ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 SURF LIFE SAVING QUEENSLAND SLSQ SNAPSHOT CONTENTS Surf Life Saving Clubs Operations Support Our Commitment to Saving Lives 2 North Queensland Branch Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service Port Douglas Patron’s and Premier’s Message 3 Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Drone Program Ellis Beach Cairns Rescue Water Craft service Board Biography 4 Etty Bay SurfCom communications centres Mission Beach State Operations and Communications Centre Patrons and Honours 5 North Barrier Branch Duty Officer program Forrest Beach Coastalwatch cameras President’s Report 6 Arcadian Brisbane Lifesaving Service Townsville Picnic Bay Emergency Response Groups CEO’s Report 8 Ayr Gold Coast Dawn and Dusk Patrols Eimeo Mackay Corporate Governance 10 Sarina Australian Lifeguard Service Wide Bay Capricorn Branch People and Culture 11 Servicing: Yeppoon Emu Park Bundaberg Regional Council Club Services Tannum Sands Burdekin Shire Council Agnes Water Cassowary Coast Regional Council Lifesaving Services 13 Moore Park Cairns Regional Council Bundaberg Council of the City of Gold Coast Elliott Heads Douglas Shire Council Membership Development 16 Hervey Bay Fraser Coast Regional Council Sunshine Coast Branch Gladstone Regional Council Surf Sports 18 Gympie Regional Council Rainbow Beach Hinchinbrook Shire Council Noosa Heads Regional Support 21 Sunshine Beach Livingstone Shire Council Coolum Beach Mackay Regional Council Commercial Marcoola Moreton Bay Regional Council Mudjimba Noosa Shire Council Maroochydore Australian Lifesaving Academy Queensland 23 Redland City Council Alexandra Headland South Bank Corporation Mooloolaba Sunshine Coast Council Australian Lifeguard Service Queensland 24 Kawana Waters Townsville City Council Dicky Beach Metropolitan Caloundra Whitsunday Regional Council Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service 26 Bribie Island Redcliffe Peninsula Registered office Communication, Partnerships and Community South Coast Branch of SLSQ – “Surf Rescue House” Media and Marketing 29 Point Lookout Coochiemudlo Island 18 Manning Street, South Brisbane, Southport Queensland 4101 Fundraising 30 Surfers Paradise Northcliffe Notice of SLSQ Annual Broadbeach Partnerships 31 Kurrawa General Meeting Mermaid Beach The 2018/19 Annual Report will be Community Awareness 32 Nobbys Beach presented at the 89th Annual General Miami Beach Meeting of Surf Life Saving Queensland, North Burleigh Corporate Services to be held at Surf Rescue House in South Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Brisbane on Friday, 23 August 2019. Committees and Panels 36 Point Danger Branch Tallebudgera Surf Life Saving Queensland SLSQ Life Members 36 Pacific Palm Beach 18 Manning Street, Currumbin South Brisbane QLD 4101 Award Winners 37 Tugun P: 07 3846 8000 Bilinga F: 07 3846 8008 2018/19 Queensland Cyclones Teams 39 North Kirra E: [email protected] Kirra W: lifesaving.com.au Coolangatta Statistics, Results and Financials 41 Tweed Heads & Coolangatta Rainbow Bay ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 1 OUR COMMITMENT TO SAVING LIVES WHO WE ARE SLSQ aims to set the benchmark in lifesaving service provision, rescue practices, emergency care and training and education as we Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) is the state’s leading authority on strive to make our stunning coastline safer for everyone who uses it. aquatic safety and surf rescue, and one of the largest volunteer-based A commitment to continuous improvement across all areas of our community service organisations in Australia. operation ensures we are highly regarded across Australia and around From humble beginnings, when the first official rescue was recorded the world. on a Queensland beach in 1909, SLSQ has developed into a ground- breaking and highly innovative organisation encompassing 57 clubs We are leaders in our industry, and are committed to maintaining this and more than 30,000 men, women and children across the state. stance to ensure we are equipped for the future. Since its inception, SLSQ’s volunteer surf lifesavers and lifeguards have directly saved the lives of more than 130,000 people through OUR VISION in-water rescues, and educated in excess of 10 million people about surf and aquatic safety through targeted and grassroots community Zero preventable deaths in Queensland public waters. awareness programs. SLSQ is directly affiliated with, and is part of, Surf Life Saving Australia OUR MISSION (SLSA) and the International Life Saving Federation (ILS). SLSQ will operate as a proactive and effective peak body, leading the As a not-for-profit organisation, SLSQ relies heavily on community way in lifesaving service provision, education, sport, beach safety support and donations to continue our vital work both on and off advocacy and community leadership. Queensland’s beaches. It is the generous support of Queenslanders that enables us to help keep beachgoers safe. OUR STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES WHY WE EXIST Committed To Our Community SLSQ is built on a fundamental principle: to save lives. To advocate water safety management and continue to enhance the reputation of SLSQ as the peak body. Our organisation encompasses several diverse arms – lifesaving and lifeguarding services, community education, membership services, Connected To Our People surf sports, fundraising, commercial training and member training – To recruit and retain the best people through support and all supporting one overarching purpose. development of their skills and knowledge. Queensland’s mainland coastline is extensive, stretching more than 6,000 kilometres from the Gulf of Carpentaria in the west and Cape Effective In Our Business York in the north to Point Danger in the southeast. With more than To plan and execute our day-to-day operations to an outstanding level 700 accessible beaches along this expanse, the state boasts some of of efficiency, with continuous improvement always in mind. the world’s most popular sandy stretches, attracting approximately 30 million visitors to our beaches every year. Sustainable For Our Future Unfortunately, despite significant advances in technology, techniques To ensure SLSQ is equipped for the future through continuous growth, and knowledge, people still drown on Queensland beaches. strong financial management and sound governance. 2 SURF LIFE SAVING QUEENSLAND PATRON’S MESSAGE For more than a century, the surf lifesaving movement in Queensland them and their loved ones safe in and around the water. The program has been a symbol of sun, sand and safety as it watches with flying complements a raft of other measures, including the use of extended colours over the wellbeing of others. patrols, the adoption of new technology such as drones and the ability to send safety alerts in seven languages via mobile phone. As Governor and Patron of Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ), I am incredibly proud of the many men and women whose brave actions On behalf of all Queenslanders, I would like to thank the SLSQ Board, have benefited millions of people, locals and tourists alike. staff and volunteers for their marvellous efforts and their continued commitment to SLSQ’s immensely beneficial cause. Unfortunately, the year 2018/19 saw a rise in the number of suspected drownings, with the vast majority occurring at unpatrolled locations I wish you all every success in the year ahead. or outside of designated patrol hours. More than 20 beachgoers tragically lost their lives, compared to seven last year. In the same period there was a significant jump in the number of first aid treatments, from approximately 35,000 to over 65,000. His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC These figures highlight the need to make people aware of the dangers. Governor of Queensland I am pleased that over the past 12 months, SLSQ’s community campaigns engaged with more than 150,000 people, helping to keep PREMIER’S MESSAGE Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) is an essential and dependable Such progress would not be possible without strong leadership and part of our state’s beach culture. I would like to acknowledge Mr John Brennan OAM, who earlier this year stepped down as CEO of SLSQ, following a quarter of a century of During the 2018/19 patrol season, Queensland volunteer lifesavers dedicated service to the organisation. rescued more than 1,300 people, performed 82,000 preventative actions and applied 22,974 first aid treatments. On behalf of the people of Queensland, I extend my gratitude to Mr Brennan, the SLSQ Board and the thousands of volunteers who devote The red and yellow army also launched two new safety campaigns, their time to creating safe havens along our extensive coast. organised additional and extended patrols during peak holiday periods, and worked to keep people out of the dangerous swells generated by Tropical Cyclone Oma. As Queenslanders adopt innovative practices from the classroom to the boardroom, SLSQ is keeping pace, embracing new technology to complement its activities on the sand and in the surf. Annastacia Palaszczuk MP In the past year, SLSQ has partnered with Westpac to introduce Premier of Queensland 12 new Lifesaver Rescue Drones at locations from Cairns to North Minister for Trade Stradbroke Island, and has trialled new Life-Fi technology – funded by the Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games – which delivers real-time, multilingual safety alerts to beachgoers. ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 3 BOARD BIOGRAPHY Mark Fife OAM President Since joining Surf Life Saving in 1975, Mark has become the epitome of the iconic Aussie surf lifesaver. Mark is a former Tanya