Six Decades Of Marine Rescue In The Whitsundays

It was a typical Wednesday evening in May of 1964 and a group of locals, primarily cane farmers, were gathered at the Metropole Hotel in Proserpine, enjoying some cold drinks.

Among the group gathered were Aldo Cantamessa, Terry Hinschen, Gordon Barr, Fred Baxter, Fred Tetley and Kevin Tetley. Amidst the friendly banter, there was talk about the growing issue of potential accidents at sea and the increasing risks of losing friends and visitors while fishing or exploring the Whitsunday waters. Recognising the need for a more organised response to maritime emergencies, they took it upon themselves to address this concern.

Little did they realise, the events of that evening back in 1964 marked an historic moment in the narrative of marine rescue in the Whitsundays. They were the founding members of what we now know as Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Whitsunday.

This forward-thinking group laid the foundation for a new era of marine safety for boaties. They devised a communication process and a roster, each man pledging his own vessel to stand ready for any call of distress. Initially, the group used three main boats privately owned by Gordon Barr, Aldo Cantamessa and Fred Baxter. Other boats used in the early days were those of Jack Hickmott, John Watts, Fred Tetley, Brian McDermott, Terry Hinschen and Wally Rogan. On one search, up to 24 private boats were involved!

The Squad could not charge for their services and relied on donations from assisted boaties – and this was more often than not a “thank you” in kind. After rescuing a family of three who had chartered a sailing boat owned by a baker from Mackay, members were surprised when, a few weeks later, they received thanks from the owner in the form of a huge carton. It was full of bread!

Proserpine Sea Rescue became an official entity in January 1967 after a steering committee was formed to draw up a constitution and rules, thus formalising what first began three years earlier. By July, the name had been changed to Whitsunday Air Sea Rescue (WASR). The year 1994 marked another milestone in the history of marine rescue when the new Whitsunday Marine Club officially opened thanks to a collaborative approach from WASR, the Game Fish Club and the Power Boat Club. In 1995, Coast Guard (QF18) which had formed back in 1977 and Whitsunday Air Sea Rescue (VMR442) merged to officially become known as VMR Whitsunday.

Thanks to the unwavering commitment of volunteers, the next three decades bore witness to many remarkable developments. VMR Whitsunday now bears little resemblance to the fledgling organisation initiated by a small group of local men in a Proserpine hotel sixty years ago.

From little things, big things grow …

The transformation from its humble beginnings in 1964 to what we now know as VMR Whitsunday has been nothing short of remarkable.

VMR Whitsunday has evolved from an informal body of six dedicated volunteers to an organisation with an active crew of over 80 members.  

In the formative years, marine radios were a luxury and mobile phones were a distant dream. Communications relied on landline phones, word of mouth and a basic blackboard system. Not so today! VMR Whitsunday is now equipped with mobile phones, advanced radios, AIS and other modern technology, to provide 24/7/365 emergency marine support.

Initially, operations had no centralised facilities, relying on the homes of dedicated volunteers, with meetings taking place at venues in Proserpine such as the Metropole Hotel, the RSL Club and the CWA Hall. It was over twenty years before the organisation acquired an official base – a demountable purchased for $80! Fast forward to 2024 and VMR Whitsunday boasts an impressive dedicated facility featuring a state-of-the-art training/meeting room.

The legacy born on that seemingly ordinary night at the Metropole Hotel when a small group of locals met to share some camaraderie and a few drinks has become a highly professional organisation that continues to save lives at sea, not just locally but statewide.

Story courtesy of VMR Whitsundays. Photos from R Jean Photography, VMR Whitsundays and the Proserpine Museum.

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Some of the dedicated volunteers from VMR Whitsundays. Photo credit: R Jean Photography

The founding members

Then and now, vessels have changed over the years

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