The AMSAR Story

AMSAR, a recently formed not for profit organisation has been established as a public search and rescue service to aid in the rescue of people lost in remote bush lands and other areas in Australia.

Amsar provides a certain amount of free and downloadable information via this website.

Australian Motorcycle Search & Rescue (AMSAR) is growing quickly, with founders John Hudson and Craig Hartley and other dedicated volunteers establishing district crews and Co-Ordinators through volunteer membership around Australia.

John, Craig and other community minded and dedicated motorcycle enthusiasts have extensive experience in outback survival and long distance cross country motorcycle rides and events. Our aim is to complete the formation of AMSAR to become an important and vital rescue group, similar to Surf Life Savers, Air Sea rescue, Coast Guard, RACQ Care Flight etc.

Recently, AMSAR Members were called on to assist in the search for Thomas Sanday lost in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Armed with a run down quick shade, hydration packs old UHF radio, old GPS and an eager desire to help a little lost boy with very special needs, AMSAR members were briefed and dispatched to search a ridge line littered with very difficult terrain, previously too difficult to negotiate with current equipment by conventional searchers.

Fortunately Thomas was found by a searcher on foot very close to an AMSAR patrol on a ridge line 500 meters away. Queensland Emergency Services were very surprised at our ability to communicate our exact position by our very basic GPS and old hand held radio.

During the search for Thomas his grandfather became dissoriented and inadvertently lost his way. An AMSAR volunteer quickly located him and returned him to headquarters safely. Only very experienced motorcyclists on specialised machinery could navigate the terrain.

Search coordinators from the Kilcoy State Emergency Service Unit presented John Hudson with an Appreciation certificate for assistance and successful search and rescue of Thomas Sanday. The Kilcoy SES Unit admit that this was largely understated by an appreciation certificate, however the unit did recognize the enormous benefit of AMSAR, namely our response time, self sufficiency, well preparedness, eager desire to help others and our ability to search a large area effectively and without environmental damage.

Accolades from other emergency services followed and consequently AMSAR have been invited to assist in further search missions on the Gold Coast. This is testimony to the professionalism and dedication of AMSAR members.