Volunteers
On May 8, 2022

Happy Mother’s Day – meet Marine Rescue mum Fay Cousins

Today is Mother’s Day, and we wish a very happy day to all the mums on this special day.

Meet Fay Cousins, one of our amazing volunteers, and mother to daughter Hannah. Both volunteer at Marine Rescue Eden on the NSW South Coast.

Six years ago Fay Cousins was feeling a little left out. Her immediate family had marine-based careers and were out having adventures on the water. Her son was a Second Mate (now studying for his Masters Class One ticket), her husband a Chief Marine Engineer (now studying for his Masters Five certificate) and her daughter a marine biologist.

Strolling through her local market at Merimbula, she saw a stall run by the local Marine Rescue unit. She got chatting and found out they were recruiting, and suddenly found herself with the perfect opportunity to get herself out on the water like the rest of her family while at the same time helping her local community.

That chance encounter at the markets led to Fay joining the Merimbula Marine Rescue unit, with her daughter Hannah joining her as volunteer. At the unit Fay trained in radio and as a crew member and also helped out with public relations.

After three years, Fay and Hannah transferred to the nearby Eden unit, where both of them still volunteer.

Fay is now studying to be a leading crew member, with her assessment in the coming week, so for her, Mother’s Day in part will be spent brushing up to be ready for her assessment.

“I really enjoy volunteering at the Eden unit, and it’s quite special to have my daughter Hannah volunteer there with me,” Fay said.

“Hannah sometimes drops by on my early morning Sunday radio shift, and as a marine biologist with a special interest in whales, she makes sure I keep an eye out for her charges out on the water.”

“Now I don’t feel left out and our whole family all have a close connection to the sea.”

Hannah’s career on the water has included working with the Department of Primary Industries shark patrol, and a stint on Barbados with a sea turtle project. Hannah has a Masters degree in which she studied the Short Tailed Shearwater, and she works on the Eden based whale watching ship the Cat Balou.  

“It’s great to work with mum and to have had her join my dad and brother in getting out on the water,” said Hannah.

“She and I always work really well together, and love to bounce ideas off each other.”

“I’ll be doing a special surprise today for her today for Mother’s Day – but it’s a secret!”

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