Thursday, 21 September 2023
Hunter Surf Life Saving raises the flags for another season
With record numbers expected to flock to beaches as temperatures soar this summer, Hunter Surf Life Saving (SLS) is marking the beginning of the season with its annual Raising of the Flags event at 10:00am this Saturday 23 September at Nobbys Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
An iconic part of the community, Hunter SLS has been supported by Newcastle Permanent for more than 40 years.
Newcastle Permanent Chief Distribution Officer, Paul Juergens, said the customer-owned organisation is honoured to support the region’s volunteer Surf Life Saving clubs, which dedicate thousands of hours each year on patrol.
“Time spent at the beach in the warmer months is something many of us look forward to, and the Surf Life Savers play an important role in keeping beachgoers safe,” Paul said.
“Just last year in the Hunter, more than 7,000 active patrolling members hit the sand, together clocking up nearly 60,000 patrol hours!
“Our proud partnership with Hunter Surf Life Saving helps to ensure the sustainability of this service through recruitment, training, recognition, and retention of local life savers.
“We are thrilled to see Hunter Surf Life Saving raise the flags for another summer!”
Hunter Surf Lifesaving President, Henry Scruton ESM, said safety is more important than ever this year, as evidenced by how busy his volunteers were last summer.
“Our volunteers provided first aid 350 times, made 180 rescues, and completed nearly 36,500 preventative actions,” Henry said.
“We had more than 750,000 visitors to our beaches last summer, and that number is expected to increase with reports of some particularly hot months on the way.
“Our volunteer surf lifesavers are an integral part of Australian culture, and they are proud to be back on the sand for another busy season.
“We are grateful for Newcastle Permanent’s support, which provides the equipment and resources needed to help keep our beautiful beaches safe.”
The Hunter Branch has 13 clubs, from Catherine Hill Bay to Tea Gardens Hawks Nest.
People interested in joining the Surf Life Saving movement can find their local club at www.hsls.org.au