Marine Rescue Port Walcott unsung heroes share story ahead of National Volunteer Week

West Australian

19-05-2025

When an alert comes in at Marine Rescue Port Walcott there's no warning, no warm-up, just a sudden rush to the boat and often, a journey straight into the unknown.
For commander Tom Knight, one particular rescue mission sticks out to him since joining in 2017.
'We had just got back from search rescue training last year and then a couple days later, we had a call-out to a vessel that had capsized behind Delambre Island, with four people on board,' he said.
'We had very minimal information, because the alert was sent out through a message on an Apple watch, the skipper didn't actually have his phone on him.
'The seas were rough because of a cyclone and it was a couple hundred kilometres off the coast.
'Within 10 minutes of being on-scene, we came across the vessel with four people sitting on top of the upturned boat.
'We got them on board and one passenger was treated for a suspected concussion and the three others were then taken by a nearby friend's boat back to Dampier.'
At just 24, Mr Knight is the youngest person in Western Australia to be appointed commander of a volunteer marine rescue service.
Since joining, he has risen through the ranks and earned the WAFES youth achievement award in 2020.
By 21, he was already a certified skipper and has led multiple search and rescue missions. Most recently, he was deployed to help remote Pilbara communities recover from tropical cyclone Zelia.
'I recently joined up with the Roebourne District SES after the Tom Price storms late last year, we were helping to clean up and assist communities and stations in the Pilbara that needed help,' he said.
Marine Rescue Port Walcott training co-ordinator Rebecca Thomas started volunteering with the service a year ago, delivering first-aid instruction to marine and bushfire volunteers, and is also training to become a skipper.
'A highlight for me are the training exercises out at the islands that I organise, we get volunteer groups from around the Pilbara joining in too,' she said.
'We have mock injuries that we have to address and train for different scenarios.
'My favourite part of volunteering here is the camaraderie and being part of something that gives back to the community.'
Ahead of National Volunteer Week from May 19-25, Mr Knight highlighted the importance of volunteering in the community.
'We're a small town, a lot of people work for the same company . . . a lot of people have boats and without volunteers like us, people wouldn't be saved,' he said.
'You might not think you'll ever need it, but I've been rescued myself after my boat had taken in water.
'If you are thinking about volunteering, get in and sign up.'
For those hesitant about their capabilities, Ms Thomas said there was a role for everyone.
'We're always on the lookout for volunteers; you don't even have to be a rescue member, you can be a land-based member, helping out in the background — there is always something to do,' she said.