It was my pleasure, on behalf of the Minister for Sport and Recreation, to launch Surf Life Saving Tasmania’s 2018-19 Patrol Season at Carlton Beach.
Commencing on the first official day of summer, the launch marks the year’s ‘flags up’ moment for Surf Life Saving Clubs and volunteers across Tasmania.
Tasmania’s 24 Surf Life Saving Clubs and Volunteer Marine Rescue Services will be active throughout the patrol season keeping Tasmania’s beaches and waterways safe through to the end of patrols on last weekend in March 2019.
Over 2,300 Tasmanians are members of Surf Life Saving Clubs and countless more benefit from Surf Life Saving services throughout the summer period.
During 2017-18, Surf Life Saving volunteers contributed over 20,000 recorded hours of volunteer patrol service to the Tasmanian community and performed 86 rescues.
The Hodgman majority Liberal Government is a strong supporter of Surf Life Saving Tasmania and has committed over $1.78 million in funding to support the provision of surf lifesaving services in Tasmania over the next four years as well as a further half a million dollars to directly upgrade facilities and service provision at seven Surf Life Saving Clubs across the State.
The launch of Surf Life Saving Tasmania’s 2018-19 Season was conducted in conjunction with the annual Carlton Beach Surf Festival coordinated by the Carlton Park Surf Life Saving Club.