If you fancy the tang of salt, like yourself in navy blue, and wouldn’t mind learning to pilot or crew a new boat, you may be interested in Ulladulla Marine Rescue’s call for volunteers.
Commander Dave Hall said the service is well down on its optimum numbers and would welcome new people “to come out and enjoy the ocean” in the company of the base’s 20 volunteers now aboard.
Mr Hall said it was a great way for recent retirees to stay active.
“We have a lot of fun out there as well as the serious side."
- Dave Hall
“We have a lot of fun out there as well as the serious side,” he said.
“Pay is not that good but the view is 360 degrees, up close with whales, dolphins, seals, penguins and sharks – it can be very exciting.”
Volunteering offers an enviable payoff though, in free training.
Base leadership staff train soon-to-be-ex-landlubbers at no charge in skills including long range radio, navigation, weather, sea survival, firefighting (general and on-board vessels), vessel maintenance and knot tying.
As further incentive, delivery is expected in the New Year of a new and fully decked-out replacement vessel for the Lewis Dunn, the shark cat that has served the base for almost the last decade.
The new boat will be a 7.5-metre ocean cylinder.
“We need plenty of new people, I would like 10, 15 would be fantastic,” Mr Hall said.
If you are willing to step off dry land, contact the commander at uc.ulladulla@marinerescuensw.com.au
