THE beaches were full but south-west surf lifesavers have had a quiet summer holiday season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Port Campbell Surf Lifesaving clubs reported no major incidents or rescues over the peak summer time.
Warrnambool club president Michael Owen said warm weather meant the beaches were busier than previous years, but lifesavers only responded to two noteworthy incidents.
“The first was the boat that ended up stranded on the La Bella Reef on January 28,” he said.
“The only other rescue we had to perform was for a girl who got into a bit of trouble at The Flume.
“She had a bit of an asthma attack but was fine once we got her back to the club and she had some ventolin.”
Mr Owen said a Lifesaving Victoria request to have lifesavers rostered on outside normal patrol times during hot weather had been successful.
Port Fairy club captain Paul Buchanan echoed Mr Owen’s comments. “We responded to an overturned boat on Saturday just gone, but other than that it’s been very quiet for our lifesavers which is fantastic,” he said.
“Our paid lifesavers haven’t required any time this summer.”
Port Campbell president James Green said the only major incident his club members attended was a cray boat stranded on the Peterborough beach over the Christmas-New Year period.
“We’ve had a busy year with our nippers program and other club activities, but there have been no rescues as such,” he said.
All three said lifesaving clubs were kept busy with preventative work and first aid across the period.
Mr Green said he hoped to remain rescue-free until patrols end at Easter.