Surf Lifesaving
April 23rd 2007 05:03
Category: Guides
It may seem unreasonably bizarre to us now, but in the 1880s and 90s, there were laws forbidding swimming in the ocean in broad daylight, or even wearing swim wear. How cruel it must have been, roasting in the hot Sydney summers, seeing the clear waters of the Pacific shimmering tantalizingly over pure white sand.
People wanted to swim, however, and several protestors tried to repeal the laws, especially since doctors were recommending swimming for its health benefits. In 1902, a newspaper editor, William Gocher, announced he would swim at noon, in clear defiance of the law. Naturally, he was arrested, but all charges were dropped, as the laws were clearly unreasonable. Shortly after, the laws were revoked, allowing the entire public to enjoy a day at the beach.
In those days, swimming was purely a recreational hobby, unlike today, where most youngsters have formal swimming lessons that can adequately prepare them for dangerous situations. In the 1900s, people just went down to the beach wearing their, in my opinion, hideous bathing suits and threw themselves in the water.
But the beach fought back, in its own way. Sydneys beaches, now recognized as some of the most popular in the world, have dangerous rip tides and currents; in the early 1900s, several people drowned while swimming, motivating residents to take matters into their own hands. A group of men, all excellent swimmers, trained in lifesaving courses, and took it upon themselves to patrol the beaches at Bondi and Bronte later on, volunteers patrolled beaches at Manly and Cronulla.
In 1907, the Surf Bathing Association of New South Wales was formed; local lifesaving clubs were present at the initial meeting, including clubs from Bondi, Bronte and Manly. The Association worked towards strengthening the surf lifesaving movement, as well as defining the training required to be a senior member.
By 1910, the Sydney Branch assembled its first Bronze Medallion team. Bronze Medallion is the award granted after successfully completing a lifesaving training course; these days, all Surf Lifesavers have gained their Bronze Medallion, which includes both theoretical and practical components. For example, potential lifesavers are asked to swim in surf conditions and perform rescue operations under stressful conditions.
A distinction must be drawn between lifesavers and lifeguards. Lifeguards are paid employees of the local government with authority over the beach, and patrol the beach on a full-time basis. Lifeguards are also employed to patrol other marine areas, such as harbours and piers. Lifesavers, in contrast, are volunteers who patrol the beach on weekends and public holidays... without them, the beach would be unguarded during peak times. A functional symbiosis has grown between the two groups, with the volunteer nature of the Surf Lifesavers making it accessible to anyone with the time to volunteer.
The Surf Lifesaving movement exploded in Sydney, and the rest of Australia, as surf lifesaving clubs became community groups for kids to join as junior members and work through to become a Senior member. The surf clubs from different beaches started organizing competitions in surf-related events, like surfing, CPR and even Ironman competitions, and now, athletes from surf clubs are some of the most respected in aquatic sports.
These days, its hard to imagine an Aussie beach without the Surf Lifesavers; theyre a crucial part of beach safety, and contribute to the active Aussie lifestyle. In 2003-2004, there were over 9 000 rescues performed and over 171 000 preventative actions taken. Clearly, those 9 000 people are grateful for the vigilant eye of the Surf Lifesavers, with their yellow and red cloth caps floating over the crowded beaches of Sydney.
In those days, swimming was purely a recreational hobby, unlike today, where most youngsters have formal swimming lessons that can adequately prepare them for dangerous situations. In the 1900s, people just went down to the beach wearing their, in my opinion, hideous bathing suits and threw themselves in the water.
In 1907, the Surf Bathing Association of New South Wales was formed; local lifesaving clubs were present at the initial meeting, including clubs from Bondi, Bronte and Manly. The Association worked towards strengthening the surf lifesaving movement, as well as defining the training required to be a senior member.
By 1910, the Sydney Branch assembled its first Bronze Medallion team. Bronze Medallion is the award granted after successfully completing a lifesaving training course; these days, all Surf Lifesavers have gained their Bronze Medallion, which includes both theoretical and practical components. For example, potential lifesavers are asked to swim in surf conditions and perform rescue operations under stressful conditions.
A distinction must be drawn between lifesavers and lifeguards. Lifeguards are paid employees of the local government with authority over the beach, and patrol the beach on a full-time basis. Lifeguards are also employed to patrol other marine areas, such as harbours and piers. Lifesavers, in contrast, are volunteers who patrol the beach on weekends and public holidays... without them, the beach would be unguarded during peak times. A functional symbiosis has grown between the two groups, with the volunteer nature of the Surf Lifesavers making it accessible to anyone with the time to volunteer.
These days, its hard to imagine an Aussie beach without the Surf Lifesavers; theyre a crucial part of beach safety, and contribute to the active Aussie lifestyle. In 2003-2004, there were over 9 000 rescues performed and over 171 000 preventative actions taken. Clearly, those 9 000 people are grateful for the vigilant eye of the Surf Lifesavers, with their yellow and red cloth caps floating over the crowded beaches of Sydney.
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