Two clubs win Ampol surf lifesaving competition

Evans Head-Casino SLSC and Batemans Bay SLSC have been named the winners of Ampol’s Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Hull giveaway.

This is the third time the Ampol IRB Competition has run since Ampol’s sponsorship of Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) began in 2020. Over 620 responses were received this year.

IRBs are used by surf lifesavers to save lives around the country and were involved in 949 rescues last year. The IRB allows for multiple volunteer surf lifesavers to quickly attend to a rescue in challenging conditions, allowing one of the crew to enter the water to retrieve patients and make a rapid return to shore.

Evans Head-Casino SLSC was nominated for the Ampol IRB Hull Giveaway by a number of volunteer patrolling members who helped with rescue efforts during the 2022 floods.

The club’s IRBs were critical in the rescue efforts as flood waters reached unprecedented heights. The IRB allowed the club to navigate through the water which devastated up to 95% of the households in Woodburn area, 10km from Evans Heads. The IRB’s capability allowed it to manoeuvre and land on roofs and rescue up to 100 people from their homes.

The other winning club was Batemans Bay Surf Life Saving Club, based on the far south coast of NSW covering 82 beaches and over 72km of water. With a visitor population that hits 60,000 visitors over the summer period, the club will use the IRB to protect holiday goers and the community long into the future.

“Our partnership with SLSA continues to place an important spotlight on Ampol Foundation’s focus of safety and wellbeing within the communities in which we operate,” says Ampol Chief Brand Officer Jenny O’Regan.

“We are proud to oversee the delivery of new IRBs to two deserving Surf Life Saving Clubs in Evans Head and Batemans Bay and wish them all the best for the beach patrol season ahead.”

In addition to Ampol donating equipment directly to clubs, it will be raising donations via Ampol Foodary. Between 3 July and 6 August, when Australians purchase from a selection of products, 10¢ will be donated to SLSA.