Surf lifesaving drowning in its own troubles as split between volunteers and surf stars
An explosive letter of complaint has put the spotlight on the management of Queensland Surf Lifesaving. What it shows if the rift between volunteers and surf stars, and the fight for funds.
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ONE of the key allegations facing Queensland Surf Lifesaving management is a decade long “cover up” of driving offences by an official.
The Gold Coast Bulletin can reveal some of the allegations made in an explosive letter of complaint to SLSQ are backed up by members.
The SLSQ regards the letter as a “threat” and has taken legal advice on proceeding with defamation.
EXPLOSIVE ALLEGATIONS LEVELLED AT QLD SURF LIFESAVING
A report in The Bulletin today refers to allegations including a lifesaver being drunk on duty, sexual harassment and staff kickbacks.
But the letter also says there has been a “major ten year cover up into unlicensed driving and falsification” which was aided by officials.
Members today confirmed the allegation was about a colleague using a surf vehicle while unlicensed despite officials being aware of it.
A lifesaving source told The Bulletin: “The question for surf lifesaving will be whether they conduct an internal inquiry, and if they do, how far that inquiry goes back.”
The explosive letter has sparked up tensions between volunteers and surf sport competitors on the Gold Coast.
“We can’t get even get basic surf essentials. We ask the club for a new pair of shorts and they say we can’t get them. If you ask for a paddle board to compete next weekend, they can’t get it,” the member said.
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Another senior lifesaving source confirmed there were tensions within the Coast clubs between volunteers and surf stars.
“At some of the clubs you are seeing 55 per cent of the budget going to surf sports,” the source said.
The whistleblower who sent the letter to SLSQ branded the state’s life saving committee, which allocates safety equipment to dangerous beaches, as “out of touch” and only interested in surf sports.
The marketing department was described as having “its own private agenda” and staffers had no beach patrol experience.
SLSQ faced instability with long-time chief executive officer John Brennan standing down. The body’s chief operating officer George Hill left last October.