On Saturday, Marine Rescue NSW Narooma Unit members were pleased to have on Mr Whan board their lifeboat for an impromptu visit.

Minister Whan was welcomed aboard the unit’s aging Waveney-class lifeboat by unit commander Graham Brown.

During the hour the minister was on board, he observed three of the unit’s coxswains practising their skills handling the 20-tonne lifeboat across the notorious Naroooma Bar through a 1-2 metre breaking swell, supervised by the unit’s training officer Ross Constable.

Mr Brown said he was particularly keen for the Minister to see the vessel in action, and was pleased that members could discuss vessel replacement options with the minister, not only for the very old Narooma lifeboat, but the long-term cyclic replacement of the NSW Marine Rescue fleet generally.

“Overall, it was a good opportunity for the minister, who is not a boatie, to see first hand the crews and vessels within his emergency service portfolio”, Mr Brown said.

On Thursday, the lifeboat was called out to one of the easiest tows the unit has done approximately 200 metres outside the entrance, with calm seas and a flat bar.

The vessel concerned was towed in with engine failure and it was all over in about an hour.