By Eugene Carlomagno *
THANK you to the Frankston community.
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that VF-01, Frankston Coast Guard was dissolved last week and will no longer provide marine rescue services to the Frankston community it has served for the past sixty years. We have been privileged to serve the community in providing education on water safety, advice on boat handling, support for community functions and a highly regarded Marine Search and Rescue service.
In my capacity as VF01 flotilla commander, 2019- 2022, and a ratepayer I would like to acknowledge and thank our community for all the support and generous donations that we have received over the last 60 years – support than has enabled us to purchase much needed resources, vessels and equipment, the overwhelming support we received on our petition for the construction of a safe boat refuge. We never lost our drive and commitment to making the waters of Frankston, Kananook Creek and Oliver’s Hill a safe place.
Annual events such as the blessing of the fleet, celebrating the work Marine Rescue Services and the many agencies engaged in the provision of emergency services has been hosted by VF01 over the past forty years, now comes to an end.
We have assisted in many community events each year over the past sixty years, such as, providing a flare demonstrations and a vessel to monitor exclusion zones for the Frankston Waterfront Festival and vessel support of the Greek Festival of the blessing of the Epiphany, too many community events to list, has now sadly come to an end. All of us at VF-01, both current and past members, have many fond memories of our times served with the Frankston flotilla and are proud to have been able to rescue so many people in need out in the bay.
A significant amount of money and support was given to us by Frankston City Council over the years and I would like to thank the councillors past and present for their support and indeed local politicians who also supported the cause of making Frankston and Port Phillip a safer environment. This support for the Frankston Coast Guard also included Water Police (WATPOL) and the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIA), Marine Safety Victoria (MSV), to name but a few.
Rest assured, whilst VF-01 has ceased operations, our neighbouring Coast Guard flotillas and independent Marine Rescue Operations continue to provide education, support and most importantly, help on the water when you need it most. For now, it’s farewell and thank you from us all at Frankston Coast Guard.
* Eugene Carlomagno was the commander of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Frankston flotilla between 2019 and 2022.