Four dedicated volunteers from Marine Rescue Newcastle have been formally honoured for their extraordinary courage and professionalism during a devastating yacht tragedy nearly seven years ago.
A Harrowing Scene in Treacherous Seas
On July 11, 2019, a multi-agency search and rescue mission was launched after an emergency beacon activated roughly 10 nautical miles east of Stockton, Newcastle. The beacon came from a sailing catamaran caught in wild seas.
Volunteer crews from Marine Rescue Newcastle were the first on the scene, battling severe conditions to reach the capsized vessel. They encountered what Ambulance NSW Inspector Luke Wiseman described at the time as a "very, very confronting scene."
Tragically, three people were found deceased in the water. A married couple, both aged 78, and a 67-year-old family friend had drowned. Two other individuals, a 16-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man, were clinging to the overturned hull and were later rescued by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
Volunteers Recognised for Courage and Dedication
On Monday, January 20, 2026, a special ceremony was held at the unit's Stockton base to acknowledge the volunteers' heroic actions. Marine Rescue NSW acting commissioner Todd Andrews presented Commissioner's Citations to four volunteers.
The rescue vessel Newcastle 30 was crewed by Master Ronald (Ron) Calman and leading crew member Richard (Rick) Nevile. They navigated through winds of 50-90km/h and swells of two to three metres to reach the catastrophe.
"The conditions were terrible," said Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond, who was the zone duty operations manager during the incident. He praised the crew's perseverance, noting they continued their grim task of recovery even after learning there were no survivors left to save.
"By that stage, they had been made aware by the rescue helicopter that the remaining people were deceased, but they continued to battle out there to ensure they could be retrieved for their families and loved ones," Inspector Raymond stated.
Skill Under Pressure On Water and On Land
Inspector Raymond highlighted the exceptional skill required to manoeuvre the rescue boat alongside the overturned catamaran in such rough seas to retrieve the victims. "Ron did that with great skill, and they were able to retrieve two bodies," he said. A second crew from Marine Rescue Port Stephens retrieved the third victim.
Critical support came from the radio base. Experienced operator Geraldine Allen and Warren Bramble, who was on his very first shift after qualifying, managed all communications under immense pressure.
"Both operators maintained a high level of professionalism during the fast-paced mission," Inspector Raymond added.
Acting commissioner Andrews presented citations to Ron Calman, Rick Nevile, and Geraldine Allen. The citation for Warren Bramble was presented posthumously, accepted by his wife, Helen, on his behalf.
"The courage, professionalism and expertise of these four volunteers in treacherous conditions and the most harrowing of circumstances is deserving of a Commissioner's Citation," acting commissioner Andrews said.
He emphasised that the crew's commitment went far beyond standard volunteer duty, carrying the sombre responsibility of returning victims to their grieving families. Inspector Raymond echoed this, stating the crew "went above and beyond" and deserved this long-overdue recognition for their service to the community.
