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2018 Annual Training at Chewton – June 23-24

BSAR’s annual training weekend was held on 23-24 June 2018 at Chewton, with 28 members, 23 prospective members and 6 Police Search and Rescue attending in delightful June weather.

On Saturday our new and prospective members completed an induction session while experienced members participated in group leader scenarios covering hypothermia treatment, stretcher carry and helicopter evacuation.

2018 BSAR training Chewton

The afternoon moved to the focus of this training; navigation. Skills were developed and practiced with the GPS and in bush navigation using map and compass. The evening included a night navigation session to put those skills to the test.

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Five feet under

2017 Norway avalanche rescue

A remarkable story of a major avalanche, burial, rescue and survival in Norway.  Great work by Norwegian avalanche rescue teams.  [Five feet under]

Photo: First rescue workers have arrived at the avalanche site. They search alongside the skiing party. Photo: Reidar Brusletto

 

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Search for missing person at Werribee Gorge

Call-outSaturday 29/04/18. 07:00.  BSAR team of 9 departed to join search for missing person in the Werribee Gorge area.

After searching during the day, the BSAR team returned to Melbourne late in the afternoon.

The missing person was not found during the search.

They were later found deceased on 5 May 2018.

External links

 

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BSAR training day in Williamstown

Getting ready for the radio and navigation exercise
Getting ready for the radio and navigation exercise

 

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.

 

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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