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Rotary |
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2018
Rotary Emergency Services Awards Finalist
Paul Ballard is a Duty Leader and coxswain with Marine Rescue Port Jackson, which operates on Sydney Harbour, offshore waters and the Parramatta
and Lane Cove Rivers.
In addition to his operational duties, this volunteer holds the senior roles of unit Trainer and Assessor,
dedicating valuable time and effort to mentoring younger members and ensuring volunteers have the skill and knowledge necessary to perform
their roles safely and effectively.
He also has provided the essential support on which a unit depends, taking on responsibility for unit rostering,
Information Technology, vessel detailing and attending regional meetings.
He can be relied upon to answer out-of-hours calls for help, to volunteer for duty on public holidays and to extend a helping hand to his
fellow crew members.
View photos of the awards night here
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NSW State Medal |
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2008
Article as published
Keeping love of boats on guard
Published in the Rouse Hill Times
23 Jul 08 @ 10:01am by David Catt
KELLYVILLE is a long way from the sea but it still has its very own heroic coastguard.
Paul Ballard's life-long love of boats has seen him seek out the salty air and foaming waves at times at a treacherous place that needs a keen set of eyes and a steady hand.
"I've always had a keen interest in boats and in high school I was in the coastguard cadets" he said.
"I left after I finished high school but five years ago I came back."
Now the 33-year-old volunteers one weekend per month plus occasional public holidays, juggling this commitment with his job as a general manager of a computer store.
It involves him manning the radio tower at South Head as well as working on the rescue boats.
"One of the more hairier experiences I've had was when I was out on a boat and we had to pick up a lady who wasn't thinking straight and had gone in to the water," he said.
"She was exhausted by the time we got there and she had resisted attempts by another boat to help her.
"It was at the stage where if we didn't pull her out quickly she would have drowned."
Mr Ballard's work has also seen him awarded a State Medal for his efforts during last year's Newcastle and Central Coast storms.
He and his fellow coastguards were called in to help man the police phones to direct calls to the relevant departments and keep storm victims calm until help arrived.
Mr Ballard said he would keep volunteering as long as he is physically able.
"I love the camaraderie and being around people who have a keen interest in boats," he said.
"It is also a chance to give something back to the community and helping out people who have broken down on the water."
"If there was a paid equivalent of doing this job I definitely would be doing it."
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Rotary Emergency Services |
2018
Rotary Emergency Services Awards Finalist
Paul Ballard is a Duty Leader and coxswain with Marine Rescue Port Jackson, which operates on Sydney Harbour, offshore waters and the Parramatta
and Lane Cove Rivers.
In addition to his operational duties, this volunteer holds the senior roles of unit Trainer and Assessor,
dedicating valuable time and effort to mentoring younger members and ensuring volunteers have the skill and knowledge necessary to perform
their roles safely and effectively.
He also has provided the essential support on which a unit depends, taking on responsibility for unit rostering,
Information Technology, vessel detailing and attending regional meetings.
He can be relied upon to answer out-of-hours calls for help, to volunteer for duty on public holidays and to extend a helping hand to his
fellow crew members.
View photos of the awards night here
|
NSW State Medal |
2008
Article as published
Keeping love of boats on guard
Published in the Rouse Hill Times
23 Jul 08 @ 10:01am by David Catt
KELLYVILLE is a long way from the sea but it still has its very own heroic coastguard.
Paul Ballard's life-long love of boats has seen him seek out the salty air and foaming waves at times at a treacherous place that needs a keen set of eyes and a steady hand.
"I've always had a keen interest in boats and in high school I was in the coastguard cadets" he said.
"I left after I finished high school but five years ago I came back."
Now the 33-year-old volunteers one weekend per month plus occasional public holidays, juggling this commitment with his job as a general manager of a computer store.
It involves him manning the radio tower at South Head as well as working on the rescue boats.
"One of the more hairier experiences I've had was when I was out on a boat and we had to pick up a lady who wasn't thinking straight and had gone in to the water," he said.
"She was exhausted by the time we got there and she had resisted attempts by another boat to help her.
"It was at the stage where if we didn't pull her out quickly she would have drowned."
Mr Ballard's work has also seen him awarded a State Medal for his efforts during last year's Newcastle and Central Coast storms.
He and his fellow coastguards were called in to help man the police phones to direct calls to the relevant departments and keep storm victims calm until help arrived.
Mr Ballard said he would keep volunteering as long as he is physically able.
"I love the camaraderie and being around people who have a keen interest in boats," he said.
"It is also a chance to give something back to the community and helping out people who have broken down in the water.
"If there was a paid equivalent of doing this job I definitely would be doing it."
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