Great work by the volunteer lifeguards at Scarborough Wombarra beach who, last weekend, demonstrated the true essence of the Northern Illawarra community.
In last Saturday’s heatwave, at 5pm when the Council’s lifeguard took down the flags and stopped the patrol, there were still many people spread out along the beach, including 30 or more in the water.
Some were obvious non-swimmers in the dumpy shore break.
Members of the Scarborough Wombarra SLSC, locals who had simply come down to cool off, quickly gathered as a make-shift patrol to keep an eye on the people in the water.
A spokesman for Council says the beach is open from 10am-5pm throughout the swimming season.
“To meet the increased demand on Friday and Saturday (during the heatwave), Council rostered on additional lifeguards. The operation hours at a number of north-facing beaches, which had testing surf conditions, were also extended at the discretion of the area supervisor,” he says. “As Scarborough Beach had clean conditions it was deemed relatively safe and users were advised services finished at 5pm, and the location of the nearest patrolled beach or pool.”
