Emily raised $27,486 for surf lifesaving!

Congratulations to our Rainbow Beach Summer Surf Girl 2014/15, who worked hard for the cause. Emily Simpson tells us about the experience.

The Summer Surf Girl Program overall was amazing, I not only managed to raise vital funds for our surf club, but I had the opportunity to represent my club in the community, as well as in front of many surf life saving members and representatives from around Queensland.

I am very proud of my achievements from this year and during the judging week and gala ball. I have worked very hard and grown greatly, especially in my abilities as a leader.

During judging week, myself and the other 13 surf girls were judged on our public speaking, lifesaving knowledge, rescue and CPR skills and our general demeanour as ambassadors for Surf Life Saving Queensland.

We had the opportunity to visit the Gold Coast Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service Hanger and learn what is involved in running rescues (water and beach) and pickups from a helicopter.

A highlight from my week was the surf safety awareness program the surf girls ran at South Bank Lagoon, with students from Milpera state school.

These students were a unique group to be able to teach about surf safety, as they were predominantly refugee children, some of whom had never been in water before.

It was fantastic to be able to give these students the opportunity to learn surf safety (e.g. how to identify and get out of a rip and what the Surf Lifesaving flags and signs mean) and participate in some of the activities that our nippers get to do (beach flags and board races) in a safe, encouraging environment.

The smiles on their faces were heart-warming and seeing some of them go from not wanting to touch the water, to paddling around on nipper boards and not wanting to get out was amazing.

I would like to thank the entire community for supporting me throughout this year and the Rainbow Beach SLSC for all of their help and encouragement.