Schools partner with Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club for bronze medallion summer sport program
IN a first for the eastern suburbs, Waverley and St Clare’s colleges have taken the plunge and added surf life saving as an official summer school sport.
IN a first for the eastern suburbs, Waverley and St Clare’s colleges have taken the plunge and added surf life saving as an official summer school sport.
The schools, who partnered with Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club, have encouraged students to take up the seaside sport and qualify for their bronze medallion this term.
The group of 17 boys and a handful of girls have been training and studying theory since mid October.
From December 16 they will be helping patrol Australia’s most famous beach and likely even saving lives.
Bondi Surf Bathers director of education Brent Jackson said club volunteers had been visiting the schools to deliver the theory component each week and oversee training in Waverley College’s pool.
Come the weekend, the kids, aged from 15 to 17, are down at the beach hitting the surf.
“I know basketball and cricket are traditionally popular but I think from a community service aspect and also a weather perspective it’s something I’d much prefer to do at this time of year than standing on a hot oval,” Mr Jackson said.
“Surprisingly, most of the students are new to surf life saving. In the area there are obviously strong nipper programs so we were expecting kids with a nipper background.
“I think it’s about time schools in the eastern suburbs started offering life saving as a sport — it just makes so much sense.”
As part of the agreement with the club, the soon to be qualified life savers will volunteer for regular patrols throughout summer.
In term 1 next year they will start training with the club and competing in their first carnivals.
Many of the students are aiming for their Duke of Edinburgh Award and life saving counts towards the community service component.
“These kids have put in a lot of work both in the pool and down at the beach,” Mr Jackson said.
“If you saw them at the start of the course compared to now the change has been remarkable.
“Bondi is a very busy beach and there’s always someone who needs rescuing. It’s very likely they’ll save a life over the summer.”
To enter the bronze medallion training program you must be able to swim 400m in nine minutes in a pool.
To inquire about qualifying for your bronze medallion visit bondisurfclub.com
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