Service
On Jun 14, 2021

Queen’s Birthday Honours

Congratulations to Marine Rescue Shoalhaven vessel Master Mike Boadle and Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes Unit Commander Tony Younglove, who have been awarded the Emergency Services Medal in today’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The two volunteers have been recognised with the prestigious award for their dedication to community service and saving lives on the water.

Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Stacey Tannos congratulated the pair on behalf of the organisation’s Board, volunteers and staff.

“These awards have been bestowed on behalf of our nation to thank Mike and Tony for their service, leadership, operational expertise and commitment to serving our community,” he said.

“Our organisation would not exist without our volunteers. Each of them deserves our gratitude and these awards are our chance to say thank you not just to our ESM recipients but to all their colleagues as well.”

The Commissioner said Mike and Tony embodied the versatility of MRNSW volunteers in helping the community whenever and wherever called upon, including during the March floods and Black Summer bushfires.

Joining MR Shoalhaven in 2009, Mr Boadle has consistently exhibited an exceptional volunteer work ethic and outstanding professionalism. He has spent almost 2,500 hours on vessel operations, taking part in 325 rescue operations – close to half of all missions launched by the unit – and recently joined the MRNSW flood support operations in western Sydney.

A vessel Master and Coxswain, Mr Boadle has been the unit’s Vessels Operation Manager for a decade, ensuring crews have safe and reliable vessels for their life-saving work. He provides a valuable technical resource for the Illawarra Region and as a Trainer and recognised Subject Matter Expert, has been a role model and mentor for several “generations” of MR Shoalhaven volunteers, as well as also assisting MR Sussex Inlet, Port Kembla and Ulladulla.

Mr Boadle has been awarded two Commissioner’s Citations for his actions to save lives on the water in and around the Shoalhaven, most recently for saving a couple with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning on a cruiser in 2020.

Mr Younglove has served his community with distinction for more than a decade as a volunteer member of MR Tuggerah Lakes, including the past six years as Unit Commander.

As the unit’s only qualified Coxswain, Mr Younglove has led numerous rescue missions across a waterways system covering more than 80sq/km, saving people caught in life-endangering emergencies, including six dragonboat racers suffering hypothermia.

His emergency management experience has ensured the unit’s members work collaboratively to support other emergency services. He oversaw the unit’s support for the 2020 Black Summer firefighting operation, keeping its two rescue vessels on operational standby, ready to transport and evacuate those in harm’s way and assist RFS brigades on the Hawkesbury River and also the deployment of resources to support flood operations in Taree in March.

As a unit Trainer, Assessor and mentor, he works collaboratively with other MRNSW units across the Central Coast region to support their training and operational activities.

Over six years as Commander, Mr Younglove has led the development of a newly-formed unit into a highly-responsive and effective emergency service with strong volunteer spirit and commitment, ensuring its ongoing capability and viability.

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