A message from the President

January 2009

I hope all our members had an enjoyable Christmas and a happy new year. Now that the festivities are over it is business as usual at the club.

It is very pleasing to see that our award training has seen our members pass their requalifications and a number of new patrol awards have gone through. This has enabled our patrol numbers to grow which means that patrol members do not have the workload and are therefore committed to manning less patrols. It is great to see our increase in numbers and all members still very keen to carry out patrol duties. Teams have been working well to enable the public to have an enjoyable day at our beach. Our patrols have been very busy with preventions, rescues and first aid cases. This year again we are involved with the police in the beach program and the police have been visiting the beach in cars and also the beach buggy.

I am sure that patrol members are not aware o the time that it takes to put a patrol roster together. Team leaders and patrol members have to be selected so that we have a strong patrol with members being chosen for not only the awards they hold but also being appointed to the areas they are comfortabel in on their rostered day.

Thank you to our Patrol Manager, Team Leaders and patrol members for the dedication and committment you have shown with the patrols for December and January you are doing a great job.

Over summer our changerooms have undergone a facelift with a new paintjob and spring clean, thanks to Darren Bell and Dean Hard.

We are still seeing new members joining our club, which is very pleasing, this is not only in the nipper ranks but also senior and families. A warm welcome to our new members.

I hope everyone was able to cope with the hot weather we have been having it sure meant we had to have our air conditioners on. Especially the mums with little babies and our elderly.

Keep up the good work everyone so that our club can continue to grow and also continue to be recognised as a strong and committed club to lifesaving and the public.

Your President

Dianne G. Montalto. ESM

Celebrating 50 years of resuscitation

This year is the 50th Anniversary of modern resuscitation in Australia. As National Board Director I was invited to the symposium celebration held in Sydney at the Royal Prince Alfred hospital. This was a very interesting event as I could relate to all previous resuscitation techniques I had been taught over my years in Lifesaving...

There were several guest speakers Professor Barry Baker spoke on the history of resuscitation and then Rob Bradley spoke on the turning point in histroy while Dr. Peter Tralaggon covered the topic on the continuing evolution of resuscitation. Dr Richerd Franklin and Mrs Caitlin Vasica covered community outreach of resuscitation in closing Professor John Pearn spoke on advancing mediacl knowledge with volunteer research subjects and altruism.

The highlight of the symposium was in Rob Bradley's topic where he had the chance to introduce Mr Allan Simpson who was actually involved in the research of CPR and was able to give an account as to how he volunteered for this very important project. He explained how he had been put to sleep and then various tests and types of resuscitation were carried out on him and then finally he was brought around. Other volunteers were also involved but one is deceased and the other was present on the day he also was able to give an account of the events on the day.

There was also an ABC film which was shown and we could actually see these men and the doctors going through the processes and then the resus being performed. From this very important day came the CPR we use today. There was a special medal struck for the occasion and presented to all guests.

From the symposium, the National Honours and Awards Committee have formed a CPR Club for any volunteer who does CPR whether they are successful or not. These volunteers will have to meet a criteria and go before a selection.

Your President

Dianne G. Montalto. ESM