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From Rescued to Rescuer
Marine Rescue Hawkesbury volunteer joins crew that saved her
A camping trip in the Brisbane Water National Park ended with a multi-agency rescue on New Year’s Eve 2022 for Romy Hodgson, her friend, and a Jack Russell called Fletcher.
Romy said that they had been camping for the week, using a tinny to travel around the enclosed waters of Brisbane Water National Park.
“I had not long moved to the area. We were out enjoying nature, camping near Mooney Mooney Creek, when our adventure took a turn for the worse.
“We woke on New Year’s Eve morning to see that our boat had twisted during the outgoing tide, and the stern was underwater.
“We were stranded in thick bushland with no way of getting out.”
Romy recalls her friend walking up to a high point in an attempt to get mobile phone coverage, but there was none.
“We knew we couldn’t get out with the vessel, and we couldn’t walk out of the area either.
“Thankfully, my friend always carries a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) when he goes camping.
“With the predicament we were in, he activated the PLB,” she said.
Personal Locator Beacons are designed to alert potential rescuers to a life-threatening situation by sending out a signal and providing a GPS location.
Romy said that the response that followed was ‘amazing’.
“The PLB and the rescue response saved us,” Romy said.
“I still get quite emotional thinking about it. We felt terribly embarrassed, but it was just one of those freak things.
“Forty minutes after we activated the PLB, a chopper appeared overhead, which was a huge relief.
“Six incredible words belted down towards us from the chopper’s speaker:
‘Marine Rescue is on the way!’
“The chopper’s crew also asked if anyone was injured, which we weren’t,” she said.
Less than 30 minutes later, Romy and her friend could hear shouting.
“It was people in blue—a crew from Marine Rescue Hawkesbury.
“They were on foot, located us, and got us out.
“I was so impressed by their professionalism and the way we were treated.
“We were really worried that we had put a lot of people out, but they never made us feel like we had done anything wrong. In fact, they told us we did all the right things.
“The Marine Rescue NSW crew handled everything so well, and they were all so calm,” she said.
It was at that moment Romy realised that she could do what her rescuers were doing.
“I was in the Royal Naval Reserve in the UK for 20 years, so water has always been an important part of my life, along with helping people.
“On our way back, I asked the crew how to get involved with Marine Rescue NSW, and during that conversation, I decided I wanted to join.
“I wanted to give back,” she said.
Ironically, Marine Rescue Hawkesbury’s Second Port Watch Crew, who were tasked with rescuing Romy and her friend, is now the crew she volunteers with today.
“I love being part of Marine Rescue Hawkesbury—the camaraderie is excellent.
“My crew is great. They have taught me so much. They are methodical, calm, and respectful—nothing is too much trouble, and I know I’m being trained by the best.
“We have a lot of laughs along the way, but we never lose sight of the seriousness of what we are learning.
“We can all give our time to do something to help others, especially when you’ve been helped yourself,” she said.
Romy has been doing day-trip adventures since her dramatic New Year’s Eve rescue, but said she will go camping again.
“It is such a beautiful area, and I guess when the time comes, we will do it again. Hopefully, we don’t get stuck next time,” she said, with a smile in her voice.
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