Portrait of a VMR
Volunteer
BRITT MORTENSEN
CREW YELLOW CREW JOINED VMR APRIL 2019
A BIT ABOUT ME I am a Registered Nurse and have worked in a Cancer and Blood
Disorders Day Unit for the last 20 years . Whilst nursing and bring up my sons , I graduated from Law School . I found Law frustrating because it is a legal system not a justice system hence ……. I get way more job satisfaction and enjoyment working in Health Care .
Having said that , the lessons learned in Law School , I use often …. but only for good , not evil .
Before nursing , I studied Fine Arts with a Major in Commercial Photography which took me to Europe working in the advertising industry ……. and then the purchase of a small sail boat which became my home at the time .
This boat purchase was the beginning of a 20,000 nautical mile journey sailing solo across the oceans to arrive safely back home in Australia in 1995 .
I spent 12 years in this little 31 foot timber yacht without refrigeration , no running water , nor power on tap , and a very cranky engine . Thankfully she sailed like a witch ! This journey has led me to a fascination with all things to do with self sufficiency , DIY , woodworking , preserving , canning , dehydrating , growing fruit and vegetables , keeping chickens ….. and learning to make and fix things .
Generally the latter lands me in hot water , if it ’ s an engine ! But I now get there in the end thanks to my Marine Engineering training at VMR .
They say you learn from your mistakes …. and boy is that true ! But I find it ’ s really satisfying fixing something yourself despite the hardship …… and I avoid the sound of wind sucking through teeth when a tradesman says , “ Aw Lady it ’ s going to be expensive !”.
I now live on an acre and a half of land and indulge into all my self sufficiency hobbies …. with 200 fruit trees , a preserving room , the recycling and reuse queen , chooks , and dahlias …. you ’ ve got to have some flowers !
WHY DID I JOIN VMR ? Volunteering your time to help others pays it forward …. and ironically ….. pays back two fold . I joined VMR with my good friend Lisa who is on Red Crew . I enjoy all things to do with water and the awesome camaraderie experienced when volunteering with other people of like minds .
When I joined VMR , I was already , and still am , an Active crew member on the Rural Fire Brigade in my local community , so I had already experienced the satisfaction one gets from volunteering .
Learn new things , working with great people … in fast boats . What is there not to love ?
WHAT DO I ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A MEMBER OF
VMR ? Our crew is like family , we look out for , and encourage each other . There are so many special times , and reflecting on that makes me smile . I have learned loads at VMR . Every crew brings new challenges , learning opportunities , and the funniest moments !
Don ’ t get me started on how hard it was to get me to stop saying ‘ Romeo that ’ on the VHF radio . I love my radio mentors ! ( You know who you are . xx ).
WHAT IS THE MOST MEMORABLE ACTIVATION YOU HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED IN ? This is a tough question . Each job brings you into contact with so many different types of vessels and vessel owners with varying experience and backgrounds . Some prepare and some don ’ t . When a boatie has done everything possible to make their time on the water successful ….. check list , fuel , safety etc …. but in the end through no fault of preparation ….. has to call on their VMR membership for help , call me old fashioned , but I find helping these people my most rewarding moments .
MY FUTURE INTENTIONS WITH VMR I would like to get to Senior Crew rank and continue to work on improving my skills in throwing the tow rope and thinking quickly on my feet when we are maneuvering at speed in our very busy waterways , with an incredible amount of channel markers and other oncoming vessels .
I think the biggest lament for my poor Skipper is getting me to go more than 6 knots . After all …. I have travelled half way round the world at less than six knots .
My ultimate goal is to go as fast as my Skipper wants me to , safely and with confidence , and be the best help I can be .
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