Surf clubs drowning Desperate need for volunteers
AN Australian institution is facing extinction in small coastal towns as surf lifesaving clubs struggle to get enough members to cover beach patrols.
Memberships have dwindled so much at Cabarita that the club has been forced to slash the number of volunteers on patrols over the festive season.
The surf lifesaving club has been an integral part of Andrew Baker’s life for 27 years. He has watched it rise from a derelict building to a new clubhouse through meat tray raffles and bake sales.
But without an influx of volunteers the Cabarita president says the northern NSW club faces closure.
“Cabarita would be up in arms but we need new blood to stay open,” Mr Baker said.
“We aren’t going to close yet. In my era we used to get in the trenches and turn up.
Now I think it is taken for granted. People don’t realise we are struggling.”
Mr Baker said the club had noticed a significant drop in the number of young members, mainly due to people moving away to university.
He also said he would like more parents to put their hands up to help out.
“You look at the nippers program which can have over 100 kids turn up,” Mr Baker said.
“It shouldn’t be treated as a babysitting club. We need more people to get out there. More volunteers means more time in the water for the kids.
“We are appealing for people. We need help, we want to see people with a sense of duty to help the community.”
Club treasurer Rod Redman said patrol teams had been reduced to three or four volunteers for some shifts instead of the usual six – meaning volunteers could be run off their feet.
“At least half of our members would be over the age of 50 and looking to take more of a back seat,” he said.
“With the population on the Tweed increasing it is sad to see those helping decline – it is not just our club, Brunswick to Fingal want more members as well.”
Mr Redman felt potential volunteers could be intimidated by their average swimming skills.
“We do the training to get you up to speed. All experience levels are needed.”