Mooloolaba Coastguard earns biosecurity commendation

AQIS Seaports Manager Andrew Donaldson (left),
Mooloolaba Coastguards Reg Hosking, Peter Kerr
and Denis Laherty, and AQIS North East Regional
Manager Rick Hawe.

Queensland's Mooloolaba Coastguard unit has been awarded a prized Certificate of Commendation for its help in securing a potential biosecurity risk.

Skipper Lee Campbell, radio operator Tony Martin and crew Reg Hosking, Denis Laherty, Ian Scrymegour, Ken Williams and Peter Kerr were presented the commendation for their efforts in towing a distressed international yacht into the Port of Mooloolaba and quickly alerting AQIS officers to the situation.

Their immediate assistance in securing the stricken vessel ensured close to 50 kilograms of high risk biosecurity food items were contained onboard until AQIS officers arrived.

Reg, Peter and Denis accepted the certificate on behalf of the crew of 'Blue Sunday' at the Coastguard headquarters, Mooloolaba.

In presenting the award, AQIS North East Regional Manager, Rick Hawe, acknowledged the crew's instinctive reaction and support to help mitigate the potential risk to Australia's biosecurity.

Coastguard Commander, John Annabelle, was delighted to hear that the efforts of the long serving volunteer members had been recognised in such a public way and before their peers.

'The skipper and the crew used their initiative to raft the target yacht alongside our moored vessel, making sure it was secure so the crew on board could not leave their vessel—and I thought that initiative was great,' he said.

AQIS Seaports supervisor, Tim Anderson, said the Coastguard's efforts were extremely commendable.

'Mooloolaba is not an approved first port of call for the arrival of any international vessel, so the Coastguard's assistance in notifying AQIS immediately was immeasurably helpful.'

The Mooloolaba Coastguard unit is part of the Australian Volunteer Coastguard Association. A non-profit volunteer organisation, the coastguard provides vital services along the Sunshine Coast including radio monitoring, safety patrols, search and rescue, boating safety and public education courses.

The Australian Biosecurity Awards recognise and reward individuals and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to maintaining Australia's biosecurity and quarantine integrity.

Nominations for the 2009 awards close on 30 September. For more information contact Kerry Wagstaff on 02 6272 3955.