BATHERS at Bonbeach on the weekend were pleasantly surprised to see lifesavers from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Cambodia on their first official patrols.
The 17 newcomers were part of Bonbeach Life Saving Club’s efforts to bridge the water safety “information and diversity gap” for migrants – especially those new to the Aussie beach culture.
They followed in the footsteps of Imtiyaz “Minty” Saberi, who became Victoria’s first Afghani lifesaver at Edithvale Life Saving Club in 2009.
With no experience in the surf, the recruits had already completed a year of swimming training before joining the lifesaving club, and reports are that they have “improved remarkably” to gain their surf rescue certificates.
This is a basic requirement for a lifesaver and allows them to patrol Bonbeach beach as volunteers. They will now build their skills through patrol experience and further training.
“Programs like these not only benefit youth from other countries, but the community as a whole,” Life Saving Victoria multicultural projects manager David Holland said.
“A genuine cross education of cultures takes place which educates everyone involved.
“It is a great story of young men and women volunteering their time to protect the wider community that they are proud to be part of, so soon after arriving.”
Past president and 30-year club member Campbell Jordan said Aussie traditions of volunteering and helping others – embodied in surf lifesaving – should be passed onto migrant communities who have been welcomed to Australia.
“Bonbeach LSC is proud to be part of this process in shaping our community and fostering our young members to carry on those traditions in the modern era,” Mr Jordan said.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 25 January 2017