Neville Byrne is a rural Police Liaison Officer with Bush Search and Rescue who who lives in Tawonga, at the base of Mt Bogong.  Neville has been active with Bush Search and Rescue for 40 years as a searcher and Field Organiser.

Seventy participants took part in BSAR’s annual training weekend held on 19-20 November 2011 in the Wombat Forest.  It was our largest training event in a long time.  Thirteen BWV Clubs were represented, plus a number of BWV individual members.  It was especially pleasing to welcome 25 new and prospective members on their first BSAR training event.

Getting started

Monday 5 Dec 2011, 20:30.  The search call-out at 10:15 for Bush Seach and Rescue is now CANCELLED. 

The Pioneers of Bushwalking exhibition was officially launched on Monday, 24 October 2011 by Tim Holding MP, Shadow Treasurer during this year’s History Week celebrations. The exhibition is a collection of stunning images and artefacts that explore the fascinating history of the Melbourne Walking Club and some of the remarkable achievements of its members.

Past Bush Search and Rescue member Stuart Brookes features in one of the photographs.

The exhibition runs until Friday, 9 December 2011. Entry is free.

• Where: Royal Historical Society of Victoria, 239 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne 3000
• When: 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday
• More details: [link]

A SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger is specifically designed for remote area communcations and works in conjunction with a satellite communication system, for which an annual subscription (currently US$110 pa) is required.

SPOTS have the following functions:

• SOS: For a life threatening or other critical emergency. Notifies emergency services of your GPS location and that you need assistance. It is equivalent to activating a Personal Locator Beacon (when there is a threat of grave or imminent danger).
• Help: For a non-life threatening emergency, this function is used to notify your personal contacts that you need assistance using a preset message.
• Check-in/OK: Let your friends and family know via email or SMS that all is OK with a pre-programmed message along with your GPS location. Messages are sent via email or SMS to up to 10 pre-determined contacts and your waypoint is stored in your SPOT account for later reference. 
• Custom Message: Allows you to let your friends and family now receive a custom message along with your GPS location with a push of a button. 
• Track Progress: Sends and saves your location and allow contacts to track your progress in near real time using Google Maps.  This feature requires an additional subscription fee to the annual subscription.

The October 2011 edition of Behind The Log, Bush Search and Rescue's regular newsletter, is now published and can be downloaded from [here] (pdf).  Articles include:

• Searches at Tomahawk Hut and Mount Erica
• Mt Feathertop fatal accident
• Steep Snow and Ice training weekend
• Notes for the upcoming November 19-20 BSAR Training Weekend 

A Trip Intentions website is now available for people who would like to submit their trip intentions online via email to designated contact people.  This site provides a quick and easy way to advise your nominated contacts about details of your trip - and when to "raise the alarm" if you don't return by your specified date.  

Some information on distress beacons and what do to do if you get lost is also provided.

Four BSAR members assisted Police for three days from 17 to 19 October 2011 in the continuing search for David Prideaux around Tomahawk Hut.  PLO Merv Trease had received a request for four BSAR members, to act as navigators for a search effort utilising dog handlers with their dogs from the Department of Corrections and the Police Dog Squad.  Police selected some higher and flatter areas north of Tomahawk Hut as more likely deer stalking areas for more intensive searching.  Operating in three person search teams with a dog, these areas were swept at 50 to 100m intervals.  No trace of David Prideaux was found.

Duncan Brookes, Field Organiser

(Thanks to the Corrections Victoria personnel depicted, and VicPol for permission to publish these photos)