Got a call from local police at 1830 on Sunday asking if we could put the rescue boat in the water and do a search around the 1 mile jetty as someone had left all their fishing gear, water bottle and pushbike behind.

With another member and the head copper we spent about 4 hours doing grid patterns on both sides of the jetty with no result. Suspicions have it that it was a backpacker and he won't be missed until he misses paying for his campsite then the alarm bells will ring and a report made to police.

Back on the water next morning at first light but with the other big rescue boat and our creek boat to spend another 6 hours doing grid searches and the creek boat scouring inside the river mouth, One Tree Point and inside the banks to the north of the river mouth where the big boats couldn't reach.

The search was suspended at 12 yesterday with no results and no one reported as missing but we were asked if we could do another run on Friday just in case something pops up.

In the process of the search another good fishing spot was found and no doubt will be checked out in good time and it was good training for the crews but not so good for their kind hearted community supportive bosses for letting them have time off work.