Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday the Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie had their open day. They perform a wonderful job in Lake Macquarie. Lake Macquarie is an area where we have a lake and access to the sea and, if it were not for the effort of Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie, those waters would be a lot less safe than they are.

The marine rescue is staffed by volunteers, and they are dedicated. Many of them have been involved with marine rescue for many years. Each and every weekend they give up their time to go along and keep our waterways safe. I was particularly privileged to award recognition of service for 25 years to Kevin Stone, and Tony Milton and Gordon Schubert received their 15-year medals. This is an enormous contribution by three men.

I have been to many such presentations of marine rescue in my area because those people who become involved with marine rescue do not do so for a day or two days; it is a way of life. They make a commitment to keep those waterways safe. When coming into summer, when so many people take to the waterways, it is imperative that we all get behind the marine rescue not only in Lake Macquarie but throughout Australia.