Gary surrounded by his equipment (and Commendations)in his 'comms' room.
Gary Smith is that calm and unmistakable voice that has maintained a listening watch over mariners of this busy district for some 20 years and with good humour too! Via repeater stations, he monitors the whole southern end of the Eyre Peninsula including the West Coast. We heard him from as far away as Flinders Island and southwards. Considering that you are not deemed to be out of the Great Australian Bight until you turn east past Cape Carnot and Liguanea Island, you'd have to agree that his bit of ocean has some significantly nasty sections. If you are crossing The Great Australian Bight West to East and making landfall in Port Lincoln instead of Streaky Bay, Gary is likely to be your first radio contact.
Gary confessed that he hates the logins for vessels departing to cross The Great Australian Bight. He doesn't sleep for the 3-5 days that it takes for the crossing to be completed. We know that he monitored Wild Honey B and Steel Sapphire, as they traveled westward from Port Lincoln and part the way up the Eyre Peninsula before pushing on and across to Middle Island. They were glad to know that Gary was watching over them. Countless others would also have had that comfort. Imagine how many over the span of 20 years!
Once you log on with Gary, it's personal. You are on his list and you'll be roll-called on his twice daily sched until you let him know that you are safe. You'll learn who's out and about and can guess at the characters that are afloat too! Some mariner's radio techniques are not exactly copy book and some have their own codes. "Two for three" for example is one fellow's shorthand for "Two POB (people on board/Poor old bastards) going out for 3 days". Many don't even identify their boat but Gary knows their voices and their habits. If someone asks for help, he knows who he can contact that might already be on the water with an appropriate vessel and with appropriate skills or information. If you need some local information like where to anchor in Coffin Bay he'll radio someone who'll know and can share their experience with you. He's the aquatic version of the bush telegraph. In a word Gary is a GEM in the same way that West Aussies know that Rae and Richard at ACRAM Base Capel are gems. Dedicated. Reliable. Professional. Priceless.
We sailed to Tumby Bay during autumn but didn't' get to meet Gary then. The Bloke was more intent on sampling the sausage rolls at the bakery (you'll recall the Top 10 rating). We got a lift with Miles on Saturday and had the pleasure not only to met Gary but the 'woman behind the man' too. Without Sue's participation it wouldn't of course be possible to have the house wired with speakers like it is or put up with those mariners who, for whatever reason, choose to log on at 4am!!
Gary and Sue, THANK YOU so much for being there for us all!
Sue and Gary Smith - Eyre Peninsula Champions!
Some of Gary's aerials above his nerve centre located in his neat-as-a-pin back yard. They used to be mounted on a small tower but Galahs (the avian kind not the idiot kind) kept attacking them and toppling them! Thanks to repeaters located along the coast a tall tower is no longer necessary.
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