Volunteer Marine Rescue Mackay Incorporated (‘VMR Mackay’)

Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors believe that it is important to recognise our clients who have provided and continue to provide volunteer services to our community. Given that Christmas is upon us and that, for many, this means holidays, getting out in the boat and wetting a line, we felt that it was timely to pay tribute to, and acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and life-saving services provided by VMR Mackay.

For those readers who are unfamiliar, VMR Mackay provides radio monitoring and marine search and rescue services for boaties in the Mackay region. VMR Mackay covers an area from Midge Point in the north to Shoalwater Bay in the south and as far east as the Outer Barrier Reef, some 42,000 square kilometres. For an organisation made up entirely of volunteers this is a truly immense area and a huge undertaking.

VMR Mackay’s clubhouse is located at the Mackay Marina and this is where the radio monitoring is carried out. The base also house one of two rescue vessels in the fleet. VMR Mackay currently has a 6.5 metre rigid inflatable boat (RIB) which is used for fast response coastal rescues and can be towed to a departure location closest to any vessel or person in distress.

The second rescue vessel in the fleet is an 11.5 metre fibreglass monohull vessel used for offshore rescues and the towing of larger vessels. This vessel is berthed in the Mackay Marina.

The demand for VMR Mackay’s rescue services cannot be underestimated. Up to the end of October this year, VMR Mackay had carried out 70 marine activations ranging from emergency distress missions to mechanical problems to medical evacuations and to vessels that are lost at sea or requiring assistance into the Mackay Marina. VMR Mackay’s statistics shows that 60% of those rescued are not members. As part of membership, VMR Mackay offers significant cost savings for members in the instance that they require assistance.

There are currently approximately 1600 members of VMR Mackay. There are 9 Skippers of the rescue vessels with 33 qualified crew members. VMR Mackay is always seeking assistance in relation to Radio Monitoring. There are approximately 30 volunteers who assist with monitoring over weekends but only six volunteers who are able to assist from Monday to Friday. VMR Mackay urgently needs Radio Monitoring volunteers available between Monday to Friday.

VMR Mackay has recently announced the purchase of a new 8.5 m fast response rigid inflatable boat (RIB) with a maximum speed of 50 knots (90 km/h). The finishing touches are currently occurring with delivery of the vessel expected in early February 2014.

Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors is proud to assist VMR Mackay as honorary solicitors. Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors congratulates VMR Mackay on the volunteer services they have provided to Mackay and District boaters this year and wishes them all the very best for the busy Christmas and New Year periods.

If any of our readers would like to become a member, VMR Mackay can be contacted via phone: 4955 5448 or via email: memmackay@vmraq.org.au or drop into the base club house at the Marina between 8am and 6pm.