Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Saturday night I attended the Catherine Hill Bay Surf Lifesaving Club presentation. Catherine Hill Bay is the smallest of the five surf clubs in the Shortland electorate. They have 280 adult members, 148 juniors and a very impressive 21 cadets—who represent the future of the club. They also have 14 trainers, four assessors and three facilitators. A total of 527 awards were gained this season. They completed 14 rescues, 372 preventative actions, 39 first aid actions and closed the beach nine times over the season, as well as performing 4,975.75 patrol hours, which have an estimated value of $99,515 to Lake Macquarie City Council.

The surf club has seen tough times in the past. I can remember attending a presentation at which there were more dignitaries than members of the club. It has grown, it is strong and it provides vital services in the area. Not only do they look after the beach, they are also required to hop in and help when rock fishermen are swept into the water. My congratulations to the club.