Surf Life Saving forms part of the Australian Tsunami Warning System

Sydney, 6 March: After the devastating effects of the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, Surf Life Saving (SLS) was invited to form part of the Australian Government’s taskforce, Australian Tsunami Warning System (ATWS), as part of an increased national effort to monitor, plan and warn of tsunami.

The Australian Government, through the Bureau of Meteorology, Geoscience Australia, and the Attorney-General's Department, has been working with State and Territory governments and other relevant agencies (including Surf Life Saving Australia) to develop various protocols and procedures that incorporates all emergency services agencies and state authorities in the event of a tsunami.

As an initiative of the ATWS project, the Australian Government in consultation with SLS has developed a tsunami educational and awareness resource for SLS members and the general public.

Surf Life Saving Australia’s Director of Lifesaving, Peter George AM said that with the support of the ATWS all surf life saving clubs are now equipped with an educational tool to better prepare our frontline volunteers in the event of a tsunami.

For more details, click here

Eckstein and Marriott claim Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series Titles

SHANNON Eckstein won a record-equalling fifth Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman title at North Cronulla today while Alicia Marriott became the first woman to win the triple crown of the sport’s major events.

For full highlights visit www.ironmanseries.com.au

Eckstein and Mariott emerged in the energy-sapping, hot conditions to claim the overall titles in the $250,000 series.

Eckstein, the defending champion, won a furious sprint to the finish ahead of his nearest challenger in the series, Hugh Dougherty, to secure a comfortable eight-point margin in the series pointscore.

His fifth series victory matches the performance of his arch-rival Zane Holmes, who missed this year’s racing because of a back injury.

Eckstein was happiest to have won four of the five races in this year’s series.

“That’s pretty cool,” he said.

Marriott added the Kellogg’s Nutri Grain Series to the Australian Ironwoman crown she won in 2008 and two Coolangatta Gold titles to become the first female competitor to claim a full set of the sport’s top titles.

Elizabeth Pluimers won today’s women’s final but Marriott’s fourth placing was enough to give her the overall title after series leader Hayley Bateup struck trouble at the start of the deciding race and slipped back to finish ninth.

SLSA Payment Gateway - New features!

For the last 18 months, SLSA affiliated clubs and organisations have been able to sign up to our very own payment gateway (http://pay.slsa.com.au). This facility, which is free to set-up and has incredibly low transaction charges, enables organisations that have registered to accept credit card payments online from the public and/or members.

The gateway has recently been completely overhauled and now gives registered organisations even more control over the system. Each organisation can upload its own custom pricelist and in addition to this has access to end-of-day reconciliation files. The entire gateway has also been given a brand new interface and now works seamlessly with our self-service member portal - Lifesaving Online (www.lifesavingonline.com.au).

If you'd like to register your club or organisation, fill in forms 075 and 079 in Admin & Resources > SLSA Forms > Information Technology.

To find out more about Information Technology in Surf Life Saving, browse to the Information Technology area of this website.

Want to become a surf lifesaver?

Surf lifesaving is about satisfaction. Having fun, being physically fit, learning teamwork and aquatic safety skills, competing in surf sports, and helping make swimming in the surf a safer pastime. SLSA can offer a range of opportunities which will promote:

A healthy lifestyle.

A sense of pride.

A sense of responsibility and purpose.

Positive social relationships.

There is a place for everyone in surf lifesaving. Click here for more information.

The Surf Life Saving Online Shop is open for business

We are happy to announce the launch of our new online store. Click here to explore!

What’s in stock: The store stocks most of the essentials needed by clubs – from manuals, uniforms, patrol caps & rescue tubes to caps and brim hats for sun safety.

Improvement over time: As well as being a one-stop-shop one of our key aims is to reduce the cost of gear to clubs where possible. Compare the prices of patrol caps, rescue tubes, and rashies for example to see that this has already started. Over time we aim to expand this range greatly to include first aid and resuscitation gear to radios, rashies, merchandise and more.

Club Accounts: Verified accounts have been set up for every club and the login and password details emailed to the “official” email address as held on the ‘SurfGuard’ database. If you haven’t received your club’s details please contact your club administrator, or email onlineshop@slsa.asn.au. For safety reasons much of the gear (such as uniforms) can only be bought by verified club account holders.

Feedback: All suggestions are welcome for ways in which the store may be improved, for eg. gear that may be needed but currently not available. We look forward to hearing from you.

33rd Edition - Public Safety and Aquatic Rescue Training Manual

formerly known as Bronze Medallion training manual
This manual is available for sale now. The online purchase of manuals please visit Surf Life Saving’s new Online Shop by clicking here.

Click here for more information about the manual.

For your club Training Officer workshop a PowerPoint presentation is available to assist you in understanding the changes in the manual.