Bush Search and Rescue Victoria
Volunteer search and rescue in Victorian bush and alpine regions
It will be 2 years since Jim Grelis passed away on 7th June 2017. His loss is still felt deeply by family members and friends but he still lives on in our hearts. To honour his memory, join us on one of Jim’s favourite events: The Albert Parkrun, Melbourne.
Continue reading “Jim’s ‘Memorial’ Parkrun: Saturday 1st June at 8am”
Bill Brand, former Officer in Charge of the Search and Rescue Squad, passed away on the morning of Monday the 17th of September 2018. Bill Brand was one of the founding members of the Search and Rescue Squad and served at all ranks up to Inspector until his retirement in the mid-1980’s.
Bill Brand was a great friend and supporter of BSAR.
The funeral service was held at Heritage Funerals, 733 Boronia Rd Wantirna, at 10 am on Tuesday the 2nd October 2018.
Eulogy
2 October 2018, by Duncan Brookes
Thank you to the Brand family for the opportunity to pay tribute to Bill on behalf of the bushwalkers; “The Bushies”.
Continue reading “Vale Bill Brand”
A tribute to Jim Grelis, 14.9.1951 – 7.6.2017
Jim was BSAR stalwart. He joined in the late 70s and became a Field Organiser in the mid 80s, a position he held until his death.
Jim attended over 25 searches and was Field Organiser on over 15.
Jim was deployed with full alpine climbing kit on Mount Feathertop in 1983 when Stephen Galland fell near the summit and died. I was on that trip and greatly appreciated the efforts of Police and BSAR rescue teams.
Jim was also Field Organiser on the very demanding search for Tom Kneen on Mt Feathertop in 1985. He started at Mt St Gwinear for a search that was resolved, then went to Mt Stirling for a search already in progress and was then redirected to Mt Feathertop.
Jim assisted with the development of BSAR Steep Snow and Ice skills and training after these events.
Most recently he was Field Organiser on the South Viking search in 2014.
Bush Search and Rescue members attended a farewell for Senior Sergeant Barry Gibson on 30 June 2016 for his retirement from Police Search and Rescue after 33 years of notable service with the squad.
Barry has been a great friend and supporter of Bush Search and Rescue. We have greatly appreciated Barry’s leadership on numerous searches over the years and the excellent support and encouragement he has provided to BSAR training events and more broadly to the organisation.
Peter Briggs AO is a BSAR Field Organiser and a retired Rear Admiral.
Peter lead a team of Australians on a mission to preserve the WW1 submarine AE2 as part of the Silent Anzac Project.
Peter also lead the team that found the missing submarine AE1 in December 2017.
BSAR Field Organiser and Retired Rear Admiral Peter Briggs lead a team of Australians on a different type of search – a mission to preserve the WW1 submarine AE2 as part of the Silent Anzac Project.
Three BSAR members particpated in the Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games held in Melbourne over 19-24 April 2014.
John McGauran competed in the stair climb and wond a gold medal in the 60-64 age group class. John’s time would have won the bronze medal in the in the 40-44 age group. Congratulations John!
Continue reading “BSAR members success in the 2014 Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games”
David Reid, Past President and Board Member of Bushwalking Victoria, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2014 Australia Day honours for services to bushwalking.
This award is recognition of many years of dedicated advocacy and service on behalf of all bushwalkers.
A gathering was held in Melbourne on Thursday 19 July at the Retreat Hotel in Abbotsford to celebrate the achievements and life of Bill Bewsher.
Many tales and memories were shared of Bill’s remarkable contributions to education, the Bushcraft and Mountain Leadership (BMLC) course, Bush Search and Rescue, the Federation of Victorian Walking Clubs (now Bushwalking Victoria), Melbourne University Mountaineering Club, his quest for the first ascent of Federation Peak in South West Tasmania, and his leadership and exploration at the Australian Antartic Base.
Bill’s achievements have been recognised in part by the naming of an Antartic mountain, a Tasmanian pass and Tasmanian lake after him.
Bill Bewsher passed away last weekend in Tasmania. BSAR extends its condolences to Bill’s family and friends.
Bill was a leading figure within BSAR’s history and had a tremendous influence on the course of search and rescue for two decades. He was appointed inaugural Convenor and held this position from 1949 to 1956 and again for a year in 1958-1959. Bill also became the first Field Organiser in 1950 and, excepting a fifteen-month tour of duty in Antarctica, held that position until 1970. After retiring from that position, Bill contributed as a Police Liaison Officer until the mid-1980s thereby concluding a 35-year involvement in land-based search and rescue.
One of the biggest searches coordinated by Bill was that for Mihram Haig at Mt Baw Baw in June 1955. The terrain was steep and dense and communications were difficult. An amazing 205 BSAR members attended during the search, the largest number on any search to date.
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