Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Burdekin Marine Rescue Crew Honoured for Lifesaving Legacy

The spirit of service was front and centre over the weekend as Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) Burdekin volunteers were recognised as founding members of the new statewide organisation.

In a ceremony attended by Member for Burdekin Dale Last, Mayor Cr Pierina Dalle Cort, emergency services colleagues, and proud families, the crew received their official MRQ Citations—along with commemorative coins struck to honour the unit’s decades-long legacy.

From its early days as Air Sea Rescue to Volunteer Marine Rescue and now MRQ, the Burdekin team has been a constant presence on local waters, answering the call whenever lives are at risk.

The formation of MRQ, which unites the Volunteer Marine Rescue and Australian Volunteer Coast Guard under one banner, marks a new era for marine safety in Queensland. Despite the change, the mission remains the same—saving lives at sea.

When the full transition wraps up in 2025, around 2,700 volunteers across 47 units will respond to 4,000 activations a year under MRQ, operating as part of the Queensland Police Service.

For the Burdekin crew, the occasion was a salute to history, mateship, and unwavering service.

In other news