The Hunter nippers season started on Sunday, December 5, and to officially help launch the new season was Hunter Youth Surf Lifesaver of the Year and Newcastle Surf Lifesaving Club member Riley Petherbridge.
The 18-year-old Macquarie College student joined Newcastle SLSC in January 2019 and, from there, quickly became an outstanding surf lifesaver and patrol member for the club.
Riley said he was excited to help officially launch the season, believing the program was an important way to help teach kids and Newcastle youth the importance of surf safety.
“A nipper can advise an entire group about the safest way to use the surf,” he said.
“One trained nipper or lifesaver has the ability to save many lives.”
Cooks Hill Surf Lifesaving Club hosted the season launch, attended by Newcastle Permanent CEO Bernadette Inglis and Hunter Surf Life Saving CEO Rhonda Scruton, who signed a new three-year sponsorship agreement.
Scruton said the funding would help provide equipment and training to protect beachgoers and assist with recruiting, training, and retaining junior surf lifesavers.
“Our four-decade-long partnership with Newcastle Permanent has given our region’s young people vital skills in and out of the water, and no doubt saved countless lives,” Scruton said.
“Nippers also gives young people personal development, leadership and teamwork skills.
“It takes a lot of funding and resources to provide surf lifesaving services and programs like nippers, so our ongoing partnership with Newcastle Permanent is vital.”
More than 2900 nippers aged five to 13 are registered this year across 13 Hunter surf lifesaving clubs from Catherine Hill Bay to Hawks Nest.
Riley said nippers was also the training ground for future surf lifesavers who helped keep everyone at the beach safe.
“Surf lifesaving isn’t just about surf safety either,” Riley said.
“I have learnt so many important life skills, including teamwork, time management, working under pressure and holding the important responsibility of people depending on you.”
Having completed his Bronze Medallion in 2019 and his Silver Medallion in 2020, Riley volunteers more than 100 hours a year to his club through patrolling, assisting with nippers or helping train others through surf rescue certificate courses.
This season, Riley has completed 121 patrol hours, completed his Silver Medallion Aquatic Rescue, and his trainer’s certificate after hours, which enables him to be a part of the Newcastle education training team.
On top of all this, he is a volunteer ambulance service member and also volunteered with the Hunter surf lifesaving team that assisted with the Upper Hunter floods last month.
Riley has recently finished his HSC and plans to pursue nursing. He said he was drawn to emergency-based careers where he could help others and make a genuine impact on people’s lives.
“It’s such a rewarding experience to be able to help someone in need, and I don’t think I will ever stop surf lifesaving – there is never a boring day,” Riley said.
“If nothing is happening in the surf, you can help with nippers, training, patrol or help with support operations.
“I really enjoy training others because they begin with a very basic understanding of swimming and surf safety.
“By the end of their course, they are capable of assisting others in the surf.”
Riley said it was important that all trainees were capable of saving others and knowing how to take care and save themselves.
Riley has also been involved in several rescues this season, most notably while he was assisting with Bronze training.
A spearfisherman was waving his arms for help when Riley immediately noticed him and grabbed a rescue board.
The man was having difficulty staying afloat, and Riley quickly paddled out to him, grabbing him and pulling him up onto the board.
Returning him safely to shore, Riley was greeted by the council lifeguard, who had only just made it to the edge of the water.
“Surf lifesaving was the perfect choice for me,” Riley said.
“I wanted to help people and make an impact but also maintain my fitness and keep myself involved in sport.
“Being around others who also love being in the water and helping people is just a really great environment to be in.”
Hayley McMahon