Marine Rescue Merimbula’s Sonia Teston and Marine Rescue Port Macquarie’s Alison Cameron-Brown will join colleagues from around the globe in Sydney later this week, after being selected to take part in the International Maritime Rescue Federation’s (IMRF) Women in Search and Rescue (SAR) training course. This training session forms part of the IMRF’s #WomenInSAR initiative, launched in June 2019, which aims to increase the representation of women in the maritime sector generally and to provide support for, and raise the profile of, women in the maritime SAR sector specifically.
Marine Rescue Port Macquarie Master Alison Cameron-Brown
Marine Rescue Merimbula Deputy Unit Commander Sonia Teston
Sixteen participants, representing 10 search and rescue organisations from eight countries, will converge on Sydney this Friday (22 August) for the intensive three-day course, which is being held outside the northern hemisphere for the first time.
Teston and Cameron-Brown began volunteering with their respective units just over a decade ago and have both risen through the ranks. They each currently serve as Deputy Unit Commanders and are highly experienced on the water — Teston is a Coxswain and Cameron-Brown is a rated Master.
Marine Rescue NSW vessel Port Macquarie 30
Marine Rescue NSW vessel Merimbula 31
“I’m honoured to be representing the South Coast and Marine Rescue NSW on the international stage. Women in SAR will be a great learning experience,” Teston said.
“As the host nation, I’m filled with pride to be able to show our international colleagues how we save lives on the water — on the best harbour in the world.”
Port Macquarie’s Cameron-Brown said she was surprised to be invited to attend the exclusive course.
“I look forward to learning new skills and sharing some of the procedures we use to ensure crew and boater safety.
“It will be great to see how Marine Rescue NSW procedures compare with other search and rescue agencies from across the globe,” she said.
Teston said search and rescue work demands intense focus.
“That comes from concentrating on locating the target — a person in the water. I also marvel at watching the crew and radio operators shift from a relaxed mode to a highly professional manner.
“There’s sheer relief in finding the target and bringing them, and the team, back to safety,” Teston said.
Cameron-Brown recently embarked on the Marine Rescue NSW radio operators’ course, which will eventually give her a 360-degree operational view of the volunteer lifesaving service.
“The dedication and skill of the radio operators at Marine Rescue Port Macquarie has inspired me. Communication from the water is very different to managing comms from the radio base, and I look forward to joining and supporting their ranks,” she said.
“This Women in SAR training is a landmark opportunity for women in maritime search and rescue to advance their leadership and communication skills as they progress through the ranks,” said IMRF CEO Caroline Jupe.
“For female coxswains, or those working towards that role, it offers hands-on experience in mission handling, vessel operations, and unit leadership. Participants will take part in both facilitated classroom sessions and practical exercises on Marine Rescue NSW vessels, culminating in an offshore search and rescue drill off Sydney Heads. We are proud to partner with Marine Rescue NSW to help develop the next generation of Women in SAR leaders,” Jupe said.
Marine Rescue Middle Harbour will be home base for the offshore search and rescue drill.
Most #WomenInSAR participants will remain in Sydney for the IMRF regional seminar, to be held at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Darling Point, on 25–26 August.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
