By Alesha Capone
Volunteers from the Werribee Coast Guard have been busy rescuing sinking sailors and flailing fishermen this summer.
The Werribee chapter of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (also known as VF10, or Victorian Flotilla 10) provides marine search and rescue services to part of Port Phillip Bay, which includes responding to calls from Water Police.
Flotilla commander Bruce Lawrence described the Christmas and New Year period as “hectic” for volunteers, with some crew members putting in up to 20 hours a week.
He said the volunteers had been called out to one or two jobs on most Saturdays and Sundays, plus more during the week.
Just one call-out can involve the VF10 boat travelling hundreds of kilometres and spending hours on the water.
Mr Lawrence said during the holiday period, the boat had travelled 100 “engine hours”, which is equal to the distance most boats cover in 12 to 18 months.
He said during December and early January, the Werribee Coast Guard had assisted about 40 people.
Recent jobs involved the crew towing a yacht from Geelong to Williamstown, another involved rescuing a fisherman who found himself in peril near Geelong.
“There was one boat that lost its engine, which we had to tow all the way to Williamstown,” Mr Lawrence said.
He said the volunteers raised about a third of their funding every year, about $10,000 to $15,000, through fundraising and sponsorship to keep the VF10 afloat.
Details: www.coastguard.com.au
