April 2024 In Memoriam

David Harrison

In loving memory of David Harrison, a cherished member of Broken Bay, whose life was a testament to dedication, service, and camaraderie. Born in 1942, David’s journey intertwined with the fabric of the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol (RVCP), leaving an indelible mark on its history.

David’s commitment to the RVCP began in 1974, marking the commencement of a lifelong devotion to its mission. Throughout the years, he assumed various executive roles, embodying leadership and excellence. His tenure as Division Commander from 1979 to 1981 and again from 2003 to 2005 epitomised his unwavering commitment to the organisation’s principles and values.

As a seasoned instructor and examiner for the offshore power boat scheme of the Australian Yachting Federation, David imparted invaluable knowledge and skills to countless individuals, shaping the maritime community for generations to come.

In 2001, David was honoured with the prestigious title of life member of Marine Rescue, a testament to his significant contributions and unwavering dedication. His involvement in events like the Canoe Classic and the Wisemans Navigation Trials showcased his passion for adventure and exploration, leaving a lasting legacy in the realm of maritime sports and activities.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, David was known for his approachable demeanour and willingness to lend a helping hand. His generosity in sharing his wealth of experience and wisdom endeared him to all members of the Broken Bay Division/Unit, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and mutual support.

David Harrison will be remembered not only for his remarkable achievements but also for the warmth of his character and the kindness of his soul. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide those who follow in his footsteps, ensuring that his spirit lives on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him. Though he may have departed from this world, his legacy will forever sail on the tides of memory and gratitude. Rest in peace, dear friend; your presence will be dearly missed but never forgotten.

Jimmy Arteaga 

Unit Commander, Marine Rescue Broken Bay

Kevin Thompson

Kevin joined Botany Port Hacking in July 2012, and like all of us, didn’t know what he was getting in to. As with all good volunteer groups, assessment was made as to the skills new people come to us with and Kevin definitely shone out as a teacher and a passionate first aid officer. He agreed to be our training officer for first aid and advanced resuscitation and, along with Alan Russel formed a team which was second to none. They were able to introduce, as you would know, the ‘Kevin’ style of teaching and as this was a compulsory course, all of our members· and also many from within the Sydney region were trained by this duo. 

Kevin introduced his stories into the presentation and of course they were extremely gory and descriptive in their content. As the courses progressed, the content of the stories varied so it was soon impossible to establish the truth, however the end result was the climax to the story always complemented the subject matter being addressed.

I am confident to say that the training which all members received did result in much expertise and confidence in the first aid area and I am sure there are people alive today because of their training and the application of that training by our members in saving lives on the water. 

Kevin then went onto the boats, which he had been involved with most of his life, and was very keen to become an inshore skipper. He achieved his rating and was able to continue his training of members in boat handling, docking, line handling and towing. 

During his training he would want to know what all the equipment was for and would say to the skipper-what does this button do whilst pressing it — the skipper responded, that was the stop button which is why we are floating in the middle of botany bay – oh s@#t was his response.

Kevin turned his attention to the radio room and as this is the very heart of our operations, quickly became a valued member of this group attaining his watch officer status. 

His ability to teach and mentor was evident again in the progress of many members who he taught. To their dismay, when things were quiet, Kevin would create a scenario and have the radio operators do the job and of course there was always a debrief afterwards. 

This ability to get people thinking has resulted in many operators now assessing the situation quickly and  efficiently and being able to decide on the best course of action to take without any direction or hesitation to keep people safe in the water. 

The early morning shift which commences at 5am really begins at 4am and Kevin would always be there about 4:45am to commence the shift. It would begin like all others but about 8am he would disappear leaving the operators to wonder what they had said or done wrong. 

About 20 minutes later Kevin would produce bacon and egg rolls for all. Unfortunately, his culinary skills were not as good as his training skills and buns were often black and bacon was sometimes cooked sometimes not. A little extra BBQ sauce always made them palatable 

Rest in peace, mate, rest in peace 

Greg Inglis 

Unit Commander, Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking