THE Raby Bay Volunteer Marine Rescue base was abuzz with activity last Saturday, but not because of any emergency rescue.
It was instead alive with families and special guests who toured the building’s recently completed renovations at an official opening on April 29.
SEE RELATED: See before and after photos of Raby Bay VMR
While those keen on maritime safety enjoyed lessons delivered by experts, children did not miss out – face painting and balloons were also offered, along with a barbecued lunch.
Commodore Bill Bennett said it was great to open the base to the public.
He said the added facilities, which included extra boat storage close to a direct access ramp, meant faster response times.
“We did not extend the building simply because we could,” he said.
“The reasons for the extensions were the safety of our members and a more rapid response time when assisting the public.”
The $600,000 makeover also included the addition of a refuelling station and regional skipper training room.
While cost restraints would have held-up the needed extensions, which were originally priced at $1 million, Mr Bennett said a competitive quote from Hutchinson Builders enabled the work to be done.
“Five years ago the feeling at Raby Bay VMR was that we would never be allowed to extend our building and that the cost, at least a $1 million, would be prohibitive,” he said.
“Thanks to Hutchinson Builders’ competitive quote, the cost was much less.”
Mr Bennett said the generosity of individuals and businesses had also made the refurbishments possible.
The training room floor was ground and resurfaced thanks to donated labour and equipment from Metz Tiles, with the premise freshened up and rendered thanks to free materials from Dulux Paint Australia.
Mr Bennett said federal dollars from Bowman MP Andrew Laming’s 2015 Shark Tank initiative helped fund the training room.
For more, visit vmrrabybay.org.au.
