Port Macquarie Radio Club News August 2025

This month we have a fishing report from Kate Shelton and news of the SROCP radio course run by Gordon Kimpton.

August was another relatively quiet month due to weather keeping us at home. Even when there are no boats logged on in the Port Macquarie area the SARCC radio base operates 24/7. Our radio operators are kept busy after hours monitoring the bases from Forster/Tuncurry in the south to Point Danger on the Queensland border, tracking seafarers transiting our area. The rescue of a yacht caught in a storm en route to Lord Howe Island was initiated by our SARCC team. The AMSA helicopter was called in and the rescue was completed by the Police boat at Lord Howe, which had a difficult job to tow the vessel and its two POB to safety.

 

Our boat crews were on hand at Port Macquarie to give local assistance and recovery during August. They were also out on the water running training routines every week.

Radio Training

Watch Officer Gordon Kimpton conducted a free SROCP (Short Range Operator Certificate of Proficiency) course which was attended by 7 of our PM Radio club members. Five have volunteered to go on and complete the exam to be licensed operators and be able to add a MMSI indicator to their DSC radios. This will enable them to use all the facilities of the DSC radios. The class was well received with lots of questions and from the Marine Rescue perspective we now have seven better skilled radio operators. We will probably run another class late in the year, we will let you know via this newsletter. The course is free for paid up PM Radio Club members.

The SROCP qualification allows the operator to operate the VHF marine radiotelephony equipment only. The examination consists of a 25 multi-choice question paper (duration 30 minutes with a 70% pass mark) and a practical component.

Applicants for the Short Range Certificate of Proficiency are required to:

• Demonstrate a practical knowledge of … VHF radio telephony equipment with digital selective calling (DSC) facilities, and emergency position indicating radio beacons of the 406 MHz and 121.5/243 type.
• Demonstrate an ability to use VHF radio telephony and digital selective calling (DSC) operating procedures, particularly those relating to distress, urgency and safety.
• Demonstrate an understanding of simple maintenance practices required to keep the marine radio equipment … in good working order, including the repair of minor faults.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the regulations applicable to ship stations equipped with VHF radio telephony and digital selective calling facilities.
• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the Australian marine search and rescue system.
• Demonstrate a practical knowledge of marine radio operations and equipment.

Lord Howe Island Rescue

What a great team effort to bring those 2 young sailors in safely.  Vessel crew, LHI shore crew, PM radio, JRCC and their awesome aircraft coverage made for one hell of a good team.  Your guys at PM radio were awesome as usual.  As you know good comms is paramount in these jobs and our comms with PM were first class.  Please pass on our sincere thanks to your entire team.

Kind Regards,

Jim McFadyen

Unit Commander

Lord Howe Island

Marine Rescue NSW

 

Statistics

Month	Vessels Logged On	POB	Radio Calls	Search & Rescue Assists	Vessel Assists	Value of Assisted Vessels	Volunteer Hours (24/7)
Dec 2024	460	1208	360	0	7	$372,000	1203
Jan 2025	232	399	367	1	8	$180,000	1372
Feb 2025	301	738	309	0	7	$310,000	1140
Mar 2025	301	623	297	0	7	$600,000	1216
Apr 2025	385	767	361	0	6	$160,000	1139
May 2025	163	343	262	0	10	$1,450,000	1139
June 2025	185	337	268	1	4	$1,235,000	1107
July 2025	181	301	269	1	5	$185,000	1155

International Maritime Rescue Federation Conference

We are proud to highlight our Deputy Unit Commander for Operations (DUCO) – Ali Cameron-Brown – who was invited to fly to Sydney in August for the International Maritime Rescue Federation Women in SAR conference. Well done Ali. Keep up the great work. Ali was joined by Mike Dale and Dustin Welbourne for the Regional Seminar, held at the Cruising Yacht Club and hosted by Marine Rescue NSW.

 

August Angling Update

from Kate Shelton

Salmon, Bream, and Luderick Bite Across the Mid-North Coast. Down south, the Camden Haven River region has been a hotspot for anglers, with local anglers reporting some impressive catches. Dunbogan Beach has been
particularly productive, holding a good number of salmon. However, August weather has proved to be challenging for those venturing offshore, with conditions not ideal for offshore fishing trips.

In the Hastings River, luderick have slowed down a bit in the lower reaches, although the break walls are still worth a shot if you’re using green weed or sea cabbage. On a more positive note, bream fishing has picked up, with Limeburners Creek holding some nice fish. Both yabbies and mullet gut have been effective baits in this area.
For rock fishing anglers, Point Plomer and Queens have been yielding some quality tailor. Closer to home, the area below the Lighthouse has also produced a few decent bags of tailor. Bream fishing has been reasonable from the rocks, with those who get out for the dawn sessions enjoying the best results.

Further north in the Macleay region, the river continues to be a reliable spot for luderick and bream, with good-sized fish being caught off the local wharfs and break walls. Along the beaches, there’s still plenty of bream action, along with the occasional dart. While tailor have been a bit patchy, it’s worth checking out Gap Beach at first light, as casting metal lures or pilchards has proven to be a successful strategy.

Photo – Levi Taylor had an incredible day at the Lake Cathie Fishing Club’s latest
outing. The young angler landed several awards and is shown here with the
impressive bream and luderick he weighed in.

Community

Science Week Wrap up

• All in all… a success! We connected with the community and put on a show.
• Turnout on the first week was down likely due to weather, but the second week, I think we might have had a few hundred come by the shed.
• The boat tours were a hit.
• Nat Welsh’s talk on fire fighting was a hit. No one caught on fire. Win!

Positions Vacant

We are always on the lookout for new members in the crew, the SARCC or in our fundraising teams. If you can help, contact Merryn Farrell: fundraising.portmacquarie@marinerescuensw.com.au

Links:

Radio Club newsletter

Got a story? Contact Ron or Brendon: radioclub.portmacquarie@marinerescuensw.com.au

MRPMQ Facebook page:

This is our public facing Facebook. Drop in, like a post, comment. https://www.facebook.com/mrnswportmacquarie

MRPMQ Webpage: https://marinerescueportmacquarie.com.au

App Log On/Log Off

The Marine Rescue NSW app can be downloaded free from the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android devices. Search for ‘Marine Rescue NSW’. Please remember to Log Off.

Not a Radio Club member yet? Join the club at:

https://www.marinerescueportmacquarie.com.au/pm-radio-club-member-new-membership-application/

or drop into the radio base at:

2/15 Elliot Way, Port Macquarie

Ph: 02 5547 9100