Surf Lifesaving NSW raises water safety awareness with pop-up beach

Surf Lifesaving NSW (SLSNSW) will be hosting a pop-up beach in Circular Quay from 1st to 10th February aiming to raise awareness for tourists and newly arrived migrants on water safety. SLSNSW is the City of Sydney’s charity partner for 2019 Sydney Lunar Festival

As a member of Surf Lifesaving NSW, for William Chan, the role of lifesaver has much more meaning this Lunar New Year as he will help host the pop-up beach. 

Chan explains "it’s a fantastic way for the City of Sydney to bring different cultures together, celebrating the tradition of Australians on the beach.

“Sydney has many beaches near the city and this is a highlight for people wanting to visit our global city. Our pop-up beach will be near the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, so it’s a great way of bringing the city’s major attractions together. I hope everyone will have the chance to enjoy it – including relaxing on the deck chairs.” 

First Fleet Park in The Rocks will be decked out in beach chairs, umbrellas and a blow up ball pit, and visitors can take part in interactive educational water safety sessions, CPR competitions, children’s entertainment and make-your-own zinc workshops. Volunteer surf lifesavers will be on hand to demonstrate everything there is to know about being safe in the water. 

Red and yellow flags will also fly high in the sky at the pop-up beach – colours that are considered to be lucky during Lunar New Year.  

Chan advised “in Chinese culture, the colours red and yellow mean success, prosperity and wealth – and they are the colours of the Chinese flag. On the other hand, in Australia, red and yellow flags symbolise safety and demonstrate a supervised area of the beach."

Chan joined Tamarama Surf Lifesaving Club in 2013 when he was 24. As a previous recipient of the Tamarama Surf Lifesaving Club Chief Instructor’s Award, Chan helps newly arrived migrants, refugees and international students understand surf safety.

He adds “I was very interested in the community aspect of lifesaving and wanted to improve my surfing ability, keep fit and be part of a club where I could learn new skills and maintain my fitness.

“I’m passionate about the community outreach that surf lifesaving promotes to youth, particularly in response to the crucial need for social inclusion, diversity and education.”

His commitment to the community led to him being selected by Tamarama Surf Lifesaving Club to be a youth representative at the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2018.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore concluded "it’s fantastic to have Surf Lifesaving NSW as our charity partner for the Sydney Lunar Festival - their volunteers do incredible work keeping our beaches safe for everyone all year round.

“The pop-up beach shows what a wonderful cultural mix we have between the beach and city lifestyles - I encourage visitors to the festival to drop by and to enjoy it as part of the City’s incredible line-up of events.”

Sydney Lunar Festival is the largest celebration of the Lunar New Year outside of Asia.

For more information go to sydneylunarfestival.com

Images: SLSNSW Chief Executive Steven Pearce, lifesavers and nippers at the launch of the pop-up beach (top) and Sydney lifesaver William Chan (below).