Last Thursday, 18 August, with representatives from six of our clubs, we joined forces with the Peel Water Police and Mandurah Volunteer Marine Rescue in a multi-agency training exercise in preparation for the coming season.
With more than 50 participants, including 18 members from Secret Harbour, Port Bouvard, City Of Bunbury, Coogee Beach and Mandurah Surf Life Saving Clubs, the objectives of the exercise were to enable the three agencies to conduct training in rescues, body recovery, vessel transfer, search patterns and rough water vessel handling.
Following the training, an inter-agency marine search and rescue exercise responding to persons lost in local waters was conducted.
It was a big day involving multiple Surf Life Saving watercraft, including an IRB, five Jet Skis, floating manikins and sinking rescue manikins, plus multiple Volunteer Marine Rescue and Water Police boats. The wide range of vessels was valuable in developing an understanding of and training for the need to have different recovery and boarding techniques.
Many highlights of the day were thanks to the rougher conditions, which led to increased speeds and more challenging situations that tested even some of the most experienced operators.
The inter-agency exercise was an extremely valuable experience for all involved, teaching many transferable skills and providing excellent preparation for the 2022/23 season. Congratulations to all involved.
