03/10/2026
BACK TO THE BEGINNING 💫
As we kick off our 50th Anniversary celebrations, it’s worth looking back at where the Australian Coast Guard began - and the early commitment to small boat safety that started it all.
In December 1960, during a meeting of the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Club in Victoria, the subject of “Small Boat Safety” was discussed.
Among those present were Olga Toolen, one of the five people who started the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron and now Promotions Officer for North Queensland Squadron; W. Down; E. Madden; and J. Madden, who was no relation to Ted Madden.
Ted Madden was a professional journalist, author of several books and a writer for many newspapers. As Operations Officer of the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Club, Ted and other club members were already conducting a safety patrol of sorts for their members, but not for the general public.
On 17 January 1961, an article about the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary appeared in the Saturday Evening Post.
On 6 February 1961, Ted Madden wrote to the US Coast Guard requesting further information.
A detailed reply arrived on 14 February 1961 from Captain Richard Baxter, USCG, Chief Director of the Auxiliary. It included manuals, a bibliography, leaflets and an eight-page lesson plan.
With no organisation then active in the field of small boat safety, the group from the Yacht Squadron decided to take action.
Their aim was to enhance pleasure boating safety, particularly in small boats - not only by instructing and educating boat owners in safe boating practices, but also by promoting safety through example.
From these efforts, and the continuing concern for safe boating, the Australian Coast Guard was formed.
The first Order of the Australian Coast Guard was drafted on 14 September 1961, and a provisional Flotilla, VF1 Melbourne, was formed.
The first Public Instruction Course (PIC) was held at Ormond on 8 November 1961. A National Board was formed on 18 December 1961, with W. Peterson as the first National Commodore, E. Madden as National Vice Commodore, and J. Madden as National Rear Commodore and Acting National Staff Commodore.
And that was just the beginning.
From those early Victorian flotillas, the movement expanded to South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, growing into the organisation we know today.
The Association continues its commitment to guarding the coast through Education, Examination, Example, and ultimately Search and Rescue - all embodied in our enduring motto:
“SAFETY BY ALL MEANS.”
⚓ 50 years of Coast Guard Safety Beach - and a proud history worth remembering. 💫
Credit to:
Australian Volunteer Coast Guard for the above except, sourced from their Website.
We sincerely thank the Beaumaris Conservation Society for allowing us to share this wonderful image of the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron from their archives.
The photograph was taken by Barry M. Sutton in 1961 and proudly hangs in his home today.💛
Thankyou Barry.
The President of the Beaumaris Conservation Society, Chris Sutton, has also kindly shared a link to a 16mm film of Beaumaris that his father, Barry, filmed throughout the 1950s and early 1960s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pidrp9nzMlo
Towards the end of the film, you’ll even find scenes of the BMYS site before it was developed - a fascinating glimpse into Beaumaris as it once was. 🎞️
