By day, you’re likely to find Keith Smith, 64, behind the wheel of the Kenworth T610SAR B-double set-up he drives for Brim’s Transport, carrying scrap cardboard and paper reels. Or you may find him by the water, coordinating his team to ensure they’re ready for action if an emergency strikes.
Keith has been commander of the Point Danger unit at Tweed Heads for Marine Rescue NSW for the past two years. It’s a volunteer role that sees him managing over 182 people.
The unit has three of its own rescue boats and operates from a newly built $6 million radio facility, where volunteers are prepared to leap into action whenever necessary.
Keith says a total of 159 rescues have been completed from the Point Danger unit in the past 12 months.
“Point Danger is one of 46 Marine Rescue NSW units, which run up and down the NSW coast. Many of the rescues will be for people whose vessels have broken down or for those who’ve run out of fuel.”
Though Keith had volunteered with Marine Rescue NSW between 1991-1993 as a boat crew member, he only came back onto the scene about five years ago.
“I left after I broke my leg travelling through 6 metre swells. I came back in 2019 as part of the boat crew and then the position of unit commander became available – so I went for it and was elected unopposed.”
Keith admits that when he first joined Marine Rescue, he didn’t have a great deal of experience on the water. “All I had was a tinnie. I was always interested in boats and Marine Rescue gave me the ability to work and get thoroughly taught about how to use a boat properly.
“Everyone has to know how to helm the boat, how to take it across the bar, and be able to dock the boats. As commander, I look after all the crew, the radio operators, the skippers, etc.
“Being a volunteer, you seem to get a whole lot more out of it than you put in.”
But it was well before all of that that Keith got his truck licence, in 1983. It was while he was working on high rises as a scaffolder and rigger. “I’d drive the truck for that job – that’s how I got into truck driving, it started out that simple really,” he said.
Keith was working in the construction industry right up until 1999. “I wanted to get away from the building game, so I thought getting my own truck was a good way to work for myself.
“I had been working for a steel company so bought the truck to tow their trailers and then it just kept growing. They asked if I could work with them for a few weeks until they got their new truck and I ended up contracting with them for 16 years.”
What started with one truck, an International T-line, eventually progressed into a whole fleet. At its peak, his business had three B-doubles, five semis, a crane truck, and employed 14 people.
“That business was quite successful and did pretty well. But I was ready to get out so I decided to sell all the trucks,” added Keith.
So he went back to being a company driver. From then up until 2018, Keith drove crane trucks locally and interstate, then during Covid he began carting general freight into the mines in Queensland, before starting his current role.
“When I started at Brim’s, I said I’d work two days a week in the truck because I was also doing the Marine Rescue work five days a week.
“I did that for about two years but as it was getting harder and harder to get drivers, I began working more days. Luckily I’ve delegated a lot of tasks to my team now at Point Danger, so I can spend more time in the truck,” Keith explained.
“But I still have oversight on what is happening and lay down the expectations of what is required.
“For the past six months I’ve been working five days a week,” said Keith, adding that he’s really enjoying the role.
“I like to think that now I’m at the pinnacle of my truck driving. I travel from Tweed Heads to the Snowy Mountains, unloading and reloading at the same place. When I leave the trailers are already loaded and the trucks are detailed before each trip.”
For Keith, driving the truck and being a unit commander provides the perfect balance.
“When I do the Marine Rescue work, I’m dealing with people all the time. Then when I get in the truck, I enjoy that time on my own – getting away and turning up the podcasts.”