Coast Watch - Maritime Radio Support - Monitoring, Following and Emergency Services Coordination

ACRM Australian Coast Radio Monitors Base in Capel - VH6FKC.

The Australian Coast Radio Monitors Inc. (ACRM) are a volunteer organization dedicated to providing a 24 hour emergency Radio service. Volunteers for Radio operators are recruited from the safety conscious public and are trained in all aspects of emergency procedures to enable them to provide a professional service via the radio network. Volunteers work from home bases.

ACRM WA was formed in 1971 as the Australian Citizens Radio Movement constituted to lobby for the legalization of CB radio in Australia. Upon achieving this goal, it was then reformed as the Australian Coast Radio Monitors to provide a professional service to the public on the Citizen Band (CB) and any other emergency radio frequencies.

With a large membership throughout the metropolitan and country areas, ACRM, in co-operation with ACRM bodies in the various states of Australia, can provide assistance with a minimum of delay even in remote areas. ACRM aims to provide complete communication networks in the interest of safety at various sporting activities. ACRM operates in conjunction with all major emergency services - Police, Ambulance, Fire, SES, Sea Rescue etc - and with other volunteer emergency networks.

ACRM WA was incorporated in 1987 to provide all the above services.

ACRM WA is committed to providing an extensive Marine Communication Network wherever possible. We currently provide a Marine network from north of Preston Beach through to south of Margaret River and out to past the Naturaliste Reef. Via VHF channel 80

ACRM WA Support Group (Alpha Sierras) is for those who do not wish to be monitors but would like to help ACRM achieve their aims, and receive a Radio Call Sign.

ACRM WA has established a UHF CB Repeater and VHF marine repeater. The equipment is sited on private property at in the Dunsborough and Eagle Bay areas. It was primarily established to cover the areas that are south of Cape Naturaliste and not covered by regular bases. Boating members have found success in reaching ACRM in Capel to the north, and from south of Cowaramup bay, so we feel we have achieved our aim.

ACRM WA also established, in 2009, a base in Denham for the months of May to September to service the Shark Bay and Denham area boating community and also to support the Sea Rescue Groups.

ACRM WA also has HF radio on the main base and the Denham base. It is not on all the time so please get in contact by phone if coverage on HF is required.

ACRM in Capel assists with pre-race radio checks for any group wishing to use this service.

As with any volunteer organization funding is a major concern. Funding comes from Memberships and Donations only. We are not funded by any other means. We are a fully independent group which is not funded by Government at all. In all the years we have been operating we have had one grant and that was from The Donnybrook, Capel Bendigo community bank in 2012. This was for assistance for buying a new radio tower for the main base.

If you are safety conscious and wish to assist in maintaining an effective service for the citizens of Western Australia ‑ then ‑ WE NEED YOU!