THE FLAGS have been raised on another sun-soaked summer season at Newcastle's beaches.
The weather may have been gloomy on Saturday but nothing could dampen the spirits of Hunter Surf Life Saving (SLS) representatives at the morning ceremony.
Hunter SLS executive officer Jenny Hicks said volunteers were gearing up for a busy period, and vigilance and community spirit would be important when visitors flood to the coast.
Across the 13 Hunter SLS clubs from Catherine Hill Bay to Hawks Nest, volunteers performed first aid more than 1000 times, made more than 300 rescues and carried out more than 100,000 preventative actions last season.
Together during that time they notched more than 68,500 patrol hours, Ms Hicks said. Multiple rescues were also carried out by off-duty surf life savers.
"With almost 800,000 visitors last season and even more expected this summer, our surf lifesavers are essential to ensuring everyone's safety," Ms Hicks said.
A string of incidents at Port Stephens beaches last summer, including at least two fatal drownings, prompted extra dusk patrols launched to extend coverage at Fingal and Birubi, and extra help called in from Sydney.
Hunter SLS "remains dedicated to keeping beachgoers safe" and is well-prepared for the surf season ahead.
Hunter SLS was recognised as Branch of the Year in the Surf Life Saving NSW awards and welcomed 800 new members in the past year.
Hunter SLS branch president Henry Scruton thanked Newcastle Permanent for their support, which provided resources and equipment.
The annual Raising of the Flags ceremony took place on Saturday, September 28, at the Cooks Hill Surf Club, signalling the start of the beach season.
Newcastle Permanent's Paul Juergens said seeing the flag raised each year "fills us with immense pride".
Separately, Lake Macquarie City Council (LMCC) is expecting more than one million visitors to flock to beaches in its local government area alone in the 2024 to 2025 season.
Redhead Beach, with its historic timber shark tower, accounts for almost one third of all visitors to patrolled beaches in the city, followed by Caves Beach, Catherine Hill Bay, Blacksmiths and Hams Beach.
Council's lifeguard contingent involves more than 30 staff, who will patrol from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week, from Saturday, September 28 to Sunday, April 27, 2025. Patrols will run until 6pm in the summer school holidays.
"Our lifeguards have had some refresher training this week on the jet-skis and boards, with a focus on rescues on or around coastal rock shelves," LMCC's leisure operations coordinator Paul Stone said.
"We responded to more than 50 major incidents and completed more than 120 rescues in the past season, and we want to ensure we're ready to respond once again this year to any situation."
Mr Stone said LMCC had installed a new two-way radio system throughout the patrolled beach network to improve communications and speed up action in emergencies.
"It also allows our lifeguards to get in touch more quickly with other emergency services," he said.
For more information about how to stay safe at the Hunter's beaches, visit the beachsafe website.
