Royal Life Saving Society - ACT AnnuAl RepoRt 2010/2011 1 OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY HONOURS Royal Life Saving Society - ACT THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCITEY COMMONWEALTH COUNCIL HONOURS (Incorporated By Royal Charter) Service Cross AnnuAl RepoRt Patron Mr G.P McGibbon Her Majesty The Queen Mr H. Hird Mr L. Holley 2010/2011 Commonwealth President Peter Granleese H.R.H Prince Michael of Kent Service Medal Justice Terence Higgins THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY- AUSTRALIA Mr Peter Granleese Patron Mr Kevin Graham Her Excellency The Governor General of Australia Mr Lyal Holley Mr Tony Bandle 08 National President Mr Greg Bowler Chief Justice Terrence Higgins AO CONTENTS Mr H. Hird Branch Director national president’s Report 4 Bar to Service Cross Chief Justice Terence Higgins AO Mr H. Hird executive officer’s Report 5 06 AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY BRANCH INCORPORATED AUSTRALIAN HONOURS operations President Fellow of the Royal Life Saving Society Chief Justice Terence Higgins AO Mr G.P McGibbon Advocacy 06 Deputy President Mr K. Graham education 08 Mr Harold Hird Mr I. Cocks Mr Tony Bandle training and Skills 12 Honorary Treasurer Mr Tony Bandle Service Order of the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia Sport 13 Mrs C. McGibbon Elected Member to the Board of Directors Health promotion 14 Ms D. Cocks Mr Peter Granleese Aquatic Risk Management 16 Mr Lyal Holley Meritorious Service Award Mr Peter Castle Mr H. Hird AuStSWIM 17 Mr Peter Macaulay Royal Life Saving Society Commendation for Bravery Executive Officer Mr P. Zori 20010/11 Award Figures 18 Mr Sean Hodges Mr D. McCaskill Mr G. O’Neill Auditor Mr M. Gilet RSM Bird Cameron Ms N. Ballenden Solicitors Mr N. Hansford Michael Higgins Constable Russ Quilty 13 Medical Advisor Royal Life Saving Society Australia Rescue Medal Ian Cocks Elise Waser Barton Waser Jon Waser 14 www.act.royallifesaving.com.au 2 PRESIDENT’S REPORT EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT The Royal Life Saving Society Australia, ACT Branch It once again gives me great pleasure to report on the continues each year to grow stronger and is always activities of the Australian Capital Territory Branch of striving to achieve its aims and objectives of preventing Royal Life Saving Australia. The 2010-11 year proved loss of life and promoting safe aquatic pursuits. It gives to be a successful for one Royal Life Saving ACT. With me great pleasure to report to members, partners and increases across all our programs and courses we directly supporters that the 2010/11 year has been no different. reached in excess of 12,000 ACT residents. As I have stated, the Branch continues to grow across all Training has become the major strength of our areas of our operations. Throughout 2010/2011 the ACT organisation with course enrolment numbers tripling Branch issued over 12,000 certificates including 8,659 over the past few years. Our increased market share Swim and Survive certificates, 800 Bronze Medallion and in the provision of First Aid has helped to secure our Pool Lifeguard certificates and over 1,600 first aid and branches long term viability and allows us to provide resuscitation certificates. Add to this our vast numbers greater access to programs in water safety education to of trainers, examiners and endorsed swim schools and the ACT community. aquatic centres show that the Royal Life Saving Society ACT is leading the way for water safety education within Our Aquatic training programs also continue to the ACT. experience growth in particular through local schools and colleges. Over the past twelve months the branch The ACT branch continues to advocate on important has been committed to reconnecting our aquatic based water safety issues in the ACT. Swimming and water programs to the community and we will continue to do safety skills for children and home pool safety reforms so, so that we continue to be the leading water safety for pool owners have been at the top of our agenda The Royal Life Saving Society Australia, ACT training organisation in the ACT. Royal Life Saving ACT continues to work items for a number of years now. This year we have again seen an increased commitment by the ACT Branch continues each year to grow stronger This year’s ACT Primary Schools Swimming and Water closely with the ACT Government in Government for swimming and water safety skills and is always striving to achieve its aims Safety program was another huge success and involved promoting the importance of water safety to assist children from disadvantaged backgrounds, some 3000 school students from across 30 ACT schools. the total annual commitment is $190,000. The ACT and objectives of preventing loss of life and This year we launched the Ministers Swim and Survive education to the ACT community. Government’s new Home Pool safety reforms also await promoting safe aquatic pursuits. Certificate, the program was implemented to create release and we are hopeful that these new reforms will a localised brand to generate community awareness go a long way to preventing child drowning in backyard and profile within the ACT, as well as providing an pools. These are both fantastic results and we commend aspirational goal for ACT students and families. Our aim the ACT Government for taking action on these is to use this to encourage schools, teachers and parents important issues. to ensure swimming and water safety programs are offered within their local schools. I would like to personally thank the Royal Life Saving ACT board, Sean Hodges and the entire Royal Life Saving Royal Life Saving ACT continues to work closely with ACT Staff for their tireless work in developing and the ACT Government in promoting the importance of running the societies vast range of activities. water safety education to the ACT community. Royal Life Saving ACT is the current chair of the Safe Waters Finally on behalf of the Royal Life Saving ACT board I ACT working group and over the past twelve months would like to than the following; the Safe Waters group has achieved a large number of • The dedicated volunteers and instructors who continue actions from the 2010-13 Safe Waters Action plan. The spread the Royal Life Saving messages most important achievement was the commitment from the ACT Government to introduce new legislation for • The Royal Life Saving Australia National office and home swimming pool safety, where we should see new board for their continued support legislation brought into effect in 2012. • The ACT Government for their ongoing support • The Canberra Labor Club for their generous support The efforts of the Royal Life Saving ACT staff, volunteers, and contribution to the Swim for Life Program Instructors and Examiners have made these fantastic • Canberra Milk for supporting our ACT SEALS lifesaving results possible and on behalf of the Royal Life Saving team ACT board I thank everyone involved for another outstanding year. Without the support of our members, volunteers and sponsors we could not achieve our mission of prevention Sean Hodges of drowning and public safety, particularly around water. Executive Officer Chief Justice Terence Higgins AO President 4 5 A Advocacy dvocac 2010 ACT Water Safety Awards A.C.T. AUSTSWIM AWARDS Royal Life Saving ACT hosted the 2010 ACT Water Outstanding Contribution to AUSTSWIM: Safety Awards. There were many extraordinary efforts • Lyn McDermott by individuals, organisations and schools within the ACT AUSTSWIM Swim School of the Year: y Aquatic Industry over the past 12 months. Mr Andrew • A.I.S. Swim School - Ali Parvizi Barr, Minister for Sport and Recreation, presented the ACT AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming & Water Safety: awards at the ACT Legislative Assembly on November • Jade Prasertrungreung - A.I.S. 29th to some outstanding individuals and organisations. ACT AUSTSWIM Teacher of Infant & Preschool Aquatics: The full list of Award Recipients included; • Christine Verco - A.I.S. The Ministers Award for the Most Significant ACT AUSTSWIM Teacher of People with a Disability: Contribution to Water Safety by an Individual: • Jason McCarthy - Aquatots Swim School • Carol Gathercole ACT AUSTSWIM Presenter Award: Community Service Award: • Ben Cuttriss • ACT Greens - Meredith Hunter Swim and Survive Endorsed Swim Schools: Community Education Program of the Year: • Lakeside Leisure Centre - Judy Macallister • Swim for Life - Tony Luchetti • Canberra Olympic Pool Angela Beh • Dickson Aquatic Centre Chris Graham Lifesaving Educator of the Year: • Ben Lynch - Dickson Aquatic Centre Royal Life Saving Society Awards 5 Star Aquatic Facilities: Associate: • Active Leisure Centre - Matt Pole • Peter Macaulay • A.I.S. - Peter Raines • Canberra Olympic Pool - Angela Beh Bar to service Cross: • C.I.S.A.C. - Chanelle Mann • Harold Hird • Dickson Aquatic Centre - Chris Graham Life Member: • Lakeside Leisure Centre - Kieran Grealish • Terrence Higgins Gold Star Aquatic Facility Safety Award: Certificate of Thanks: • Lakeside Leisure Centre - Doug Read • ACT Health Promotions - Merryn Hare • Sport and Recreation Services - Shane O’Leary ACT Schools Water Safety Award: • Torrens Primary School - Sarah Nicholas • Radford College - Dearne Tulloch 2011 World conference on Drowning Rescue of the Year: In May 2011 Sean Hodges And Terry Higgins attended • Lakeside Leisure Centre - Kieran Grealish the World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2011 Lifeguard of the Year: which was presented by the International Life Saving • Kieran Grealish - Lakeside Leisure Centre Federation (ILS) and the Royal Life Saving Society - Australia in collaboration with The Alliance for Safe Presidents Commendation for Lifesaving: Children (TASC). Over 430 of the world’s leading aquatic • Rachael Miles - RLSSA industry, lifesaving and drowning research experts • Dearne Tulloch - Radford College attended the conference in Vietnam. The conference NGADYUNG ATSI AWARDS had one specific aim: to focus world attention on the global burden of drowning, and especially on the Ngadyung Award: epidemic of drowning deaths in developing countries.