OUR PEOPLE
ON CALL, ALL VOLUNTEERS
commitTed
all Volunteers
VOLUNTEER POWER
Coastguard Sumner runs entirely on volunteer power — locals who give their time, skill, and heart to keep others safe on the water. From students to retirees, our 40-strong operations crew includes everyone from new trainees to veteran skippers. They are backed by a 10 person volunteer Board providing vital governance skills.
In 2025, our team’s dedication was recognised nationally when we received both Unit of the Year and Rescue of the Year at the Coastguard Volunteer Awards of Excellence.
Saving lives here is often a family tradition. Our crew room is named after HJ Kerr, whose sons and grandson all served. Today, we’re proud to have multiple family teams on board—parents and their adult children and several couples.
Our culture means everyone’s part of the family. We’ve always got each other’s backs.
Commitment is what sets our crew apart. Whether on the water or behind the scenes, every member trains regularly to stay sharp and safe.
We train every Tuesday evening and every second Sunday morning, with short breaks mid-winter and over the holidays—but we’re always ready to respond.
Training covers rescue vessel handling, search techniques, radio comms, safety, and teamwork. It takes at least 18 months to become fully operational, but trainees quickly contribute on-shore to callouts and build hands-on experience aboard our vessels.
Even after qualification, crew continue regular exercises and reassessments to stay mission-ready — whether it’s an offshore rescue or a surfer in trouble.
boat crew
We recruit new boat crew every 12–18 months. No boating experience needed—we’ll train you. You’ll need to be a confident surf swimmer, physically fit, and live locally so you can respond quickly. During business hours we balance crew availability between those who work nearby and those commuting into the city.
shore CREW
Not everyone needs to be on the boat. Our shore crew play vital roles in radio comms, launch and recovery, incident management, admin, maintenance, and fundraising. We provide full training, including Coastguard radio certification.
how we’re run
Our unit operates like a medium-sized business—with a flat, flexible structure and a team of passionate volunteers.
President Blair Quane leads day-to-day operations, puts in countless hours, and still serves as a rescue vessel skipper. His dedication sets the tone for the whole crew.
With around 40 volunteers and multiple assets, our team takes on key roles like vessel manager, training lead, launch coordinator, first aid officer, and even social committee rep. The only paid role is our Unit Safety Officer, Mark Coulter, who ensures our gear, vessels, and procedures meet strict safety standards.
Every rescue is backed by the crew working together — on the water and behind the scenes on shore.
GOVERNAnCE
Coastguard Sumner is guided by a volunteer Board, chaired by Hugh Martyn, a professional director with a strong leadership background.
Our Board operates with the same professionalism and capability you’d expect from any medium-sized organisation. While several Board members are active crew, offering valuable frontline insight, most members bring specialist expertise from outside Coastguard to guide strategy, operations, and sustainability.
Like our crew, every Board member volunteers their time. Their leadership keeps us focused, accountable, and ready to serve.