Fund Raising at Marine Rescue Kioloa

Market stalls at MRK
Marine Rescue Kioloa is a volunteer organisation almost entirely dependent for its fundraising on the energy of its volunteer members, on donations from philanthropic organistaions and on the generosity of the community. While the State organising body Marine Rescue NSW provides key administrative infrastructure, accreditation and uniforms - vessels, safety equipment, towing vehicles, specialised clothing, rates and other recurrent expenses must be provided through volunteer funds.
The principal fundraising sources at MRK are:
• Application for grants through municipal, state, federal, commercial and local organisations. Grant writing is a skilled and time consuming activity. While the competition for funds among volunteer organisations is fierce Commander Joan Noble ESM has an outstanding record of successful grants including regular funding through local clubs, council and state based community programs. Without Joan's contribution MRK would lack most of its key safety equipment and infrastructure.
• Markets, sausage sizzles, raffles and bingo during holiday periods. Associate members of MRK are tireless in the creation of attractive goods for sale and the organisation of fundraising events. Kioloa Base has a twenty year history of success in these domains.
• Donations of labour materials and expertise are in generous supply from the local community. Without this help the Base as it stands could not have been completed. Nevertheless, the KIoloa/Bawley Point/Termiel is a tiny 'landlocked' village of retirees with relatively few commercial resources and, because of its remoteness, Kioloa has relatively low visibility with the local Council.
Landlocked by national parks Kioloa is an attraction for tourists Australia wide . For a number of months and many weekends during the year its small permanent population of 600 can swell to over 8,000 with the influx of vistors from Canberra, Wollongong and Sydney. The large number of tourists helps explain the demand for marine rescue services along the Murramarang coast.
However, providing marine rescue services to tourists and locals is not the entire story. The coast between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay is remote and, with the exception of Kioloa, is without safe havens. MRK maintains an important watch-keeping role on this part of the NSW coast and, through the mobility of its rescue vessel Kioloa 20, a supporting role for rescue operations on coastal lakes and with other Marine Rescue bases in NSW.
The principal fundraising sources at MRK are:
• Application for grants through municipal, state, federal, commercial and local organisations. Grant writing is a skilled and time consuming activity. While the competition for funds among volunteer organisations is fierce Commander Joan Noble ESM has an outstanding record of successful grants including regular funding through local clubs, council and state based community programs. Without Joan's contribution MRK would lack most of its key safety equipment and infrastructure.
• Markets, sausage sizzles, raffles and bingo during holiday periods. Associate members of MRK are tireless in the creation of attractive goods for sale and the organisation of fundraising events. Kioloa Base has a twenty year history of success in these domains.
• Donations of labour materials and expertise are in generous supply from the local community. Without this help the Base as it stands could not have been completed. Nevertheless, the KIoloa/Bawley Point/Termiel is a tiny 'landlocked' village of retirees with relatively few commercial resources and, because of its remoteness, Kioloa has relatively low visibility with the local Council.
Landlocked by national parks Kioloa is an attraction for tourists Australia wide . For a number of months and many weekends during the year its small permanent population of 600 can swell to over 8,000 with the influx of vistors from Canberra, Wollongong and Sydney. The large number of tourists helps explain the demand for marine rescue services along the Murramarang coast.
However, providing marine rescue services to tourists and locals is not the entire story. The coast between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay is remote and, with the exception of Kioloa, is without safe havens. MRK maintains an important watch-keeping role on this part of the NSW coast and, through the mobility of its rescue vessel Kioloa 20, a supporting role for rescue operations on coastal lakes and with other Marine Rescue bases in NSW.
MARKETS