Hunter Surf Life Saving Raises the Flags for Another Summer Season
As the region looks forward to another summer by the water, Hunter Surf Life Saving (HSLS) is ready to start the new season with its annual Raising of the Flags ceremony.
The highly anticipated event will take place at 9:30am on Saturday, 26 September, at Birubi Point SLS Club, with local nippers hitting the sand in October.
HSLS is an integral part of the community and has been supported by Newcastle Permanent for over 40 years, sharing the commitment to safety and community wellbeing.
Newcastle Permanent spokesperson Paul Juergens was proud to continue the partnership as the iconic red and yellow flags return to shores for another season.
"Raising of the Flags is an event we much look forward to each season, and we are honoured to have partnered with Hunter Surf Life Saving for more than four decades," Paul said.
"The warmer months bring communities together at our beaches and surf life savers are essential in helping to keep locals and visitors safe along our coastlines.
"We're excited to continue this proud partnership with Hunter Surf Life Saving as we work together to ensure sustainability of this service to provide safety at our local beaches through the Nippers Program recruitment, training, recognition and retention of local life savers."
HSLS President Henry Scruton ESM highlighted the importance of community vigilance, acknowledging the support of Newcastle Permanent in keeping the influx of local beachgoers safe.
"Last season, almost 2,000 volunteers from across the Hunter provided first aid on over 500 occasions, made over 100 rescues and completed over 66,800 preventative actions, together clocking up more than 65,000 patrol hours," Henry said.
"Our Nippers program plays an exciting role for young people starting their lifesaving journey, who are essential to ensuring everyone's safety, with more than 720,000 visitors last summer and even more expected this season."
"We are very thankful for the incredible support from Newcastle Permanent, who helps us provide essential equipment and resources that are needed to continue to protect our coastal communities."
With more people heading to the coast as the weather heats up, HSLS maintains its dedication to keeping beachgoers safe. The region is well-prepared for the busy months ahead with 13 Surf Life Saving clubs stretching from Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest to Catherine Hill Bay.
Newcastle Permanent invests more than $1.5 million into local communities through its partnerships, employee donations, volunteering and fundraising programs.
For those interested in joining the Surf Life Saving community, more information can be found at https://www.hsls.org.au/.