By Margaret Maccoll
In surf deemed too dangerous to swim, life savers at Sunshine Beach took to the waves on Sunday for their last patrol of the season to honour those who have died.
The windy conditions did not deter the SLSQ helicopter or life saver 36, as they call it, from joining colleagues to lay a wreath to remember those who have drowned and SLSQ members who have died.
The memorial service held at alternate beaches across the Sunshine Coast each year brings together Surf Lifesaving Queensland (SLSQ) members across the region.
SLSQ chaplain Don Johnson thanked the volunteers without whom the service “would be nothing”.
The “red and gold heroes on the beach” this year performed 317 rescues, more than 11,300 first aid treatments, many for bluebottle stings, and more than 22,000 preventative actions, he said.
“That’s 317 families who have someone they would not otherwise have,” he said.
SLSQ Sunshine Coast regional manager Aaron Purchase said a combination of prolonged hot weather and northerly winds had resulted in greater numbers of bluebottle in the area and more stings.
He said across the season the waves had been milder with only one extreme weather event brought on by Cyclone Debbie during which life savers preformed two separate rescues.
Tragically a 70-year-old woman lost her life at Alexandra Hills Beach.
