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Operating across a vast and remote waterway, Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Whitsundays, had previously been working with basic equipment in a small central office where they conducted both large and small-scale emergency tasks.
Fortunately, this has all changed thanks to the construction of a new hi-tech headquarters that is finally enabling them to conduct operations with ease and efficiency.
The central headquarters, located on the second floor of the building has been expanded to neatly four times the size and is equipped with large smart-TV screens where information can be shared in real time.
The new radio room has also been updated with some of the most modern technology, easy to use electronic touchscreens and Bluetooth speakers.
These new gadgets allow all operations to be conducted through digital instead of radio channels, which means they are more reliable and able to be accessed from further afield.
“It’s pretty impressive stuff!” said long term volunteer, Roger Wodson.
“We also have a recorder on so that if the operator is on one thing it will be recording what the operator is doing, but if another channel comes in, it will start recording that as well.
Previously VMR Whitsunday had to reply upon a telephone connection that came in through the radio channel if the volunteer was not on-site at the time of the emergency call.
This meant that the radio signal could get lost, and possibly the individual making the emergency call.
“This new system means that when the phone holder goes on roster, you'll get a phone, and you get a laptop, you open the laptop, and he can actually talk through the laptop to the guy in trouble out there.”
The new system is extremely accurate and ensures everything can be conducted quicker and that people in emergency situation will be safer.
VMR Whitsundays covers 13,000 square kilometres and their furthest recorded journey was a 12 hour round trip.
The new building and equipment was made possible by joint funding of $900,000, including both Federal grants and local sponsorship and donations.
The application for funding was initially driven by Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP and then pursued by Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox who secured the Federal funding.
The facility can now be used as a central headquarters for emergency marine operations and is also a community asset, available for meetings and gatherings at minimal fee.
Operating across a vast and remote waterway, Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Whitsundays, had previously been working with basic equipment in a small central office where they conducted both large and small-scale emergency tasks.
Fortunately, this has all changed thanks to the construction of a new hi-tech headquarters that is finally enabling them to conduct operations with ease and efficiency.
The central headquarters, located on the second floor of the building has been expanded to neatly four times the size and is equipped with large smart-TV screens where information can be shared in real time.
The new radio room has also been updated with some of the most modern technology, easy to use electronic touchscreens and Bluetooth speakers.
These new gadgets allow all operations to be conducted through digital instead of radio channels, which means they are more reliable and able to be accessed from further afield.
“It’s pretty impressive stuff!” said long term volunteer, Roger Wodson.
“We also have a recorder on so that if the operator is on one thing it will be recording what the operator is doing, but if another channel comes in, it will start recording that as well.
Previously VMR Whitsunday had to reply upon a telephone connection that came in through the radio channel if the volunteer was not on-site at the time of the emergency call.
This meant that the radio signal could get lost, and possibly the individual making the emergency call.
“This new system means that when the phone holder goes on roster, you'll get a phone, and you get a laptop, you open the laptop, and he can actually talk through the laptop to the guy in trouble out there.”
The new system is extremely accurate and ensures everything can be conducted quicker and that people in emergency situation will be safer.
VMR Whitsundays covers 13,000 square kilometres and their furthest recorded journey was a 12 hour round trip.
The new building and equipment was made possible by joint funding of $900,000, including both Federal grants and local sponsorship and donations.
The application for funding was initially driven by Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP and then pursued by Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox who secured the Federal funding.
The facility can now be used as a central headquarters for emergency marine operations and is also a community asset, available for meetings and gatherings at minimal fee.
VMR Whitsundays President Mal Priday and long term volunteer Roger Wodson at the new hi-tech radio station. Photo Credit: Rachael Smith
