Keppel Sands volunteers join Marine Rescue Queensland

A new chapter has begun for volunteer marine rescue on the Capricorn Coast, with the Keppel Sands Flotilla of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA) joining Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ). The unit is now known as MRQ Keppel Sands.

While the uniform changes, local boaties can keep relying on the same volunteers who have protected the region's waterways for more than four decades. Today, 26 members transition to MRQ Keppel Sands. The move is another milestone in the delivery of Queensland's first statewide marine rescue service.

MRQ Acting Chief Officer Mark Anderson welcomed the volunteers on their first day as MRQ. "We are delighted to welcome the volunteers of Keppel Sands into Marine Rescue Queensland and recognise the dedication they have shown their community for more than 40 years," he said.

MRQ Keppel Sands Unit Commander Kevin Prizeman said local knowledge can make all the difference in the region, "particularly around challenging areas such as the Pumpkin Creek, Carawall Creek entrances and more remote offshore waters." He said the transition would help strengthen marine rescue services for local boaters into the future.

AVCGA National Commodore Matthew Semmens thanked members for their decades of service and wished them well in this next chapter.

MRQ is part of the Queensland Police Service and brings together the AVCGA and Volunteer Marine Rescue Queensland. The transition is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. As a Queensland Government-funded service, all MRQ units provide free rescue services to the boating community.

To find your local marine rescue unit, visit the MRQ website or call 131 MRQ (677). In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000) or radio VHF 16.