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_____Surf Life Saving Illawarra - Christmas Life Saving News - 04/05

To keep all Illawarra Club Members informed on current news and developments, The Illawarra Credit Union is helping by sponsoring this news page.

Merry Christmas and a Safe New Year to All

On behalf on the SLSI Executive and SLSI Management may I wish you all a very enjoyable and safe Christmas. Thankyou very much to the patrollers who have volunteered to patrol their beaches over the Festive Season.

Windang SLSC Redevelopment Opened - 5/12/04

Lord Mayor Alex Darling and Mayoress Michelle officially the opened the redevelopment of Windang SLSC. President Bill Young in his address gave great credit to the hard work of members in achieving this new facility.

Ben Styan, Shaun Claypole, Nicholas Digenni & Andrew Bakarich - some of the young "characters" from Windang SLSC pose for a picture.

Rookie Lifesavers Safely Rescue Santa - 18/12/04

Click for large image.

Rookie Life Savers from Illawarra Clubs escorted Santa onto Stage at the recent Illawarra Mercury, Blue Scope Steel & McDonald's Christmas Carol Spectacular at WIN Stadium. Mrs Claus commended Surf Life Savers in the Illawarra for the excellent job they do in preventing loss of life to beach goers and promoting Surf Life Saving in the Community.

The Christmas Spectacular Rookies on the hill at WIN Stadium and ready for action.

This Christmas we encourage every one to experience the fun of the beach and have a great time but also to be aware of the dangers. Surf Life Saving Illawarra urges you to “SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS” and obey the rules and help our lifesavers and lifeguards, because if you do the life you save could be yours. There are some very basic rules that we ask you to be familiar with and a simple way to remember them is F.L.A.G.S.

Find the flags and swim between them. - The flags represent the area patrolled by the lifesavers and lifeguards. They mark the safest place to swim at the beach.

Look at the safety signs. - The safety signs help you identify potential dangers and daily conditions at the beach; these are located at the beach access points and at the flagged area. Please read them carefully before entering the water.

Ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for some good advice. - Surf conditions can change quickly /water depth, currents, wave size and type. Talk to the lifesavers and lifeguards before entering the water and please don’t ignore their advice.

Get a friend to swim with you. - Always swim with a friend so you can look out for each others safety and can get help if needed. Children should always be supervised by an adult.

Stick your hand up for help. - If you get into trouble in the water, stay calm, raise your arm and signal for help. Float and wait for assistance. Float with the current or rip, don’t try to swim against it.

NEVER

  • Swim at unpatrolled beaches
  • Swim at night
  • Swim under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Run and dive into the water
  • Swim directly after a meal .

 

McDonald's™ Junior Life Savers of the Year

I had the great pleasure of announcing that Georgia Chapman of Thirroul SLSC and Ben Styan of Windang SLSC have been selected as the McDonald's™ Illawarra Junior Lifesavers of the Year.

All clubs in the Illawarra were invited to nominate members of their clubs in the under 14 age category for this prestigious award and the selection and judging committee Surf Life Saving Illawarra received some outstanding applications. Eight extremely high quality candidates were eventually interviewed and it is very satisfying interviewing such talented young lifesavers, hearing their ideas and appreciating how dedicated these young people are.

The criteria used to determine the Junior Life Saver of the Year ranges from their contribution to Lifesaving , demonstration of leadership by instructing or assisting younger members of their clubs, encouragement of new members, contribution to their club, awards received in Surf Life Saving, promotion of Surf Life Saving in the community, attendance at club activities, community involvement outside lifesaving , community awards obtained and sporting achievements in Surf Life Saving and other sports .

Click for large image.

Georgia and Ben will be presented with a trophy and jacket at the BlueScope Steel Awards of excellence and will be involved in a range of activities within the community. Georgia and Ben will now represent the Illawarra at the New South Wales Junior Lifesaver of the Year Awards which will be held at the NSW Junior State Championships at Umina - Ocean Beach in February 2005.

Each of the 11 Branch’s of Surf Life Saving send two candidates and I am sure that Georgia and Ben will ably represent Illawarra and I am looking forward to a good result from these two. They have both been obtaining Surf Life Saving qualifications and awards since starting as under 8 year olds with Georgia obtaining her Surf Rescue Certificate last season and Ben this season .

Georgia, a 2005 year 9 student at St Mary’s Star of the Sea College in Wollongong , is a veteran of representing Illawarra as she has been a member of the SLSI Interbranch Team for the past four years since starting to represent as an under 11 and has also been a member of the Illawarra Netball Representative Squad for three years in the under 13, under 14 and now the under 15 age category. Georgia was first in her year at St Mary’s in PDHPE, 3rd in Science and in the top 5% for English and Maths and received a Sporting Achievement Award for representing her school in Basketball and Netball .

Ben, a 2005 year 8 student at Lake Illawarra High School ,is a member of the Windang Pelicans Rugby League Football Club since the under 8s and has been a grand finalist four times with success on two occasions and has been captain for four years , best and fairest three years in a row, represented in regional teams in Rugby League and swimming , Member of Student Representative council at school, competed in the Music and Arts Talent School , performed as a singer on the recently produced CD called “Eruption” released by Lake Illawarra High School and has vocal coaching with local teacher Jason Stephenson.

Georgia and Ben are congratulated by Kaye Norris.

Some members of the public sometimes only see nippers as a sporting activity but when you see the skills that young lifesavers such as Georgia and Ben have been taught , the years of surf safety and lifesaving training really start to show through and prove that our education programmes are working.

Congratulations to Georgia and Ben from all Life Savers in the Illawarra.

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Other news and information can be found at our website www.illawarrasurf.com

Previous Editions of Life Saving News

02/03 No.1, No.2, No.3, No.4, No.5, No.6, No.7, No.8, No.9, AOE

03/04 No12, Christmas News, No.14, No.15, No.16, AOE,

04/05 No 17, No 18, Rookie Camp, Christmas News

23/12/2004

Gerald Davies, President SLSI

Newsletter proudly sponsored by the Illawarra Credit Union - "It's why I like the Illawarra"

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