Australian Volunteer Coast Guard helping Melbourne boaters get a boat licence

The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association will again be training and testing would-be boaties at the Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Festival.

One of the Coast Guard’s top trainers will deliver three sessions from Friday 5 February to Sunday 7 February at the Festival at New Quay Marina at Docklands.

Deputy Squadron Commodore Barry Cordwell will run sessions at 12.30 pm daily with each session comprising four hours of presentation, discussion, test and assessment.

Successful participants will receive a certificate of completion which they can present at any Vic Roads office for the conversion to a Recreational Boat Operator License.

The cost is $70 for the boat operator session, $20 for the PWC endorsement session, or $90 for both combined, and all proceeds go to the Coast Guard to do its vital voluntary work in helping keep the waterways safe.

People wishing to participate will need to provide proof of identity. A current Victorian driver’s licence is enough but if you don’t have that you will need photo ID that equals 100 points such as a birth certificate, Medicare card and a bank statement that has your name and address printed on it.

For those interested in learning about boating, the Coast Guard is also offering free Come ’n’ Try Boating sessions from 10 am daily.

Show patrons are invited to jump on board a boat for a ride around Docklands waterways with the Coast Guard to experience the joys of safe boating for themselves.

Also on offer at the festival is Come ’n’ Try Sea Kayaking, also from 10 am daily, plus Come ’n’ Try Dragon Boating on Saturday 6 February from 10 am to 8 pm.

Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Festival is organised by the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIA) and runs from Friday 5 February to Sunday 7 February, 2010. Opening hours are 10am to 6pm daily except Friday, when the show closes at 8pm.