Welcome to the January Edition
of the
Surf Life Saving Illawarra Newsletter
Peter Evert
President
Surf Life Saving Illawarra
A message from the President
Welcome all to the new year and I hope that you were able to spend some leisure time with family and friends over the Xmas break.
I would like to thank our Illawarra surf lifesaving club volunteers for their time, continued effort, vigilance, and service during this the peak holiday period just concluded.
A special thank you to the families that have supported our members during this period.
As predicted public beach visitation numbers were high and this provided additional challenges for our patrols and support operations teams.
Over the peak holiday period our members performed 189* rescues (*provisional, as recorded live on the patrol app by the clubs). Our busiest days for rescues performed were Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Australia Day and the busiest day being Sunday 21st January 2024 (heatwave conditions) with 137 rescues performed.
So far this season the busiest clubs for rescues performed are Austinmer, Coledale, Port Kembla and the busiest club is Thirroul, with 58 rescues performed.
Our biggest challenge for beach safety is that of our “unpatrolled beaches”, so as you frequent our coastline, please continue to promote the beach safety messages, and encourage our community, and visitors to swim between the red and yellow flags.
Wishing you all the best for the rest of the season.
See you on the beach soon.
Peter Evert
Welcome to our second edition of Surf Life Saving Illawarra Members Newsletter for the 2023/24 Season.
Surf Life Saving Illawarra branch comprises of 17 clubs between Helensburgh Stanwell Park to Windang. Each Surf Life Saving Club has their own executive team to help lead their club and Surf Life Saving Illawarra's role is to support our local Illawarra clubs and members where needed.
As a volunteer organisation we always need more people on the beach and in the water helping to keep our community safe. If you are interested in becoming a patrolling member, please speak to your club about upcoming courses or contact our office (0403 224 258, office@slsillawarra.com.au) for more information.
Patrol Support Program
Over the past few weeks, a number of Surf Life Saving Illawarra's clubs including Bellambi SLSC, Corrimal SLSC, Fairy Meadow SLSC, Woonona SLSC and Windang SLSC, have been fortunate to have received assistance from members of other Surf Life Saving clubs in NSW on patrols.
The patrol support program is an initiative from Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) to assist clubs with lower numbers of patrolling members. The support of other members volunteering helps to alleviate member fatigue and offer additional support on patrols. Many thanks to the volunteers who lent their time to these clubs, some across multiple patrol days and some travelling from as far as Mona Vale SLSC, who can be seen in the picture, lending their time to Woonona SLSC on Sunday the 28th of January.
Also pictured are volunteers from Coogee SLSC and who assisted with patrol at Corrimal SLSC and Wanda SLSC who assisted with patrol at Fairy Meadow SLSC. As you can see, these were larger groups that helped out, which not only offered assistance to the clubs but allowed some of the supporting clubs more junior members to gain some great patrol experience.
Thanks to everyone involved in this initiative, your support is much appreciated.
Download Beachsafe App!
Access the latest information about every Australian beach or find a beach near you including local conditions and lifesaving services. There’s also safety advice and information about flags, signs, rips, waves and more.
Surf Life Saving recommends swimming at patrolled beaches, between the red and yellow flags.
Upcoming Branch Courses
Are you a current financial member? Are you interested in joining a patrol and helping out your club and community? More details below on upcoming courses. These courses not only help you obtain lifesaving skills or upskill your current lifesaving skills but allow you to help out your club on patrol and the greater community.
The Illawarra Branch is also hoping to add more trainers and assessors to our club's and branch. This is another amazing way you can assist your club and community, by helping to train others. Please contact office@slsillawarra.com.au for more information.
More detailed information on courses can be found at the following link; www.surflifesaving.com.au
First Aid
The next branch First Aid Course (HLTAID011) is being held at North Wollongong SLSC on the evening of Thursday 8 February and Tuesday 13 February. First Aid is open to current financial members who are above the age of 14.
If you are interested in attending, please contact Amy at North Wollongong SLSC on amy@nwslsc.com.au
Advanced Resuscitation Techniques (ART)
The next branch ART course is being held at Coledale SLSC on Sunday 25 February. ART is open to current financial members who hold a current HLTAID011 First Aid course and are above the age of 15. Coledale SLSC is also running First Aid (HLTAID011) on Sunday 25 February prior to ART for those current financial who wish to obtain both courses. Members who wish to do both need to be at least 15 years of age. 14 year olds can attend the First Aid component only.
If you are interested in attending, please contact office@slsillawarra.com.au
Introducing our new Director of Surf Sports
Kevin Starling
Kevin has been appointed to role of Director of Surf Sports casually until the Election for this position will be held in May 2024. Kevin brings with him a wealth of Surf Sports knowledge and volunteers his time as an official at surf sports carnivals. Kevin is a life member of Bulli SLSC and Surf Life Saving Illawarra.
This role oversees and manages Surf Sports events within the Illawarra and oversees and manages teams representing the Illawarra for Surf Sports events outside of the Illawarra, such as the recent Interbranch Team which represented SLSI in December.
Kevin can be contacted at surfsports@slsillawarra.com.au
Upcoming Surf Sports Events
Illawarra Branch Championships are coming up next weekend, 10 and 11 February, held at Thirroul SLSC.
The carnival is open to U/8 and above. This carnival is a great opportunity for our members to engage in competition close to home. Entries are now open and close at midnight on Monday 5 February 2024. Entries are made through your club competition manager/coordinator, so if you are interested in taking part, please get in contact with your club.
The circular, which includes all the entry details and program can be found by logging into the SLS members area at the following link; members.sls.com.au
The carnival also needs volunteer officials and water safety, so if you are interested in helping out, please complete the form which can be found through link on the circular.
If Surf Sports interests you, subscribe to Surf Sports Weekly to stay up to date; www.surflifesaving.com.au
Junior Lifesaver of the Year (JLOTY)
Nominations have been extended untill 5pm Thursday 1 February for JLOTY with interviews being held on Saturday 1 February.
The Junior Lifesaver of the Year Award is a way for Clubs and Branches to recognise their U14 members’ achievements in Surf Life Saving; the contributions they have made to all levels of Surf Life Saving as well as within the community.
All U14 members who believe they could be the next Junior Lifesaver of the Year should apply through their Club and/or Branch. The male and female Branch winners will then progress to the SLSNSW development camp and interview process to determine the State winners.
Contact the Director of Member Services, Maria Caldwell at memberservices@slsillawarra.com.au.
Youth Development Day
SAVE THE DATE! Sunday the 24th of March
SLSI are holding a youth development day at Woonona SLSC for 13-17 year olds. Members must hold their Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC) and/or Bronze Medallion (BM) to attend.
The day will involve patrolling Woonona Beach, team building activities and is an opportunity to further develop your skills and patrolling pathways.
Further details to be advised in the coming weeks.
Volunteers Needed
University of Wollongong (UOW) Orientation Days
The Illawarra SLS Branch are holding a stall at UOW's Orientation Days on Wednesday 22 February and Thursday 23 February. The purpose of this event is promote our 17 clubs and potentially help to recruit new member's to clubs.
We are looking for a small amount of patrolling members who would be happy to help out either day for a few hours and share your local patrolling knowledge with potential new members.
If interested please email office@slsillawarra.com.au with your name, club and what days you are available.
Multicultural Water Safety Day
SLSI are holding at Multicultural Water Safety Day at Fairy Meadow SLSC on Saturday 16 March to raise awareness of water and beach safety. A small number of volunteers will be needed to assist on the day.
Further details to be advised.
Our website is getting a makeover, please bear with us whilst www.slsillawarra.com.au is under construction!
USEFUL DOCUMENTS
Club Mail www.surflifesaving.com.au
SLSNSW www.surflifesaving.com.au
NEWSLETTERS
Does your club have any news, training dates or just anything you would like to share. Send it through to the SLSI branch office and we will put it in the newsletter.
