The Latest News

BSAR Committee Meetings

Mondays at 6.00pm   8 Sep, at the Community Centre East Melb and 17 Nov at Police S&R

The BIG News

BSAR is now Bush Search and Rescue Victoria. Following a vote it has been comfirmed that our name has changed. More details to follow and we will shortly consider a new logo.

BSAR Responds to Extensive Bush Search at Dom Dom Saddle

During the last week of March BSAR joined Police, VicSES, Country Fire Authority, SAR Dogs Australia, Parks Victoria and Melbourne Water in the large-scale search for 57yo Warren Meyer who went missing from a four-hour bushwalk on the morning of Sunday 23 Mar 2008 in the Dom Dom saddle area, NE of Melbourne. Mr Myer was an experienced bushwalker and was equipped with a GPS, mobile phone, water and some snack bars.

A total of forty-four BSAR members, from various clubs, responded to three callouts over the four days of the BSAR commitment. Members line-searched the often dense, damp understorey of the tall forests looking for any signs of the missing person. In the later days of the search BSAR leaders managed combined BSAR/SES or BSAR/CFA line-search groups.

Search Group Leader Frank Zgognik commented that the conditions were at times equal to the most difficult he had ever experienced on a search.

After five days of strenuous searching and with no sign of Mr Meyer the search was scaled down.

Rik Head, Field Organiser

Coming Events

BSAR Training Weekend

This search practice weekend will be held on the 6/7 Sept. It includes a 12 hr rogaine, a mock search as well as intensive practice on the use of radio and the new GPSs. Download the flyer for more detailed information

BSAR follows up at Dom Dom Saddle: "Cold Case" callout

Rapid Response Guidelines

Following BSAR's involvement in the unsuccessful large scale search for Warren Meyer, just after Easter at Dom Dom Saddle, Police again requested BSAR's assistance, to search for Mr Meyer's body.  As a result, nine BSAR members, together with Police from the Search and Rescue Squad, Dog Squad and Marysville, carried out further searching, in particular around the Cleft Rock walking track on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April.  Searchers were organised in pairs, which was found to be very effective for feature searching.  Again, no trace of Mr Meyer was found.

Members may have been surprised at this "cold case" callout, as it is not something BSAR has done previously.  As it happened, Police had raised the possibility of cold case callouts earlier this year with the BSAR committee, and there was in-principle agreement for it to occur.  Our procedures for cold case callouts will be fine tuned as a result of this callout.

Duncan Brookes, Field Organiser

The new Rapid Response Guidelines have now been formalised and are available

Northcote Assemby Area - Map now available for download

Behind The Log

The May08 issue of Behind The Log is available for download.

UHF CB Radio Requirements

BSAR now has specificed requirements for UHF CB Radios for use in the field and at base. Members are encouraged to have a UHF CB the same as those that have been purchased by BSAR

Bushwalking Victoria Individual Membership is here

Bushwalking Victoria are now implementing an Individual Membership category. This will provide another way to join BSAR.