From humble beginnings with six members meeting in community halls in 1964, to an active unit with experienced members who share their knowledge and experience, MRQ Whitsunday has long been focused on the goal of saving lives at sea. 

The unit began officially as Whitsunday Air Sea Rescue in 1967, before merging with another local emergency rescue organisation in 1977 to become Whitsunday Marine Rescue. We later became VMR Whitsunday before transitioning into Marine Rescue Queensland. 

MRQ Whitsunday covers an area of 13,000 square kilometres within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, from Gloucester Island out to Line Reef, to Square Shoal in the east, and to the south of Thomas Island. 

Our radio room operates a dedicated listening watch each weekend and on public holidays from 07:00 to 17:00. We monitor VHF channel 16 and 67, as well as channel 81 in the Whitsunday islands and central area, Channel 82 in the Hayman Island area, north to the Great Barrier Reef and west to the mainland.  

We maintain operational readiness 24/7 and are manned by a trained crew, including commercially qualified and licenced skippers. 

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, the SES and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. 

We also operate in conjunction with local MRQ units to provide support to the regional boating community. If you require support when travelling outside our area, contact MRQ Bowen, MRQ Midge Point and MRQ Mackay.   

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. 

Notice of Establishment of MRQ Whitsunday

Call sign

Marine Rescue Whitsunday

VMR 442