21 January 2010
Peter Garrett AM
Federal Member for Kingsford Smith
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
Federal Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, today congratulated surf life savers for their valuable contribution to beach safety this summer.
The Australia Day public holiday marks the end of our summer holidays and, for most, a return to school and work. During the summer holidays, increasing numbers of people have enjoyed swimming and surfing at our beaches including record numbers at Coogee.
In New South Wales this summer, 1,871 people were rescued from surf beaches including 78 at Maroubra. At Coogee Beach, surf life savers conducted 261 ‘preventative actions’ which includes rescues.
“Surf life savers are invaluable on our beaches. Every beachgoer feels safer swimming between the red and yellow flags, and knowing that life savers are on patrol,” Mr Garrett said.
Tragically, there have been 16 deaths in NSW since the opening of the surf patrol season on 3 October 2009 including the recent drownings at Ballina.
“This is very sobering but it’s worth noting that there have been no drownings on patrolled beaches, between the flags, during patrol hours.
“I encourage local beachgoers to observe beach safety,” Mr Garrett said.
Congratulations to the red and yellow army of volunteer surf life savers who make our beaches safer.
More information about beach safety from Surf Life Saving at
www.beachsafe.org.au and www.ripcurrents.com.au