brunswick meets the beach

Bethany Wolfe

Teacher - HPE

I have always wanted to join a Life Saving Club and wear the iconic red and yellow.

However, as I grew up inland on the Goulburn River, watersports for me meant rowing on the river and swimming at the local swimming pool!

Now living in Port Melbourne,  I decided it was a good chance to become a Life Saver. I joined the nearby Sandridge Life Saving Club and completed my Bronze Medallion and Spinal Management Certificate.  Now I am part of a patrol group and volunteer once a month to supervise the Sandridge Beach. I am finding that it is a great way to maintain and increase fitness  - and a fabulous way to meet like-minded friends! Added to this,  it feels good to be part of an organisation that provides an important community service.

There are several clubs in the Port Phillip area including Elwood,  St Kilda,  South Melbourne,  Port Melbourne and Sandridge LSC's - just a tram and/or train ride away from Brunswick! There are many and varied opportunities for young people to become involved and I encourage anyone who has interest to talk to me about the experience and to investigate the opportunity to become involved.

At age 5 to 13 years, children can participate in Nippers which focuses on water awareness,  confidence,  safety and surf sports.  This can include competition at carnivals.  At age 13 and older, people can complete a Surf Rescue Certificate which means they can be part of a beach patrol. At age 15 and over, people can complete their Bronze Medallion for patrol.  From there, there are opportunities to gain other skills and qualifications such as Inflatable Rescue Boat Crew/Driver.

More information can be found on the Life Saving Victoria website or club websites.

We bid goodbye to Bethany as she moves on from BSC in 2017.  Bethany has taken up a position at the Nepean School - working in aquatherapy primarily with clients affected by Cerebral Palsy.  

We wish her every success at her new school.