NSW volunteer surf lifesavers can continue to focus on the safety of the community this summer following the announcement that Ingenia Holiday Parks has extended its support of Surf Life Saving NSW for a further two years.
“Our journey with Ingenia Holiday Parks so far has been so important to our sustained growth as an organisation, and I think I speak for each of our 79,000-plus members statewide when I say we’re delighted to continue this rewarding partnership,” said SLSNSW President, Peter Agnew AM.
“So many families enjoy holidaying on the coast, staying at holiday parks and visiting the beach. It’s a partnership that has such a natural fit.”
Indeed, having first joined forces in 2021, Ingenia Holiday Parks has supported surf safety and lifesaver development at the grassroots over the past three years – as the Naming Rights Partner of both the Junior Lifesaver of the Year (JLOTY) program and Beach to Bush.
These programs are flagships for the organisation within the youth development and educational space and pivotal to the journey of not only our lifesavers of tomorrow, but those who may be visiting the beach while they’re on patrol.
In particular, the Beach to Bush program – which sees volunteer surf lifesavers head inland to promote surf safety to primary school students across regional and rural NSW – has reached an incredible 23,000 students across nearly 200 schools over the two years that Ingenia Holiday Parks has supported the initiative.
Ingenia Holiday Parks Executive General Manager Tourism, Matthew Young, said, “Our commitment to water safety has always extended beyond the boundaries of our parks, and in many ways, that starts with our youngest generation. By continuing our partnership with Surf Life Saving NSW, we are not only helping to nurture the lifesavers of tomorrow but also ensuring that we are actively contributing to a safer environment for everyone who visits Australia’s waterways.
“Surf Life Saving NSW’s dedication to training the next generation of lifesavers and promoting safety on our beaches aligns perfectly with our own values of care, responsibility, and community. This partnership helps to ensure there are capable, prepared lifesavers on Aussie beaches, and we’re proud to play our part in that process.”
As part of the partnership, Surf Life Saving NSW has delivered several sessions of vital First Aid and Mental Health First Aid training to Ingenia Holiday Parks staff in their Brisbane and Sydney offices.
Of note, too, was an impressive, large-scale activation just outside of Wagga Wagga to mark the 30-year celebrations of Beach to Bush in November 2023. Nearly 1,000 students at The Riverina Anglican College in Boorooma came together to make the world’s largest red and yellow flag – the iconic shape and colours that are synonymous with an Australian summer.
With the extension of the partnership, Ingenia Holiday Parks will continue as Naming Rights Partner of this important educational program for the coming two years.
“The partnership with Ingenia Holiday Parks supports our work in developing our young members and delivering beach safety messages across NSW – it’s fundamental to what we do,” said SLSNSW CEO, Steve Pearce.
“This announcement comes at an important time for us with summer having just begun, and we’re proud to have the support of Ingenia Holiday Parks as we promote our safety messaging ahead of what we anticipate being a hot, busy few months.”
Surf Life Saving Australia has just recently launched its summer safety campaign – Stop. Look. Stay Alive. Designed to reach men and provide Aussies more tools to keep them safe when visiting the beach, the campaign features Aussie actor and former Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club surf lifesaver Angus Sampson.
As usual, surf lifesavers across NSW will also be encouraging beachgoers to seek out the red and yellow flags when they visit the coastline, and to only swim at patrolled locations where lifesavers can see them.
