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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-11-15 Daily Xml
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BRIGHTON SURF LIFESAVING CLUB

Ms FOX (Bright) (16:22): I rise today to speak on a slightly happier event, that is, the opening of the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club on 3 November—the new $2.3 million club in Brighton. I was very lucky to attend this event. I think it shows how much the state government supports our surf lifesaving community when not only does the local member turn up but also the Minister for Emergency Services (Hon. Carmel Zollo), the Premier and the Treasurer. They all came to the opening of this outstanding club.

In itself that is testament to the commitment of surf lifesavers in our community, and particularly to the very hard work that has been done by the members of the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club in establishing this facility. As I said, it is a new $2.4 million facility, and $1.3 million of that money was provided by the state government from the Community and Emergency Services Fund. The remainder came from the City of Holdfast Bay and the club. Thank you to both those groups.

I would particularly like to mention the club at this point, because the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club is not a particularly wealthy organisation. Members of the club really went out of their way to raise a huge amount of money towards the new club. One of the ways they did that was with the inaugural and subsequent Brighton Jetty Classic Swim. This swim takes place at the beginning of February every year and, of course, I have participated in this swim. Yes, I did not come last: I came fifth to last!

Mr Pederick interjecting:

Ms FOX: I was not wearing anything racy at the time, thank you, member for Hammond.

Mr Piccolo interjecting:

Ms FOX: I was certainly wearing something, member for Light.

Mr Bignell: Angus didn't turn up?

Ms FOX: No, Angus was not there. He was fully clothed somewhere else.

Mr Pederick: We're thankful for small mercies!

Ms FOX: Indeed. I am sorry. I stopped. I had a mental image. I am thinking, 'The Hon. Mr Redford—bathers!' I think we're all enjoying that moment! I would also like to talk about some of the extra moneys the state government is spending along the coastline of South Australia, which is very dear to my heart. Not only do I live in the heart of my electorate at Brighton but the electorate of Bright contains four surf lifesaving clubs: Somerton Park, Brighton, Seacliff and Christies Beach.

This year, the state government is spending $312,000 on shark patrols—that is not only weekend patrols but also weekday patrols. The original intention of the weekday patrols, which this government started in the summer of 2005-06, was to cover the school holidays. However, last year we committed the patrols over the entire summer, and this year we are doing the same. Also, of course, patrols are carried out by the Westpac Rescue helicopter. I think that, on the whole, people can generally feel fairly safe when they are at the beach. People in surf lifesaving are doing a really good job in keeping our beaches safe.

I have some figures which show how safe they are keeping us. Since 1907 Australian lifesavers have saved more than 530,000 lives. That is a lot of lives. In the last year alone, South Australian surf lifesavers rescued 488 people and provided assistance or preventative actions for another 13,000 people. Going to the beach is an integral part of Australian culture, and it is a part we all enjoy. But we will not enjoy it if we are not safe. Safety at the beach is one of the most important things.

Last summer I had the great misfortune to watch some very drunken people wandering into the water at night time at Seacliff. People who do stuff like that are just idiots because they are costing the community and the government money. I really wish people would not get drunk and wander into the water. It is a very foolish thing to do. I congratulate the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club on its marvellous new facility. It is very flash. I urge as many people as possible to take a look at it. Visit the beach this summer, but be safe—slip, slop, slap and swim.

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