Hi Vladimir,
Many thanks for your comment. I am pleased that you liked the podcast. From what I can see on their website, anyone can join the SLSA. You just need to be willing to learn and to offer your time and effort. https://sls.com.au/join/#:~:text=No%20matter%20who%20you%20are,Life%20Saving%20Club%20for%20you.
Have a great day.
Rob

Thank you for this podcast. Henceforth, I have one more reason to visit Australia.

I am very impressed to know that such immense organisation is based on volunteer basis, that’s so amazing and inspiring at the same time.

I would like to pass the Bronze Medallion course some day. I hope that foreigners are able to join the SRSA. Moreover, I think that this is the great honour and goal to achive for everyone who like to swim in the open water.

Cheers,
Vladimir

Hi Petra,
Thanks for your comment. Your summary of the German experience in life saving is very interesting. The DLRG is obviously very similar to the Surf Life Saving Australia organisation and it’s membership is very impressive. Your country has made huge advances in teaching people to swim. Our own Royal Life Saving Society in Australia is trying to ensure as many people as possible learn to swim to a good standard. Even so, there were 291 drowning deaths in Australia in 2012/13.
Thanks for your feedback and interest.
Have a great day.
Cheers,
Rob

Thanks for your recent podcast. It was as interesting as usual.

The Surf Life Saving organisation in Germany is called DLRG (Deutsche Lebensrettungs-Gesellschaft).
It was founded in 1913 after a disaster on the island Rügen (Baltic Sea) in 1912. Over 1,000 people were waiting on the pier of Binz for the steamer “Kronprinz Wilhelm”. The end of the pier collapsed and nearly 100 people fell into the Baltic Sea. For 14 people, including two children, any help came too late. It was reported that it was a shame that hardly anyone of the countless people on the pier and on the steamer was willing or able to help, to give the victims first aid or to resuscitate them. At this time about 5,000 people drowned each year in Germany and only 2-3% of the population could swim.
Nowadays about 80% of the German population are able to swim. Lifesavers control the German beaches (North and Baltic Sea), lakes and rivers from Mai to September. In most of the baths they are also responsible the safety of the swimmers. At the end of 2012 this organisation had about 550,000 members (42% children younger than 14 and 20% young people from 14 to 26 and the rest of course older than 26). Most of the members are volunteers, too, only a few people are paid.

I’m looking forward to your next podcast.
Have a nice week!
Bye
Petra

Hi Ray. I certainly enjoyed visiting the great little beach at Port Melbourne as part of my research.
Cheers,
Rob