By Margaret Maccoll
The Noosa Coast Guard Memorial Wall faces a beautiful stretch of the Noosa River, facing forever out to sea and contains plaques with the names of more than 20 people.
Some have been lost at sea, some were lovers of the sea or, such as in the case of a three-year-old girl, are there to be remembered.
For the first time on Wednesday 14 June at 11am a celebration of the lives of these people will be held to coincide with the second anniversary of the consecration of the memorial wall.
Noosa Coast Guard spokesman David Gillies said it was a fitting place for the wall alongside the volunteer service where potential life and death situations were faced every day.
It is saving lives that dominate the work of volunteers who monitor four to five radio frequencies 24 hours a day and are on call to rescue those in trouble in all types of weather conditions.
David said people were often ill-prepared for their boating excursions.
“Our most common call out is to people who have run out of petrol followed by electrical or mechanical problems,” he said. “Occasionally it’s for something much more serious.
“You’ve never seen anyone more grateful than when you’ve pulled them out of the water,“ he said.
The Noosa service comprises two rescue vessels, and is on a deadline to raise $1.2 million in five years to purchase a replacement boat for their ageing vessel.
They have raised $250,000 in the past two years through the sale of plaques, taking families out to spread the ashes of loved ones at sea, as well as raffles.
To attend the memorial wall service, phone 5474 3695 by 7 June.
