Community TAB major partner for Fremantle Sea Rescue
23 November, 2015
Fremantle Sea Rescue will continue to make our oceans safer this summer for tens of thousands of beach goers with funding to support their outstanding service to the WA community.
Community TAB has now donated an additional $40,000 to Fremantle Sea Rescue to further enhance their service, after purchasing two rescue-modified Yamaha jet skis for the organisation in 2014.
Fremantle Sea Rescue operate between Cockburn and City Beach and across to Rottnest Island, and the Swan and Canning Rivers.
TAB Chairman Jeff Ovens said this funding would enhance the outstanding service already operated by volunteer based Fremantle Sea Rescue.
“The Fremantle Sea Rescue crews are being more frequently called to assist people in danger who are in the water such as kite-surfers paddlers, swimmers and divers, as well as being called to rescues inside dangerous surf and shallow waters,” Mr Ovens said.
“Community TAB funding also goes towards increasing the use of the fast rescue vessel Gemini 1, which together with the jet skis give Fremantle Sea Rescue an extraordinary ability to provide for the needs of community events, many of which would struggle to provide adequate safety services otherwise.
“Having a very shallow draft, jet-skis are able to get into places that traditional rescue vessels cannot reach, either to transfer in medical supplies or to help recover stranded boaters, so the Fremantle Sea Rescue service is very unique due to its abilities.”
As well the search and rescue role, Fremantle Sea Rescue provide support to a rapidly growing number of community sports events on the Swan River, around Fremantle, Rottnest Island and even in regional WA.
Fremantle Sea Rescue President Cameron Macmillan said the organisation welcomed the support of Community TAB in meeting this community need.
“In an average year our 100 plus volunteers respond to over 700 calls for assistance,” Mr Macmillan said.
“We operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year and will attend to any boater or water-user in distress who requires assistance.
“The Community TAB Services Unit will help us provide a new level of service into the future.”
Last summer Fremantle Sea Rescue used TAB Rescue 1 and TAB Rescue 2 to assist 155 people, 46 vessels and 23 community and sporting events.
The contribution from Community TAB is part of an overall $120,000 commitment over three years to the organisation.
Picture: Fremantle Sea Rescue President Cameron Macmillan receiving the cheque from Matthew Thomas from Community TAB.