Crowds flocked to the beaches and Newcastle foreshore Saturday, despite a blustery westerly wind and overcast conditions, as the red and yellow flags were raised over Nobbys Beach to mark the opening of the Hunter Surf Lifesaving season.
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Though they were operating at reduced numbers, and with all events with the exception of beach patrols postponed as a result of ongoing public health orders, the city's volunteer Surf Lifesavers were out in their iconic colours, patrolling the beaches from Tea Gardens to Catherine Hill Bay.
Hunter Surf Lifesaving CEO Rhonda Scruton, who has been with the organisation for 30 years, described preparations over the past few weeks as "absolutely hectic" as patrols responded to the state's ever-developing COVID-19 situation, but said that there was no hesitation when time came for volunteer lifesavers to return to their posts.
"Lifesavers end up being paramedics, ambulance doctors, radiographers, carers," Ms Scruton said, "They're just people who care about their community. Newcastle has a great community - and I think that is because of our beaches where people care about each other."
Junior programs have been placed on hold until stay-at-home orders are lifted, Ms Scruton explained, and lifesavers on the beaches at the weekend were all wearing masks and practising safe social distancing in compliance with the state's public health orders.
Nobbys Surf Lifesaving Club patrol captain Dave Martin was on the sand Saturday, where he said the vast majority of beachgoers were cooperating and following the rules.
"Nobbys is known as a bit of a family beach," Mr Martin said, "We've not had any problems."
He said now, more than ever - as patrols operate at reduced numbers while stay-at-home orders remain in place - it was essential for beachgoers to be mindful of their safety and to always swim between the red and yellow flags.
"Our junior lifesavers can't be on patrol at the moment, which is unfortunate," Mr Martin said, "My daughter would be on patrol today, but she's at home at the moment.
"The beaches have been pretty busy. More than ever ... the message to swim between the flags is louder and clearer than ever before, especially at Nobbys where we have pretty consistent rips, but we can have quite a few flash rips as well."
Ms Scruton was hopeful that, when the state's COVID vaccination coverage increases, life on the beaches can return to some normality.
The 6500-lifesaver organisation relies on volunteers to patrol the Hunter's beaches, with only two paid staff on the books, Ms Scruton said, and has been supported with purchases of equipment, as well as training and recruitment of junior lifesavers, for the past four decades by Newcastle Permanent.
Last year, Hunter Surf Live Saving completed 80 rescues and more than 9,000 preventative actions across 13 beaches.
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