The Otago Community Trust recognises the importance of organisations staffed by volunteers whose job it is to save lives.
In 2012, the Trust helped Coastguard Otago to buy a larger rescue vessel more suited to bigger seas, the $20,000 donation invaluable, according to Coastguard Regional Manager Cheryl Moffat. "The Trust came to our rescue. Our volunteers needed a safer vessel to put to sea in, and their donation towards this made it happen, helping us fulfil our promise to save lives at sea. Their support has made a big difference to our operation."
Not only has the Trust helped with the new rescue vehicle, the coastguard service in Dunedin, Wanaka, Queenstown and Clyde also relies on on-going support. "We are staffed by volunteers giving their time, so we also need money for basic operating costs such as fuel; this would also be very hard to manage without the Trust's on-going donations."
