Safety Bay

Don’t be fooled by the seemingly calm waters of Port Phillip Bay, gently lapping at the shore. The South Melbourne Life Saving Club has been keeping beachgoers safe by the water since the 1880s.

With beach patrols and an extensive education program, the South Melbourne Life Saving Club (SMLSC) provides a lifeline for beach users.

The SMLSC has a long and decorated history, stretching back to the 1880s. WW2 drained the club’s source of volunteers, but it was reformed in 1944, following the drowning of children on the beach. It is now a thriving community organisation, led by Club President Dinah Boswell.

“Today the club continues to provide a safe environment for all beach goers to South Melbourne beach, as well as providing aquatic water safety education to beach users, members and the community,” Dinah says.

Beach goers often don’t recognise the danger of swimming in the bay, but Dinah warns swimmers to always take care.

“As recently as New Year’s Day, the SMLSC patrol performed a successful mass rescue of six people, with two requiring transport to hospital,” Dinah warns.

When heading to the beach this summer, Dinah urges swimmers to “swim between the flags at a patrolled beach, take notice of any signage and if in doubt, go and ask the life savers for advice”.

Not only is its history long and its work life saving, but the SMLSC has changed the mould of life saving organisations.

“The SMLSC was the first club in Australia to be affiliated with both The Royal Life Saving Society and The Surf Life Saving Association,” Dinah explains.

“We had the first female club captain in any life saving club with Christine Cardwell, and the first female president with my first term. In addition, we had the first Muslim family to join life saving.

“We were the first Victorian club to hold an event in the Nutri-Grain Ironman series in 1987. We have been a regular venue for the open water swims for the Police and Emergency Services Games for over 20 years.

“We have had multiple medallists at the Australian and World Titles in all forms of lifesaving competition, including IRBs (inflatable rescue boats), beach, pool and first aid.“

The club is constantly growing and Dinah is passionate about educating the public in water safety.

“We run education programs for around 250 nippers each year and have an association, coming up to 20 years, with Croxton Special Development School, running weekly programs for school children with special needs.

“We also run a youth program associated with Victoria Police and we run customised education programs for schools.”

To join or get involved, contact Belinda Porter at registrar@southmelbournelsc.com.au