On the age of 17, Claude Jeanneret was requested to affix the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Membership following WWII as a result of so a lot of its members had fought abroad and there was no one left to patrol the seashore.
Now 94 years previous, he’s nonetheless on the membership most Saturdays.
Claude competing as a younger surf lifesaver within the Nineteen Sixties. (Provided: Claude Jeanneret)
He was recruited from his Brisbane swimming membership and remembers hitchhiking to the Gold Coast each weekend to volunteer.
“So long as you had your membership blazer the motorists would at all times offer you a elevate,” he mentioned.
“I’ve nonetheless acquired the blazer at residence and it is in mint situation.”
He is acquired tales of shark assaults, rescues and was awarded an OAM for his service, however mentioned his declare to fame was serving to to deliver mouth-to-mouth resuscitation into surf lifesaving within the early Nineteen Sixties.
As one of many busiest seashores in Queensland, it is no shock Surfers Paradise is among the nation’s most storied surf golf equipment.
It is produced champion ironmen and ladies who’re among the sport’s biggest athletes.
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This 12 months the membership celebrates its a centesimal anniversary.
“I am almost as previous as Surfers Paradise itself,” Mr Jeanneret laughed.
“Surf lifesaving is the best social establishment I’ve ever been related to.
“In life, you have got acquaintances, buddies, and mates and all people I do know in surf lifesaving is a mate.”
Claude (far left) along with his clubmates in 1957. (Provided: Claude Jeanneret)
Patrol season begins
Surf life saving stays the most important volunteer organisation in Australia.
This weekend 1000’s of clubbies dressed of their iconic pink and yellow uniforms return to the seashore for the beginning of the patrol season.
It is the start of a two-week college vacation blitz that may embrace helicopter, roving jetski, and drone patrols.
Surf Life Saving Australia’s Nationwide Coastal Security report launched on Friday revealed 87 individuals drowned on Australian seashores final 12 months — all of them exterior the flags.
Volunteers at Broadbeach Surf Lifesaving Membership on the Gold Coast are prepared for the beginning of the patrol season this weekend. (ABC Gold Coast: Jess Lamb)
Life savers carried out nearly 9,000 rescues and patrolled seashores across the nation for a complete of 1.4 million hours, in line with the report.
Surf Life Saving Queensland CEO Dave Whimpey mentioned the most recent drowning figures had been alarming and unacceptable.
He was most nervous by the dramatic improve in rescues and drownings greater than 1 kilometre away from the flags.
“As a result of our seashores have gotten congested, persons are travelling to get away from that congestion,” Mr Whimpey mentioned.
“That’s one thing we’re deeply involved about.”
Males below the age of fifty are over-represented in coastal drownings.
Gold Coast operations supervisor Nathan Fife says locals ought to set a superb instance for vacationers on the seashore. (ABC Gold Coast: Jess Lamb)
Gold Coast operations supervisor Nathan Fife mentioned it was necessary for individuals to know their limits and urged locals at busy seashores to set a superb instance for vacationers by swimming between the flags.
“We’re encouraging individuals to simply stroll that additional 100 metres,” he mentioned.
“Persons are taking that danger they usually assume: ‘She’ll be proper.’
“Sadly, she will not be proper at 6 o’clock at evening when there are not any surf lifesavers and no emergency providers there to avoid wasting you.”
