By RON LANE
AS a courtesy to our visitors over Christmas the local media has for years spread the message regarding beach safety and now we at Noosa Today continue that courtesy.
Our region is blessed with having some of the most beautiful sandy beaches one would ever wish to walk. However several of these are not only in isolated areas but are also unpatrolled and in one particular instance – Alexandria Bay – is extremely dangerous.
The message has not changed for years. If you go to the beach, bathe between the flags.
If you go for a walk through Noosa’s National Park and decide to bath at an unpatrolled beach, think twice and look long and hard before doing so. If you have small children, at least leave them on the beach.
The scenic walk through the park is naturally inviting and we want our tourists to take the family and enjoy it all. However sanity should prevail. We want our visitors to be aware that – despite the modern-day rescue craft that are seen on our beaches – they are not always available for emergencies at out-of-the-way isolated areas.
Priority for rescue craft such as the IRB and Jet Rescue Ski is and always will be the area between the flags. If weather conditions indicate that a change at the flagged area is possible, the patrol captain can inform his crews to remain in the vicinity.
The courtesy patrols that we in lifesaving are now moved to extend to our widely scattered public, are and always will be faced with a few problems. First is the time that it takes to reach a situation, second having the correct location and three, having some indication of the problem.
Noosa IRB captain Chris Vaughan extended the good advice to people who walk the park when he said: “Some people will come across a situation where they can see people in trouble. Quickly grab a mobile, dial triple-zero and speak slowly. Give the location, the situation and if possible the number of people. Above all when finished, stay where you are, because you may be needed to direct the IRB team. To attract their attention don’t just wave your arm, grab a towel, a shirt, anything large and wave it. But once again remember, stay where you are.”
In Alexandria Bay there two emergency alarms – one at the northern end and one at the southern end of the beach. But remember this is a very isolated beach and rescue teams have to come from Sunshine Beach or further away from Noosa Heads. Sunshine Beach club captain Scott Summers said: “If you visit our region please come to us and bathe between the flags. If you are a visitor and want to go hiking please talk to us first for advice but please don’t swim in A Bay. It is unpatrolled and very dangerous.”
Always remember the people in the red and yellow uniforms are there for your protection so speaking to you and offering advice is part of their job. Remember getting advice may prevent you having to be rescued, and as any lifesaver will tell you it is better to prevent a rescue then having to perform one.
So we at Noosa Today cordially invite you to enjoy our beaches, our scenery and our restaurants but please, bathe between the flags.
