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........................................................NEWS & EVENTS |
| Coastguard
Arrives....
By WILL HINE - The Southland Times | Monday, 31
March 2008
New
Zealand
's newest
coastguard unit was officially launched on
Lake
Wakatipu
with a mock-rescue demonstration
in
Queenstown
Bay
on
Saturday.
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Two
floundering swimmers were plucked from the lake by a helicoptor and then
depositied into the waiting Coastguard vessel below.
The display provided about 70 invited guests and
dozens of bemused tourists with a tantalising glimpse of the new
search-and-rescue capability that the coastguard will bring to the
district.
Queenstown coastguard president Jay
Berriman said the introduction of the
dedicated rescue unit was overdue.
"The town's growing at such a rate. The amount of
people on the water over Easter was
incredible.
"This lake can get to eight degrees. In eight degrees
you won't last long. It's also 90km long and on days like today you
can get a 2m swell." Though the unit wouldbe on stand-by, it would
also actively patrol the lake during busy periods such as holidays,
Mr Berriman said.
Speaking at the launch, Queenstown Lakes District
Council Deputy Mayor John Wilson told some 70 guests about an
incident 45 years ago when he and nine friends got into trouble on
Lake Wanaka.
The group capsized in the middle of the lake at about
10pm and were in the water for 45 minutes waiting to be rescued, Mr
Wilson said.
"How we survived, God only knows." Mr Wilson said the
incident made him all the more appreciative of the coastguard's
arrival. |
To safety:
Floundering swimmers in
Lake
Wakatipu
being winched to safety
by a helicopter in a coastguard demonstration at
Queenstown
Bay
on
Saturday.
-
Will Hine, Southland Times
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| Coastguard Queenstown is officially
launced....
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An
exciting day was had by all on the 31st March 2008 in Queenstown for
the long awaited official launch of the new Queenstown Unit &
naming of ‘Queenstown
Rescue’. A mock-rescue demonstration added to the great atmosphere.
Coastguard
Reps from all over the
South
Island
attended and
were all impressed by what Queenstown have achieved in such a short
time. Everyone in Coastguard wishes the new Unit all the best for the
future.
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Anjie Rook of RNLI visits CSR....
11/02/2008
Angela Rook of RNLI has visited Coastguard Southern
Region.
Anjie
Rook who has joined the National Office Team for a 2 month secondment
from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, recently visited the
Southern Region. She has been keen to meet and talk with CNZ staff and
supporters while she is here as well as the volunteers in all the Regions.
She says "The RNLI has shown me how to really value those at the sharp end
of any organisation. It is where you can listen, learn and really work out
how best to support the common goal that everyone is aiming for - to save
even more lives at sea."
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Anjie
has worked for RNLI for 15 years in a variety of roles, mainly in planning
and project management, all based at HQ. Anjie joined the RNLI as their
Retail Operations Manager in 1993. After nine years she moved into
managing projects that span across the RNLI. In particular this has led to
the RNLI having a better support, communication and recognition programme
for the 40,000 volunteers that make up the RNLI.
Anjie
has recently started the introduction of a continuous improvement
programme that will help everyone to do things even better. International
activities are also part of her remit so if you ever visit the RNLI HQ you
will probably meet her.
While
here, Anjie and husband Kevin (pictured above), have visited Kaikoura and
gone out in Kaikoura Rescue, visited Waimak-Ashley, Sumner and
Canterbury, and toured
Banks
Peninsula
with CAP Canterbury. A highlight of their trip, they were very lucky the
predicted thunderstorms held off until after the
flight.
They have been impressed with the
friendliness, commitment and open attitude of everyone they have
met. Anjie and Kevin appreciate the hospitality shown and have really
enjoyed their
visit. |
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SOS Heroes Open Day
10/02/2008
It
was all action on Sunday as the Airforce Museum in
Wigram, Christchurch opened the gates for the SOS Heroes Open Day.
The first of it's kind, this event was designed to introduce the public to
the work the emergency services do. The theme was chosen to acknowledge
the volunteer and professional emergency service workers who often go
unrecognised. It was a chance for the community to come and see the people
and the equipment they use when we call them for help. Children and adults
were able to touch, climb over and explore the various vehicles, vessels
and planes used in rescue situations.
As
well as the static displays, there were audio visual presentations, and
live dynamic displays which included braking demonstrations, a 'mock
crash', fire appliance demonstrations and of course the spectacular RNZAF
Red Checkers flying display. All visitors had free entry into the Airforce
Museum.
Some of
the other services involved were St John, NZ Fire Service, NZ Police,
Customs, Civil Defence, Salvation Army, Mountain Safety, Womens Refuge,
Red Cross and many more.
Coastguard
was well represented with volunteers from
Canterbury
, Sumner, Waimak-Ashley, CAP
Canterbury, CSR, CBES and Maritime New Zealand. For the first time we were
able to put together a display which included a rescue vessel as well as a
rescue plane. These proved to be very popular all day long with kids
wanting to try them out. Also included were a knot tying area, a couple of
competitions and an exhibit on safety at sea.
The
winner of the gold coin competition was Shreeram Verulkar. The winner of
the jellybean competition was Christina Thompson. They have won a family
trip on one of the Coastguard rescue vessels.
The
whole event proved to be so successful that there is now talk of having it
again. |
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The morning
volunteers |
Checking out the
photos |
The competitions were
popular |
A future CSR
Skipper? |
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Learning about safety at
sea |
Knot
tying |
Count the jellybeans
competition |
Still got some growing
to do |
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Future
pilots? |
Trying on the
gear |
Checking out a rescue
vessel |
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Volunteers were kept busy
all day |
Another future CSR
skipper? |
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Queenstown - on water training
begins…..
After
months of therory training and eager anticipation the 26 crew of the new
Queenstown Unit could not be blamed for giving up their weekend to have a
serious play in their new 8.5m Naiad rescue vessel "Queenstown
Rescue1".
Not wasting
any time they were joined by Paul
Lawson from Sumner Lifeboat and Ian Coard from Riverton Coastguard &
National President, to begin on water training. With assistance from Clyde
Coastguard crew who brought their rescue vessel they were able to
familiarize themselves with their new boat by practicing towing, man
overboard, coming alongside and various search and rescue techniques.
The crew are doing everything they can to ensure they will
offer the best service possible when they become fully operational in late
March.
Testing the
waters….
Southland Times -
22/01/2008
Queenstown Coastguard’s new 8.5m
Naiad search and rescue vessel has had its first foray into Wakatipu
waters after arriving from Christchurch last
week.
The boat arrived on Thursday on the back of a truck,
following months of servicing, and was met by the Queenstown unit’s 26
volunteers. The boat will undergo systems testing on the lake and be used
for crew training, before being officially launched in
March. |
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Paul Lawson debriefs before training
begins |
National
President, Ian Coard helps with training
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Training with Clyde
Coastguard |
Practising towing
techniques |
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Coastguard
takes fuel to stranded boat….
Southland
Times - 21/01/2008
A
Sunday fishing trip could have ended in disaster for four Southland men
after their boat ran out of fuel at sea yesterday.
Senior
Sergeant Olaf Jensen, of Invercargill, said police were notified the
Stabicraft type boat was adrift after running out of fuel near Monkey Island off the coast from Orepuki
about 2.30pm.
The
Riverton Coastguard was deployed to take fuel to the stricken boat, Mr
Jensen said.
The
incident was a reminder to seafarers to make sure they had sufficient
supplies to meet their needs and safety including fuel he said. Coastguard
spokesman Noel Anderson said the boat had simply gone beyond its fuel
range. While they were otherwise well equipped. The four men on board had
been at risk of drifting in a dangerous roll and capsizing, he
said.
The
Coastguard boat Russell John Chisholm reached the boat within 35 minutes,
Mr Anderson said. |
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Coastguard boat delivered....
By Tracey Roxburgh, Otago Daily Times -
19/01/2008
The
overhaul of Coastguard Queenstown’s 8.5m Naiad jetboat, surveyed to
Coastguard rescue specifications, has been completed and the vessel is now
in place at Frankton Marina.
Coastguard
Queenstown President Jay
Berriman told the Otago Daily Times yesterday the jetboat
arrived from Christchurch on Thursday
afternoon.
The
26 volunteers making up the Coastguard Queenstown crew were on hand to
meet the boat and check its systems on the lake. The crew had already
started compulsory coastguard training and would now spend time working
with the boat, Mr Berriman said. However, there was always room for more
volunteers, “who could be as heavily involved as they wanted in any
capacity they wanted”.
Coastguard
Queenstown is not a water policing unit. Instead, it will provide training
and help for recreational boat users on Lake Wakatipu and will also be instrumental in any
search and rescue operations on the lake - from Queenstown and Frankton to
Kingston,
Glenorchy and Kinloch.
It
was hoped the unit would be fully operational within two months, with a
full launch planned for “late March”.
The
cost of establishing the Queenstown unit is about $150,000, funded wholly
by donations and sponsorship. It is possible Lake Wanaka may also get a Coastguard
Unit. |
Ready for
action….The Coastguard Queenstown jet boat is lifted off its trailer by
crane at the Frankton Marine on Thursday afternoon. It is hoped the unit
will be fully operational on lake Wakatipu within two months. Photo:
Tim
Buckley |
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Canoeist reckless, says rescuers
By Cassandra Pokoney - The
Southland Times - Friday, 11 January
2008
The Riverton Coastguard
is disappointed at the "foolhardy" actions of a canoeist who was not
wearing a lifejacket and whose canoe had to be retrieved from the Riverton
sandbar yesterday.
The coastguard was called to rescue the canoeist after a
member of the public noticed the upside-down canoe on the bar about
3.30pm. Coastguard spokesman Noel
Anderson said it had been unclear at the time of the call-out whether the
canoeist was safe.
An operation involving seven coastguard volunteers was
launched and the canoe retrieved. Along the way, the coastguard learned
the canoeist had swum to shore. It was unknown how far the man had to swim
but the canoe was found in open sea "about three-quarters of a mile from
the mouth of the bar," Mr Anderson said. The man, who was the only person
using the canoe, had not been wearing a lifejacket, he
said.
"It's foolhardy, in this instance, to not be wearing a
lifejacket. "It's disappointing ... that people still insist on doing
silly things," he said.
The law stated that boaties were required to carry and wear
lifejackets at times of "heightened risk". This included when crossing a
sandbar, he said. |
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River swim ends in
tragedy
....
While Coastguard deals with many successful rescues, we also
get called upon to deal with very tragic searches and the heartache it
brings. Coastguard Waimakariri-Ashley Lifeboat was deployed in the search
for a missing father of three in theWaimakariri River…….
Thursday 10 January
2008
Police
divers recovered the body of a man this morning who drowned in the
Waimakariri
River yesterday as
about 100 family and friends gathered at the river. The body of a 26 year
old father, was pulled from the river about 10:30am with members of his
family flocking to his body as it was pulled from the river. A family is
now grieving for the father of three, and a teenage boy who drowned while
swimming in the river yesterday.
Seven people were swimming near the old Waimakariri River bridge when
the group got into difficulty in the current about 3:30pm. The area the
family was swimming in was deep and close enough to the sea to be affected
by the tide when it came in, creating swirling currents. Under the bridge
were several holes up to 6m deep.
Three
(one of whom was the teenager) struggled to shore while the others were
forced to cling to the pillars supporting the bridge. The teenager,
re-entered the water to assist when he saw his brother in difficulty. He
got his brother on to the bridge but he got sucked under. One woman
watched as her husband, a strong swimmer, tired and slipped below the
surface not far from the bridge.
The
family members started yelling for help. A driver for jet-boat company Jet
Thrills, and a man described as a volunteer firefighter from Greymouth
went to the family's rescue. One man and four women were
rescued.
Police
divers recovered the body of the teenager, 16, about 9:30 last night.
About 15 members of the family remained on the bank during the night as
the search continued.
The
searchers included Coastguard, a Westpac rescue helicopter crew and
police, and the police specialist dive team who were called in from
Wellington. |
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GRIEF: a woman climbs into the rescue boat to be
with the body of a swimmer drowned in the Waimakariri
River yesterday. The
policeman is holding the child handed to him by the distraught woman.
Photo: David
Alexander |
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Boat Rescue Drama Off Nine
Mile
By Laura Mills – The Greymouth Star – Monday 7th
January 2008
A Greymouth fishing boat
with engine failure was pulled away from rocks to safety this morning
after a distress flare woke a light sleeper.
The Karemoana, with two people on board, got into trouble
about 3am but problems with its GPS (global positioning satellite)
equipment meant rescue crews were initially looking in the wrong place.
Luckily, Nine Mile resident Jill Cotton — a light sleeper —
was woken by their flare. Until then, both the crew and the rescuers
thought the boat was in trouble off Serpentine, near the Taramakau
River. It was
actually 40km further north.
When rescuers arrived, the stricken boat was only about 25m
from the rocks; strong winds and heavy rain struck shortly afterwards,
once the vessel had reached the safety of the Port of Greymouth. Initially, Ms Cotton
thought people on the beach had let off the flare. “I probably heard the
flare in my sleep.” From the front of the house, she could see the boat
had drifted horizontal to the beach.
“It was really, really dark but I could see the navigational
lights and called 111. The sea was still, calm and there was hardly a
northerly. “It must have put its anchor down, and the headland was
looming. It couldn’t hold in the sand, and got to rock and held — it was
only 25m off the rocks.”
Coastguard safety officer Doug Griffin was one of four men
on board the Ivan Talley rescue boat this morning. He said the Karemoana
first got into difficulty about 11pm but the rescue boat needed a location
before it could leave port. “They (crew) could see cars coming down hill,
so we thought they were at the Serpentine.”
When the correct location was identified, the Kotuku Surf
Rescue inflatable boat arrived to attach tow ropes; the first broke but
the second one held. Both crew members remained on board the Karemoana
throughout the rescue.
Constable Peter Jefferies, of Greymouth, said the boat
suffered some sort of engine trouble and used the radio to call for
help. “Their GPS was faulty and they didn’t know their exact
location. We had a person looking off Serpentine and got the crew to let
off a flare, but they couldn’t see anything. A resident at Nine Mile (Jill
Cotton) spotted it.” Mr Jefferies said conditions were fairly good, but
then started worsening.
The Karemoana was successfully towed over the Grey River bar about 7.30am. It sustained
a little bit of damage as it headed into the lagoon when it hit an
underwater beam. It was pulled up on to the slipway for inspection and
repairs.
“Overall, the rescue went well.”
Murry Cave, who
photographed the rescue, said there was little that could be done from
shore. “The trawler drifted south towards the 8 Mile bluffs being slowed
down a bit by the anchor, which was dragging on the sandy
bottom." |
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The anchor finally caught on rocks
off the 8 Mile bluff and the northerly wind held the boat offshore.
“If the drift had been closer to shore or further out the trawler could
have run into the rocks or on to the offshore reef.”
Port manager David Stapleton said the Karemoana
was an old established Greymouth boat, owned by John
Bromley.
Rescue "touch and
go"
Karemoana owner John Bromley said it was a miracle
his boat did not drift on to the
rocks.
The
Greymouth man said a pump had malfunctioned in the engine room. He was
down below trying to fix it for a couple of hours with another person when
the boat drifted close to shore.
"It
was a miracle the boat drifted through the rocks. It was touch and go...at
one stage it looked like they were going to leave the boat and take us
off. That was when the weather was pretty
extreme."
Mr Bromley praised the rescue effort. He hoped to have his
boat back in the water within a couple of
days. |
Rescuers attend to the troubled boat Karemoana, off
the rocks at Nine Mile. Picture: Murray Cave |
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2007 Christchurch Santa Parade
....
Once again Coastguard was represented by Sumner,
Canterbury, CBES and CSR in the Santa Parade. This is a good chance to
raise our profile..not to be missed.
In past years we have heard the onlookers comment how
we go out and catch the drug smugglers and do coastal border patrols, work
in customs...you name it, we do it.
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This year people seemed to realise we go out and
rescue people so our profile is improving. Now all we need is to improve
our funding.
Joanne from CBES couldn't resist giving Scooby
a cuddle. She says she can't help it...she 'has a thing for big hairy
cuddly dogs'. |
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Media
Release - 15 November 2007
“WOMEN ON BOARD”
NEW INITIATIVE IN BOATING EDUCATION
UNDERWAY
The first “Women on Board’ Day Skippers Course
started yesterday at the historic Christchurch Yacht Club. Eighteen
students made up the first womens class in the country.
“Very exciting to see the enthusiasm of these women
for their boating” said Katie McNabb, their tutor. “Some have little or no
boating experience and a few have done quite a lot.” Motivation for some
of the women to do the course was spurred on by either by the lack of
boating knowledge in the family or the need to be responsible for others
on the boat.
As well as the course itself, the students received
visits yesterday, from Joanna Parker, wife of the new Mayor, and Nicky
Wagner, the national MP, who has been a keen sailor for over 30
years.
Other speakers will be coming to talk on various aspects of boating
over the following three weeks.
Coastguard Boating Education South Island
Representative, Joanne Glassford, has already got students waitlisted for
next year, when she says that there will be more courses for women, both
during the day and in the evening. |
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Contact:
Coastguard Boating Education South Island Representative
Joanne Glassford
Ph 339 0318 or 027 339 0442
jkglassford@xtra.co.nz
Coastguard Boating Education Tutor
Katie McNabb
Ph 348 2169 or 027 433 2824
ktj@cyberxpress.co.nz |
Katie (left) &
Joanne |
The first ever 'Women on Board'
class |
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| Disaster's
'Amazing'
By DEB
STRINGER - Mail- Wednesday 14th November 2007
Taking a
behind-the-scenes emergency services tour last Sunday was a dream come
true for Harewood boy Daniel Carter.
The 10 year old took the ultimate tour after he won a
Disaster Awareness Week Competition which included a helicopter flight,
abseiling, a ride on a jet-ski, rides in an ambulance, fire truck, police
car and Coastguard rescue vessel, going to jail and getting rescued by the
Civil Defence rescue team.
The
competition was run by Canterbury Civil Degence Emergency Management
Group. Carter said the experience was "totally
indescribable".
"It
was all so amazing, but I would have to say my most favourite thing on the
day was hanging out with the Coastguards. I would really love to do
that as a job when I get older."
Other
memorable moments for Carter included racing around in the police car and
jet-ski. "These were both pretty cool," he said.
Carter's dad Mike, who kept his son company, said the
competition was an "amazing experience". "I thought it was really worth it
and it was great to know there is more to emergency services than just the
usual things." he said.
Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group
communications officer Sara McBride Steele said the day had gone
"fantastically well". "This is the first year we have run the competition,
so we were pretty pleased with how it all went."
She
said they planned to run it again next year. "We are looking to add a few
more things next year. However, the concept will still remain the same."
McBride-Steele said the aim of the competition was to make sure people
were prepared for an emergency. She also said it was important for people
to know what emergency services did.
"I
think we achieved both of these aims by holding this competition and were
were really pleased to be involved with something positive and fun."
McBride-Steele said. |
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Canterbury
Coastguard were pleased to be able to take part in the 'Disaster
Awareness' competition.
Left: Mark
Thompson shows Daniel Carter around 'Canterbury Draught
Rescue'.
Right: One of Daniel's
highlights of the day was the ride on the jet-ski with Wayne
Middleton. |
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Pair saved as yacht capsizes off Timaru
By CLAIRE
HAREN - The Timaru Herald - Monday, 05 November 2007
Police are praising
members of the public for the role they played in the rescue of a couple
whose yacht capsized off the coast of Timaru
yesterday.
The yacht, sailed by a 28-year-old man and a
22-year-old woman, was caught in a sudden wind change about 5pm, and
according to Sergeant Grant Lord of the Timaru Police, a combination of
the wind and inexperience saw the yacht capsize near Dashing Rocks.
Mr Lord said the pair managed to right the yacht and
drift it on to the rocks, where they held on to it to stop it getting
damaged until the South Canterbury Coastguard was able to tow it to
the yacht club slipway. Neither were hurt, and any damage to the yacht was
believed to be only superficial, but Mr Lord said members of the public
had played a big part in the outcome.
"Members of the public saw the incident unfolding and
phoned the police, and stayed on site until we arrived. It was excellent
work."
The first call to police reported that the yacht was
about 25 metres from the rocks when it capsized. Police climbed down the
rocks from the end of Richmond
Street to get to the two sailors, and brought
the woman back up with them. The male yachtsman helped tow the yacht to
safety.
"They were fortunate that the sea conditions were
mild. It was just the sudden change in the wind speed – the wind turned
and gusted up"
Mr Lord said both were wearing lifejackets.
"It was a bit of an ordeal but they were in good
spirits."
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New Unit
in
the Southern Region ....
Welcome to Coastguard Queenstown who have
been officially accepted by the CNZ Board as a new member of
CNZ. We look forward to working with you. Looking at photos of your
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