Bush Search and Rescue Victoria
Volunteer search and rescue in Victorian bush and alpine regions
Members of the Birkebeiners Nordic Ski Club received a group citation in the 2005 National Bravery Awards for their contributions to the search and rescue of three men in blizzard conditions on Mt Bogong in August 2004.
The recipients were Jim Gargan, Paul Grusovin, Rob Borland, Jarrod Paine and David Panozzo, together with Gordon Guest-Smith from the Mount Hotham Ski Patrol.
Continue reading “2005 National Bravery Award to members of the Birkebeiner Ski Club”
John Retchford joined Bush Search and Rescue Victoria and attended his first search in 1961. During the subsequent forty-five years he made substantial and significant contributions in many aspects of Bush Search and Rescue’s field and administrative operations.
John attended many searches and became a Group Leader.
John was a Field Organiser for twenty-eight years from March 1973 until March 2001, during which time he lead Bush Search and Rescue members on 17 searches.
Stuart Brookes is a keen bushwalker who has contributed much to recreational bushwalking, including long service with Bush Search and Rescue, in Victoria.
Stuart has produced maps of Victoria’s Alpine Area and other popular bushwalking destinations from the late 1940s to the current day.  These maps are regularly updated and provide reliable and detailed information tailored to the needs of bushwalkers.
Stuart was director of Initial Training with the Bushwalking and Mountaincraft Leadership course from 1973 – 77 and chairman of the Bushwalking and Mountaincraft Training Advisory Board 1982 – 85.
Rik Head, a long serving Bush Search and Rescue member and Field Organiser, was awarded the Emergency Service Medal for a lifetime commitment to search, rescue and safety in the bush and mountains on Australia Day, 26 January 2011.
As a Field Organiser in Bush Search and Rescue Victoria, Rik has been instrumental in implementing and improving many search, management and training methods and systems including the innovative use of technology.
Continue reading “Rik Head awarded Emergency Services Medal”
6 to 8 Dec 2010. A man was reported missing near Combienbar in East Gippsland on Sunday 5 December 2010. He was in a group that was fossicking around old mine sites in the area and became separated.
BSAR was called to assist, with the first team leaving Melbourne in the early hours of Monday 6 December 2010. This initial search effort found some signs of the man’s movements.
A second BSAR call out saw an additional large team join the search on Wednesday morning 8 December 2010.
Continue reading “Search for missing man at Combienbar, December 2010”
A bushwalker was reported injured after a fall near Eagles Peaks above the Howqua River, on Friday 3 Dec 2010. Â BSAR were called to assist in a rescue operation and departed Melbourne very early on Saturday 4 December 2010. From Mansfield Police Station, BSAR searchers were driven up to 8 Mile Gap in Police and SES four wheel drives.
The rescue party commenced the walk up to Eagles Peaks about 6am. The weather was fine and sunny after yesterday’s storms. The BSAR team joined the Police Search and Rescue and SES team who were already at the summit.
Continue reading “Rescue of injured walker at Eagles Peaks, 4 December 2010”
