Different name, same purpose on the water

The volunteers at Volunteer Marine Rescue Bribie Island have seen a lot of changing tides in their 55-year history and on August 14 they marked another milestone, joining Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) as the service’s 17th unit.  

Marine Rescue Queensland Bribie Island’s Unit Commander Ces Luscombe praised the efforts of the unit’s more than 100 volunteer members. Mr Luscombe highlighted the importance of their role in the local community and the numerous hours of unpaid service they provide each year to assist mariners in distress.  

“MRQ Bribie Island covers a 500 square mile area and answers countless calls for assistance each year,” Mr Luscombe said. “In addition to the time spent on callouts, our volunteers invest an enormous number of hours into training, keeping 24/7 radio watch and rescue services, maintaining the fleet and base and conducting patrols.  

“We also engage with our local community to promote boating safety through training and education programs. Together, that adds up to more than 22,000 hours of volunteer effort per year to keep the community safe.” 

Although VMR Bribie will be now known formally as MRQ Bribie Island, their callsign remains the same “Marine Rescue Bribie”. And on top of that, there’s a lot of other things that won’t change either. The locally based 24/7 rescue service is still 100% operated by volunteers and the team is still the same people with the objective of keeping the community safe on the water. What has changed is the name and their uniforms.  

“We may look a little different now, but we’re the same experienced volunteers that the boating public of Pumicestone Passage and Moreton Bay have been relying on for many years,” Mr Luscombe said. “If you see our new blue and yellow branding out on the water, it will be a sign that expert assistance is on the way.”  

MRQ Chief Officer Tony Wulff welcomed MRQ Bribie Island into the service, while also acknowledging the strong role the unit plays in their local community.  

“As an island community which experiences a number of different boating conditions, a local marine rescue presence is vital,” Mr Wulff said. “In addition, the area is a mecca for thousands of recreational boaties who flock to the water on weekends and public holidays.  

“We’re grateful for the dedication and commitment that MRQ Bribie Island’s volunteers invest into delivery of their services and the connections they have with the thousands of boaties they have supported over the years.”  

Stay safe on the water!  

Who and what is Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ)? 

• MRQ is Queensland’s first state-wide, state government-funded volunteer marine rescue service dedicated to saving lives at sea and supporting those on or near the water. 

• MRQ is part of Queensland Police Service, which is responsible for coordinating the states disaster and emergency services response, but MRQ is a separate service with its own identity, structure, governance and uniforms. 

• MRQ currently has 17 units and more than 760 volunteers, with additional marine rescue units expected to follow in 2025.