GBR Legacy thankful for generous donations and support
ENVIRONMENT
Port Douglas based non-profit research organisation Great Barrier Reef Legacy have announced their third expedition along the east coast of Australia.
The team at GBR Legacy will be bale to collect data and research samples thanks to the generosity of former Olymipan David Forbes OA and family.
Titled “Ocean Heroes” the expedition is a tribute to David Forbes and others who have dedicated their lives to sharing the wonders of the ocean.
Mr Forbes has donated his much loved ‘Merlin’, 51 foot McConaghy yacht, to GBR Legacy to aid in their research, education, and community engagement expeditions.
David and family wished “to put the Merlin to charitable use and contribute to the survival of the Great Barrier Reef”.
John Rumney, Managing Director of GBR Legacy, and his team of marine biologists, educators, tourism volunteers, and media professionals are overwhelmed by the donation.
“We could not be more proud to take over the ownership of the Merlin to allow us to access the Great Barrier Reef more often and for extended periods to show the world the reef is still extremely beautiful,” he said.
“But we must act now to ensure its survival in its current state.”
“Donations like that of David and his family allow us to do the work we do, and we are humbled beyond measure by this gesture.”
Dr Dean Miller, Director of Science and Media for GBR Legacy, will be expedition coordinator for sailing the Merlin from Sydney to Port Douglas.
He said the yacht would allow the team to carry out their research while having minimal environmental impact.
“This yacht allows us to become the most environmentally friendly research, education and media platform on the Reef,” he said.
“With climate change the single biggest threat to coral reefs worldwide, it’s time we all make changes that allow us to transition to renewable energy sources, and harnessing the wind is such simple and common-sense solution for how we operate.”
Along with the generous donation from Mr Forbes, the team at GBR Legacy are also being supported by the Far North’s own Hemingways Brewery.
Hemingways are currently donating 50 per cent of the profit share in its award-winning Tropical Ale ‘7th Heaven’.
7th Heaven sales will translate directly into GBR Legacy projects including reef health monitoring and research, reef restoration, Virtual Reality education programs, traditional owner ranger partnerships, and positive media messaging for the Great Barrier Reef.
Additional sponsor Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina in Port Douglas is in continued support of GBR Legacy by offering the Merlin a new home in on of its premier marina berths which offer GB Legacy the ability to conveniently reach its desired research locations.
Technology giant Seagate has provided the team with state of the art hard drives and storage solutions for all data, photos and videos collected on their expeditions, to help GRL Legacy in its quest to use data for good.
As with all previous Great Barrier Reef Legacy expeditions, ‘Ocean Heroes’ will be collecting scientific data for various universities and agencies around the world, running education programs with schools across Australia and providing regular video and social media updates directly from the yacht.
You can follow the expedition’s progress on Facebook, Instagram and the team’s website to and find out how you can become an ocean hero!
The expedition will leave Sydney on 31 August and arrive Port Douglas on 22 September 2019.
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