TORQUAY SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB WINS ‘STAY SAFE IN SECONDS’ AU$5,000 GRANT IN BEACH SAFETY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

• This year’s beach safety awareness campaign, Stay Safe in Seconds, aims to educate the public on key safety messages
• Participants played the online game more than 16,000 times while learning to identify beach safety hazards

DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider and Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), Australia’s peak coastal safety organisation are pleased to announce Torquay Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) as the winner of the Stay Safe in Seconds AU$5,000 (€3,086) grant.

This year’s Stay Safe in Seconds campaign centred on an online game designed to educate Australians on personal safety at the beach. From December to January, participants played more than 16,000 games, resulting in close to 12,000 competition entries. During the game, players identified safety hazards as they appeared onscreen, while learning key safety messages including the importance of:

• Swimming at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags
• Wearing a lifejacket when rock fishing, boating or on watercraft
• Supervising children on, in and around water
• Avoiding alcohol and drugs while around water
• Reading and obeying signs
• Seeking the advice of lifeguards or surf lifesavers

Renata Tymoszek of Victoria achieved the game’s highest individual score, winning AU$5,000 herself and nominated Torquay SLSC as the recipient of the AU$5,000 club grant.

“I'd love to nominate Torquay Surf Life Saving Club in Victoria. A few years ago during a rough summer swell, my sons needed the assistance of the surf lifesavers on patrol that day. The surf lifesavers did an amazing job of assisting them back to shore safely,” Renata said.

Torquay SLSC’s grant will be used to fund the purchase of an inflatable rescue boat (IRB) engine lifter, which will help the club’s patrol teams set up IRBs more efficiently for patrol duty. “As a purely volunteer-run club, any donations are always welcome but ones coming in such an unexpected way for doing what we are trained to do is truly gratifying,” Tiffany Quinlan, President, Torquay Surf Life Saving Club said.

“Congratulations to both Renata and Torquay Surf Life Saving Club on this win, and thank you to all who participated in this summer’s beach safety awareness campaign. We can all help make the beach a safer place by observing safe practices and following the instructions of our dedicated volunteer surf lifesavers,” Gary Edstein, CEO and Senior Vice President, DHL Express Australia said.

Adam Weir, CEO, Surf Life Saving Australia, commented, “DHL has been a fantastic partner of Surf Life Saving for nearly 18 years and we are very grateful to have them as a part of our Surf Life Saving family. This online game not only was fun to play but also reinforced our summer safety messaging during the warmer months. Thank you to everyone who played and congratulations to Renata and her nominated club, Torquay.”

In prior years, DHL grants have supported clubs across the country including Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club (QLD), Bonbeach Surf Life Saving Club (VIC), Cairns Surf Life Saving Club (QLD), Black Head Surf Life Saving Club (NSW), Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club (SA) and Cabarita Beach Surf Life Saving Club (NSW).