28 April 2018 16:00. BSAR team departed to join search at Wonyip.
29 April 2018. BSAR team participated with search. Missing person was located when they walked out to a farm house.
External links
BSAR training day in Williamstown
43 BSAR members attended; 10 on their first BSAR event and 8 members travelling from regional Victoria.
4 members of the Search and Rescue Squad participated.
The training included:
- Tour and talk at the Police Search and Rescue facility
- GPS and Police radio field exercise around the Williamstown waterfront
- Search group leader workshop.
The Williamstown waterfront provided a good venue for a GPS and Police radio skills field exercise. The radio element was structured around search groups reporting specific information to the command post at each control.
Search group leader workshops, built around group discussions of scenarios based on actual BSAR search events were very well received.
BSAR Club Contacts function has ceased
Since BSAR’s inception in 1949 we have maintained a network of Club Contacts whose role is to participate in calling out club members active with BSAR to search for missing persons.
Often working late at night, our Club Contact’s dedication and contribution to BSAR’s success as an emergency service cannot be overstated. Club Contacts were last used during the protracted search at Mt Dom Dom in 2009.
However, over recent years technology has evolved to provide more efficient electronic methods to call out members, which means the role of Club Contact is now no longer required.
I would like to extend our thanks and appreciation for your commitment and service to BSAR as a Club Contact.
BSAR will continue to use our automated call-out system. If necessary, our Police Liaison Officers can also use a “fifty most active members” list to conduct a manual call-out.
Many Club Contacts have ongoing roles within BSAR including Searchers, Delegates and Peer Supporters. We look forward to their continued contribution in those roles.
For those who have only been operating as a Club Contact, we hope you will also remain connected with BSAR.
Once again, I would like to thank all Club Contacts for their significant contribution to BSAR.
Peter Campbell
Convener
Search for missing person near Halls Gap
15:32 Tue 02/01/18. BSAR search call-out for missing person in the Grampians near Halls Gap.
Wed 03/01/28. Fourteen BSAR searchers departed early in the morning to join the search.
The missing person was located by Parks Victoria rangers on Wednesday morning.
Peter Briggs AO leads successful search for missing submarine AE1
BSAR Field Organiser and Retired Rear Admiral Peter Briggs lead the Find AE1 team that found submarine HMAS AE1 103 years after it disappeared during World War 1.
The fate of HMAS AE1 had been one of the navy’s most enduring puzzles, sparking 13 different retrieval attempts since 1914.
The 800-tonne vessel was discovered under 300 metres of water near Duke of York Island in Papua New Guinea.
Continue reading “Peter Briggs AO leads successful search for missing submarine AE1”
BSAR receives Divisional Commendation from Victoria Police Eastern Region
Peter Campbell and Duncan Brookes accepted a Divisional Commendation for BSAR from Victoria Police Eastern Region on 29 November 2017.
The commendation was presented by Divisional Commander Paul Hargreaves.
For outstanding service, collaboration, commitment and tenacity in support of Victoria Police and the community, during a number of Victoria’s highest profile, challenging and confronting search and rescue response in Eastern Region.
Search for missing person at Werribee Gorge
Mon 11 Dec 2017. Search call-out for missing person at Werribee gorge. 12 BSAR members attended.
Missing person was found deceased at 7 p.m.
External links
Search for missing person near Mount Stirling
Tue 28 Nov 16:55. Search call-out for BSAR issued for missing person near Mt Stirling.
Wed 29 Nov – Thu 30 Nov. Eight BSAR members participated in search. Missing person not found.
Sat 2 Dec 15:47. Second call-out for BSAR issued. Twelve BSAR members confirmed to attend, departing Monday morning.
Sun 3 Dec 17:15. Second call-out cancelled. Searchers located the missing person deceased on Lower Link Trail about 10.45am.
The Police Search and Rescue Squad turns 60
Congratulations to the Victoria Police Search and Rescue Squad on turning 60 this year.
Over 60 current and former members of the Squad recently attended a reunion at Williamstown to celebrate.
Two special guests were Police Deputy Commissioner Crisp and Stuart Brookes OAM, a foundation member of BSAR and Field Organiser and Police Liaison Officer for many years.
Stuart was invited to attend because of his and BSAR’s role in the period leading up to the formation of the Squad in the mid 1950s.
Stuart’s remarkable account of that period in the history of BSAR and Police SAR, can be read here.
Snakebite advice from the Flying Doctor
The South Eastern Section of the Royal Flying Doctor Service has updated its advice and procedures following the publication of a new snakebite study. The Australian Snakebite Project is the most comprehensive ever carried out, involved over 1500 patients and collated snakebite data from the past 10 years (2005-15).
