OCEAN Grove SLSC legend Dave Renton holds what is probably an unassailable record in surf life saving patrols, having clocked up 50 years without missing a single rostered patrol session.
With around 20 patrol members rostered on for each session, it is regulars like Dave Renton who work to maintain the safety of beachgoers all through summer.
The regular patrols at Ocean Grove main beach kick off this Saturday 28 November and continue until after the Easter break in 2016.
Ocean Grove SLSC president Steve Peatling said the committee had been in planning for volunteer weekend surf patrols to commence since August.
“It is our core business (surf patrol),” Peatling told the Voice.
“Bill Strachan our Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club Captain, has been preparing for the season for probably the last three or four months and they held their patrol captains’ meeting (this month).
“Hopefully we get a nice weekend to start surf patrol and the beach is well attended and we make it all worthwhile.”
In the 2014-’15 summer, records show that club patrol members performed 3,702 preventative actions and there was only one incident that required an ambulance.
The cooler weather last year resulted in a total of 111,959 visitors to the beach during patrol periods, which is around 25,000 fewer than previous years.
Patrol hours are every Saturday 12.45pm-5.30pm and Sundays and public holidays from 9.45am-5pm.
Remember to give your surf life savers a friendly wave next time you are at the beach – they volunteer their time to keep our beaches safe.
