Eden’s Ian Whiter is clocking up 33 years as a volunteer radio operator with Marine Rescue NSW, formerly the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol.
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In fact it was his parents and family that were behind the establishment of the radio station in Eden back in 1984.
While Mr Whiter was not manning the radios during that fateful 48 hours during the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race, his son was.
However, it was more the whole-of-community response to the tragic events that stands out most for Mr Whiter.
“A lot of Eden opened its doors to everyone. We had around two-thirds of the fleet here, all the flights out were booked within minutes leaving hundreds of yachties stranded.
“We had two crews at my place over four days waiting for a way home, but so did hundreds of others.
“That’s what stands out for me the most – the way everyone rallied to help wherever they could.”
Mr Whiter said he also assisted crane operator Chris Timms in loading yachts on to trucks for transporting home.
Mr Whiter said his parents Allan and Jean Whiter started the seafaring town’s first volunteer marine radio service in the early 1980s.
Both Jean and Allan received Order of Australia Medals for their community-minded efforts, which also included establishing a volunteer ambulance service in Eden in the 1960s.
“There was no real everyday radio system back then,” he said.
“Mum began operating a rescue service from home for a while, then dad designed the station and my brothers and I helped build it.
“We’ve been doing it there ever since.”
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For Ian and his sister Jenny Drenkhahn, this marks 33 years of volunteering their time at the Lookout Point station.
“It’s all about looking after people at sea – the majority have safe trips, others get into trouble. And when the weather picks up like it did in ‘98 that’s when it hits the fan.
“But Eden helps out whenever someone’s in need, people just open their doors to help.”
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