Formed in 1972, Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Bundaberg is now part of Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ).
Bundaberg is one of the largest small craft entry ports into Australia for overseas vessels and VMR Bundaberg is their first contact to arrange Australian Border Force and Biosecurity clearances.
MRQ Bundaberg’s area of responsibility is from Baffle Creek in the north, to the Burrum River in the south, a total of 55 nautical miles of coastline. The northern boundary extends 50 nautical miles seaward to Lady Musgrave Island and southward to Indian Head on the eastern side of K’gari (Fraser Island).
The unit’s 70 volunteers spend more than 3,400 active crew hours each year helping protect Bundaberg’s on-water community. In 2023/24 they carried out 175 operational activations. The volunteers undertake weekly training and are looking forward to a new 8.5m Rigid Woody vessel, which is expected to be delivered to the unit in July.
The new vessel will increase the unit’s fleet to three and will offer greater capabilities for volunteer training, will provide additional offshore support and strengthen the unit’s search and rescue capabilities.
For the past 17 years VMR Bundaberg’s primary fundraising event is the Family Fishing Classic, which will be held from 4-6 July 2025. Volunteers also maintain a Limited Coast Radio Station at its base in Burnett Heads and volunteer radio operators monitor marine radio traffic from 6am to 6pm every day of the year.
MRQ is Queensland’s first state-wide, State Government-funded volunteer marine rescue service dedicated to saving lives at sea and supporting those on or near the water.
MRQ is part of Queensland Police Service, which is responsible for coordinating the state’s disaster and emergency services response – but MRQ is a separate service with its own identity, structure, governance and uniforms.
MRQ Bundaberg is the ninth VMR unit to transition to MRQ since 1 July 2024.
MRQ Chief Officer Tony Wulff said VMR Bundaberg’s move to MRQ was another exciting step for marine rescue in the Wide Bay region.
“Adding another MRQ unit increases our level of support for volunteers in the Wide Bay region,” Mr Wulff said.
“We know the community has relied on the Bundaberg volunteers for more than 50 years and they will continue to do so and the same, friendly faces will be there.”
MRQ Bundaberg Unit Commander Rod Studholme said volunteers were excited with the move to MRQ.
“Our volunteers voted unanimously to join MRQ and we are all looking forward to being part of this new marine rescue organisation,” Mr Studholme said.
“We are also looking forward to having one of MRQ’s contingency vessels being based at MRQ Bundaberg. This will significantly enhance our search and rescue and training capabilities.”
MRQ Bundaberg follows the transition of MRQ North Stradbroke on 8 April 2025, Port Douglas on 11 December 2024, MRQ Jacobs Well on 9 December 2024, MRQ Hervey Bay on 3 December 2024, MRQ Victoria Point on 19 November 2024, MRQ Currumbin on 14 November 2024 and MRQ Gladstone and Mackay units in July 2024.