A Vision for Our Second Century Surf Life Saving Australia — 2006-07 Annual Report Surf Life Saving Australia – Who We Are

A vision for our second century Surf Life Saving Australia — 2006-07 Annual Report Surf Life Saving Australia – who we are Our profile Our mission · Building frontline capacity Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) is SLSA’s mission is to provide a safe beach and capability Australia’s major water safety and rescue and aquatic environment throughout · Contributing to a healthy nation authority, and is the largest volunteer Australia. Our driving force is to save lives · Supporting SLSA’s core objectives via organisation of its kind in the country. in the water. enjoyable and entertaining surf sports Our core business areas are: Our services Achievements in each of these areas are outlined on page 7. · Lifesaving Services (see page 15) SLSA is a volunteer organisation and the · Surf Sports (see page 17) majority of our services are provided by About this report · Development (see page 19) surf lifesavers who complete surf patrols This is the annual report of SLSA Ltd. · Training and education (see page 21) in their own time – usually a half-day The surf lifesaving movement is made up patrol every 3 to 4 weeks. Our total Our history of more than 400 separate legal entities, membership of almost 130,000 is spread ranging from state centres (for example Australia’s first volunteer surf life saving across 305 affiliated surf life saving clubs, Surf Life Saving Tasmania) to clubs (e.g. clubs appeared on Sydney’s ocean as well as 50 ‘support operations’ – Albany SLSC), branches (in NSW and beaches in 1907. By-laws which had (motorised rapid response units such as Queensland) and our support operations banned bathing in daylight hours since RWCs, JRBs and ORBs - see glossary). (e.g. Ballina Jet Boat Service). These the 1830s were gradually repealed Of our 130,000 members, around 37,000 entities, whose relationship with SLSA Ltd between 1902 and 1905, in response to actively patrol our beaches and almost are described in the diagram on page 14 the increasing popularity of surf bathing, 50,000 are ‘nippers’ (junior surf lifesavers produce separate annual reports and their and a growing conviction that bathing in aged from 5 to 13). In the 2006-07 financial accounts are not consolidated appropriate clothing was not an immoral season, our volunteer members were here. Nevertheless, by joining one of these act. The impact these changes had on involved in 9,318 rescues, taking to more entities, a person also joins SLSA Ltd and local beach culture was swift – than 530,000 the total number of lives is protected by our various policies and beachgoers entered the surf in rapidly saved since the formation of SBANSW. insurances (see page 42) and, under escalating numbers. The surf was new to SLSA also provides paid lifeguard SLSA’s Constitution, can attend the most surf bathers, and many could not services on 250 beaches and other Annual General Meeting. For that reason, swim, so with its increasing popularity, aquatic environments for local and the fact that there would otherwise be came more drownings and consequent government and other land managers.. attempts at rescue. no meaningful report on the surf lifesaving Our strategies movement as a whole, the activities and By the summer of 1906-07, the achievements of all our members are The focus of SLSA’s strategic population of Sydney was obsessed with consolidated and reported here. management plan is to develop the the question of the safety of the surf. It capacity and capability of the surf was in this environment that surf life Notice of Annual General Meeting lifesaving movement to ensure we can saving clubs first emerged, their regular Notice is given of the 98th Annual continue to deliver quality frontline patrols a welcome relief to the concerns General Meeting of SLSA Ltd. The services to meet the growing needs of of the local authorities and nervous meeting will be held at 3pm on Thursday, beach visitors and our members. There bathers alike. On 18 October 1907, a 18 October 2007 at Bondi Surf Bathers are six strategic priorities which we will number of these clubs, along with other Life Saving Club, Elizabeth Drive, Bondi pursue to achieve our mission: interested parties, came together to form Beach. All SLSA members are welcome the Surf Bathing Association of NSW · Preventing deaths and injuries in to attend. (SBANSW), the organisation now known the water as SLSA. The purpose of the SBANSW · Delivering our peak body was “to regulate and promote matters responsibilities relative to surf bathing.” · Leading a strong, viable national organisation A VISION FOR OUR SECOND CENTURY i 2006-07 ANNUAL REPORT “Our driving force is to save lives in the water...” In this report... Highlights of 2006-07 .................. 1 SLSA Life Members ................. 48 President’s report ...................... 3 New Life Members .................. 49 How we met our objectives ............ 7 Surf Sports Results .................. 50 Chief Executive Officer’s report ....... 11 Financial Statements and Reports ... 61 Our structure ............................. 14 Auditor’s Independence Lifesaving Services .................. 15 Declaration ........................ 62 Surf Sports .......................... 17 Independent Auditor’s Report ..... 64 Development ........................ 19 Directors’ Declaration ............. 65 Training and Education .............. 21 Income Statements ............... 66 Marketing and Communications ..... 22 Balance Sheets ................... 67 Fundraising .......................... 23 Statements of Changes in Equity .. 68 Finance .............................. 25 Cash Flow Statements ............. 69 Rescue Helicopter Services Notes to and forming part of the Northern Region ................... 27 Financial Statements .............. 70 Southern Region ................... 29 Declaration by Directors in respect Corporate Governance .............. 31 of Fundraising Appeals ............ 84 2006-07 Boards and Committees ... 35 Awards and statistics Our staff ............................. 41 Surf Life Saving Australia ............. 85 Protecting our members and Surf Life Saving Clubs, the environment ...................... 42 Support Operations and Recognising bravery .................. 43 ALS Services across Australia ........ 89 Recognising excellence .............. 45 One movement, one voice .......... BC SLSA’s Hall of Fame ................. 47 “Since records began in 1930, surf lifesavers have collectively saved more than 500,000 swimmers. Since 1926,12 have died attempting to rescue others from treacherous seas. Today, in an age of unchecked individualism, Surf Life Saving Australia is the nation’s biggest volunteer organisation, with more than 300 clubs and almost 115,000 members. In their clashing red and yellow caps, shirts and micro- togs, surf lifesavers have an almost talismanic significance in our culture. They featured in celebrations to mark the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.” ‘Sentinels of Summer’ The Weekend Australian, 30 December 2006 SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTRALIA 2006-07 ANNUAL REPORT ii Highlights of 2006-07 · We conducted 11,500 rescues, · We developed programs to improve carried out 460,000 preventative water safety to culturally and actions and provided first aid to linguistically diverse (CALD) 41,000 people. In doing so, we communities, with some members assisted more than 510,000 people, of these communities going on to to say nothing of the countless other become members of SLSA. ways in which surf lifesavers improved (see page 19) community wellbeing in their other roles. (see page 15) · We successfully leveraged the first six months of the Year of the Surf Lifesaver · We extended our lifesaving services and received unprecedented levels of with more beaches under guard, more support for the movement, including support operations and more the production and broadcast of ‘Surf community education programs. Patrol’ a high-rating observational (see page 7) documentary. (see page 6) · We delivered an improved surf sports · With the assistance of an advisory program, with more events and board of eminent Australian individuals more hours of televised sport, while and corporations, we raised significant establishing strategic relationships for funds to ensure the ongoing viability the benefit of the future of the sport. of the surf lifesaving movement. (see page 17) (see page 23) Cumulative rescues by surf lifesavers since 1907 550,000 500,000 450,000 400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 1907/23 1923/24 1928/29 1933/34 1938/39 1943/44 1948/49 1953/54 1958/59 1963/64 1968/69 1973/74 1978/79 1983/84 1988/89 1993/94 1998/99 2003/04 2006/07 A VISION FOR OUR SECOND CENTURY 1 2006-07 ANNUAL REPORT “More than 530,000 lives saved since 1907...” Surf Life Saving in Australia in 2006-07: A snapshot 2005-06 2006-07 % Change Lifesaving – saving lives in the water Coastal drowning deaths (1) 62 68 10% Rescues performed by surf lifesavers 10,775 9,318 -14% Rescues performed by ALS lifeguards (2) 1,971 2,218 13% First aid administered by surf lifesavers 38,309 30,063 -22% First aid administered by ALS lifeguards (2) 10,433 11,147 7% Preventative actions undertaken by surf lifesavers 295,055 203,337 -31% Preventative actions undertaken by ALS lifeguards (2) 246,586 255,732 4% Surf Sports – lifesaving skills through competition Number of participants at Australian Surf Life Saving 8,588 6,322 -26% and Masters Championships % of total population who have an interest in

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