By Club Captain Rob Deacon

Coalcliff SLSC received the Community Education Award at the Illawarra Surf Life Saving Awards of Excellence for the “Surf Life Saving Dreams Take Flight” program. This initiative has seen trainers Dave Winner, Peter Cugaly and myself help students and teachers from Ashcroft High School to pursue Surf Life Saving Awards to become active patrolling members of Coalcliff SLSC.

Ashcroft High School, near Liverpool in south-western Sydney, serves students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Students come from diverse cultural backgrounds, many with poor literacy skills and limited aquatic experience in still-water and surf.

The challenge for trainees and students is immense. The club developed a new, patient training method that extends over a longer time-frame due to the students’ unique needs.

Sessions have been held at Coalcliff Beach and Ashcroft High School and training will continue over the winter. The students have earned their Radio Operators Certificate and are qualified to join the club’s patrolling teams in the new season.

They will also complete their CPR Certificate over the winter and continue training for their Aquatic Rescue Awards next season.

They are a dedicated group who have shown a real desire to become surf lifesavers. The staff at Ashcroft HS and the training team from Coalcliff have supported the students to help them achieve this goal. It is an example of thinking outside the square in an effort to broaden the club’s patrolling base and strength.

The Ashcroft HS staff Lucas Marsden and Deputy Principal Belinda Pekovic, who is a patrolling member of Coalcliff SLSC, are exceptional school teachers. The students are also in awe of Dave Winner and his life story. Dave is an outstanding educator and an inspiration to all.