V-Sheet June 2012 | Page 2

President’s Report PRESIDENT Stephen Modra H ello again everyone. As I write this it is nearing the end of April and the calendar year is 1/3 over already. Didn’t we just get through XMAS, feels like it anyway. The weather is starting to get a bit cooler and the waters have been quieter with fewer of you venturing out. However, it has still been very busy for us. All crews were kept on their toes during the Easter break with a lot of you taking to the water in what is generally the last holiday with good boating weather. My own crew did about a dozen jobs on Easter Monday and I know the other crews were just as busy on the other days. We had crews on nonstop from Good Friday until the end of the holidays on Tuesday. This month has also been a bad one for tragedies on the water. VMR Southport has been involved extensively in the search for the missing fisherman along with the Water Police and Coast Guard. Unfortunately, as I write he has still not been located. We will continue to be available for the search until no longer required and we all hope for a positive outcome. A lot of the search has been conducted in very rough conditions with seas of between 2 and 4 metres. Only our best skippers are certified to operate in these conditions and it has been a challenge to man the vessels during the week when a lot of our members are working. As I was writing this another tragedy occurred within view of our base. A competitor in a jet ski race was tragically killed whilst my own crew was on duty. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the competitor. Be safe out there everyone. Always carry the required safety gear in your vessel. It just makes sense, as well as being a legal requirement. If you go offshore, ensure you utilise the services of the Seaway Tower and log on when you exit the Seaway and log off when you return. This way someone is looking out for you and will instigate actions if you don’t return when you say you will (that’s why it is imperative you log off when you return). Our new website will go live on the 1st June. Be sure to take a look and avail yourself of some of the new features. You will be able to pay your membership renewals or any other account you may receive from us. Should the mood take you, you can also make donations directly. Direct access to tides, weather and surf cam will also be available. If you know anyone who wants to join, they can do it from the website too. Till next time. Steve Modra PRESIDENT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 2011 - 2012 Volunteer Marine Rescue SOUTHPORT - SURFERS PARADISE Assoc. Inc. PO Box 866 Southport Qld 4215 Phone: 55 911 300 Fax: 5532 0331 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.vmrsouthport.com.au PRESIDENT Steve Modra VICE PRESIDENT Alan Curtis SECRETARY Kate O’Shea TREASURER Joanna Schon OPERATIONS Glenn Norris SEARCH & RESCUE Steve Pomas COMMUNICATIONS Chris Leech RADIO OPERATORS David Thomas COMMITTEE Troy Buckley COMMITTEE John Lang DISCLAIMER 2 Editor: Vsheet John Stanfield [email protected] Advertising: John Lang Graphics: Mike Oram [email protected] [email protected] Articles: Diana Gibson [email protected] Gold Coast Seaway Tower Hours: 0515 - 2200 Phone: 5591 2948 Fax: 5571 2360 The opinions expressed by the authors and contributors of articles in the Vsheet are not necessarily those of Volunteer Marine Rescue Southport - Surfers Paradise Assoc. Inc. (VMR) nor does VMR guarantee the accuracy of statements made by contributors or advertisers or accept any responsibility for any product or service statement made herein. Volunteer Marine Rescue