More LSV jet skis patrolling locally this summer

LIFE Saving Victoria has doubled the number of their jet ski sites this summer season, improving the reach and flexibility of the service around Victoria’s coastline.

Two of the new sites will operate in the Surf Coast/Bellarine area, to complement one of the existing services in that area.

An extra service will also be introduced to the southern end of Port Phillip, to add to the northern and central services already in place.

To prepare for the increase in services, 16 new Rescue Water Craft (RWC) operators have been undertaking extensive training, predominantly on Surf Coast and Bellarine beaches.

One participant, Lachie Appleby, is refreshing his knowledge after a couple of years away from lifeguarding while he worked full-time as a carpenter in Melbourne.

“You see the lifeguards at the beach over summer and feel like you’re missing out by not being involved,” Mr Appleby said.

“I’m glad I’ve found some time this summer to be able to combine both jobs.”

He said one of the best things about the LSV RWC training had been the focus on practicalbased learning.

“Any theory elements that could have been explained out on the water, have been.

“We were also able to come right out of the Barwon Heads base and choose which beach to go to based on surf conditions, which meant we could find the right conditions for what we needed to learn that day.”

He said knowing and understanding the RWC’s limitations, as well as your own, has been an important learning outcome from the training.

“Just because the jet ski can go 100kmh, doesn’t mean you can. Learning where our limitations are to operate the jet ski’s safely has been a valuable experience.”

He said the group of lifeguards on the course all came from different areas and could learn from each other.