Two Marine Rescue NSW volunteers from the state’s Northern Rivers and two from the South Coast are in the running for the Marine Rescue NSW award at the 2023 Rotary Districts of NSW Emergency Services Community Awards, to be held at the Bankstown Sports Club tomorrow night, Saturday 12 August.
Brunswick Unit Commander Jonathan Wilcock, long-serving Ballina volunteer Phillip Causley, Jervis Bay Grants Officer Leona Curran and experienced Merimbula seaman Steward Dietrich are the service’s four finalists vying for the 2023 Marine Rescue NSW agency award.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation, dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
Praise for Marine Rescue NSW finalists
Marine Rescue NSW Northern Zone Commander Mal Jeffs said all four members are worthy finalists and wished them well ahead of the awards ceremony. He said the finalists from his zone, Jonathan Wilcock, from Brunswick and Phillip Causley, from Ballina, are both respected local members of Marine Rescue NSW.
‘Jonathan makes a highly valued contribution as the Unit Commander at Brunswick,’ said Mal Jeffs. ‘He coordinates all aspects of the unit and its 60 members and the service they provide to the boating community.’
Northern Zone Commander Jeffs explained that Mr Wilcock was hugely involved in the community response to the flooding emergency in the Brunswick, Mullumbimby and surrounding areas last year.
‘Following that, he continues working with the local emergency services trying to improve those services to the community. He organises joint training with those agencies to try and really make a difference,’ he said.
Mal Jeffs said Phillip Causley is an extremely experienced member at Marine Rescue Ballina, who joined the unit in 2011.
‘He’s progressed through the ranks from crew to Coxswain, he’s also held the role of Deputy Unit Commander. Whether on the water or helping out at a fundraising event cooking at the BBQ hotplate he is always willing to help.
‘He not only assists boaters around Ballina but also volunteered his time last year to help with the flood emergency response, not just in the Northern Rivers but in the state’s Central West as well,’ said Northern Zone Commander Jeffs.
‘The communities that Jonathan and Phillip serve can be rightly proud of the pair as we are at Marine Rescue NSW.’
