Bush Search and Rescue Victoria

12 July 2010 11:50am A woman who was reported missing overnight near Lake Mountain has been found safe and well.

She had spent the night lost after visiting Alps Lookout alone at around 3pm the previous day. On her return to the car park the track became difficult to follow and she eventually veered off the proper track.

Bush Search and Rescue members with steep snow and ice skills attended a "dryland" training day in Melbourne to learn some theory and practice steep snow and ice skills including using avalanche transceivers (in South Surrey Park), roping techniques, equipment review and stretcher rigging and hauling using a z-pulley system. Participants were also trained on our latest radio technology.

As BSAR approaches the end of its first 60 years of operation, we've decided to have a birthday party. The venue has been confirmed, for Sunday the 7th November at Nioka Bush Camp which is in the Plenty Gorge Park, and managed by Parks Vic. The site has a remote feel about it, with lots of mature trees for shade, BBQ facilities and some picnic tables, toilets and a hall with wood heater (hope we don't need this!) and kitchen. Cars can be driven right to the site.

Linda, a current and active BSAR member, and her husband Rob Rigato successfully skied to the North Pole in April this year after a strenuous 55 days. At the North Pole they were helicopered out to the Russian Barneo Station and from there on to Svalbard, Norway by the last plane for the season. Linda becomes the first Australian woman to have skied from the edge of the land to the North Pole, and the first to have done the same trip to the north and south poles.

With the recent good snow falls and the upcoming training weekend, here's a good article that covers efficient snow removal when finding persons after an avalanche.

The June 2010 issue of our newsletter Behind the Log is out now. This edition contains details on our recent searches as well as our upcoming training event.

BSAR extends their best wishes to Chris Sewell for a full recovery from a recent car accident. Chris, a current member and a former Field Organiser, sustained serious neck injuries in a car accident on his way back to Melbourne from an exploratory trip in the far north.

A brumby hunter, reported missing and last seen on Friday 20 Nov 09 at 7pm near Davies Plain in the high plains near the Vic NSW border, has now been found.  BSAR searchers searched in the area after arriving on Sunday afternoon. 

Field Organiser Rik Head advised that 12 BSAR searchers stayed out in the bush on Sunday night. Some of the search terrain in this very remote area was difficult due to vegetation regrowth after the 2003 alpine bushfires.

The search command post was 8 kms from the search area. Travel between the two locations was provided by 4WDs fitted with chains due to wet slippery tracks.

A second callout on Sundary for BSAR searchers resulted in an addtional 23 searchers arriving on Monday morning at search base.

Thanks to a grant from the National Emergency Service Volunteer Fund this year, we are able to offer BSAR members a generous first aid subsidy similar to last year. 

Advanced Remote Area first aid courses with a minimum of 24 hours – attract a subsidy of $160.
Courses with a minimum of 14 hours – attract a subsidy of $80.
BSAR members are also eligible for the Bushwalking Victoria subsidy of $40