Rosemary Arnold knows the devastation of losing a loved one at sea which is why she has donated a boat to the Port Fairy Marine Rescue Service.
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The Port Fairy resident has donated a 19-foot pontoon boat and trailer to the service to use or sell to raise funds towards a new vessel.
Mrs Arnold’s son Grant was 34-years-old when he was lost at sea in 1987. His body has never been recovered.
She said it was a fitting tribute. “This is in memory of my son who was lost,” Mrs Arnold said. “I pulled out the original paperwork and the boat was registered on his anniversary date (that he went missing), September 25. It’s uncanny. He went missing at sea and was never found.”
A recent health scare means she can’t use the boat any longer and decided to donate the items, originally valued at $29,000, after hearing about the group’s need for funding.
Mrs Arnold supports their work and said many people didn’t realise the rescue service’s important role.
This is the Shipwreck Coast. This is vital, the saving of lives. Until you’ve lost someone you have no idea.
- Rosemary Arnold
“This is the Shipwreck Coast,” she said. “This is vital, the saving of lives. Until you’ve lost someone you have no idea.”
President Russell Lemke said was a very generous gift from a private citizen and $1million was needed to buy a new boat.
“It’s commendable,” Mr Lemke said. “Hopefully it will inspire the public to support our service”.
Mr Lemke said the committee would meet to discuss how the boat would be used and how they could honour Grant Arnold.
Mr Lemke said the folk festival committee had allocated $100,000 towards the new vessel but more money was needed.
They hope to purchase a 40-foot class one sea-going vessel which can go to the Continental Shelf and beyond.
“We’re limited to 15 nautical miles in good weather and five nautical miles in moderate, and in rough weather we’re not allowed to leave port which is a problem,” Mr Lemke said.
He said they were tasked to rescue Clark Smock who was plucked from the sea by the HEMS 4 helicopter.
Mr Smock’s boat overturned about 30 nautical miles out from Port Fairy on February 28, “but were recalled because it was past our boat’s capability.”
Mrs Arnold encouraged others to donate. “They need a lot of money. It’s not the value of the article, it’s the way it can be used. It can be auctioned, raffled or used as an auxiliary vessel,” she said.