COAST GUARD BRINGS SAFETY MESSAGE TO MELBOURNE DOCKLANDS SHOW

The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association has kindly offered to train and test aspiring boaties at tomorrow’s Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Festival.

One of the Coast Guard’s top trainers will deliver three 

Deputy squadron commodore Barry Cordwell will run sessions at 12.30pm daily, with each session comprising four hours of presentation, discussion, testing, and assessment.

Successful participants will receive a certificate of completion which they can present at any VicRoads office for the conversion to a Recreational Boat Operator License (note that the certificate alone is not a valid substitute for a license).

The cost is $70 for the boat operator session, $20 for the PWC endorsement session, or $90 for both. All proceeds go to the Coast Guard to do its vital voluntary work in helping keep the waterways safe.

Aspiring boaties wishing to participate will need to provide proof of identity. A current Victorian driver’s licence is sufficient, or alternatively, photo ID that equals 100 points can also be used. Documents such as a birth certificate, Medicare card, and a bank statement with the bearer’s name and address printed on it will be required.

For those interested in learning about boating, the Coast Guard is also offering free “Come ’n’ Try Boating” sessions from 10am daily, whereby show patrons are invited to jump onboard a boat for a ride around Docklands waterways with the Coast Guard.

Also on offer at the festival is “Come ’n’ Try Sea Kayaking”, again open from 10am daily, plus “Come ’n’ Try Dragon Boating” on Saturday, February 6, from 10am to 8pm.

The Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Festival is organised by the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIA) and runs from Friday, February 5, to Sunday, February 7, 2010. Opening hours are 10am to 6pm daily, except for Friday, when the show closes at 8pm.