Outgoing Surf Life Saving WA president Craig Smith-Gander says group ready to act on coastal rescue call

The outgoing president of Surf Life Saving WA says the agency stands “ready, willing and able” to deliver a coastal rescue service for the whole Margaret River region. SLSWA president Craig Smith-Gander made the remarks in response to questions about what he acknowledged as an increasing toll on the region’s existing surf community when it came to rescues and helping people getting in trouble in local waters. While Mr Smith-Gander declined to enter into fine detail, he acknowledged there were background discussions about the plight of the region’s veteran surfers who were quite often forced to serve as first responders in emergency situations. “We are ready, willing and able to provide these services and we would love to provide these services,” Mr Smith-Gander said. “We’d love to do it. We just need the various agencies to want us to do it.” Mr Smith-Gander’s comments come as Margaret River Recreational Surfers voiced doubts a much-heralded meeting brokered between stakeholders at the behest of Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson would yield much fruit. The forum was called to work out a “community-led solution” to the issue of overlapping jurisdictions and the lack of a dedicated rescue service beyond lifeguards contracted from SLSWA by the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River for Rivermouth Beach. Rec Surfers president Jim Ross said his supporters still wanted to see the Hawaiian model replicated in Margaret River — which required funding and training. Mr Smith-Gander said the Hawaiian rescue service was filled with professional heavy water experts and could not be considered a volunteer-led service like the type eyed by local stakeholders. Because his nine-year term with SLSWA ended this weekend, he declined to discuss alternatives except to say the financial cost to have a couple of manned jet skis at the ready need not be prohibitive provided overlapping Shire, Department of Fisheries and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions responsibilities could be sorted out. But he was clear resident surfers should not have to carry the burden of rescues. “They shouldn’t be worrying about rescuing people who get into trouble,” Mr Smith-Gander said. “That’s our job.” SLSWA was not a party to the recent talks, though the Times understands the group could ultimately be called upon to deliver the service or work with resident surfers on a viable response.