New students get valuable surf safety lesson

International university students were put through their paces at the beach last weekend.

IN conjunction with Integral Energy, Surf Life Saving Illawarra delivered a surf education program to Wollongong University’s international students last Sunday at Wollongong City Surf Life Saving club.

Surf Life Saving Illawarra Development Officer Amanda Scott said the program had been designed for international students to have the opportunity to learn basic surf safety, with some going on to become active surf-lifesavers.

“The beaches and surf life savers of this great country are as iconic as its multiculturalism, and it is wonderful to see these two elements combined in such a constructive way,” she said.

“If just one life is saved through the surf education, awareness, and safety courses which these international students are gaining access to, then this has been a thoroughly worthwhile project and one which we hope will continue to into the future.”

The seminar will hold even more importance in the wake of the drowning at Bulli Beach earlier this year, which occurred well outside the flags which mark the patrolled area of the beach.

“Entering the water outside the flags means swimmers are not only swimming in less safe areas of the beach, but if they do happen to get into trouble, it is unlikely they will be spotted quickly which places them in greater danger,” she said.

“Overseas visitors are sometimes unaware of where they should be swimming when at the beach, so hopefully with this program we will be able to educate international students to swim between the flags.

“Surf-lifesavers have an impeccable record when it comes to saving lives and the statistics show swimmers are much safer swimming between the flags as opposed to un patrolled areas.”