Wollongong's Olympic champion Emma McKeon has put her star power behind a campaign that aims to ensure everyone stays safe while enjoying the beaches this summer, following a rise in coastal drownings.
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Ms McKeon has joined Australian Ironmen and Ironwomen, including Ali Day - who hails from Kiama - to spread the word of Surf Life Saving Australia's BeachSafe.org.au website, which gives users information on their nearest patrolled beach.
SLSA figures show that in 2020-21, 136 people drowned along the Australian coastline, a 13 per cent increase on the previous year and well above the 17-year average of 114.
More than half of these deaths occurred at unpatrolled beaches.
The Wollongong local government area saw seven coastal drowning deaths in that same period - one more than the previous year - giving it the unenviable title of a drowning blackspot.
These included the deaths of a man at Woonona last November, and the loss of five rock fishermen in two separate incidents earlier this year.
Only National Parks and Wildlife Services recorded more deaths in NSW than Wollongong.
Ms McKeon said Australia's beaches were beautiful, but also unpredictable.
"It's important everyone knows how to stay safe and where their nearest patrolled beach is," she said.
Ms McKeon knows well the importance of surf life saving, which runs deep in her family: her grandfather, Rick McKeon, is a founding member of the South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club, and her father and uncle were also very involved.
This family history, she said, was partly what gave her her love of the water, and she herself was a Nippers member at North Wollongong when she was young.
Mr Day, who was a volunteer surf life saver in Kiama, said the increase in drownings was "frightening".
"These tragedies can be avoided, especially because 51 per cent of coastal drowning deaths occurred as little as five kilometres away from a patrolled beach," he said.
Wollongong City Council community services director Kerry Hunt said the La Nina pattern and associated above-average rainfall expected could lead to dangerous swimming conditions.
"Our lifeguards will still be on the sand to determine if it's safe to get into the water, but it's vital to understand that if we have not put the red and yellow flags up it means no swimming at all," Ms Hunt said.
As part of the SLSA campaign, every box of Nutri-Grain cereal will feature a QR code that people can scan to go to the BeachSafe website.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
