Somerton Surf Life Saving Club patrols the beach at Somerton Park between King Street, Hove (to the south) and the Broadway, Glenelg South (to the north). Our flags are positioned in front of the Club (corner of Repton Road and the Esplanade, Somerton Park) and we encourage swimmers to swim between the flags.

Patrol days are weekends and public holidays from October to April, usually from 12 noon to 5pm.

In January, we’ll have a surveillance patrol (two patrolling members only) from 9am to 12 noon, before the full patrol starts at 12 noon. During December, January and February, there will be a surveillance patrol between 5pm and 6pm, if conditions warrant this.

There will also be a surveillance patrol on Christmas Day.

Information for patrolling surf life savers

Patrol Times

Patrol hours are from 12 noon until 5pm. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your patrol and be ready in your uniform to report to your Patrol Captain. If you are going to be late or have to leave early, then you must advise your Patrol Captain as soon as possible.

All patrolling members must assist with setting up and packing up the patrol gear.

Uniform

While on patrol, you must wear the following:

  • Yellow Patrol Shirt (as supplied by SLSA)
  • Red Patrol Shorts (as supplied by SLSA)
  • Red and Yellow Quartered Patrol Cap (is to be worn on the head and secured under the chin at all times when on patrol) – (available from the Club)
  • Swimming costume/bathers (available from the Club)
  • If you wish to wear a hat (which we recommend), wear a wide-brimmed hat or peaked patrol cap (SLSA)

Inclement weather

If the weather is inclement, patrolling members may wear warm outer clothing such as a club jacket or surf rescue jacket (you can purchase these at your own cost). You may wear club tracksuits, or red and yellow tracksuits, or a plain colour tracksuit. Jeans or zip up pants must not be worn.

Patrol Attendance

Patrolling members are responsible for checking their patrol roster and making arrangements to be available for patrolling on their designated dates or organising substitutes. The patrol roster is located on the Somerton web site, Facebook page and app, as well as the noticeboard at the Somerton clubrooms and the SLSSA Members’ Portal.

Members who are not allocated to a patrol should email the Club Captain.

If you are not able to make your designated patrols, you must notify your Patrol Captain or Vice Captain of your unavailability and arrange a suitable substitute.

You can do this by:

  • Buddying up with someone from another patrol so you can sub for each other;
  • Using the Somerton SLSC Patrol Swap Facebook group to advertise dates in which you need a sub (search for Somerton Patrol Swap);
  • Using the Substitute communication board – located in patrol room; or
  • Calling / asking other patrolling members on the ‘active reserves’ patrol group. Their names and email addresses are with the other patrol groups in the passageway.

Please remember to let your Patrol Captain know of the change and who will be replacing you on the patrol, or if you have exhausted all attempts and not been able to find a substitute. Either way, you must communicate this with your Patrol Captain or you will be recorded as a “No Show” and will be subject to the penalties outlined below.

The club has chosen to take a strong and consistent approach to “no shows” to ensure that all members undertake their patrolling duties and support their patrol groups.

If your circumstances have changed and you cannot perform any patrol hours this season, you can apply in writing to the Club Captain for an exemption. Your circumstances will be reviewed & you will be notified by return email of the outcome. This is the ONLY way you can apply for an exemption.

Members must read the Patrol By-Laws and understand their obligations.

“No Shows”

If you do not turn up to patrol without speaking with your Patrol Captain in advance, you will be recorded as “no show” and will be subject to the penalties outlined below. The Club has chosen to take a strong and consistent approach to “no shows” to ensure that all members undertake their patrolling duties and support their patrol groups.

Penalties for “No Shows”
First “no show”
  • You will receive a phone call from the Club Vice-Captain and will need to explain the reason for not attending your rostered patrol nor arranging a substitute.  If you do not answer the call, you are expected to return the call within 48 hours.
  • You will be expected to undertake a make-up patrol prior to your next rostered patrol and advise the vice-captain of the date of this patrol.
  • If you do not complete the make-up patrol or return the Vice Captain’s call, you will receive five additional penalty hours which will NOT count toward your minimum required patrol hours to entitle you to compete at State Titles.  If this is not undertaken by you, it will count as a third “no show” (see below).
Second “no show”
  • You will receive an email from the Club Captain advising that you are required to undertake an additional two patrols (one make-up and one penalty patrol).  You will be expected to reply to this email and advise the dates you will undertake the make-up patrol and penalty patrol.
  • If you are a competitor, the Competition Officer and your Area Captain will receive a copy of this email as well, so they will be aware of potential impacts on teams you may be a part of.
  • Again, the penalty patrol hours will NOT count towards your required hours to entitle you to compete at State Titles.  If this is not undertaken by you, it will count as a third “no show” (see below). 
Third “no show”
  • Your membership will be reviewed by the Club Disciplinary Committee.  The likely outcome is that you may no longer be entitled to use Club facilities such as the gym or Club equipment and craft.  If you are a competitor, your eligibility to compete will also be reviewed.

Re-Qualifications / Proficiencies

You need to be a financial member to requalify. If you are not a financial member, as you will not be covered under SLSA insurance and cannot be entered into the Surf Life Saving Database – Surf Guard.

The main awards (Bronze and SRC) need to be requalified each year by December 31.  Some awards have different requalification periods.  It is each member’s responsibility to check their SLSA Member Portal to see which of their awards need requalifying each year.

You will be notified by the Chief Instructor when proficiencies will be run.  It is also up to the individual member to ensure their online component is completed and their certificate/s printed off and shown to the Chief Instructor.

Police Clearance

It is mandatory that all Patrolling Members have a current Police Clearance and a copy must be provided to the Secretary at your earliest convenience.

 

If you have any questions about any of the requirements listed above,  please contact the Club Captain.