By Abbey Cannan
Not only did the Noosa Volunteer Coast Guard recently receive a seized vessel from Noosa Heads Police, but also a donation of $6500 from the Noosa Rotary Club.
Noosa Rotary Club joined members of the Coast Guard for a social barbecue on Wednesday 31 July to celebrate their donation to the group.
Rotary member Tessa Alexandroff said that the money would go towards the Rotary Rescue Boat which has been sponsored by the Club for six years.
Coast Guard Commander Ian Hutchings said that the Coast Guard was grateful for the consistent contribution from the Rotary Club.
“This money will help keep us afloat and keep our building standing,” Ian said.
Rotary member Jim Harpley said that the Coast Guard are a long standing beneficiary of the Club’s efforts.
“It’s great to be able to help an organisation like this that does so much for the community,” Jim said.
The donated vessel by Noosa Police was seized in January during a search of a Cooroibah property by Noosa Heads detectives.
A 51-year-old Cooroibah male was charged with multiple offences of Possess Tainted Property and Receiving Tainted Property and was sentenced to five months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months.
Skipper Odore from the Noosa Volunteer Coast Guard said the vessel would be utilised for training operations by the Coast Guard.
Police regularly donate items of seized property to different not for profit organisations. In recent months a seized mosquito fogging machine valued at over $3000 was donated to the Noosa Shire Council, hydroponics and lighting equipment utilised in drug production has been donated to local high school science departments along with many bicycles being donated to various community groups. All revenue received from the sale of seized items at auction goes into consolidated revenue for redistribution by the government.
Noosa Police have also destroyed dozens of seized firearms in recent months including semi-automatic pistols and high powered rifles. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug exhibits have also been conveyed to Brisbane where they are destroyed in large industrial furnaces.
