Students from Maria Regina Primary School in Avalon recently visited Avalon Beach for training in rip safety. Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club (ABSLSC) Heritage Committee members, Geoff Searl, Warren Young and Roger Sayers, enjoyed showing the children around and answering questions about surf safety.
Avalon beach is one of the most dangerous on the coast, rating seven out of 10 on the Australian Beach Safety rating.
Club veteran Roger said the school children asked a lot of questions, such as what to do if you get caught in a rip if you’re not a strong swimmer, are there any female lifesavers, and what would you do if there was a shark next to you.
Roger told the children that anyone who gets caught in a rip should float on their back and put their hand up, so lifeguards know they are in trouble. There were many female surf lifesavers at the club, he said. And as for the sharks: “Don’t panic!”
The children knew quite a lot about surf safety, and many were members of local Nippers clubs, Roger said.
School principal Kirsty Thorpe said that Years One and Two did the excursion every year. “It is always such a rich learning experience,” she said.