Catholic Voice

Peter takes a new tack to save lives

A Canberra surveyor, who last year launched a program to provide sails for fishing communities in the South Pacific, has taken his life-saving initiative even further afield.

 Charnwood parishioner Mr Peter Gately has visited Mauritius and the Seychelles Islands to give sailing demonstrations and lectures, as well as talk about his Sails Ocean Sails (SOS) program.

 Mr Gately was inspired to initiate the program after a number of visits to Pacific islands working as a volunteer.

 “The program has arisen due to the problem of fishermen drifting for days or weeks or months without food or water after their small outboard motors fail,” he said.

 “The rising cost of petrol is placing a strain on communities who use outboard motors to power their small boats in order to live off the sea.

“Sails Ocean Sails focuses on demonstrating to fishermen in coastal communities some sailing techniques, and hopefully providing them with sails to include with their fishing nets in their boats.” Mr Gately hopes practical demonstrations along with encouragement for individuals will provide basic sailing techniques to fishermen and to locals.

 ”Sails are a means for these societies to continue fishing for their livelihood if and when they run out of petrol, or the price of petrol becomes too expensive."

Secretary of the Vatican’s Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples Archbishop Agostino Marchetto brought the program to the attention of regional coordinators of the Apostleship of the Sea, a worldwide Catholic organisation that cares for the welfare of seafarers.

 This gesture by the Vatican led to a welcome and support for the program in Mauritius and in the Seychelles Islands.

 Last October, Mr Gately visited Western Samoa after an invitation from the nation’s prime minister and took sails for their fishermen. “It was a very successful trip and there were sail demonstrations and a visit and lecture at the Maritime Training School at the University of Samoa and on the fishing wharf.”

 “When organising the Mauritius and Seychelles visit I thought that it would represent a slightly larger challenge and it certainly did. Mauritius has 1.4 million people and about five islands, while the Seychelles has 112 islands, not all populated.”

 He ran sailing demonstrations on the main islands of each country and met fishing, port authority and maritime training officers and government ministers to request tax-free entry permits into each country and to talk about the “Sails” program.

 Mr Gately suggested to maritime educators that students be taught how to float and to swim 50m. He proposed that Seychelles students visit a nearby port to inspect large oil tankers, bulk goods ships and customs and navy ships. He also asked that a decompression unit be provided for divers in the outer Seychelles.

 “I also recommended that Mauritius have an outreach program so that a teacher can visit fishing villages around the islands to discuss navigation, compass and sextant readings with the fishermen.

 “Unofficial figures show more than one fisherman is lost at sea from Mauritius every week and one every couple of days from Madagascar, which has a population of approximately 18 million, and is a very poor country.”

 Assistant director of the Seychelles maritime training college Mrs Anselara Wong wrote to Mr Gately: “All our thanks and appreciation for your time and expertise. Our students have greatly enjoyed the sessions and they look forward to putting into practice your words of wisdom. Thanks and please come back again.” Mr Gately hopes to extend the program further to the Comoros, Maldives, Madagascar and Mozambique and other fishing communities along the African coast.

 The program depends on donations from Australian yachting and sailing organisations, clubs and individuals. Mr Gately may be contacted at petergately@dodo.com.au or by telephone 6251 2000 or fax 6253 2700.

 Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Alexander Downer gives sails on behalf of the Clayton Yacht Club to Peter Gately for the SOS program. "I think this is a fantastic project to help people in developing countries help themselves,” Mr Downer said. “The sails would only get thrown out so instead we are putting them to good use, to help families put fish on the table."