By FRANKIE LOW, YEAR 6
SUNSHINE Beach State School Year 6 students have been making a splash and learning to be safe in the surf with a bit of help from the local surf club.
The Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving Club, through Surf Lifesaving Queensland, are using their accumulated wisdom, acquired from 100 years of patrolling Australian Beaches, to teach the students essential beach-going skills.
According to Noosa Heads SLSC Education Manager Greg McLaughlin, with the help of the Surf Life Saving volunteers, the students have learned how to board-ride, swim, conduct basic rescues, participate in beach activities and have surf awareness.
“The need for the Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving Club to be involved in the community education is vital,” he said.
“As an aquatic safety agency we believe that we should not only take responsibility to indicate safe swimming areas, but also to increase the skill level that members of the public take into the water. Our school Surf Education Program is structured to do exactly that.”
He said being part of the Surf Education Program is important because we all live near the water and it is necessary to be aware of the dangers of the surf.
The Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club has a strong focus on providing students with the knowledge and information they need to make safe and responsible choices about where they swim which means that they are less likely to get themselves and others in danger.
From 2014 Queensland Surf Lifesavers saved the lives of 3648 people, and on Noosa Main Beach, the club has continued to patrol the beach with a proud record of no lives lost while lifesavers were on patrol.
McLaughlin said there were many benefits of the Surf Education Program.
“Firstly it is a wonderful program because it helps the Year 6 students to become supportive role models and teach others about how to be water safe,” he said.
Amanda Brown, 6B classroom teacher, said it was a worthwhile program.
“I like the way it involves all of the children regardless of ability,” she said.
“It is also great for teaching them how to cooperate and support each other whilst learning invaluable skills for being safe in the surf.”
Students have found that the Surf Education Program is a fun way to learn Health and Physical Education according to 6B class member Tiffany Mackay.
“It’s a great experience and it helps people who are not as confident in the water to relax and enjoy the fun,” she said.
Overall, this fun program run by the Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club is wonderful for helping the Year 6 students to feel safe in the surf no matter how different their abilities are.
Ethan Mitchell from class 6B agreed, “It’s lots of fun and it helps people become more aware in the surf.”
For more information contact the Sunshine Beach State School. Enrolments for 2016 are currently being taken. Call 5474 6333 to arrange a tour.
