Lifeguards ready for busy start to patrol season
Lifeguards are preparing for an unusually busy start to the patrol season as clear skies and warm weather are expecting to bring an influx of people to Bay beaches.
Bay surf lifesaving officials say the first weekend of patrols is traditionally quiet, however, with MetService predicting highs of up to 22C they were expecting a busier long weekend than usual.
Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club president Donal Boyle said it was a generally quiet weekend, which allowed volunteer lifeguards to ease into the busy season ahead.
However, he expected the sunny forecast to lure more people than usual to the beach.
“There will be plenty of people around . . . water temperatures are still a bit chilly, so only the brave hearts are out in the water.”
Boyle said volunteer lifeguards had been training hard throughout the winter in preparation for a busy summer on the beach.
Waihi Beach Surf Lifesaving Club member Mark Godwin said the club was also expecting a busier Labour Weekend than usual.
“We have had a lot of people down here the last few fine weekends,” he said.
“We have the Top 10 Holiday Park next to us so we have a lot of families coming here for their holidays.”
Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club president Andrew Hitchfield said Pa¯pa¯moa’s rapid population growth meant busier beaches and the club’s aim was to work with the public to help them stay safe.
There would also be a satellite patrol at the Golden Sands end of the beach for three weeks over Christmas.
Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service/Omanu Surf Lifesaving Club/ Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club/Waihi Beach patrols start this weekend
Maketu Surf Life Saving Club — Weekend patrols start November-December
Pukehina Surf Life Saving Club — Sunday patrols have started and weekend patrols start in December
Mount Maunganui lifeguards will start their season patrolling from containers and portacoms after a last-minute hitch delayed the opening of the basement of the club’s new $3 million headquarters.
Despite this, club chairman Paul Manning said as far as the public was concerned, it would be business as usual.
General manager Glenn Bradley said there would also be a patrol covering Tay St on weekends in the January peak, and regular “roaming” patrols along the coast.
Opening weekend patrol captain Julia Conway said she was expecting a busy beach this weekend, but that may not extend too far into the briny.
“The dreaded spring westerlies have hit and it means the water is probably more suited to a bracing dip than a leisurely bathe.
“It also means we shouldn’t have much of a swell this weekend, although those winds can still cause tricky currents and can snatch anything inflatable out to sea pretty quickly.
“Our core safety messages still remain — swim between the flags, keep an eye on younger swimmers and feel free to pick the brains of your nearest lifeguard — we’re there to help.”
Maketu Surf Lifesaving Club chairman Mike Hickson said the club’s patrol season, which would start later in the year, was expected to be busier than usual with the boat ramp on Kaituna Rd closed.
He said lifeguards would need to keep a close eye on boaties “getting it wrong” over the bar crossing and capsizing, as well as children swimming in the estuary needing to be careful, with a higher number of boats than
usual. grow up in such a good environment.”
They were close friends at school in Tauranga and the two college old boys reconnected again later in life.
Tauranga College was formed in 1946 before splitting into singlesex schools in 1958: Tauranga Boys’ College on the original site, and Tauranga Girls’ College on a newly built campus. The two schools are celebrating their diamond jubilees with reunions this weekend.
Gould said Gary was a “pivotal figure” in the Tauranga Boys’ College Old Boys Association and helped organise and spread the word about this weekend’s events.
Tauranga Boys’ principal Robert Mangan said Gary was a huge driver behind various school reunions over the years.
He was “a really active, passionate member of the wider college community”.
Mangan said it was “very disappointing” Gary would miss the schools’ jubilee celebrations but he would acknowledge him and his death at the start of a principal’s assembly today.
“And the contribution that he and Marlene have both made to the foundation of the Tauranga Boys’ College Old Boys Association and his significant contribution to keeping the spirit of Tauranga College alive as well.”
Gary is survived by his wife Marlene, children Sue, Alyn and Ani, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3pm on Tuesday at the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club.
Bryan Gould’s tribute column to his friend Gary Ware will be published in Monday’s