Surf Life Saving Australia turns Parliament House red and yellow

The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter has helped turn Canberra's Parliament House red and yellow for a day at the Parliamentary Friends of Surf Life Saving Quarterly Update.

Patrolling members and young Nippers from the local area greeted the Parliamentary Friends co-chairs Sarah Henderson MP, Federal Member for Corangamite, Victoria and Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Federal Member for Kingsford Smith, NSW at the helicopter’s door to mark the arrival of summer.

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter fleet has become a key tool in keeping Australians safe on our beaches. In 2013/14 it registered more than 1200 hours of flying and performed 980 rescue missions.

One of those rescue missions was acknowledged in the awarding of Surf Life Saving Australia Rescue of the Month for August to Graham and Lucas Toms from South Maroubra SLSC.

The father and son duo combined to rescue an unconscious and unresponsive rock fisherman who had been swept away in large swell. A Maroubra Lifeguard on a RWC and off-duty lifesavers in an IRB assisted before the patient was winched from the surf by the Westpac Helicopter.

Surf Life Saving Australia President Graham Ford explains “this was a fine example of our Lifesavers working together as a team and the very important role the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter plays.

“We are very hopeful that its rescue requirements will be significantly less this season but it is somewhat comforting to know that it is such a valuable resource available to our front line services.”

Ford also awarded the September Rescue of the Month to Sandon Point SLSC for a team effort in stabilising a local surfer who had fallen heavily onto a shallow reef during a junior board riding competition.

Sandon Point SLSC members Jason Hinds and Christian Szanto swam across to assist the surfer. Hinds stabilised the surfer’s head while Szanto helped keep the patient afloat. Fellow member Rod Johnston then assisted in securing the surfer onto his board so that he could be taken back to shore. Once the patient was ashore, off duty Lifeguard Keith Miller placed a neck collar on the patient as Patrol Captain Sue Martin took over administering first aid until paramedics arrived.

Ford added “this rescue highlights the ability and skill of our lifesavers to adapt and perform under challenging circumstances."

In addressing the Parliamentary Friends of Surf Life Saving gathering, Ford further emphasised the significant work being done by Surf Life Saving patrolling members to keep Australia’s beaches safe.

Co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Surf Life Saving initiative, Sarah Henderson MP and Matt Thistlethwaite MP also provided an update in which they thanked Surf Life Saving for its year-round services. They wished everyone a happy festive season, reminding everyone to be safe at the beach and swim between the red and yellow flags. Surf Life Saving Australia is delighted to confirm that both MP’s have agreed to continue on as co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Surf Life Saving for 2015.

Click here for more information about the Rescue of the Month winners. visit http://sls.com.au

Image shows Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Surf Life Saving Australia President Graham Ford and Sarah Henderson MP inside of the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter.

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