Unit History

The Unit History: How we got to where we are today:

• September 1968 – Shoalhaven City Council purchased from the Department of Public Works the Fisheries boat shed and jetty (known by MR Shoalhaven and SMRA as the Crewshed).
• March 1969 the Boys Club were using the crew shed until April 1975 when the license holder relinquished control over the property and handed it back to Shoalhaven Council.
• 1974 the Shoalhaven Anglers Club was formed as only fishing clubs could hold a 27mHz radio license. Not being a club, the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol (RVCP) could not operate 27mHz.
• This Club later became the Shoalhaven Marine Rescue Association Inc with boating members using the call sign SA XXX.
• June 17, 1975, the Division Skipper of the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol (RVCP), Alan McGilvray, requested that the license over the crew shed be granted to the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol to establish a radio base.
• Alan McGilvray was a member of the Shoalhaven Anglers and the first President of the being Matt McKellop (who held that position for five years) with Alan McGilvray as the Secretary and Terry McCallum as Treasurer. The Club membership was the princely sum of $2.00 and there were 130 radio club members.
• Margaret McGilvray operated the radio base from their home in South Street Greenwell Point.Shoalhaven Marine Rescue with its “SA” (Shoalhaven Anglers) members was running alongside the RVCP at Greenwell Point for several years.
• 1 January 1978 a deed of license was entered into between Shoalhaven City Council and the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol to operate from the boat (crew) shed for a fee of ten cents per month (if demanded).
• 5^th September 1981: SA24 (the original 24) was launched at the Greenwell Point Bowling Club. SA-24 was an ex-military vessel and was powered by inboard engines, which were replaced with twin outboard engines.
• Circa 1990 SMRA were accredited as a marine rescue Unit (and was also a member of the VRA so it could hold accreditation)
• 1991 there was a disagreement between RVCP and SMRA over the ownership of the engines on SA24, during which time Alan McGilvray took leave from the RVCP and was later replaced.
• 1991 the State Rescue Emergency Service Board accredited Shoalhaven Marine Rescue as a Marine Search and Rescue Coordination Category 1.
• Circa 1992 when the Crewshed and slipway were relinquished to Shoalhaven Marine Rescue Association (SMRA) due to the RVCP moving to Shoalhaven Heads. Later RVCP at Shoalhaven Heads ceased operation leaving SMRA as the sole Marine Rescue Unit in the Shoalhaven & Crookhaven River areas and out to sea.
• Early 1994 SMRA purchased an ex-RAN vessel “Beaver” NWB 1283, 12 metres in length and powered by 2 x 137hp Caterpillar V8 diesel engines. This vessel went into service mid 1994 with the call sign “SA-8” and was named A M McGilvray in recognition of Alan and Margaret McGilvray.
• October 1995 the SMRA celebrated its 21^st
• 1996 SMRA took over “The Pilot House” at Crookhaven Heads which became the accredited Search and Rescue Coordination Centre for the area, with Alan and Margaret McGilvray moving on from SMRA a short time later.
• In 2002 SMRA took delivery of “TSRV Crookhaven”, call sign SA-24, a new 9.2 metre Seatamer vessel constructed to SMRA specifications, costing $250,000.00 and powered by twin 220hp Cummins diesel engines. This vessel participated in hundreds of rescues/assists until it was written off after a collision and grounding on a reef on the 28 February 2016 on the Shoalhaven River.  SA-24 (the callsign had been changed to SA-31 after MRNSW became operational) was replaced by a 7.5metre Ocean Cylinder in 2017, callsign SA-20.  This vessel is still operational.
• SMRA notified the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association in 2009 that they would resign from the VRA and become a member Unit of Marine Rescue NSW.
• 1 January 2010 SMRA officially became “Marine Rescue Shoalhaven, a Unit of Marine Rescue NSW.
• 2011 SA-8 was sold and replaced by a 38ft Stebercraft, callsign SA-30, this vessel is still operational.
• SMRA appears to have had three official radio call signs in its years of operation, they are:
  • VJ 2MZ
  • VJN 669
  • VMR-277

Thanks for this document goes to:

Bill Carter (N000012)