PROFILE
Captain Connie Laurie
QF7 REDLAND BAY
Connie was born in the “Rum” town of Beenleigh, Queensland and commenced her education at the Beenleigh State School, then East Brisbane State School and finally at Yeronga State School. Having passed what was then known as the “Scholarship” examination attended the State Commercial High School in Brisbane learning secretarial work.
Her parents were very keen boating and fishing people and from a very early age she was introduced to boating and the waterways of Moreton Bay, more particularly around Jumpinpin Area. Pandanas Island, then known as Fisherman Island was where their tents were always pitched. They had their own jetty to tie up the boat. In those days there were no beacons to mark the channels and many were the times when the boat had to be bumped over the sandbanks because of changing sands.- there was no Coast Guard in those days to render assistance. Her love of the water has not diminished.
Sport, including tennis and vigaro was an important part of her life, more so than schooling. She excelled in tennis and her one ambition was to play at Wimbledon and having won championships at school was invited to play at the old Milton Tennis Courts in Brisbane and be professionally coached.
Unfortunately War intervened and the family moved to Cairns where she completed her schooling at the Cairns High School. Tennis was still a high priority and having won all the minor championships in club competitions at the age of 14 went on to play major grade club tennis. She also represented Queensland as Vice Captain of the vigaro team.
Her first encounter with Coast Guard was when Allan motored their vessel from Sydney across the old Southport Bar and requested assistance from QF1 Southport for the crossing. Allan became a member of QF1 in 1979 and a year later Connie decided to join.
Going back to studies for Basic Seamanship, Radio and Navigation after so long away from school was a bit daunting but she took each course in her stride. At present she holds the old ration of “Coxswain”, was a Leading Instructor and is an Invigilator with the Australian Communications Authority.
Activities within the Flotilla consisted of Radio Operating and training of operators, fundraising where you stood at the traffic lights and “rattled the buckets” as well as Boat Shows etc., and Secretarial duties. Positions held within the Flotilla included that of General and Executive Minute Secretary for three years and Flotilla Purser for two years, and Radio Lecturer
In 1983 Connie was invited to join the South Queensland Squadron Board as Minute Secretary (Squadron Commodore was Peter Toms). In May 1987 she was appointed Squadron Staff Captain (Squadron Commodore was Bill Malcolm) a position she held until December 2002. She also worked with Rear Commodore Wallace as his assistant taking minutes and records etc. From 1990 to 1997 she was Minute Secretary for the AVCGA Queensland State Council and also acted as Records and Librarian for the Academic Board for the State Council.
Connie considers her greatest achievements have been working with National Board, firstly working as National Staff Captain (Training Staff) with the late NATCO Bill Henry for nine years and secondly when Commodore Clarke appointed her National Minute Secretary in 1992, a position she still holds working under National Commodore Gillett. Meeting all the Commodores at the National Board meetings has been a memorable experience.
She has attended every National Board meeting since 1987 and never missed a Squadron Board meeting while she was Squadron Staff Captain.
In 1999, both Connie and Allan transferred membership from QF1 Southport to QF7 Redland Bay and are still members of QF7. She holds the ten, twenty and twenty five year continuous service awards, the National Medal and Clasp and the International Year of the Volunteer Medal.
In October 2003, Connie accepted the position of National Archivist and has been compiling the History of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association Inc., a job which has given her great pleasure. The History, as well as photographs can now be viewed on the Coast Guard Web Site