Marine Rescue volunteer Jimmy Arteaga is Northern Beaches citizen of the year
Commitment, determination, and the desire to help others drives Jimmy Arteaga, unit commander for Marine Rescue NSW Broken Bay (MR). Now he’s been recognised for his volunteer work with Marine Rescue, becoming the Northern Beaches citizen of the year.
Marine Rescue is a not-for-profit organisation tasked with protecting the state’s waterways through an army of volunteers.
Jimmy’s award came as a surprise, saying he wouldn’t be where he is without his teammates.
“I’m pretty honoured with the award, but I’m also cognisant that I’m only one person in the whole team who provides emergency support,” he says, giving recognition to his fellow volunteers.
The Freshwater local has been part of the Marine Rescue since 2010 and in June, it will be his sixth year as unit commander. Although he divides his time between family, friends and a full-time job as an IT manager for an aged care facility, he always finds time for MR.
“It would be at least 30 hours a week, depending upon what we’re working on,” he says.
In the past year, he oversaw the rescue of many vessels and people in the Pittwater and Broken Bay area and was responsible for more than 90 volunteers at the Broken Bay Unit.
The award also recognises what Jimmy sees as one of his most important achievements, which resulted in a brand new facility for MR Broken Bay. His drive and dedication led to the construction of the new state-of-the-art building which brings it in line with other MR facilities in NSW.
The new Broken Bay building is Jimmy’s legacy
Jimmy Arteaga at the citizen of the year awards ceremony
Jimmy says that the new building represents what they really are as an institution, providing them with a more ‘professional image,’ and the community will see ‘we’re really good at what we do,’ he says.
“It’s a big testament to the community and the members for getting the base because that will be there for years and years, available to all volunteers. So when they come in, they get to use this fantastic building.
“The base is that ‘next level’. It’s the culmination of us moving to become a professional organisation of volunteers that I’ve been pushing for.”
Jimmy also commands the unit which oversees assistance on Sydney Harbour every New Year’s Eve. His teams have been involved in flood and fire rescues, and provide support to other emergency services, for example, answering and logging calls.
To Jimmy, the most valuable reward is the feeling that, ‘the more you get involved, the more you’ll get back’.
“I would say just become a volunteer. It doesn’t have to be marine rescue. Volunteering just gives you happiness and warmth.”
