Thursday, July 19, 2012

Two Rocks Marine Rescue - Skipper training

Yesterday I was called down to the base for a rescue. A 6mt boat had engine failure off the coast. The people on board, two adults and a child had put down their anchor and were waiting for the TRVMRG to come and give them a tow back to the marina.

The duty skipper of the day told me that I was to be the acting skipper and coordinate the rescue, he would be there standing by to assist if necessary. This was the first time I have had to coordinate a rescue and although it felt a bit daunting I knew that through my weeks of training I was capable. The skippers job is to organise and instruct the crew, firstly handling the ropes launching the boat and communicating by radio.

I helmed the boat out to the distressed boat and gave instructions to the crew where I was going to bring our boat alongside so that we could pass the tow rope. The swells were 3-4mts high, but luckily there was no wind or choppy seas. We managed to get the rope across and then paid out enough length to comfortably tow the boat back to the marina.

Coming along side the jetty with a boat behind was a bit tricky, but we managed.  The people on the distressed boat thanked us all and were glad to be safely.

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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Moora Fine Arts – Mixed Metals Workshop

There was a lot to set up at the gallery with metal clay tools and a firing station plus all the metal working tools, hammers, blocks etc. We started with the metal clay element of the piece of jewellery and then fold forming the copper element.
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We assembled the piece of jewellery using cold connections.
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Some of the students finished pieces.
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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Moora Fine Arts – Polymer Clay Workshop

I had a busy weekend teaching at the Moora Fine Arts Gallery, Polymer Clay Beads on the Saturday and Mixed Metals on Sunday.
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In the morning we cut discs of clay and then used a tool called the Makin's Ultimate Clay Extruder to extruder a multi-coloured snake of clay. The snake was made into a cane and slices were appliqued onto a bead.
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Some of the beads and brooches ready for curing in the oven.
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Students wearing the finished jewellery.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Two Rocks Marine Rescue – RAAF Helicopter Exercise

Wednesday is a training day with the Two Rocks Marine Rescue Group and today we did some exercises with the RAAF rescue helicopter from Pearce Air Base.
It was different for me as today I was in training to steer the boat and maintain an even speed so that the helicopter could winch down a crew member. The seas were pretty rough with a 2 metre swell and winds of 15knots.
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