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Herbert River RSL President Rodger Bow (centre) with the Lucinda QF-14 Coast Guard, in front of the Snow Stafford. Photo credit: Victoria Velton
The Lucinda QF-14 Coast Guard has a powerful new tool for its search and rescue operations, after a donation from the Herbert River RSL.
The funds allowed the volunteer organisation to purchase and install new remote-controlled search lights aboard the Snow Stafford, its large rescue vessel. The new lights have now been tested and evaluated, and are fully operational.
The lights can be tilted up and down and side to side, providing a much greater range of visibility when searching the water. With an arc of light reaching around 400 metres, the upgrade could make a significant difference when volunteers are called out in difficult conditions.
“On a dark night when the sea is rough, there’s nothing but white caps. You try and find someone in the water. It’s not easy,” said President of the Lucinda QF-14 Coast Guard Steve Whipps.
The new lights will go a long way to change that.
Steve said a significant part of the Coast Guard’s work begins with concerned family members reporting that someone is overdue on the water, sometimes without knowing exactly where they were headed.
"I spend a lot of time on telephones from upset wives and partners because their husband or boyfriend hasn't come home, and they were supposed to be back four hours ago. I ask, 'Where did they say they were going? 'I have no idea' they would reply."
The new lights will give crews greater capability when they head out to find them, providing a powerful and flexible tool for the Lucinda Coast Guard volunteers when they are needed most.
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