Jim Fagan
The move next year by the State Government to amalgamate Queensland Coast Guard and the Volunteer Marine Rescue Association doesn’t run up any flagpoles for salute by newly retired Commodore of the Sunshine Coast’s five flotillas, John Milland.
He said the new service would be called Marine Rescue Queensland and it would mean the end of the Coast Guard name.
“Some of our members are happy because they believe the government is going to give us our boats, our uniforms etc but the government is planning that fundraising will continue within flotillas.
“It might give us a boat or two, addressing capability. It might help us with essentials but the onus on us to go out and try to get money to keep going will still remain. It won’t be all beer and skittles.
“It will be a totally different organisation and what’s it going to achieve?
“We asked that question and we are told we would get a better infrastructure and capability. However, we’ve never failed to rescue or assist anyone where we have been activated.
“It will be end of our history, our heritage.”
John, who lives in Tewantin, hasn’t fully retired.
He is looking forward to continuing with “being on the boats and radio operator” with the Noosa squadron—the jobs he trained for when he joined 22 years ago.
He has been Commodore for six of those years, responsible for more than 500 volunteers servicing the boating and waterway communities in Noosa, Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Tin Can Bay and Sandy Straits.
John was an IT consultant before he and wife, Ann, came to Noosa in 2000.
He joined the Coast Guard as a radio operator (“I wanted to do something for the community”) worked on boats and was made Commander in 2011.
He is proud of the history of our local Coast Guard since it was founded in 1976.
“Some of our rescues have been satisfying because they have been so successful.
“In 2009 we were told that 36 children were trapped by rising floodwaters in Noosa Everglades and we were tasked by police and National Emergency Service to effect an emergency rescue.
“Peter Brady and Graham Deece skippered two boats to Harry’s Hut to rescue the children and both men were awarded the National Commodore’s Gold Award.
“Later in the day a cutter captained by Patrick Odore was sent to help the crew of the 14-metre yacht Ausmaid which had rolled after being battered by a 11-metre wave off Double Island Point.
“The yacht’s injured skipper was airlifted to safety and Patrick was also awarded with the Commodore’s Gold Award.”
John said he was particularly proud of the Memorial Wall at Coast Guard headquarters at Munna Point which to date has earned about $500,000 for the flotilla.
“I set it up during my time as Commander. For four years I dealt with various organisations like Noosa Council, Sunshine Coast Council, Unitywater and the National Parks people to find a site, eventually realising the solution was right here in our own lease.”
“It is a very visible sign of what we believe we should be doing with the community. The support we get helps us to do the job we do in the marine safety area. Our partnership with the community is very important to us.”
