19 June 2015
Coastguard Volunteers Shine on Global Stage

Long-time Coastguard stalwart Brooke Archbold has just been made an Honorary Life Member of the International Marine Rescue Federation (IMRF) and Dean Lawrence, Coastguard New Zealand (CNZ) President has just been elected to the IMRF Board, following the 2015 World Maritime Rescue Congress in Bremerhaven, Germany. IMRF is the global body for maritime search and rescue, an organisation focused on assisting developing countries establish effective rescue services. The IMRF comprises of 68 Maritime Rescue organisations from 50 countries around the world.

In his closing remarks at the end of the Congress the retiring IMRF Chairman, Michael Vlasto, thanked Brooke Archbold for his many years of dedicated service to maritime SAR around the world. Brooke also served on the ILF (International Lifeboat Federation) Council before becoming an IMRF trustee in 2007. He described Brooke as ‘a man with an enormous heart with vast amounts of common sense and a very good business brain’.

Brooke Achbold was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the 2014 New Year Honours List for services to Coastguard and was awarded a Coastguard New Zealand Life Membership for his extensive and significant service of more than 30 years, joining a select group of nine Life Members.

Brooke joined Coastguard in 1983, was elected to the Coastguard New Zealand Board in 1989 and is a past president of both Coastguard Auckland and Coastguard New Zealand. He served 12 years as Chairman of the Coastguard Boating Education Service and is still an active board member. He is also a Senior Master and the Principal Search and Rescue Controller for Coastguard Northern Region, and an Honorary Life Member of Coastguard Auckland.

Dean Lawrence has been involved with Coastguard for over 25 years and is currently President of Coastguard New Zealand. He has held positions such as Coastguard Northern Region Communication Chairman, Principle Coordinator, Operations Manager and CEO, President of Auckland Volunteer Coastguard and Committee member of Coastguard Waiuku.

“Brooke and Dean have made a huge contribution to Coastguard and Search and Rescue services nationally and internationally. Their motivation and encouragement is infectious and together they have motivated many others to become Coastguard volunteers – helping provide a world class marine search and rescue service to kiwis,“ said Patrick Holmes, CEO Coastguard New Zealand.

“Life membership to an organisation is testament to the valuable and dedicated service an individual provides. Brooke Archbold is the epitomy of that. Dean has selflessly contributed over 25 years to Coastguard and their dedication and unwavering commitment to raising the standard, skills professionalism in the search and rescue sector is unparalleled.“ said Holmes.

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