More than 60 years of volunteer marine rescue on the Gold Coast is entering a new chapter, as a proud local tradition continues through Marine Rescue Queensland Southport West.
For the Gold Coast community, it is both an ending and a beginning: the conclusion of an era under the former volunteer marine rescue organisations and the progression of a new statewide service.
For generations, the volunteers of Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA) Southport have kept a steady watch from their base at Marine Parade. From today, those same dedicated locals will don their new MRQ uniforms as they join the statewide service.
While the organisational structure is changing, the fundamental purpose remains unchanged – keeping people safe on Queensland’s waterways.
In welcoming the volunteers of MRQ Southport West into the fold, MRQ Chief Officer Tony Wulff paid tribute for the legacy of the unit.
“This transition is about honouring our past while preparing for the future. MRQ is defined by service to community, and that commitment remains at the centre of everything we do.”
Reflecting on the change, incoming MRQ Southport West Unit Commander David Tapsall said that marine rescue on the Gold Coast remains the story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things for others.
“I am proud of our crews who keep people safe at sea and the spirit they have shown as we embrace this new chapter with MRQ. The boats and the technology may have changed dramatically since the 1960s, but our commitment to helping people on the water has not”.
As MRQ Southport West begins this new chapter, it carries forward the experience, knowledge, and legacy of so many dedicated marine rescue volunteers.
As Mr Tapsall says, “More than 60 years of service does not end with a change of organisation. It becomes the foundation for the next generation”.
AVCGA National Commodore Matthew Semmens said the transition was another significant milestone in the changing face of marine rescue in Queensland.
“Southport holds a special place in AVCGA history as the first Coast Guard Flotilla established in Queensland. I sincerely thank every past and present member of QF1 Southport for what they have contributed to our organisation.
We are very proud of the Flotilla, and we wish their volunteers every success as they continue doing what they do best, serving their communities as part of Marine Rescue Queensland.”
About Coast Guard Southport
This Flotilla’s story began in 1965, when local community members recognised the need for an organised marine rescue service on the Gold Coast.
In 1967, QF1 Southport was established as a unit of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA). In 1969, QF1 Southport received its official Charter as part of the AVCGA.
From those beginnings, generations of local volunteers built a marine rescue service that became an important part of the Gold Coast community.
A major milestone came in 1979, with the opening of the flotilla’s headquarters. Over the decades, volunteers continued to develop the skills, local knowledge and experience needed to assist people on the Gold Coast waterways, the Broadwater, the Seaway and offshore waters.
Marine rescue has always been about more than responding to emergencies.
Volunteers have maintained radio watches, assisted boaters, conducted safety patrols, provided marine safety information and responded to vessels experiencing mechanical, navigational and other difficulties.
Behind that service are generations of men and women who have given their time, often for many years, while balancing family, employment and other commitments.
Their knowledge of local waterways, tides, currents, weather conditions and the challenges of the Seaway has been built through experience and passed from one generation to the next.
That knowledge remains one of the greatest legacies of Gold Coast volunteer marine rescue.
The transition does not end the connection between the volunteers and the Gold Coast community. Many of the same volunteers who have contributed to marine rescue over the years have established Marine Rescue Supporters Gold Coast Inc. (MRSGC), an independent not-for-profit community organisation established to support marine rescue volunteers and maintain the strong community connection that has existed for generations.
MRSGC provides an avenue for members of the community, businesses and other supporters to contribute to initiatives that benefit marine rescue volunteers and the work they undertake.
This creates a new model for the future, with MRQ Southport West delivering marine rescue, supported by a dedicated community organisation committed to the volunteers behind that service.
To find your local marine rescue unit visit mrq.qld.gov.au or call 131 MRQ (677).
In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000) or radio VHF 16.
One Coast. One Crew. One MRQ.
Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) is the first state-wide, State Government-funded volunteer marine rescue service dedicated to saving lives at sea and supporting those on or near the water
MRQ is part of Queensland Police Service, which is responsible for coordinating the state’s disaster and emergency services response – but MRQ is a separate service with its own identity, structure, governance and uniforms
Water safety tips:
- In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) or radio VHF 16
- For assistance or information call 131MRQ (131677)
- Log your journeys from start to finish
- Always wear your lifejacket
- Remember to pack sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat and water (two litres recommended per person)
- Check you have extra fuel
- Check the weather forecast before you leave
- Charge your phone and any other devices
- Tell family and friends where you are going
