We have ended another season with several successful Destination
Patrols. Bondi sends groups of Members to other Surf Clubs outside of the
local area to support their patrols. The Destination Patrols provide a fun
opportunity to apply our skills in a new environment, experience various
surf skills and give back to the broader NSW Lifesaving community.
In January we were back at Pacific Palms. Bondi sent 27 members, split
into two patrols, led by Michael Hallam and Felicity MacArthur, for a
weekend three and a half hours north of Sydney to take over the patrol
of the beautiful Elizabeth Beach.
We had a great diversity of volunteers come together, from new
bronzies to more seasoned Club Members. We set up the flags for our
patrol days, camped in the Clubhouse, practiced yoga, surfed, were
shown around the jetski by our local hosts and took turns cooking for
each other. It was a fun weekend getting to patrol a new beach and
explore the local area in our downtime.
Over Australia Day weekend, Anna Booth participated in the NSW Patrol
Support Program and helped the team at Brunswick Heads. The beach
was closed on Australia Day due to shark sightings but opened on
Saturday and Sunday for the many locals and tourists to cool off and
enjoy the waves. The Patrol Support program matches Members willing
and able to travel with other Surf Clubs, whose smaller membership
means they could do with a helping hand over the holidays. Small
numbers mean most patrolling members wear two if not three hats on
patrol. Anna highly recommends participating in the program and said
patrolling at a regional Surf Club is a great learning experience and a
reminder of how important first aid knowledge and skills are on patrol.
In February we had a few Bondi Lifesavers support Fairy Meadow
SLSC in Illawarra. They are a small Club and are especially trying to
grow their IRB section. Michael Delaney drove the team and Daniel
Rosado delivered an IRB training session for the team and even fit in a
rescue afterwards. Later in March, a small contingent of Fairy Meadow
members came over to Bondi to see how we patrol, led by our friend
and former Bondi member Claudia McKenzie.
Also in March, we hosted a group of junior lifesavers from Port Campbell
in Victoria. They were part of Port Campbell SLSC’s Development and
Leadership Camp where they visited Sydney sites and learnt about
patrolling at beaches such as Bondi and Bronte.
A big thank you to all the volunteers who took time out to help organise,
patrol, and showcase all that Bondi has to offer to our lifesaving
community.
DESTINATION
PATROL
Jacob Ezrakhovich
Destination Patrol Captain
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BONDI SURF BATHERS’ LIFE SAVING CLUB