BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Tuesdays and Fridays. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1947 DROWNING FATALITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 7, 16 December 1947, Page 4

BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Tuesdays and Fridays. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1947 DROWNING FATALITIES

Sunday’s tragedy at Ohope adds point to the letter from Mr A. R. Knights published last Tuesday. Mr Knights appealed for members for the Surf Club so that the beach could be adequately patrolled every weekend.

So far as Sunday’s events are concerned it can be said of the Surf Club people who were there that no-one could have done more in the circumstances. They carried out their duty with a speed and efficiency that was a credit to them. Unfortunately their efforts were useless because, by the time the alarm was given, the unfortunate victim had disappeared and, from all reports, no-one was able to give very specific information as to where he had been seen last.

Before going back to the question of Surf Club membership, it would as well to draw attention to the. statement by Surf Club officials that anyone who bathes that end of Ohope (between the Hostel and the rocks) when there is a heavy surf takes a risk. In fact, any day there is a heavy surf or a strong rip, bathers would be advised to bathe near the Club’s look-out.

Which leads again to the question of beach patrols. The Club’s aim is to be able to provide at least one life saving team of four every week-end. To do that without calling on the same team more than once in every four or five weeks would take about 24 active members. They need not all be champion swimmers. Competent handling of a life line is every bit as important as having a good swimmer in the belt. Nonswimmers, even .elderly people with a little time to spare, are wanted to man the look-out. Too much credit cannot be given to the few who have carried on the activities of the Club and patrolled the beach weekend after week-end, at considerable personal sacrifice and prepared all the time to offer life itself in the cause of public safety if necessary.

But the time has come to call on the public to rally round to protect itself. There were two children drowned last year. A man lost his life last week-end. Life-saving equipment is available. Given the personnel to run a life-saving organisation at full efficiency, the Club will not lack cash or material. This community has never hesitated to contribute in cash to a cause so worthy.

Nor is it likely it will hesitate to contribute in service.

If every able-bodied man and woman in the community realised that the next victim might be his wifej her child, an intimate friend, the beach would be patrolled from end to end every week-end. The sands would bristle with life-saving equipment. If everyone saw the matter in that light, then there would be a widespread resolve to make a repetition of these tragedies impossible. Exactly that can be done, but the first step is full recognition of the community value of surf club work and, beyond that recognition, widespread personal determination to do something practical about it.