Voluntary Surf Life Saving Keeping The Beaches Safe
Dispute raged between Bronte Surf Life Saving club and Bondi Voluntary Surf Life Saving as to which club surfaced first
. Historians have subsequently agreed that Bronte was the first and Bondi was the first official club. Voluntary Surf Life Saving began because of various reports of drownings around the world during 1906.
A patrol captain is responsible for coordinating the safety and rescue of bathers that run into trouble. He will enforce procedures that include rescuing and resuscitating swimmers that have nearly drowned. These lifesavers are all volunteers and donate their time freely for this purpose.
Volunteers work in groups, usually on weekends or public holidays, or peak vacation times on busy beaches. A surf lifesaver must be in possession of a Surf Rescue Certificate or a Bronze Medallion. He or she has to take and pass the proficiency test every year.
Clothing is very important and differs according to rank and type of rescue work. Aviation and helicopter crew will wear aviation clothing. Reflective tabards will be seen on officers of offshore and jet rescue boats. Lifesavers that work on Rescue Water Craft (RWC) will wear skin diving attire and equipment. For the guys and girls on the beach involved in rescue work, long sleeve yellow shirts and red shorts are the order of the day when they are not actually in the process of rescuing anyone. For those who are, they have red and yellow caps.
Competing between the various clubs is commonplace. For this purpose, each club has color caps unique to them for competitions. This serves to identify them differently from other clubs.
While the competitions add stimulation to an already exciting and challenging pastime. Voluntary Surf Life Saving is a satisfying and fulfilling activity.