Roads and Maritime Services has teamed up with Gone Fishing Day this Sunday to host the annual Boating Safety Day at Terilbah Reserve, North Entrance.
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Roads and Maritime executive director maritime, Angus Mitchell, said the free family-friendly event aimed to raise awareness of safe and responsible boating on NSW waterways.
“Boating education officers will be on site to provide the community with important safety equipment and lifejacket information, advice on safe boating practices, boat licences, registrations and NSW boating regulations,” Mr Mitchell said.
“There will be opportunities for one-on-one discussions with key on-water and education staff with years of boating safety expertise.
“Roads and Maritime will be supported by other government and non-government marine safety organisations, industry and community groups who’ll each attend with displays, information and demonstrations.”
Making news:
Gone Fishing Day is run by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
The day is designed to encourage people to get back to nature and discover the joys of wetting a line.
The Gone Fishing Day event at North Entrance will include free how to fish sessions, casting competitions, free goodie bags with bonus fishing lures, fishing tip classes by local experts, a touch tank, and loads of activities for children.
“Snappy, our crab mascot, will also be making an appearance and handing out lots of cool prizes,” a spokesperson for Gone Fishing Day said.
Mr Mitchell said the activities would take place from 9am to 3pm.
The RMS would provide interactive talks and safety equipment demonstrations, he said.
“Peak boating season is just around the corner and the focus will continue to be the promotion of safe and responsible boating habits for the almost 2 million people who go boating in NSW each year,” he said.
“In the past decade, nine out of the 10 people who drowned while boating were not wearing a lifejacket, which is an alarming statistic we need to change.
“Lifejackets can save lives when they are worn.”
Slim, light new-generation lifejackets will be on display and there will be demonstrations of their use, service and maintenance on Sunday.
