Search at Whangamata

From Tauranga SAR Newsletter June 2009:
Whangamata Search – Operation Golden
Search for Dave Norris, 69, who was separated from his tramping group on Thursday 7th May. Craig Madden was contacted at 2030 hrs asking for some field teams for a search about 10 minutes out of Whangamata, so everyone was advised to bring a good day pack.
Following a ring around, we got six volunteers and Craig arranged for four Police members.
On Friday 8th we left town at 0600 hrs and at 1030 hrs we were put into two teams and tasked into the Parakiwai Valley which was a ten minute drive plus a two hour hike into the bush. The teams were led by Lester Polglase and Roger Montgomerie. The terrain was very difficult in wet conditions and the search areas were huge.
One team ended up in the bush for the night and the other team walked out at about 2100 hrs.
On Saturday two Police members and one volunteer assisted and the lost party was found at around 1500hrs, about 1500m S/E of the Last Known Point, alive but suffering from serious hypothermia.
Mr. Norris would surely have perished without the help of SAR personnel.

The following links are to articles related to Operation Golden search, plus a YouTube clip of a Hamilton SAR member being winched from the Iroquois helicopter on the Saturday morning.

> National Herald
> Waikato Times

PROGRAM 2009

Weekend camps and courses marked in green
Changes to Program marked in red

Feb 2009
Wed 25: Bushcraft/Intro to SAR
Sat 28- Sun 1: All Terrain Park - Camp 1

Mar 2009
Wed 4: Radios
Wed 11: Bushcraft
Sat 14 - Sun 15: Pirongia - Camp 2
Wed 18: Radios
Wed 25: River Crossing
Sat 28 - Sun 29: All Terrain Park? - Camp 3

Apr 2009
Wed 1: Navigation
Fri 3 - Sun 5: Extra Camp, Parakawai - Camp 3.5
Wed 8: Navigation
Wed 15: School Holidays
Wed 22: School Holidays
Wed 29: Navigation

May 2009
Wed 6: Police Station & SAR Squad
Sat 8- Sun 9: Kaimais + Parents Camp - Camp 4
Wed 13: Navigation
Fri 15- Sun 17: Dickeys Flat, Waihi - Camp 5
Wed 20: Navigation
Wed 27: First Aid

Jun 2009
Wed 3: Gear, meet at Bivouac Outdoors, Willow Street
Sat 6-Sun 7: Urban Search Course, Otumoetai College
Wed 10: Fire Service, meet at Fire Station Cameron Road. 7 - 9pm
Fri 12-Sun 14: Kaimais, Scout's Hut - Camp 6
Fri 19-Sat 20: 1st Solo (overnight), TECT Park
Wed 17: GPS
Wed 24: Helicopters
Sat 27-Sun 28: Tracking Course, Te Puke

Jul 2009
Wed 1: Exam
Wed 8: School Holidays
Wed 15: School Holidays
Wed 22: Weather
Wed 29: Workbook - Helicopters

Aug 2009
Sat 1- Sun 2: Kaimais - Camp 9
Wed 5: Workbook - Patient Care
Wed 12: Workbook - Radio
Sat 15- Sun 16: Search Courses - Camp 10 *
Wed 19: Workbook - Clothing
Wed 26: Competition Practice
Fri 28- Sun 30: Kaimais - Camp 11

Sep 2009
Wed 2: CIMS
Wed 9: Competition Practice
Wed 16: Review - Bushcraft/Risk Man.
Fri 18- Sun 20: Kaimais - Camp 11.5
Wed 23: Review – Helicopters/Ropes
Wed 30: School Holidays

Oct 2009
Wed 7: School Holidays
Wed 14: Competition Practice
Fri 16- Sun 18: SAR Competition - Camp 12
Wed 21: Review – Equipment/Ropes
Wed 28: Review – Survival/Ropes
Fri 30- Sun 1: Waitawheta, Waihi - Camp 13

Nov 2009
Wed 4: Slide show
Wed 11: New Year Trip Planning
Fri 13- Sun 15: Leitchs Clearing - Camp 14

Dec 2009
Wed 2: Awards Night

Camp 6 Precamp Instructions

Kaimai Scout Hut - 12th to 14th June 2008

Objective
To practise off-track navigation skills, especially using compasses and reading maps.

Location
The Matamata Scout Hut on McNeil’s property (GR 661663. See below for map.

Times
· Depart Tauranga Boys College Friday 12th 5:30pm
· Arrive back at Tauranga Boys College Sunday 14th 3.00pm.

Travel
By private cars.
Cost
The cost is $30 per person. Payable on or before Wednesday 10th June.

Food and Equipment
· A BBQ meal will be provided on Saturday night.
· Bring your own food for the rest of the weekend.
· You can sleep under a tarp or in a tent.
· Bring a day pack for Saturday
· Pack for the usual day walk in the bush
· You must have ALL the compulsory day-walk items
· You should be prepared for wet weather and colder nights

The Program
· On Saturday a navigation exercise through (mostly) untracked bush
· This will be a minimum of 4km
· Sunday will be various survival and navigation exercises.

Warnings
· Take care on the river crossings and turn back if you deem them to be unsafe.
· The rocks in the streams get very slippery when wet
· Some fences are electric
· Colder Weather so come prepared
· Ensure your torches are adequate

Special Note
On this exercise you will need thorough Route Planning. It is not a difficult exercise if you keep to your bearings. You will notice that terrain awareness is crucial and you will be navigating from high point to high point. Between each high point there are streams ridges and other significant features for you to judge distance and time, so on your route plan make special note of these features and the time it will take to reach them.

I am happy for you to work together in small groups however I do not want you to copy from one or two people’s calculations on Friday night or Saturday morning. This can lead to everyone making the same mistake. The sooner you have completed your route plan and day gear check list the sooner you can leave on Saturday morning.

Make sure you have a plastic bag for your route plan so it doesn’t dissolve in your hands. You will need it throughout you exercise.Please calculate both directions, clockwise and anticlockwise.

Camp 5 Precamp Instructions

Dickey Flat Camp 5 - 15th to 17th May 2009

Objective
To refine navigation skills, especially using compasses and reading maps.
To become familiar with the track network in the Karangahake area

Location
We will be based on private property at Dickey Flat (GR 2753389,6414459) which is at the end of Dickey Flat Road.
There are limited facilities available which include running water and a flush toilet.
The site has no (or very poor) cell phone coverage.

Times
· Depart Boys College 5:30pm Friday 15th
· Arrive back at the Boys College 4pm Sunday 17th

Travel
By vans

Costs
There is a charge of $30 per person to cover:
· Travel
· Food for Saturday night
· Camp fee for the property owner
To be paid on or before Wednesday 13th.

Food and Equipment
· Bring your own food for the weekend except for Saturday night.
· A camp oven meal will be provided on Saturday night.
· Ensure your breakfasts are substantial. They must provide you with a sustainable source of energy for the day’s activities.
· Bring lots of snack foods
· You can sleep under a tarp or in a tent
· Bring a day pack for Saturday/Sunday
· Pack for the usual day walk in the bush
· Bring your compass
· Be prepared for wet weather and colder nights

The Program
· On Saturday a navigation exercise through (mostly) untracked bush
· This will be around 6 km
· Sunday will be a track running exercise through the impressive Karangahake Gorge

Warnings
· Some fences are electric
· Take care on the river crossings and turn back if you deem them to be unsafe.

Dickey's Flat

Motutapere Hut - photos

YSAR Charter

Objectives
To recruit and prepare young people to become full active members of the Tauranga SAR Group.

Goals
To graduate at least 6 members per year to SAR qualified status.

Mission Statement
To impart a love, respect and understanding for the New Zealand wilderness to young people through a SAR specific training program while preparing them to save the lives of lost and injured persons.

Graduation Standards and Benefits
Upon graduation each member will be able to operate effectively for up to 48 hours in the field, whether in a group or alone, while applying current search theory and practice in a safe manner.
Each graduated member will receive the following benefits upon acceptance as a member of the Tauranga SAR Group:
· The issue of a pager and vest
· Eligibility to attend callouts on 24/7 basis
· The right to attend all TSG training events
· The assignment of a mentor from the TSG membership
· Life skills knowledge relating to the New Zealand wilderness and coastal areas, navigation methodology and search and rescue techniques

The Requirements
Tauranga YSAR members will be:
· In the 14 – 18 year age range as of 1st February
· Able to participate in an intensive 4-6 month induction program of indoor and outdoor skills commencing in February each year
· Able to commit to the on-going training program for the remainder of the year
· Willing to present for assessments to achieve the milestones required for graduation
· Willing to uphold the Tauranga YSAR Group code of conduct
· Able to maintain the standard of fitness required to meet the graduation requirements

The Tauranga YSAR graduates will all achieve a standard above the normal entry requirements of the Tauranga SAR Group.

Time Commitment
The 4-6 month training program will consist of:
· Weekly training sessions of 2 – 3 hours
· Weekend activities including training camps and tramps – up to 2 per month

Costs
There is no joining or membership fee however each member will be expected to provide for each outdoor training event:
· Clothing and equipment as specified
· Food and a contribution to travel costs
The clothing and equipment must meet the minimum standards stipulated by the leaders to ensure the safety of each participant during the event.

Members or parents may need to provide assistance with transport to/from some weekend events.

Management Structure and Adult Members
Although the Tauranga YSAR Group (TYG) is a sub-group of the Tauranga SAR Group (TSG) it is important that the YSAR program will have minimal impact on the existing program of the TSG.
The TSG will provide to TYG:
· Trainers and subject matter expertise as required
· Management guidance and support via the TSG committee
· Equipment as required although it is preferred that TYG becomes self-sufficient
TYG is expected to manage its own affairs in terms of:
· Keeping financial and training records
· Applying for grants
· Acquiring and maintaining equipment
· Developing and implementing the program and assessment regimes
· Coordinating logistics associated with all training events

Adults are required for these roles and expressions of interest are welcomed.

Code of Conduct
Each member will agree to abide by the code of conduct of the YSAR Group.
The management committee reserves the right to suspend or terminate the membership of any person who violates one or more elements of the code. The Code of Conduct has clauses related to the following:
· Use of radios and SAR equipment
· Behaviour of a violent or sexual nature
· Behaviour which could discredit TYG or TSG or attract adverse publicity for either
· Use of drugs and alcohol
· Leave No Trace policy

Key Assessment Milestones
Each member is required to present at regular intervals or appointed date and times for assessments. The key milestones on the path to graduation are:
1 The written test at the completion of the 6 month training program
2 The Basic Bush Survival, Safety, Navigation and Bushcraft assessments
3 Outdoor First Aid – for second year members
4 Bush Solo 1 and 2
5 Bush Solo Navigation 1 and 2
6 Outdoor Activity Management 1


The Induction Training Program
The 6 month Induction Training Program will include the following elements:
General Skills
· Code of Conduct, structure, Leave no Trace etc (1 week)
· Bushcraft – includes Survival and Risk Management (4 weeks)
· SAR radios (2 weeks)
· Bush navigation (map, compass and GPS) (5 weeks)
· River crossing and river safety (1 week)
· First Aid (1 week)
· Weather (1 week or a w/e course)
SAR Specific Skills
· Helicopter safety (1 week)
· The SAR System, roles and structure (1 week)
· Tracking (1 month or a w/e course)
· Search methods (1 week or a w/e course)
· Clue management (1 week)
· Rescue methods (1 week)

The Recruiting Program
Unless there are special circumstances members can only join the TYG in February each year. As of 1st February that year new members must be in the age range 14 – 18 years.
The program for recruiting may follow this pattern:
· December each year
· Try to get publicity in the Tauranga Press
· Send a letter to the Principal of each Secondary School in Tauranga advising them of the intended program
· The first week of the school term
· Place posters on school notice-boards
· Conduct a lunchtime presentation to sell the concept to students
· The second week of the school term
· Conduct a public meeting for parents and students
· Distribute application forms
· Interview student and parents
· Third week of term
· Commence the weekly training sessions and training camps/tramps

This document is a work in progress. In its final form the contents should be split over several documents however at this stage it provides a conduit for thoughts and ideas as they develop.

In order to progress the development of YSAR we need to keep working on these documents.