John McNeil, Club Captain of the Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club spoke to our club.
John spoke to us about how bit the life saving club was in Warrnambool, with more than 800 members. It regularly holds huge Surf Life Saving competitions that rival the Grand Annual Speedway Classic and the May Races in terms of bringing people and money into town. John noted that when Surf Life Saving competitions are held, the car park is full of expensive European cars.
John also spoke about the challenges the club faces. These include many people swimming away from the club and the flags, and difficulty seeing along the beach from the club house due to the height of surrounding plants. John spoke about how the availability of car parking influences where people swim, and people often choose less safe places to swim because parking is available in these places. He also spoke about how international tourists travelling along the Great Ocean Road were stopping and swimming in very dangerous parts of the coast line.
John also discussed the possible future use of drones or sensors in buoys that can detect shark mucous as a way of monitoring Lady Bay for the presence of sharks. At the moment our early warning system is Anthony Robinson swimming around the bay each morning to check for sharks.
We thank John for taking the time to come and talk to us.
