Shoalhaven Marine Rescue Association’s annual raffle is about to comence with tickets about to go on sale this coming October Long Weekend. With the prizes exceeding $10,000.00 this years raffle is our best raffle yet. With tickets on sale at $1.00 each or six for $5.00 you won’t get better value. To buy your tickets, get additional books or volunteer your time to help sell tickets, contact us on 4447 4466 or email us at smra@smra.com.au.

Pictured is this years first prize:a 3.7 metre Sea Jay punt on a Dunbier trailer powered by the ever popular Johnson outboard motor.

On Thursday evening 27 September 07 volunteers from Shoalhaven Marine Rescue Association conducted a flare training exercise at “The Pilot Station” at Crookhaven Heads and in the Tasman Sea off Shoalhaven Heads. Various types of marine distress flares were demonstrated with volunteers getting the rare opportunity to view distress flares in use. Prior planning for the exercise included not only a safety assessment but also contacting all of the local emergency service organisations to forewarn them of the activity. Pictured below are views of different types of distress flares in use and “The Pilot Station” bathed in the eerie glow of the flares.

The 2007 Annual General Meeting of the Shoalhaven Marine Rescue Association was held at Greenwell Point at 1300hrs on Saturday 01 September 2007. The following members were elected to the Committee of the Association:

President: Bill Carter
Vice President: Peter Taylor
Secretary: Jackie Parry
Treasurer: Terry Watson
Committee: Paul Klausen, Tony Fowler, Dannielle Innes-Wills & Brian Willgoose.

Three Association members were made life members, they are:
Michael Ball
Barry Branton
Bill Carter

The S.M.R.A. would like to thank all of those who attended the A.G.M. and also those who provide their continued support and assistance. For a copy of the Associations President’s Report for 2007 please click on the link below.

2007-presidents-report-agm.pdf

Around 0850hrs on Saturday 1 September 2007 Shoalhaven Marine Rescue Associations rescue vessel SA-24 is responded from Greenwell Point after Police receive a distress call from a disabled fishing vessel “Tramp” which is broken down about 300 metres from Point Perpendicular near the entrance to Jervis Bay with three people aboard. SA-24 travels over 14 nautical miles through heavy swells, at times as large as 5 metres, to reach the stricken vessel which although anchored is slowly being pushed by the southerly swell toward the cliffs underneath the Point Perpendicular lighthouse. Two smaller fishing boats stand by the vessel, a 9 metre nine and half ton timber trawler, ready to remove the crew as it gets closer to being wrecked on the rocks. Police and ambulance personnel attend the lighthouse but can only watch from the heights as the vessel is slowly pushed toward land, SA-24 arrives and despite the rough conditions is able to quickly pass a towline and tow the trawler which by now is only 100 metres offshore. The vessel is eventually towed to the Huskisson wharf for repairs. The owner of the vessel, a male from Yass is treated by NSW Ambulance personnel for minor injuries received when he was thrown against the cabin of his vessel, the other two males aboard are uninjured. The vessel was on a voyage from Greenwell Point to Batemans Bay. A Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter was responded by AUSSAR after an EPIRB from the stricken vessel was activated and then lost at sea, the helicopter searched for about an hour in attempt to locate the missing active distress beacon without result.

Pictured: The disabled vessel “Tramp” undertow in the calmer waters of Jervis Bay & with SA-24 alongside Huskisson wharf.