SLASA new rescue guru hails Aussie volunteer culture

SA’s new surf-lifesaving rescue guru says the unique approach Australia takes to emergency services was a big eye-opener.

Lifesaving and emergency operations manager Daniel Willets with lifesaver Bruce Hosking, firefighter Carolyn Denton and ambo Brodie Batty. Picture: Sarah Reed

Australia’s culture of volunteerism is unique in the world and must be properly valued according to the former British police officer turned Surf Life Saving’s emergency guru Daniel Willetts.

Mr Willetts, who spent a decade as a policeman on the streets of Manchester, is now SLASA’s Lifesaving and Emergency Operations Manager – a job he admitted was a “baptism of fire” considering the logistics around 2020’s pandemic.

However, he said he had settled in to the role and continued to be blown away by the sheer number of hours South Australians devoted to Life Saving out of the goodness of their own hearts.

“Volunteering in Australia, there really is nothing like it,” Mr Willetts said from his office at SLSA’s West Beach headquarters.

“Volunteer emergency services just isn’t a thing in England. We have volunteer police officers, but usually people are using that as a stepping stone towards becoming a police officer.

“There’s no real movement similar to CFS, SES or Surf Life Saving where people are doing this week in, week out for years with no intent behind it other than to provide community service.

“That was one of the biggest eye openers for me when I came to Australia. I remember thinking. ‘wow, a crucial part of emergency services is run by volunteers’. I am continuously blown away by the commitment and the amount of hours people put in.”

Mr Willetts moved to Australia almost 15 years ago when police forces around the country were looking to Britain to bolster their numbers.

When a colleague said they were immigrating Down Under he thought that he too should take advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I applied to WA and SA in 2006, and whoever gave me the first job that’s where I was going,” Mr Willetts said.

As part of SAPOL Mr Willett eventually landed a role as a tactical flight officer with Polair, the police helicopter division, working in the skies for eight years including two as a tactical winchman.

Mr Willetts said it was invaluable experience that would serve him well at SLSA, which has its own chopper in the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter.

Combined with two jet rescue boats, nine drones, 70 inflatables, 23 all-terrain vehicles and more than 8500 volunteer members and, he said, you have a formidable force for good.

“Surf Life Saving is in a very good place,” he said.

“We are always looking to recruit new members, and there are roles for everyone – including ones where you’ll never have to put a foot in the water – but we are punching well above our weight for a state of our size.”

Mr Willetts said it wasn’t until he got out and spoke with volunteers that he began to understand the calibre of people giving their time to Surf Life Saving.

“The professional skills and abilities are astounding,” he said.

“We have surgeons, doctors, police officers, fireys, ambulance paramedics – so when a job comes together you have a tool for every job.”

For information on volunteering go to www.surflifesavinsa.com.au