Jae Knobben, Lachlan Harkin, Jami Adams: here are Mildura’s best life savers

Whenever the tepreture rises and people hit the river to cool off, Mildura’s top life savers are action, keeping people safe.

Mildura can claim many things, but did you know it can proudly claim to have Australia’s only inland beach, complete with country's first inland life saving club.

Originally founded in 1960, the members of the Mildura Life Saving Club patrol Apex Beach.

While falling in hard times in more recent years, with membership dwindling to only 14 members in 2013, the club has rebounded and now has 30 members keeping Apex Beach safe for swimmers.

Here we list the 10 best lifesavers from Mildura Life Saving Club.

1) Jae Knobben

Jae Knobben gets to work doing CPR

Jae Knobben joined the club in 2017, in the club‘s first bush nippers program

After getting her Surf Rescue Certificate at the beginning of the 2021 patrol season, Jae got her bronze medallion at the beginning of the 2022. She has also completed her Inflatable Rescue Boat Crewperson certificate.

Jae loves patrolling and interacting with the local community, informing them of the potential dangers of inland waterways, including the river.

“It is very important to me that we teach younger children the importance of water safety and being safe around inland waterways and the river”, she said.

2) Myla Knobben

Myla Knobben has been involved with the club since 2017.

Myla Knobben joined the club in 2017 as a nipper, following the program for four years, and how helps trun the nippers program.

Myla joined the life saving club to learn how to be safe in the river.

She has since learned how to enter the water safely, the risks and dangers that are in the river, what to do when an incident occurs in the water.

What keeps Myla doing life saving is knowing that she is helping other nippers learn about water safety and boosting their confidence in the water.

Myla also enjoys patrols, helping to keep Apex Beach safe for the local community and for people visiting the area.

3) Jami Adams

Jam Adams casts a watchful eye on people enjoying a swim.

Jami Adams joined the club as a nipper in 2017 and recently obtained his bronze medallion, becoming a full patrolling member last season.

Jami saw life saving as a great opportunity to develop his skills and serve the community in a meaningful way.

Now, the club is like a second home to him and he loves working with the other amazing members.

He also loves helping other young people start their journey and becoming part of the bush nippers.

4) Kristy McClaer

Kristy McClaer has been named one of Mildura's best life savers

Kristy McClaer loves the water and wanted to play a role in her family staying safe and also falling in love with the water.

She enjoys helping people where she can.

Kristy Loves being a part of community activities and organisations, as well as supporting the wonderful programs and events the Sunraysia region has to offer.

Kristy said staying safe around the water was an important life skill to have.

“It’s an important life skill that kids living near water should have. If we can all share our skills and knowledge together, we will have a healthier, safer, and more aware community”, she said.

5) Dan Rosendahl

Dan Rosendahl at the club’s boatsheds.

Dan Rosendahl grew up on the water and lifesaving is something he had always wanted to get involved in but he never got the opportunity.

But after moving to Mildura some eight years ago a friend suggested he enrol his daughter, then five, in the nippers program.

The Mildura community has been so kind a generous to the Rosendahl family, he said joining the club to run patrol and nippers seemed the perfect way for Mr Rosendahl to give something back

6) Ollie Schilling

Ollie Schilling in action.

Ollie Schilling joined the club in 2018 as nipper and was now fully fledged surf life saver.

“I got into the club as a nipper through Jami who is a good mate of mine and was already in the program at the time,” he said.

Ollie said he loved helping to serve the community and to work alongside the other amazing members.

7) Taj Flentjar

Taj Flentjar keeps watch on the river.

Taj Flentjar joined the club in 2021 on the recommendation of a friend and so far he hasn’t been let down.

“I joined the club last season because I had a friend that said it was really fun and they were absolutely right”, he said.

Taj said he enjoyed all the training he did for the IRB and bronze medallion, and every patrol he’s done.

The club has been a great place for Taj to have fun, stay fit, and help protect people in the community.

Taj said the club was always working to further the skill of its volunteers.

“We have great organisers and leaders who work hard to get us further training opportunities and more ways to be part of the team in all areas, it also helps to have a great crew that is amazing to be around and I couldn’t imagine the club without their hard work”’ he said.

8) Pru Garrett-Jones

Pru Garrett-Jones has been named one of Mildura's best lifesavers

After moving away from friends and family, Pru Garret-Jones knew she had to involve herself in the community.

Recognising how vital water safety is to growing up in Australia with the wonderful coastline and river systems, Ms Garret-Jones felt Mildura Life Saving Club bought together her love of the water and the ability to be part of the community.

She said she enjoyed teaching the next generation about water safety and building their skills through the nippers’ program.

9) Lily Adams

Lilly Adams keeps an eye on people swimming at Apex Beach.

Lily Adams got into life saving by first doing the nippers program for two years.

When she was 12, she started training for the SRC which she got when she was 13

From there, Lily has worked her way through the ranks, gaining other awards such as her bronze medallion, IRB crew and driver qualifications, and silver medallion.

“[The club] is pretty much my second family, although lots of my family are also involved,” she said.

“I am so proud of the development of the club, and love being a young woman that the young nippers can look up to and aspire to”.

10) Lachlan Harkin

Lachlan Harkin decided to start life saving because he saw it as an opportunity to learn new skills and thought it would be a great way to improve his day-to-day life knowing he had the potential to save lives.

Mr Harkin said ever

y day he was on patrol there was something new to learn.