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Lifeguards, from left, Ashley Maher, Katy North and Xavier Garneau-Roughan, were on the last patrol for summer at Omaha.
Omaha and Mangawhai lifeguards brought down the flags for the last time this summer at the end of the Easter weekend on April 6.
The Omaha club was involved in 11 rescues over the season but members were also busy hosting numerous sporting events including SLS surf sports and IRB events, and the recent SUP nationals.
Club publicity officer Ruth Tanner says it was good to see many lifeguards participating in both water safety and competition events.
“More and more members of all ages are entering not just Surf Life Saving carnivals but also local events such as the Kowhai Festival river race and the upcoming Seagull race at Matakana,” she says.
“We have been fortunate to receive funding for new skis and boards, and it is great to see them being used in competitions.”
Ruth paid tribute to the countless volunteer hours that lifeguards put into the club, not just patrolling the beach but also coaching, instructing, and being role models for junior members.
“It makes me very proud.”
Patrols start again on Labour Weekend. In the meantime, maintenance, repairs, planning, and training continues at the club.
Meanwhile, Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Matt Claridge is warning New Zealanders not to be complacent about water safety.
“Drowning is a year round issue with, on average, 44 per cent of drownings each year occurring in the cooler months,” he says.
“We’re asking people to be careful, especially now that the surf patrols have ended.”
There have been 67 per cent more drownings at (unpatrolled) beaches this year compared with the same period last year.
Surf Life Saving NZ chief executive Paul Dalton says a team of 4000 lifeguards carried out 1238 rescues and 2205 first aids over summer.
