Sixteen BSAR members responded to the search for a Scottish tourist, William Bliss, 19, who become lost in the Sabine Falls area north of Apollo Bay in the Otway Ranges. He became lost on the afternoon of Tuesday 3 April 2007.

A search of more than 40 Police, SES, Parks and other volunteers was organised on the Wednesday. As he was not found during that day BSAR was placed on standby and a called out initiated later in the evening ready for a 0430 transport to the search area on the Thursday morning.

UHF CB Radios are used for field communications in addition to Police radios. 

GPS units are used as navigation aids in the field.

Avalanche transceivers are used during snow searches.

Personal Locator Beacons are recommended for parties visiting remote areas.

Bush Search and Rescue uses GPS (Global Positioning System) units in the field as navigation aids to supplement maps and compass navigation.

Two types of GPS units are currently in use:

Bush Search and Rescue uses Garmin eTrex GPS units.  Some quick hints for using these are:

We are now Bush Search and Rescue Victoria  following a vote to comfirm our name change from Bushwalkers Search and Rescue.

Our name is also shortened to "Bush Search and Rescue" for common usage and elsewhere on this site.

We are also developing a new logo to match our new name.

Bush Search and Rescue's annual Steep Snow and Ice Practice was held on Mount Buller's West Ridge on the 19 & 20 July 2008.

Bush Search and Rescue Victoria participate in searches each year. Recent and interesting searches are described in the following articles:

2010 Training

 Annually, BSAR hold an annual training weekend, a steep snow and ice weekend and, as required, specific training days for equipment familiarisation or new search procedures. Planned training dates are as follows:

• 24 - 25 July 2010 Training weekend for all current and prospective BSAR members, to be held on snow in NE Victoria
• 24 July 2010 Steep snow & ice training, in combination with the annual BSAR training weekend

More details

Bush Search and Rescue Convener: Frank Zgoznik at convener@bsar.org or 0418 544 800.

Correspondence: convener@bsar.org or via mail to Bushwalking Victoria, P O Box 1007, Templestowe, 3106.

General Inquiries: inquiry@bsar.org

Membership: Anne Casey at bsarsecretary@gmail.com All membership updates should be sent to Anne.

Peer Support: peersupport@bsar.org

• Low technology keeps going when high technology fails
• Nothing is certain!
• BSAR members are able to adapt either themselves or other equipment to achieve the task at hand
• The weather is always foul or on its way to becoming so
• A search is always conducted in the most rugged part of Victoria
• A search will always be on the corner of four map sheets
• Radio communications are likely to be poor or non existant

Mike Tegg FVWC S&R FO 1990

Rik Head BSAR FO 2003