Michael Boadle - Emergency Services Medal
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During his 11 years of volunteering with Marine Rescue Shoalhaven, Michael Boadle has taken part in 325 rescue operations, often in hazardous conditions.
Mr Boadle, from Orient Point, was awarded the Emergency Services Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
The honour recognises his meritorious service to the Shoalhaven community as a volunteer member of Marine Rescue NSW.
The award also acknowledges his commitment and contribution to the safety of the boating public on the waters of the Shoalhaven
The currently vessel master, the most senior MRNSW qualification, said the award was a "great honour".
"Something certainly to be proud about," he said.
"It was surprising when I was first notified - it is one of those things you never really think will happen but it is certainly nice when it does."
During his service he has taken part in 325 rescue operations, often in hazardous conditions and, for almost a decade, has undertaken additional responsibilities as vessel operations manager ensuring the unit's crews have safe and reliable vessels for their life-saving work.
He also serves as a trainer for his own and other MRNSW units.
Mr Boadle said a love of boats and a "want for something to do in retirement" led to him joining the Marine Rescue organisation.
"I have always loved boats and when I began looking at what I would do when I retired it seemed like a good combination," the 68-year-old former Boral engineer said.
He says from his home to the marine rescue base at Greenwell Point usually takes about 20 minutes to answer a call out, which can come at any time, day and night.
"Over the years we've done all types of rescues," he said.
"It can be from the fairly mundane of offering help to someone to jump start their boat, through to others that have been considerably more serious."
Some of those emergencies are life threatening and "other instances unfortunately have had fatal outcomes."
In 2018 and again in 2020 he was awarded a MRNSW Commissioner's Citation for his role in hazardous rescue events, while the NSW Police Force Marine Area Command has also recognised his professionalism, dedication and commitment in assisting Marine Area Command in body retrieval operations.
He said the 2020 incident on the Shoalhaven River comes to mind, when he and his crewman rescued two people who had collapsed onboard their boat suffering carbon monoxide poisoning and one of them serious burns.
"It was in the middle of COVID lockdown, in an unknown location in the river at night," he said.
"We were able to locate the vessel and diagnose the people had suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and one had suffered second degree burns.
"We treated them and brought them back to our jetty at the base where the ambulance and rescue helicopter were waiting.
"The woman was taken to Shoalhaven District Hospital and the man was airlifted to Sydney."
For those heading out on the water, Mr Boadle was willing to offer a few tips including always wear a lifejacket, log on with Marine Rescue when you go out and off when you return, ensure your vessel is well maintained and always be aware of the weather conditions.
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