Keeping Community Safe: Geelong Coast Guard celebrate 60 years

THE City of Greater Geelong council has hosted a civic reception to celebrate the Geelong Coast Guard’s 60 year of volunteer service to the local community.

Held at the end of last month at City Hall, the event brought local volunteers together to toast six decades of marine search and rescue operations across Corio and Port Phillip Bays.

In recognition of their 60 years of service, the squadron administration commodore Ian Graham accepted a gift and certificate of appreciation from Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan on behalf of the team.

Cr Sullivan said council was incredibly thankful for the Geelong Coast Guard’s efforts to make aquatic activity safe.

“The Geelong Coast Guard has provided tireless service, invaluable skills and often life-changing support to our local community over the past six decades.

“Our civic reception was about recognising the sacrifices these volunteers make to ensure people have help when they need it the most.

“Volunteers make emergency search and rescue callouts in the middle of the night, work on weekends and public holidays, and keep irregular and demanding hours.

“The Geelong Coast Guard is always on hand to support the community, Council, event organisers and the cruise ship industry and for that, we are incredibly grateful.”

Australian Volunteer Coast Guard member David McGowan said the group had shown incredible passion to keeping aquatic users safe for the last 60 years.

“I’ve been a member of the Geelong Coast Guard for a number of years and I encourage local community members interested in volunteering to make contact.

“We have a pretty low profile but we actually maintain a 24/7 response service and work closely with the Water Police, who often rely on us as first responders for boats in distress.

“We’ll train you, so you don’t need to have any boating experience, and aside from meeting other great volunteers and learning seamanship skills, you’ll make a real difference in the community.”

For those interested in finding out more, head to coastguard.com.au