standard with safety and medical equipment. The vessel was named "Eileen Dickie" after our benefactor's wife who performed the christening ceremony at the RMYC Rose. Bay. The vessel was more usually known as the "Crown Water Ambulance" or "CG18" and was initially fitted out and operated by the Port Jackson Flotilla.
14th May 1974 National Board approved the set up of a Cadet Unit at QF1 Southport and controlled by a set of By-Laws.
Mar 1974 Fred Lee became National Commodore 1974 to 1976.
1974 QF5 Noosa was formed at the end of 1974 and together with QF4 Caloundra were designated the Sunshine Coast Division. The first Flotilla Leader was Mr. Ashley Booth.
27th Jul 1974 Les Swift produced a Guide to Administration.
27th Jul 1974 Commodore Les Swift printed the first edition of the Members Guide and the second edition was printed in January 1977. The preface read, " In setting out this "Members Guide" I have endeavoured to project to the reader, the original intention of the AVCGA founders. In this regard I am deeply indebted to Past National Commodore E. S. Madden for the instruction received at his hand and for his copious notes.
Every effort has been made to include those changes that have either received general acceptance or been written into the Constitution as amendments.
It is not intended that this guide should take the place of the Constitution and if there is a variance, the Constitution must always take precedents, however I have exercised all the care possible to avoid this state of affairs."
(Signed) L. J. Swift, Past National Commodore.
10th Nov 1974 NF4 received its Charter.
2nd Dec 1974 Sir Henry Winneke K.C.V.O., K.C.M.G., O.B.E., K.StJ., QC. Governor of Victoria accepted the office of Honorary Commodore of the Victorian Squadron.
16th Mar 1975 A move was made by National Board to register the Association as a Foreign Company in Tasmania and Western Australia.
5th Jul 1975 QF17 Tin Can Bay. Following the formation of QF5 Noosa Flotilla and the rapidly increase in boating in the area, it became obvious that there was a need for some form of voluntary organisation trained in rescue and patrol to cover the vast area of waterways of Wide Bay, north of Tin Can Bay and the southern end of Sandy Straits. With administration and training assurance from the newly formed QF5 Noosa Flotilla a public meeting was held on 5th July 1975 with thirty-five enthusiastic boating people attending and Tin Can Bay became a section of Noosa with R.A. Watson the section leader. The first general meeting of the section was held on 22nd July 1975 with seventeen members in attendance. QF17 became a Flotilla in its own right on 6th July 1976 with 39 members who used their own boats and equipment. The Flotilla received its AVCGA State Charter presented by Captain B. Coghlan on 6th July 1976

A caravan was purchased in 1978 as a mobile base and was towed to Norman Point by the duty crews when required. A lease was obtained for the land at Norman Point and a brick headquarters building was officially opened by the local member, Mr. L. Stephan MLA for Gympie on 10th June 1982. The first rescue vessel "Trojan" a 21ft Dehavilland mono hull was purchased from Noosa. In July 1986 a new twin hull vessel with twin 90hp Johnson motors, "Suntel" was commissioned. During 1990 the additions of an extra storey for the building were made providing a more extensive radio room, sleeping quarters for duty crew, a meeting room and storage.
(Refer to a condensed history of QF17 Tin Can Bay in attachments to history folder).
20th Jul 1975 Cadets and C-Gals may be adopted as an adjunct to each and every Flotilla in the Organisation with the sanction of the Squadron Board.
25th Jul 1975 A National Fund Raising Office be established controlled by a National Fund Raising Chairman. (Resolution 25)

A Queensland Division is to be initiated.

The formation of the Sunshine Coast Division is to be ratified.

Mr. E. Walters was empowered to register Business Names in Queensland to protect the name AVCG being wrongly represented.
15th Nov. 1975 New South Wales registered as a Foreign Company and registered under the Charitable Collection Act.
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