Brisbane Coast Guard turns 50 in November. Photo: Supplied.
BY HARVEY SHORE
Brisbane’s Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner, will honour Brisbane Coast Guard volunteers with a Civic Reception to celebrate their 50th Anniversary this November.
The Manly-based Flotilla was founded when a group of fishermen reacted to a lack of rescue services in Moreton Bay by starting their own.
On November 13, 1973, their rescue team received a charter from the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association, and became Brisbane Coast Guard.
Since then, they’ve rescued thousands of boats in trouble at sea, assisted Brisbane Water Police in hundreds of search and rescue operations, and saved scores of lives.
Former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh described them as “Ordinary people doing extraordinary work” when she awarded them Disaster Hero badges in 2011.
Former Governor General of Australia Sir Peter Cosgrove, who visited the Manly base in 2016, said, “What you do isn’t work for ordinary people. It’s work for the most courageous volunteers in our community.”
Brisbane’s Lord Mayor said, “For 50 years, volunteers at Brisbane Coast Guard have done an outstanding job helping Brisbane residents and visitors who venture out into Moreton Bay, or into rivers and dams around the city, and strike trouble. The City of Brisbane is honoured to recognise their admirable service with a Civic Reception”.
Over a hundred past and present volunteers from the Manly Flotilla will attend the Civic Reception in Brisbane City Hall on November 13.
Among them will be Lambert Macchion and Brian Shanks – two of the original group of fishermen who founded Brisbane Coast Guard 50 years ago.
