Wollongong City Council’s lifeguards have a new recruit – for six weeks anyway.

Alex Groot-Koerkamp, from the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service, has swapped Canada’s cold, wintery skies, for Wollongong’s sunny ones. She’s the latest recruit in a lifeguard exchange program that has been running between Council’s lifeguards and the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service for more than 20 years.

“This exchange program has long been a great way to develop a relationship between our two lifeguard services and enhances the skills and experiences of the participating lifeguards,’’ Wollongong City Council’s Recreation Services Manager Mark Bond said.

“Each summer Nova Scotia are provided an opportunity to send over one of their lifeguards for our six week peak season, and in turn one of our resident lifeguards have the chance to work in Nova Scotia for their summer season starting in July. For our lifeguards, it’s a chance to learn about their varying beach rescue techniques, and how the Nova Scotians manage their lakes water safety.”

Alex, 22, arrived in Australia nearly two weeks ago and has been working at the North Wollongong Beach since Saturday, 17 December.

 “I hope to learn a few new surf rescue techniques and get some experience in heavier surf conditions,’’ she said.
“Back home I’m a lifeguard at Rainbow Haven. It’s got small surf, but a high number of users. I was also assistant senior lifeguard at Lawrencetown where there’s heavy surf. I think it’ll be interesting to see what I can learn here.”

“So far it’s been awesome. The guys have been great and really taken me under their wing. I think it’ll be a solid six weeks.’’

The Lifeguards who patrol Council’s 17 beaches will themselves have the chance to put in a nomination to go on a self-funded exchange to Nova Scotia early next year.