There has been a changing of command at Marine Rescue Port Stephens (MRPS), with unit commander Colin Foote handing over the reins to acting deputy Ben van der Wijngaart.
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The new deputy unit commander is Colin Couper, who previously served as administration officer.
Mr van der Wijngaart spent 33 years of his early working life in the RAAF, serving both in Australia and overseas. He served with at Nos. 3, 77 and 481 squadrons at RAAF Base Willimatown. He said he was looking forward to the challenge ahead and thanked the previous leaders of the volunteer organisation.
On leaving the RAAF in 1998, Mr van der Wijngaart worked as a principal consultant and as a project manager with a Canberra-based consultancy firm providing advice to senior management with government departments and industry, in Australia, New Zealand and the US.
He served one term as a councillor with Kiama Council from 2008-12 and since then he has been a company managing director of a sustainable living land development project in New Zealand.
Ben and his wife Sharon moved to Nelson Bay in 2017 and are involved as volunteers with St Vincent de Paul, Orange Sky, ORRCA and Port Stephens Koalas. Mr van der Wijngaart is also president of the Tomaree Ratepayers and Residents Association (TRRA) and he and Sharon have been active members of PSMR since their move to Port Stephens.
Mr Couper, who had held various management positions in a variety of industries in Australia and Canada before retiring in Port Stephens, was introduced to MRPS by the Port Stephens unit's outgoing commander Mr Foote.
He has served as a marine radio operator, watch officer and over the last two years as admin officer. "I am looking forward to assisting the new unit commander and the unit's members to continue with the mission of 'Volunteers Saving Lives on the Water'," he said.
"Having done some work as a volunteer in Sydney, I was looking forward to being involved in a meaningful way in the Port Stephens community to fill in my spare time. That was when I met Colin on the golf course who asked me to attend an information evening."
The exposure led to Mr Couper's induction, training and eventually into the positions of marine radio operator, watch officer and for the past two years as administration officer. "I am looking forward to assisting the new unit commander and the unit's membership to continue with the mission of 'Volunteers Saving Lives on the Water'," he said.
An official changing of command ceremony will take place at the unit's virtual annual general meeting to be held on Tuesday, June 16.
