New Club Rooms for Chiton Rocks SLSC Officially Opened!

Surf Life Saving Clubs in South Australia are among the best community facilities in the State with an ongoing commitment from the South Australian Government to rebuild and renovate Clubs each year.

Surf Life Saving SA are currently halfway through the rebuild process and Chiton Rocks Surf Life Saving Club is the latest Club to have undergone the redevelopment process. The stunning new facility was be officially opened by the Emergency Services Minister Hon. Mr Corey Wingard at a ceremony on Saturday 13 October.   

Chiton Rocks Surf Life Saving Club Rebuild

Established in 1957 by a dedicated group of south coast surfers, Chiton Rocks Surf Life Saving Club has a unique identity on our coastline as home of the Surfing Surf Lifesaver.

Watching over some of SA’s best Surf and offering Surfers a great base to enjoy the waves Chiton has a live streaming Surf Cam for the public to check out the swell and is the only SA Club to offer bunkhouse accommodation.

Built by Partek, the new facilities have been designed to include:

·      Upgraded ground floor planning to meet emergency services requirements including the first aid room, patrol room and equipment storage areas and improved rapid response capabilities.

·      New formal entry /display area to add a sense of address for the club.

·      Refurbishment and reconfiguration of the change rooms, showers and toilet areas.

·      Improved pedestrian flow through the building, including around stored equipment, access from change rooms connecting to the existing bunkroom facilities, introduction of a functional gymnasium and the main entry to the upstairs members area including an air lock to assist with entry and egress and prevailing conditions and southerly winds.

·      Disabled access to the upstairs members area via a lift

·      First floor addition of member’s dining room, kitchen, bar and plant rooms. This incorporates a viewing platform/balcony facing directly south with views east to west along the coastline.

Chiton Rocks Surf Lifesaving Club offers volunteer patrol services on weekends and public holidays from October to the April. With Chiton Rocks Beach a popular tourist destination for Surfers Boogie Boarders, Swimmers and Body Boarders of all ages, the club has performed 258 rescues in its history. The Chiton Rocks Nippers program has been running since 2005 and the Club welcomes Members from all over the State.

The surrounding community are thrilled with the rebuild and a partnership with local team “The Village Foodie” for the Club’s Friday night dinners and new Café has seen the club developing into a vibrant community hub with beach yoga classes already underway.   

First Day of Patrols for Season 2018/2019

Surf Life Saving SA wished all of our volunteer Surf Lifesavers a safe and successful patrol season for 2018/2019.

We remind the public to always swim between the red and yellow flags and to make sure they educate themselves to the risks before entering any body of water.

South Australian Surf Lifesavers patrol on weekends and public holidays from now until the Easter Long Weekend.

Top Safety Tips:

• Always swim between the red and yellow flags, at beaches with patrolling lifesavers or lifeguards. The Beachsafe App can find your closest patrolled beach.

• If you get into trouble in the water, stay calm. Signal for help, by holding up one arm and waving, float and wait for assistance.

• Enroll in a First Aid or Aquatic Education Course or refresh your knowledge prior to the season and top up first aid kits and emergency gear.

• Never swim alone. Tell someone where you will be and when they can expect you back. Take a charged mobile phone with you to call for help if required.

• Read and obey the signs. Check the weather and water movement, changing conditions can present significant hazards.

• Don't enter water or operate water craft under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Always check the depth of the water. Never run or dive into the water. Even if you have checked the depth, water conditions can change.

• Be sun smart: slip, slop,  slap, seek, slide. Slip on a shirt, slop on 30+ sunscreen, slap on a brimmed hat, seek shade, slide on sunglasses. Remember to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or after swimming.

• Learn how to spot a rip and keep clear of it. Rip education videos are on Youtube and watching one could save your life.

South Australian Capacity and Capability Snapshot: 

• 1 x Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter

• 2 x Jet Rescue Boats

• 8 x Rescue Water Craft (Jet Skis)

• 2 x Professional Lifeguard Services

• 21 Patrolling Surf Life Saving Clubs and Services

• 2,693 Patrolling Volunteer Surf Lifesavers

3000 Patrolling Members a Goal for Surf Life Saving SA

 Surf Life Saving SA hopes to see their Volunteer Patrol Force reach record levels of coverage this summer with numbers of patrolling lifesavers expected to reach in excess of 3000 for the first time in history. The commitment of Patrolling Members has been steadily increasing for the past decade and Surf Lifesaving SA hope to see the community investment continue.

 “Our goal this year is to reach 3,000 Members on patrol which means we need 300 new Bronze Medallions this season” said Surf Life Saving SA CEO Clare Harris.

“We are calling on South Australian teenagers and adults to join the Surf Life Saving Movement this Summer, it’s a great way to enjoy the beach, keep fit, make friends and help your community and everyone is welcome” said Ms Harris.

 The Bronze Medallion takes approximately 25 hours of class room training with some physical training in addition to meet the fitness component of proficiency. The fitness element is an achievable goal for people of all ages and your Club will help you work towards meeting the requirement for swimming and running through moderately paced programs.  The average SA Surf Lifesaver performs 20 volunteer hours on patrol each season which equates to 4 weekend days over the summer.

 “The Bronze Medallion is a fantastic way to get fit and learn first aid skills” said volunteer Surf Lifesaver Jesse Rafinelli. “You carry the skills to save a life with you wherever you go and the friendships I have made in Surf Lifesaving have gone way beyond the beach. Anyone with commitment can be a Surf Lifesaver, you don’t have to be an Iron Man, there are so many ways to be involved and so many different kinds of people doing it that everyone can find a place in their local Club” he said.

 Beyond the Bronze Medallion and regular beach patrol Surf Lifesaving offers Members opportunities to  train and serve with; Rescue Boards, ATV’s, Inflatable Rescue Boats, Jet Ski’s, Jet Boats, Radio Services, Drone Patrols and even the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service.

 “I would encourage everyone who loves the beach to get involved. You can learn everything you need at your pace and Club Membership offers people access to gyms, training programs, education and mates” said Mr Rafinelli.

 Registrations for this season are open now. You can find your local Surf Lifesaving Club here: http://www.surflifesavingsa.com.au/sa-clubs/