Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage

02/09/2026

After three busy days on the hardstand at D’Albora Marina, LT30 is officially back in the water and back on patrol. Bay Boats completed servicing on both outboards, Yamba Welding carried out much‑needed repairs on the sponson rubbers, and Abstract Signage refreshed the vessel’s look earlier on in the month with some new vinyl wrapping that had deteriorated behind repair.

LT30 works hard supporting our boating community, and she’s now tuned, polished and ready for a big summer ahead.

This is a timely reminder:
• Ensure your vessel is serviced and is fuelled
• Ensure all your navigation lights are working properly.
• Carry a reliable marine VHF radio - mobile phone coverage is limited on the Myall lakes.
• Remember, Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage is available 24 hours a day to assist boaters anywhere in the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park.

Before you head out:
• Wear your lifejacket – it could save your life
• Check the weather before you head out
• Check the tides and plan your trip accordingly

You can find boating safety information including weather, tides and maps in one place at:
👉 https://hub.mrltp.au/

Or scan the large QR code on the Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage Information Hub, located right next to the main boat ramp at Lemon Tree Passage.
🤝 To join: https://join.mrltp.au/

31/08/2026

A planned training session for MR23 and LT30 transitioned into an operational response when a PAN PAN was issued for a vessel taking on water near Soldiers Point.

MR23, our Multi‑Purpose Vessel, responded immediately and was first on scene. Her crew located the source of the flooding, a failed inlet hose and successfully stemmed the ingress, stabilising the vessel and ensuring the safety of the two persons onboard. MR23 remained positioned for evacuation if conditions worsened.

LT30 arrived shortly after and, with the vessel having lost all power, an LT30 crew member manually raised the anchor before commencing a tow back to Lemon Tree Passage. MR23 escorted throughout.

The skipper’s early PAN PAN declaration and prior log‑on enabled a fast, coordinated response. This incident provided valuable real‑world experience for both crews and highlighted MR23’s capability as a first‑response asset.

29/08/2026

26/08/2026

MARINE RESCUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE - FATHER’S DAY RAFFLE – WINNER ANNOUNCED! ⚓️
A huge thank you to our amazing community for getting behind the Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage Father’s Day Raffle. Your support keeps our rescue crews trained, equipped, and ready for whatever the water throws our way.

Today we drew the winning ticket and we’re excited to announce…

🏆 Congratulations to CLAUDIE C!
You’re our 2026 Father’s Day Raffle winner — well done and enjoy your prize!

To everyone who bought a ticket, shared our posts, or stopped by the Resilience Hub over the past two weekends, thank you. Your generosity directly strengthens our capability and helps us continue serving the community with pride.

💙 From all of us at Marine Rescue LTP - we appreciate you more than you know.

23/08/2026

🌟 Community Partnership Appreciation – Club Lemon Tree Amateur Fishing Club 🌟

Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage extends a very warm thank you to the Club Lemon Tree Amateur Fishing Club, along with President Tim, Secretary Trent, and all Club members, for inviting our Unit to attend their AGM and for their outstanding support of our volunteers and our mission.

Our Deputy Unit Commander was scheduled to attend and accept the donation on behalf of the Unit; however, as often happens in emergency services, he was suddenly tasked with assisting a stranded vessel west of Snapper Island. Once the rescue response was organised and underway, the Unit Commander proceeded to the AGM to accept the donation on behalf of Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage.

During the AGM, the Amateur Fishing Club generously presented our Unit with a $1,000 donation, recognising the vital role we play in keeping the Port Stephens community safe on the water and across multi‑hazard resilience operations.

This contribution directly supports the operational readiness of our rescue fleet - LT30, MR23, our Inflatable Rigid Boat, and our newly acquired Training and Education Vessel TX10 - as well as our support vehicle MR56 and associated trailer assets used for towing, deployment, and transport. These resources are essential for rapid response across boating incidents, flood emergencies, and bushfire resilience operations.

We sincerely appreciate not only the leadership of the Club, but the collective support of its members, whose ongoing commitment to local emergency services reflects the best of community spirit. Their generosity strengthens our capability to respond when people need us most and helps ensure our vessels and support assets remain ready 24/7.

💙 Thank you for standing with us.
🚤 Supporting safety, together.

23/08/2026

Last night at approximately 18:20 hrs, Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage received a call for assistance from a 4.5m tinny stranded west of Snapper Island with two people on board experiencing outboard issues.
Our crew was activated immediately, and within 15 minutes Skipper Brad and the team were on the water and heading to the stranded vessel. The crew safely secured the tinny and returned both boaters to the Tanilba Bay boat ramp without incident.
Great work by our volunteers, who continue to respond quickly and professionally whenever the community needs help on the water.

Safety Reminders
🦺 Wear your lifejacket – it could save your life
🌤 Check the weather before you head out
🌊 Check the tides and plan your trip accordingly
📡 Log On with Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage via VHF Channel 16 or by using the Marine Rescue App
💡 Find weather, tides, maps and safety information
Visit our website: https://hub.mrltp.au/ or scan the large QR code at the Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage Information Hub, located beside the main boat ramp and to access statewide resources via Marine Rescue NSW: https://www.marinerescuensw.com.au
🎓 General Boat Licence & PWC Licence Courses Our next course is on 17th of October 2026. Course calendar and bookings: https://www.marinerescuensw.com.au/boat-licence-courses/

20/08/2026

⚓️ JOIN US THIS SATURDAY FOR THE LTP FATHER’S DAY RAFFLE! 🎉
If you’re still sorting out a Father’s Day gift, the crew at Lemon Tree Passage has you covered with a great mix of prizes and boating essentials.

📍 Marine Rescue Resilience Hub – Henderson Park
📅 Saturday 22 August 2026
⏰ 0730 – 1200

Come say hello to the team who:

Keep our waterways safe year‑round

Know their way around a chart and a toolbox

And are happily stepping into their temporary roles as raffle‑ticket champions

🎟️ Raffle Tickets: 3 for $5 — a simple way to support your local unit
📘 Marine Safety Brochures: Handy reading for any skipper
🚤 Boat Stickers: A small but meaningful addition to Dad’s vessel
💬 Volunteers: Friendly faces ready to chat about boating, safety, and community

Every ticket helps keep our vessels ready, our equipment reliable, and our crews prepared for whatever the bay throws our way.

💙 Drop by, pick up some goodies, support your local Marine Rescue team, and maybe walk away with the perfect Father’s Day surprise.

14/08/2026

⚓️ ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR THE LTP FATHER’S DAY RAFFLE! 🎉
If you’re still adrift trying to figure out what to get Dad this Father’s Day, don’t worry — we’ve got a prize haul that’ll steer you in the right direction.

📍 Marine Rescue Resilience Hub – Henderson Park
📅 Saturday 15 August 2026
⏰ 0730 – 1200

Drop anchor and come see the crew who:

Navigate emergencies like pros

Can tie 14 different knots but still lose pens

And now proudly moonlight as raffle‑ticket deckhands

🎟️ Raffle Tickets: 3 for $5 - cheaper than a new propeller
📘 Marine Safety Brochures: Perfect for Dad to “accidentally” leave on the boat for guests
🚤 Boat Stickers: Because nothing says “responsible skipper” like a sticker collection
💬 Volunteers: Salty, smiley, and ready to talk all things boating

Every ticket helps keep our vessels shipshape, our radios crackling, and our crews ready to launch at a moment’s notice.

💙 Sail on down, grab some goodies, support your local Marine Rescue legends, and maybe score Dad a prize that won’t sink his mood.

09/08/2026

Attended the ARO TOOLBOX Professional Development Day and walked away with some genuinely valuable insights. When you train, you consistently learn and today highlighted just how important clear terminology is in rescue work. Do we stay and play, or load and go? Some situations demand that decisive call, and this training reinforced that perfectly.
Huge thanks to everyone involved for a well‑structured, hands‑on day of capability building. Well done ARO.

25/07/2026

🌭🤣 THE GREAT TAYLORS BEACH SAUSAGE SUMMIT 2026 🤣🌭
Where the snags are hot, the jokes are questionable, and the volunteers are running on caffeine and community spirit.
Port Stephens, it’s happening today — your Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage crew has taken over the Bunnings BBQ and we’re turning it into a full‑blown Sunday spectacle.

📍 Bunnings Warehouse Taylor’s Beach
⏰ From 8:00am until the tongs give out

Come on Down and say Hi to our Marine Rescue NSW crew

Expect:

Snags so good they should be heritage‑listed

Onions placed with the precision of a rescue chart plot

Sauce distribution that meets all operational guidelines

Volunteers who’ve been up since dawn and are now 70% BBQ smoke

🎉 TODAY ONLY – “LOVE YOU DAD” Father’s Day Prize
Grab a ticket and go in the draw to win a prize that’ll make Dad say, “You beauty!” while you support the team that keeps our waterways safe.

💙 Every snag sold helps keep our vessels fuelled, our gear maintained, and our crews trained for whatever the water throws at us.

🚤 Swing by, have a laugh, grab a snag, and help us keep Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage ready for action.