Help us put a stop to coastal drowning deaths this summer.
Visiting the beach is such an integral part of the Australian way of life.
But do you know how to stay safe while on the coast this summer?
Top beach safety tips
- Swim at a patrolled beach, between the red and yellow flags
- Supervise children on, in and around water at all times
- If boating, on watercraft or rock fishing, please wear a lifejacket
- If you are undertaking any water activity, avoid drinking alcohol
- If you get into difficulty, float - raise an arm and call for help
- Visit https://beachsafe.org.au/
Surf lifesaver, ultrarunner and fundraiser: how Elle gives back to the community
When we think about how we passed the time during COVID-19 lockdowns, many of us took up new hobbies, but how many people would have planned a 900-kilometre ultrarun from Byron Bay to Bondi Beach? That is exactly what volunteer surf lifesaver Elle Kuhta did!
Inspired by her new-found enjoyment of running to keep active throughout lockdown, Elle began to think about exploring the Australian coastline on foot with a coastathlon. To make this incredible challenge even more impactful, Elle decided to turn her ultrarun into a fundraiser for Surf Life Saving.
“Surf Life Saving was an obvious choice for fundraising as I was going down the coast and exploring all the remote beaches of New South Wales. It is important to make sure folks know how dangerous our coastline is, and while we want to enjoy it, we need to be safe.”
“I also wanted to give back to an organisation that has given so much to me, it is such a great community of people,” Elle said.
A few summers ago, Elle met a surf lifesaver from the Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club who invited her out for an ocean swim. Hailing from Detroit in the United States, this was not something Elle had much opportunity to do, so she was very excited. It was also her first time completing the Bondi point to point swim. Having enjoyed the experience so much, the following summer she signed up to complete her Bronze Medallion training, enabling her to become a qualified surf lifesaver.
By participating in regular training sessions, Elle has developed the skills required of a surf lifesaver who patrols the famous – and extremely busy – Bondi Beach.
“I do a lot of preventative measures at Bondi, namely making sure that folks swim between the flags and not in backpackers' rip!”
Knowing exactly how vital surf lifesavers are to protecting our Australian way of life on the coast, but also how necessary community support and donations are to put surf lifesavers on our beaches, Elle wanted to raise awareness and funds through her Byron to Bondi coastathlon.
“The Surf Lifesaving Foundation made it very easy to set up my online fundraising page and get the word out! I used this link across my Instagram account and numerous folks shared this as well,” she said.
After months of careful planning, Elle set off on the 6th of November 2021 with a small support crew to see her safely through her journey. Averaging 35 kilometres per day over her 30-day journey with a few rest days in between, Elle navigated soft sand running, crossing rivers, highways, remote stretches of coast and more.
Elle gained enormous support from family, friends, Surf Life Saving members and colleagues who were inspired by her courageous undertaking and equally wanted to support her fundraising efforts for such an important cause. In addition to her Surf Life Saving fundraising page, her workplace jumped on board with support.
“I was also able to use my workplace giving platform and this meant all donations were matched by my company, which was great!”
While it can feel a little uncomfortable asking people to support your endeavours financially with a donation, Elle found that people were all too happy to donate whatever they could to back her and her fundraising efforts for Surf Life Saving.
“Almost everyone visits the beaches in Australia, and they know how important volunteer surf lifesavers are for patrolling the beach and keeping them safe. It really is a cause that many Australians value and often have needed to ask for help in the water or see someone ask for help,’ Elle noted.
Elle managed to raise over $15,000 to help surf lifesavers gain further training and purchase vital rescue gear and equipment.
We are so grateful for the time and energy Elle put into her coastathlon fundraising endeavour for Surf Life Saving, especially when she already gives so much to the community through her work as a volunteer surf lifesaver on Bondi Beach.
Fundraising for Surf Life Saving is a fantastic way to spread awareness about the lifesaving work we do on Australian beaches, to share important water safety information, and to ensure that our charitable community work can continue for generations to come.
Click here to find out more about fundraising for Surf Life Saving.
Did you know?
Where does my money go? Can even a small donation help? Your questions answered.
The SLSF was established to support our unique not-for-profit community cause that exists through community donations, fundraising, corporate sponsorships and government grants.
With over 180,000 members and 315 affiliated Surf Life Saving Clubs, SLS represents the largest volunteer movement of its kind in Australia, and the world.
- Maintain and replace lifesaving rescue equipment
- Enhance the training and development programs for volunteer surf lifesavers
- Expand community surf safety campaigns
- Fund aquatic safety research and development
- Continue to provide support services including communications networks, aerial patrols and powered watercraft
Every year millions of people visit our beaches, and thousands of these visitors find themselves in urgent need of a life saving rescue. This is what we are here for, to keep your family and friends safe in the water.
Your support today will ensure that millions of adults and children who visit the beach go home safely.
Did you know?
- It costs at least $850 to train a new volunteer to Bronze Medallion standard. Surf lifesavers are trained in First Aid, CPR and rescue techniques. Importantly, all of our lifesavers must continue to refresh and update their skills.
- Rescue gear and equipment are some of the largest costs associated with providing lifesaving services throughout Australia. A full life saving patrol can cost up to $80,000.
- Prevention is better than cure, and the best way to save lives at the beach is by teaching people how to stay out of danger. We run campaigns on how to spot rips and what to do if you are caught in one (swim parallel to the shore!).
No matter what area your donation goes towards, you can be sure that it will make a vital contribution to saving lives.
In light of COVID-19, it is important that appropriate processes are implemented to ensure the safety of our members while participating in lifesaving activities.
The health and wellbeing of all members within Surf Life Saving is paramount, and as such SLSA has been regularly monitoring and acting upon the advice from the Federal Government and other relevant authorities.
We have created the Patrols, Training and Patient Treatment During COVID-19 handbook to provide guidance on appropriate measures for minimising the risk of infection.
Could you give regularly?
As well as training new volunteer surf lifesaver, your monthly donation helps repair and replace the equipment that constant exposure to the sun and sea can damage. As a Guardian of the Surf your monthly donation ensures that we are rescue-ready at a moment’s notice. You would be the silent hero behind every life saved.