Sunday, 5 July 2026
RSL Memorial Park, Ballina
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley ACKC

Thank you Phil^[1]

And thank you Headliners Chorus for that beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace, composed by a fellow mariner John Newton^[2] almost two and a half centuries ago.  No hymn or song could have been more appropriate to commence today’s memorial service.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of these lands, the Bundjalung^[3] people, and pay my respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.

Minister Saffin, Member for Ballina, Mayor, Commissioner Andrews, Marine Rescue NSW members, family, friends and community members who have turned up today and are online 

What happened on the 4th of May was such a sad and tragic event it is hard to comprehend it. But of these things we can be assured: on that evening there was no absence of commitment, no absence of training, no absence of dedication, and there was courage that shone through and was acted on.   

And what I also know for certain is that each of you are here today because you care about what happened on the evening of the 4th of May. You care about the work of Marine Rescue NSW. And you care about this place and its people.  You care about community.

When the Marine Rescue crew of six headed out in the Ballina 30 they were, as I have said trained, experienced and equipped crew -with a single focus – to reach a vessel in distress and to assist the sailor onboard. The conditions were treacherous and they knew that they had a role to play in fulfilling their mission, the mission of Marine Rescue NSW to “saves lives on water”.^[4]

They did this as volunteers and just as every time they went out on the water, they did it for us, for the community, so that those who use the waterways can be safe and on that night in the hope that a lone sailor could be safe. That is a true statement of the depth of their characters, of their generosity.   It is also a statement of what community means. 

That courage and generosity are the defining characteristics of the more than 3,000 volunteers^[5] in Marine Rescue NSW.   

To those close to Bill and Frank, my heart goes out to you on a day such as this.  My words cannot possibly express your grief. But can I say thank you. Thank you for supporting Bill and Frank as they did what they loved doing. And thank you for supporting each other in this very tough time. 

To the surviving crew and families, I know you are struggling with serious injuries. Take care of yourselves – it is not the time ‘to be brave’. Your courage and generosity speaks for itself.  

To you Commissioner and to the broader Marine Rescue NSW family, I want to express our State’s deep appreciation for your service. Across your 46 units, up and down the east coast, around Lord Howe Island, in the Alpine Lakes region and along the Murray River^[6], Marine Rescue volunteers do extraordinary work, driven, as I have indicated, by an impulse to help others, and knowing that on occasions they may have to extend that help in very difficult circumstances. 

And to the people of Ballina and the Northern Rivers region, thank you again for the support, respect and compassion that you have extended to each other over these challenging months.

The service of Bill and Frank and their fellow crew members was indeed the exemplification of amazing grace.