MRQ Round Hill was born following a community group meeting at the Seventeen Seventy general store back in 1975. We were first formed as Air Sea Rescue Round Hill, with a shared goal of using local knowledge and experience to help the boating public navigate the local waterways – from creeks to reefs.
The addition of VHF radio to the area opened up opportunities for commercial fishing and charters, so a small team of dedicated radio operators began a daily radio watch to provide support for boaties in the area. The unit’s first vessel was obtained in 1989 and in 1996, the group became Volunteer Marine Rescue Round Hill, an association with a name that reflected the efforts of its dedicated volunteer team.
Over the years, the persistence and hard work of our volunteer team have seen us develop our presence in the area, adding to our fleet of vessels and establishing a permanent home on the foreshore of Round Hill Creek.
We celebrated our 50th anniversary as VMR Round Hill in 2025.
Our area of operation covers approximately 1200 square nautical miles, from Pancake Creek in the north, to Baffle Creek in the south, offshore to Lady Musgrave Island and around the Bunker Group of islands and reefs which includes the Fairfax and Hoskyn islands and reefs, and the Boult, Llewellyn, and Fitzroy reefs.
We provide first response emergency services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and maintain 24-hour coverage on VHF 16. The crew are on air from 0630 – 1800 daily, monitoring VHF channels, 81 and 82.
Weather broadcasts are made on VHF Ch 82 at 0640 and 1640hrs daily.
Our unit works closely with other emergency services in the region, including the Qld Water Police, port authorities, Qld Fire and Rescue, Qld Ambulance Service and the SES.
We also operate in conjunction with local MRQ units to provide support to the boating community. If you require support when travelling outside our area, contact
MRQ Gladstone, QF20 Keppel Sands, QF11 Yeppoon, and MRQ Bundaberg.
We’re always looking for new members to join our team. Volunteering brings many benefits – from the satisfaction of helping the local on-water community to friendship and comradery in being part of a team, and a sense of belonging and connection to the wider marine rescue family. Find out more about volunteering with MRQ.
Remember to always follow the marine safety rules and continue to Log on and Log off via your local unit or VHF radio.