Formation
of the Gippsland Squadron
At the October 2007 Victorian Squadron Board Meeting, convened at the Morwell CFA Station, the motion to form a Squadron in Gippsland was unanimously accepted. So what does this mean for Flotilla’s in Gippsland?
Well first and foremost it is business as usual. We must ensure that each and every Flotilla remains the focal point of the organization, and ensure that every single activity, no matter how menial, continues to be carried out in accordance with our usual high standard of operation; i.e. properly planned, scheduled and reviewed
The new Squadron has not been formed to take over the duties of Flotillas, but to reflect, and in particular support, the unique position we have achieved in Gippsland by bringing together hitherto independent rescue organisations as Coast Guard Flotillas, with support services from CFA, providing a single and very powerful voice covering all of Gipplsland.
Let me illustrate our vastly improved potential to operate more effectively and efficiently by citing an example where things did not go according to plan.
One Saturday morning in early September 2006, I arrived at the Port Albert headquarters at 0800 sharp to commence duty. No sooner had I taken my first step out of the car when I was greeted by the duty radio operator, Kevin, who after a very quick ‘g’day’, informed me of our first task for the day.
“A 6 metre power boat has become disabled at the McLaughlin's Bar – hit by a large breaker – a youngster onboard has suspected head injuries from debris dislodged by the initial impact, and Helimed 1(Air ambulance) is grounded by fog!”
Fuelled by adrenalin, our response was swift - boat shed doors opened, wheel chocks removed, Kevin moved to the tractor and I positioned myself nearby to act as sentry to passing vehicles and pedestrians.
The excitement of the moment all of a sudden evaporated as we heard a repetitive clicking of a solenoid from under the hood of the tow vehicle. Despite “pleas” to all religious denominations, the tractor’s compression ignition engine refused to fire.
Realisation of our inability to respond quickly created a mood of utter despair tantamount to those on the boat in trouble, whose distress would now be prolonged as a direct result of our failure.
This example is every Coxswain’s nightmare, not being able to respond when called to assist a vessel and crew in distress – our very reason for being! So how could having a Squadron Board prevent this from happening in the future?
Quite frankly, there is little that could have been done to have avoided this particular situation. Battery failure was the root cause of failure, something that preventative maintenance could have predicted and actioned.
However, due to a lack of member resources, this did not happen.
What the Gippsland Squadron will achieve is to provide a central communication channel to share all issues of concern. I’m not talking about radio frequency communications, but rather a forum where ideas can be debated, advice solicited, and strategies reviewed.
We have been working together in Gippsland now as a single entity for nearly three years. During this time I have become aware of many constraints that Flotillas deal with in order to remain operational. Some are unique to a particular region, e.g. a small population and the consequential recruiting restrictions. We also struggle to raise funds in competition with other worthy charities for our needs and also to match Federal and State Grant contributions.
As long as each Flotilla remains focused on maintaining its operational role, and collectively in Gippsland we report our effort as a single entity, over time our contribution will be recognised and rewarded accordingly.
Large corporations today are looking for worthy causes to support, as part of their corporate social responsibility. To be attractive to these organizations, we need to be seen as a marketable trade mark so that they, in some small way, can derive some benefit from this support. Amalgamation of independent rescue units certainly enables us to achieve this image.
In the short period that we have been working together in Gipplsand we have received recognition from a few different organisations within the marine fraternity, namely Marine Safety Victoria, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Telstra.
At the October 2007 Victorian Squadron Board Meeting, convened at the Morwell CFA Station, the motion to form a Squadron in Gippsland was unanimously accepted. So what does this mean for Flotilla’s in Gippsland?
Well first and foremost it is business as usual. We must ensure that each and every Flotilla remains the focal point of the organization, and ensure that every single activity, no matter how menial, continues to be carried out in accordance with our usual high standard of operation; i.e. properly planned, scheduled and reviewed
The new Squadron has not been formed to take over the duties of Flotillas, but to reflect, and in particular support, the unique position we have achieved in Gippsland by bringing together hitherto independent rescue organisations as Coast Guard Flotillas, with support services from CFA, providing a single and very powerful voice covering all of Gipplsland.
Let me illustrate our vastly improved potential to operate more effectively and efficiently by citing an example where things did not go according to plan.
One Saturday morning in early September 2006, I arrived at the Port Albert headquarters at 0800 sharp to commence duty. No sooner had I taken my first step out of the car when I was greeted by the duty radio operator, Kevin, who after a very quick ‘g’day’, informed me of our first task for the day.
“A 6 metre power boat has become disabled at the McLaughlin's Bar – hit by a large breaker – a youngster onboard has suspected head injuries from debris dislodged by the initial impact, and Helimed 1(Air ambulance) is grounded by fog!”
Fuelled by adrenalin, our response was swift - boat shed doors opened, wheel chocks removed, Kevin moved to the tractor and I positioned myself nearby to act as sentry to passing vehicles and pedestrians.
The excitement of the moment all of a sudden evaporated as we heard a repetitive clicking of a solenoid from under the hood of the tow vehicle. Despite “pleas” to all religious denominations, the tractor’s compression ignition engine refused to fire.
Realisation of our inability to respond quickly created a mood of utter despair tantamount to those on the boat in trouble, whose distress would now be prolonged as a direct result of our failure.
This example is every Coxswain’s nightmare, not being able to respond when called to assist a vessel and crew in distress – our very reason for being! So how could having a Squadron Board prevent this from happening in the future?
Quite frankly, there is little that could have been done to have avoided this particular situation. Battery failure was the root cause of failure, something that preventative maintenance could have predicted and actioned.
However, due to a lack of member resources, this did not happen.
What the Gippsland Squadron will achieve is to provide a central communication channel to share all issues of concern. I’m not talking about radio frequency communications, but rather a forum where ideas can be debated, advice solicited, and strategies reviewed.
We have been working together in Gippsland now as a single entity for nearly three years. During this time I have become aware of many constraints that Flotillas deal with in order to remain operational. Some are unique to a particular region, e.g. a small population and the consequential recruiting restrictions. We also struggle to raise funds in competition with other worthy charities for our needs and also to match Federal and State Grant contributions.
As long as each Flotilla remains focused on maintaining its operational role, and collectively in Gippsland we report our effort as a single entity, over time our contribution will be recognised and rewarded accordingly.
Large corporations today are looking for worthy causes to support, as part of their corporate social responsibility. To be attractive to these organizations, we need to be seen as a marketable trade mark so that they, in some small way, can derive some benefit from this support. Amalgamation of independent rescue units certainly enables us to achieve this image.
In the short period that we have been working together in Gipplsand we have received recognition from a few different organisations within the marine fraternity, namely Marine Safety Victoria, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Telstra.
The following
is a note from Ms Lisa Faldon, Manager Strategic Projects, Marine Safety
Victoria, after her department became aware of an article which appeared
in the Yarram Standard, October 2007.
I have read with interest in the Yarram Standard News the account of your activities on the night of October 23, 2007.....congratulations to you all on effective rescues under what sounded to be very trying conditions. This story is of great interest for a number of reasons, it displays not only the excellent work by your flotilla, but also the terrific co-operation between yourselves and Life Saving, and also the contribution the repeater network is making to marine safety. You will recall that we issue a regular newsletter to our stakeholders, and I will suggest that your rescue might make a good feature article for this publication. In addition, I will draw the Minister’s attention to this article and what it demonstrates in our regular fortnightly briefing to him.
Recognition of this kind achieves more than just a ‘a pat on the back’, it also confirms that our efforts are consistent with the Government’s strategic objectives, and as such, is therefore more likely to gain a meaningful share of Government funding for this purpose.
With such Government support based on the requisite detailed application process, we are also more likely to be seen to be worthy of receiving corporate philanthropic support.
Marine Safety Victoria have implemented a number of crucial initiatives since 2003 in order to keep operators safe on our waterways. Our job is to ensure that we are able to respond to those that slip through this safety net.
I have read with interest in the Yarram Standard News the account of your activities on the night of October 23, 2007.....congratulations to you all on effective rescues under what sounded to be very trying conditions. This story is of great interest for a number of reasons, it displays not only the excellent work by your flotilla, but also the terrific co-operation between yourselves and Life Saving, and also the contribution the repeater network is making to marine safety. You will recall that we issue a regular newsletter to our stakeholders, and I will suggest that your rescue might make a good feature article for this publication. In addition, I will draw the Minister’s attention to this article and what it demonstrates in our regular fortnightly briefing to him.
Recognition of this kind achieves more than just a ‘a pat on the back’, it also confirms that our efforts are consistent with the Government’s strategic objectives, and as such, is therefore more likely to gain a meaningful share of Government funding for this purpose.
With such Government support based on the requisite detailed application process, we are also more likely to be seen to be worthy of receiving corporate philanthropic support.
Marine Safety Victoria have implemented a number of crucial initiatives since 2003 in order to keep operators safe on our waterways. Our job is to ensure that we are able to respond to those that slip through this safety net.