MRQ Gladstone recently welcomed students from Trinity College to the unit as part of their Marine Studies curriculum.

Over three days, Grade 12 students and two Grade 10 students visited the unit during lesson time to gain a practical insight into marine safety, rescue operations and the vital role volunteers play in supporting the local community.

The visit began with an engaging presentation delivered by Steve Boyd, who introduced students to Marine Rescue Queensland and a range of broader marine topics. He was supported by Tarnayh Cunningham and Holly Dwyer, whose contributions added valuable real-world perspective and helped bring the learning to life.

Students were then given a guided tour of Gladstone Rescue 1 and had the opportunity to view Gladstone Rescue 3, with in-depth discussions on vessel hull design, propulsion systems and operational capability. The tour was led by Rod Bennett, with assistance from Ian Grant, and provided students with hands-on exposure to the vessels used in real rescue situations.

The experience resonated strongly with students, who praised both the learning opportunities and the welcoming environment created by MRQ volunteers.

“I enjoyed my time learning and understanding what our Gladstone Marine Rescue Association does for our community. They provided extensive information whilst creating an engaging environment for all students. I also enjoyed the hands-on experience they provided all students on one of their main rescue boats. I would honestly love to do another experience like this with the association again!”

“I enjoyed it and the video at the end was really special.”

“The boat was really cool to see in person and I learnt a lot about what they do and how they help people.”

Unit Commander Kirk Porter said the visits were an important opportunity to connect with young people and provide real-world context to their classroom learning.

“Opening our doors to students gives them a genuine understanding of what marine rescue is about — teamwork, preparedness and service to the community,” Kirk said. “If experiences like this spark an interest in marine safety or volunteering down the track, then it’s time very well spent by our crews.”

Marine Rescue Queensland is proud to support educational opportunities like these, helping young people better understand marine operations, safety and the vital role volunteers play in keeping Queensland’s waterways safe.