Retired Rochelle Ward couldn’t sit still for too long before putting her hand up to volunteer with one of Pittwater’s most crucial services.
Marine Rescue Broken Bay is an independent, volunteer-run not-for-profit dedicated to keeping Pittwater’s boating community safe on the water.
“I had retired from work, and after about 12 months I thought I wanted to do some volunteering. I liked the look of what they did, and I thought I could help out in the administration part of the organisation,” Rochelle begins.
The Warriewood local says she doesn’t have a ‘standard day’ when working at Marine Rescue’s Bayview base, but rather deals with and manages things as they arise.
“It was exciting organising the commissioning of the new vessel in 2020 at the Royal Motor Yacht Club, it was an official program with parliamentary and Marine Rescue NSW dignitaries,” Rochelle recalls.
The new vessel was officially welcomed by Member for Pittwater, Rob Stokes, the former Member for Mackellar Jason Falinski, and Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner, Stacey Tannos.
Part of Rochelle’s role is to also to take the minutes of each meeting and help to conduct the fundraising, including hosting the regular the Bunning’s sausage sizzle and organising raffle prizes.
“We have a thing called the Radio Club which has a membership and I look after that, which is a fundraising exercise because we have to raise all our own funds.”
As the Pittwater emergency service is run by community donations, it is vital that Rochelle and the team continue to hold fundraising events and come up with new ideas to be able to continue their important work.
Marine Rescue Broken Bay is also undergoing a major development after years of searching for grants, seeking approval, and engaging with the local community.
With works scheduled to start in the coming months, Rochelle and the team spent weeks relocating their operations to new temporary accommodation, all while continuing to provide the vital service.
“Organising the move was a pretty big thing because they had been there for many years, so there was a lot to sort out,” Rochelle says.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Stacey Tannos, former Member for Mackellar Jason Falinski (centre) and Member for Pittwater Rob Stokes (right) at the commissioning of the new Marine Rescue vessel in 2020.
“Being involved with this has been awesome, knowing how it will enable the unit to have access to better training facilities and an all-round environment conducive to the activities we engage with.”
Rochelle admits that she loves being part of the volunteer team at Broken Bay and the relationships that she has developed.
“We do become like a family. You get to know them all and they are all like-minded people, or they wouldn’t be volunteering. So, therefore, I think you enjoy it and enjoy the company of everybody,” she explains.
“They are a great bunch of people that I work with and there is a lot of variety in it for me, which is good.”
Rochelle says that although she is very busy sometimes, she does find the role extremely rewarding and imagines herself continuing with the base for a long time.
“I have my own office set up at home, so yes, I think I would stay in it for as long as I can keep doing it.”
When Rochelle isn’t volunteering, she is kept busy by her six grandchildren and putting time and care into her garden.