JOANNA SCHON
INSHORE SKIPPER
JOINED VMR SEPTEMBER 2009
WHY DID I JOIN VMR?
To give back to the community and meet new people in an
environment that I love - boating, and being on the water.
WHAT DO I ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A MEMBER OF
VMR?
The Sense of community, pride, and achievement for a job
well done, being part of a team, and being out in the water on our
beautiful Gold Coast. Also, I have met some fantastic and interesting
people that I probably wouldn’t cross paths with in my normal life.
WHAT IS THE MOST MEMORABLE ACTIVATION YOU
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN?
There have been many notable jobs. We were called one evening
to evacuate a wedding party off the sandbanks north of Crab Island.
Their charter vessel had run aground. That was very interesting.
Generally it is rewarding just to receive the gratitude of the boating
public when we help them out, and do the job professionally. It
is also very rewarding when I take an all female crew out on the
Rescue vessel. The look of surprise from some of the blokes can be
quite different. It is a sense of achievement showing that girls can do
anything.
WHAT DO I DO IN MY SPARE TIME?
Currently I work as a Bookkeeper, and I enjoy helping small
business achieve efficiencies, while improving their bottom line.
I commenced University studies at 40 years of age, which opened
up many opportunities for work. I recently completed my MBA (
Finance ).
I like to travel, and often go to places where I can Scuba Dive. If I
can get out on a boat as well, that’s a bonus. I also enjoy riding my
push bike around the coastal paths, and go to the gym regularly to
keep fit.
16
Volunteer Marine Rescue SOUTHPORT
MY FUTURE INTENTIONS WITH VMR -
Don’t really have any. Just happy to see where things take me.