Surf Life Saving Southern Style
Jan. 23, 2008
Surf Life Saving Otago has for the past few year been running a “skill development course” called Intermediate Guard Course for their Surf Lifeguards in there 2nd year of patrolling”.
The aim of the course to build on the basic skills that they learn at Surf Life Guard Award level, to “enthuse” our clubbies to start preparing and looking towards going to the SLSNZ Senior Guard School, to assist with Retention and just to have a fun weekend.
This year’s course was held in mid January at Oreti Surf Club (Southland); the course was attended by 20 participants from around Otago and Southland.
The course started on Friday Night and went through until Sunday evening; the weather was absolutely fantastic (like it could be anything different down this end of the country).
The main activities and skills taught over the weekend included:
? Patrol Set up/Close Down
? Roles and Responsibilities of Patrolling members
? VHF Radio Skills and practice
? First Aid and Emergency Theory Scenarios
? Basic principals of Public Relations and communication
? Introduction to working with the Media
? Patrol Operations Manuals(POM’s)
? IRB Crewing
? Tube and Board Rescues
? Rock Entries and Rescues at Bluff
? Visit to the Riverton Coastguard and a ride in there Vessel.
? Overview of Search and Rescue Incident Management (CIMS)
? Actively involved in a Search and Rescue Exercise
The opportunity to go and meet the crew from the Riverton Coastguard was certainly a highlight of the weekend especially being taken out for a ride in their vessel. It left many of our Young Surf lifeguards interested in becoming members of the Coastguard no one more so than for course Instructor Seth McPhee who is currently checking his schedule to see if he could “fit in” being a volunteer crewman for the Coastguard back in Dunedin.
While carrying out various skills sessions on Oreti Beach we were greeted also by Invercargill Mayor Tim Shatbolt who “surprise, surprise” took the opportunity to get a photo with a few of our Surf Lifeguards. This left many of our Surf Lifeguards feeling pretty good also.
Although not a formal qualification SLS Otago acknowledges the candidates attendance and efforts by issuing a certificate of attendance and achievement.
Another extremely positive component of this years course was the majority of course participants were young ladies, an area of the organisation that we need to continue to grow and retain.
A HUGE thanks to Seth McPhee (Instructor), Camille Davidson (Instructor) and Gemma Wilson (Camp Mum) for giving their weekend to come and help at the course.
Yours in Surf,
Scott Weatherall
SLS Otago Intermediate Guard Course Organiser
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