Ezilend Sponsors Volunteer Marine Rescue Whitsundays
Volunteer Marine Rescue Whitsunday (VMRW) is a squadron of Marine Rescue Queensland whose primary objective is to SAVE LIVES AT SEA. “We provide marine search and rescue services to the boating public and island communities on a volunteer basis,” said VMRW President, Mal Priday. “Funding support for Marine Rescue organisations is vital. The costs of maintaining, operating and providing assistance to the boating and island communities – not just in the Whitsundays, but nationwide – continue to increase year-on-year.”
Abundant coastlines and growing boat ownership
With our nation’s abundant coastline, flowing waterways and beautiful weather, recreational boating is one of the leading pastimes in Australia. In Queensland, registered boat ownership* sits at an incredible 264,000… and rising!
To support the great work of the Whitsunday’s Volunteer Marine Rescue, Ezilend have stepped up to the table and provided vital funding support.
Silver Sponsorship
Ezilend Managing Director, Jack Bradford, said: “Ezilend was happy to become a Silver sponsor and contribute vital funding for a 2-year period to enable the service and volunteers to continue their life-saving work.” Jack has recently moved into the region and, as a keen boatman, he is certainly enjoying the lifestyle of the Whitsundays. Boating safety is important to the team at Ezilend which is what makes this partnership a win-win.
The Volunteer Marine Rescue operation is run entirely by volunteers including boat crew, radio operators, management, fundraisers, trainers and performs an essential emergency service for boat owners in the greater Whitsunday region. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in local community organisations like the VMR, and these brave volunteers provide over 2000 man-hours a year saving lives. They are called on for assistance, on average, about 10 times a month for situations such as:
- tow assists
- search and rescues
- medical evacuations from boats and island resorts and camping areas,
- transfers of Queensland Ambulance, Queensland Fire and Rescue and also the Queensland Police Services to emergency situations.
The Volunteer Marine Rescue Whitsundays own and operate:
- two purpose-built Rescue vessels: an 11.9-metre NoosaCat for open waters, large vessels and Medivacs, supplemented with a 6.7-metre Naiad RHIB for smaller vessels and inshore assists; and
- two VHF radio stations on Hyman and Whitsunday Islands.
In addition to the life-saving duties, VMRW provide boating information for visitors, including access to safety information, radio and navigation support, tidal and weather observations.
If you are serious about getting into the water with a new boat and need access to fast, easy finance, give Jack’s team a call! 1300 850 447
