Century-old surf life saving clubs in the Illawarra are at risk of folding with member numbers at dire levels, leaving few to keep beachgoers safe.
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Bellambi SLSC has been operating since 1909 and now down to 16 active members though the NSW body states to have more than 50.
"The reason we're crying out, is because last year we nearly burnt everyone out, we've got people doing 180 odd hours when we're only supposed to do 24," said Bellambi president Craig Kershaw.
"We will be on the beach come September 19 [for the start of the season] ... and will try to do the patrols. But if you keep doing this to a small group of people and not relieve us, at some point that small group of people aren't going to do it anymore."
Despite a healthy contingent of children joining nippers, many clubs say these youngsters get older and get paying jobs which take them away from volunteer patrols on weekends and public holidays.
Mr Kershaw said they were trying to be proactive but COVID restrictions made it hard for potential members to visit the club or to host open days to welcome people in.
Last summer surf lifesavers performed a record number of rescues (around 500) and a record number of first aid treatments on the region's beaches, according to SLS Illawarra.http://slsillawarra.com.au/
Spokesman Anthony Turner said the pandemic had posed many problems from trying to retain current members to bringing an influx of visitors to beaches.
"We know people have lost jobs, people have lost hours at work, people are concerned about the pandemic, others are waiting for vaccinations," Mr Turner said. "We do feel it's a tough one to recruit members."
Corrimal SLSC is in the same boat as Bellambi and other small clubs - like Fairy Meadow, Towradgi, Port Kembla and Woonona - and are desperate to recruit new members old enough to patrol.
Club captain Darren Morgan said numbers had been declining for some time due to people being time poor, more sports to compete with and teenagers taking on weekend jobs
"I joined for my kids when they were little, getting them involved because we were living next to the ocean ... and to be able to enjoy the ocean without having to fear it," he said.
"You're learning skills, you're outside in the open, you get to hang out with like minded people.
"There's people I've known for the last 15 years or so ... that are great to have a chat and a laugh with. That bonding is created when you have a shared task or shared experiences - especially when it comes to rescuing people."
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