YEARS of protecting people on the water have resulted in Doug Musker of Narrawallee being awarded the Emergency Services Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
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He is one of three people from the Milton Ulladulla region recognised in the honours list.
Mr Musker is a former Illawarra Regional Director on the Marine Rescue NSW Board and Unit Commander of Marine Rescue Ulladulla, of which he remains an active member.
He joined the Ulladulla Division of the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol - now Marine Rescue Ulladulla - in 2002.
He has served with distinction, ensuring the boating community is protected by a high-quality rescue service committed to saving lives on the water.
A qualified radio operator and coxswain, he has placed the safety of others above his own to return boaters at risk in hazardous conditions to safety.
Mr Musker has served his unit in a number of roles, including as a rescue crew member, radio operator, administration officer and the Unit Commander from 2007 until his retirement from the position in 2012, when he was elected as the Illawarra Regional Director on the MRNSW Board.
A former accountant and avid sailor, Mr Musker has applied his marine and professional skill and experience for the benefit of the unit, the boating community and MRNSW as an organisation.
With a commitment to training and skills development, Mr Musker recognised that all members involved in a rescue operation should be well trained and equipped to perform their roles safely and effectively.
Under his constructive and focused leadership, the Ulladulla unit replaced its ageing rescue vessel with its first new, purpose-designed vessel and expanded its unit headquarters to provide additional training, storage and member facilities.
Soon after this upgrade was completed, the unit’s base was destroyed by fire in October 2013.
Mr Musker has since worked with the unit executive and MRNSW headquarters to steer the construction of a new base and maintain members’ morale.
As a board member, Mr Musker played a thoughtful and rigorous role in setting the strategic direction of the organisation, again bringing financial and operational experetise to the task.
MRNSW Deputy Commissioner Dean Storey congratulated Mr Musker on the national recognition of their distinguished service.
“Our volunteers deserve the utmost admiration and respect for their contribution to saving lives on the water and improving boating safety,” he said.
“The willingness and commitment they show in fulfilling their vital roles, putting their own safety at risk in the most challenging conditions - such as those we saw during the fierce April storms here in NSW - are an example to all of the special qualities of our volunteers.
“They give up more of their time to attend regular training, conduct boating education courses in their local communities and raise essential funds.
“Our board members give even more of their time to provide strategic direction for Marine Rescue NSW.”