FED: Anderson praises heroism of rescue effort

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-1998
FED: Anderson praises heroism of rescue effort

CANBERRA Dec 29 AAP - Australians had shown great heroism in one of the darkest periods in
the nation's yachting history, federal Transport Minister John Anderson said today.

Mr Anderson also offered his condolences to those who had lost family and friends in the
Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

The race has already claimed four lives, and there is little hope of finding alive the
missing Winston Churchill crewman or British sailor Glyn Charles.

"In one of the darkest periods in Australian yachting history, there have been some moments
of incredible heroism," Mr Anderson said in a statement.

"The tens of rescues performed by brave members of the defence forces, private operators,
and even other contestants in most difficult circumstances has again underlined the ability of
Australians to rally when their fellows are in trouble.

"It is in itself a Christmas lesson."

Mr Anderson said the loss of life was all the harder to comprehend given that the race was
one of the nation's premier sporting traditions.

"However, the race is administered by professionals and the yachtsman involved are well
aware of the dangers involved," he said.

Organisers would have the usual debriefing of the year's race and the Australian Maritime
Safety Authority would provide input, assessing if improvements could be made to the search
and rescue processes for future Sydney to Hobart races, Mr Anderson said.

AAP kaw/sc/kr/br

KEYWORD: SYDHOB ANDERSON

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