THE Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad has responded to more than 30 rescue calls this summer, prompting a concerning rise in the number of incidents across the region. It has been one of the busiest seasons for the search and rescue service despite safety campaigns from Safe Transport Victoria urging boaters and jet skiers to be prepared before heading out.
The Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad is a not-for-profit volunteer marine search and rescue service, which has been based at the Blairgowrie marina for 58 years. It operates 24-7 with 31 local volunteers responding to all calls in southern Port Phillip Bay and the near surf coasts of Bass Strait.
Rescues during December and January have included attending to recreational boaters, jet skiers, paddleboarders, sailors, divers, snorkelers and swimmers, the squad’s secretary Denis Baguley said.
One of the most serious incidents involved two paddle boarders who got swept out to sea in Rosebud.
“Our guys got to them but one of the girls involved was suffering hypothermia and we delivered them back to the Rosebud pier to the ambulance,” Baguley told The News. “She was not very well at all; she wouldn’t have lasted a lot longer (in the water).”
Speaking of the number of rescues, Baguley said it was “pretty excessive,” which included 61 people being brought back to shore using the squad’s two search and rescue boats as well as a support vehicle and associated rescue and medical equipment. Baguley said their team assisted the Water Police, responding to about 80 per cent of jobs on the southern peninsula.
Other rescues this summer included a collision between two jet skis in Rye, which luckily did not result in serious injuries, as well as motor breakdowns, equipment failure, and vessels running out of fuel.
Volunteers have also rescued several surfers at Corsair Rock in the Rip, just off Point Nepean. “They take a small boat and anchor it, but the boat gets swamped,” Baguley said.
Baguley said the rise in incidents highlighted the increasing risks faced by boat and jet skis operators.
“It’s the most we’ve had in a while”, he said, noting “we normally do about 60 a year, and obviously this is a busy time, but it’s been really busy.” “They (vessels) can get swept into the shipping channels and they can also get caught up in the change of weather” and “can swamped by the ships, that’s the problem”.
Baguley added while callouts to paddle boarders in trouble were not frequent, “they can be extremely dangerous,” particularly if they weren’t wearing lifejackets. “Life jackets are key, maintenance of vessels is key, ensure you’ve got enough petrol and know your weather and tide,” he said. “They’ve got to be mindful that there’s risks out on the water.”
Baguley said the squad’s new supply of digital radios recently provided by the state government had greatly improved communication with the Water Police rescue coordination centre who could now communicate directly with their rescue boats in the water. “They also provide a direct communication link with the Police Air Wing and other rescue units in Port Phillip Bay critical during multi-unit tasks. In summary, they greatly improve our capacity to save lives on the Southern Mornington Peninsula,” he said. The new equipment was also delivered to the Volunteer Marine Rescue at Mornington, and the VF6 Coast Guard at Safety Beach.
Looking ahead, the Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad hoped to upgrade its aging fleet including replacing an almost 15-year-old vessel with a new generation rescue vessel.
First published in the Mornington News – 25 February 2025
