Lifesaving clubs clock-up over 16,000 beach patrol hours
For more details on how to become involved as a volunteer, sponsor or for an education and development programme, contact chairman, Mickey Thompson on 082-784-2996
AT the AGM of the Lifesaving Association KZN South on Friday, 12 September, honorary president and records officer, Ken Bentall reported that duty members of the clubs affiliated to the association did a total of 16,830 beach patrol hours along the KZN south coast from Amanzimtoti to Port Edward without a drowning.
“Voluntary lifesaving clubs’ main aim is maintaining effective beach patrols to promote drowning prevention and ensuring the safety of the public of which a tremendous number are holidaymakers and the lifeblood of most of the towns on the South Coast,” said re-elected chairman, Mickey Thompson, a member of Warnadoone Lifesaving Club.
All lifesaving club members are volunteers, performing a valuable community service of beach patrol duties on Sundays and public holidays throughout the year. This proud tradition dates back to 1928 when the three local clubs of Toti, Warners and Winkle as they are affectionately known, were formed.
The nipper sections of clubs are doing fantastic work in training eight to thirteen-year-olds in water skill, which they can use every day and assist them to participate in local, provincial and national championships.
For more information on ‘fun in the sun’ lifesaving nippers, contact with your local lifesaving club or the regional nipper officer, Roy Carty of Scottburgh Surf Lifesaving Club on 082-570-1500 or email wt.rc@venturenet.co.za for more information.
Other executive officers elected for the new season are: Vice-chairman, Dale Duke of Amanzimtoti Surf Lifesaving Club (ASLC); competitions officer, Derek Fourie of Warnadoone Surf Lifesaving Club; patrols officer, JJ Joubert of ASLC; powercraft officer, Brad McCann of Winklespruit Lifesaving Club, who was also Lifesaving South Africa’s lifeguard of the year; treasurer is Rianet Matthysen; chief examiner is Sheldon Roux and doing all the hard administration work behind the scenes, Sandra Bentall. Lifesaving clubs train volunteers to become fully qualified lifeguards, a qualification that is recognised worldwide.
For more details on how to become involved as a volunteer, sponsor or for an education and development programme, contact chairman, Mickey Thompson on 082-784-2996 or mikethompson92@gmail.com or PRO, Henk Lotz of Amanzimtoti Surf Lifesaving Club on 072-123-3464 or henk@tradergate.co.za.
