The red and gold of Surf Life Saving (SLS) is a huge part of Australian culture, with volunteer and paid lifesavers rescuing approximately 11,000 people per year.
A large part of Surf Life Saving in Australia is the involvement of young people, teaching them new skills, building personal development and getting them involved in their community, which is why many clubs around the country have introduced their young life savers to The Duke of Ed. .jpg)
Tim Taylor, a Coordinator at North Haven Surf Life Saving Club in South Australia is a Coordinator who motivates and inspires his Participants to do their Duke of Ed and get recognition for the many activities they are doing through their Surf Life Saving, such as beach patrolling, Surf Rescue Certificate, group fitness training and looking after the club house.
Tim said that Surf Life Saving is now acknowledging the fundamental question of ‘Is Surf Life Saving a sport with a service component, or is it a service with a sports component?’
“Surf Life Saving clubs around the country are recognising that there is something great when people come together and get that sense of purpose in a range of activities... I’ve stressed to the young people that Surf Life Saving is about learning, service, social, competition, and fitness and they’re all elements that are part of The Duke of Ed’s ultimate purpose,” he said.
When Tim’s own kids were participating in the North Haven Nippers program he noticed that there was nothing for them to do once they reached the end of that program. It was after a State youth development committee meeting that North Haven and other SLS clubs in South Australia decided to get their young life savers into The Duke of Ed as a way to keep them involved after Nippers, as well as through the peak and off peak seasons as young adults.
“For me, the primary purpose for me doing this was how do I knit these young people together as a cohesive group? How do I give them experiences they look back on and say ‘we did that together and it was great?’...The Duke of Ed fit the bill.”
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Tim said that the Participants regularly surprise him with how they are learning skills and accepting each other with such ease, showing a maturity and growth far beyond their years.
“It makes you feel we are providing a better opportunity and we are helping these kids understand something about their humanity. What has taken us decades to understand they are getting it already, and their dedication to each other and loyal commitment to each other is inspirational."
Tim wanted to thank the South Australian Award Office for the incredible support they have offered to his club, where there passion has been outstanding and nothing is too much.
