Following many discussions held amongst the Lifeguards of Noosa, a report was forwarded to the State Operational Centre and a copy to Surfcom (their support group) based on the Gold Coast.
The purpose of the report, was to bring them up to date regarding the high number of rescues and incidents being performed and answered to, in the Noosa National Park region
As a result, last week a team of five operators visited our district.
“The main objective, said senior Lifeguard Issacs Smith, “was that due to the increasing rescues and call outs in the National Park, we wanted to familiarise them with the area so that all involved from the headquarters end, will be more up to-date and aware of the region. Following this they viewed a very comprehensive power point slide and took part in a question and answer session.”
The slide session of the visit was hosted by the Noosa Surf Club and during this Chief Instructor Jonathan Donnelly made a major contribution.
“We felt that all involved were very happy with the result: for the headquarters group the information passed on would indeed make them more aware of the problems that we sometimes face in rescue situations in the Noosa National Park,” said Smith. In this Noosas Chief Instructor Donnelly was in complete agreement.
‘’Their visit,’’ said Donnelly, ‘’really gave them a good look at the terrain. This made them more aware of problems such as radio communications in certain areas of the Park: this is of the most importance as loss of radio contact could be vital.”
Our Noosa lifeguards ably supported by the surf club, are to be congratulated for taking the tentative regarding this meeting. A major factor in the successful completion of a difficult (and sometimes dangerous) rescue, is always the response time; that is the time taken by the team on callout to arrive: be they be lifeguards, paramedics or police. For this to be kept to the minimum all possible information is required.
With the number of unpatrolled beaches in the National Park stretching from Noosa’s Main Beach to the beautiful but dangerous Alexandria Bay and our visitations on the increase, the response time is and always will always be of the most importance.
THEY’LL BE MISSED
For the members of Sunshine Beach Surf Club and their supporters, last week was indeed somewhat unsettling.
On one occasion we lost Geoff Potter Life Member who passed away after a long illness and then the news that two-key personal, Craig Law club president and Scott Summers director of lifesaving, were stepping down from their positions.
For Craig it was a matter of time.
Since joining the club in 2005 he has not only held various positions, of the utmost importance in his club, but also did the same at both branch and state level.
This plus raising a family and his occupation as a police officer(officer in charge of our local dog squad based in Coolum, which often can require long hours and call outs) leaves little time for private family life around the Sunshine area.
Regarding director of surf lifesaving (club captain) Scott Summers, his stepping aside is a matter of work.
As on the 14 August he will depart his beloved club to commence work as a piolet in the South Australia helicopter company Aerotech Helicopters.
Joining Sunshine in 2001 his time has been somewhat full- on. His career prior to joining was that as a member of the Australian Army, in which on resigning, he held the rank of Major. Because of his background he quickly stepped into high positions including club captain and president and during his years he achieved many awards at both branch and state level.
To both Craig and Scott, we say many thanks for your loyalty and service and wish them good luck in the years ahead.
