South Maroubra lifeguard takes surf safety from the beach to the bush

FOR South Maroubra lifeguard Nixy Krite, touring the rural Albury region teaching country children about water safety was a collision between two worlds – but the messages remained the same.

Nixy Krite from maroubra Surf Life Saving Club participated in the Beach to Bush program, travelling to the Albury region to teach surf life saving. Picture: John Appleyard

FOR South Maroubra lifeguard Nixy Krite, touring the rural Albury region teaching country children about water safety was a collision between two worlds – but the messages remained the same.

“We visited their creeks and rivers where the warning signs are about snakes and branches in the way, and there were heaps of kids who had never seen a beach and didn’t know what a bluebottle was,” Ms Krite said.

“Learning about staying safe in the water is so important, and that was proved when we got a message from Surf Life Saving after we got back to say a child who took part in the program in a different area to where I was had helped save their sibling from drowning a few days later.

“It was amazing to hear that our presentations had made such an impact on someone’s life.”

South Maroubra SLSC life saver Nixy Krite on the road during her tour of the Albury region as part of the Beach to Bush program. Picture: supplied.

The mum of two – who are also lifeguards at South Maroubra – decided to put her hand up for the Surf Lifesaving NSW Beach to Bush program to give children used to a different landscape an insight into surf safety and what life on the coast is like.

Seven groups of volunteer lifesavers visited 6000 country students at 41 schools last month, to talk about topics including the role of lifesavers and lifeguards, the SunSmart program, what signs at the beach mean, and what to do if caught in a rip current.

Ms Krite said the children were extremely engaged and had plenty of questions and
stories of their own.

“Sharks came up of course, as well as the new drone technology that SLSNSW uses to track their movement.

“We also got some really great questions about what made us become lifesavers, and there were kids who wanted to follow that path themselves which was super cool.”

Ms Krite also took away a lesson of her own from the bush.

“It made me think a bit more about who’ll be coming to my beach this Christmas holidays.

“I want to take more time to talk to beachgoers because we can’t take it for granted it’s always locals in the water.

“As a lifesaver it’s all about prevention.”