Western Australia’s Shire of Broome has appointed Tim Trew as a full time beach inspector and lifeguard at its popular Cable Beach. As one of Australia’s most famous tourist beaches, Council employs one full time staff member and two casuals during the high season between April and October.
Director of Community Services, Suzanne Lollback, said that having a lifeguard at Cable Beach is important to educate visitors about the prospective dangers.
“Over a period of one day several thousand people can pass through the beach,” she said. “A count performed at 12 noon one day in July 2004 indicated that 10,000 people were at the beach at that one time.”
Tim Trew’s role includes designating a safe swimming area and providing stinger and water safety information to beachgoers. He will also carry out stinger drags, any rescues and administer first aid.
Tim comes to Broome with seven years of professional lifeguarding experience including four years of travelling back and forth from Australia to Europe as a lifeguard. Bringing with him lifeguarding experience from Trigg Beach in Cornwall and Lake Geneva, Tim is now making Broome his permanent base. His first impressions of Broome have been of the town’s friendliness and the warm weather.
“Everyone here has been so friendly,” he said. “Beach goers are always keen to have a chat and are eager to see the jelly fish samples we have on board the trailer and ask advice.
“The Broome Surf Lifesaving Club have been very welcoming and I look forward to getting further involved with the club and meeting more of its members. After chilly European beaches I find the warm water temperature at Cable Beach amazing and can see why the beach is such a drawcard to visitors.”
Involved with surf lifesaving since he was five years old, Tim has taken out a gold medal for board rescue, a bronze in the double ski and a bronze as champion surf lifesaver at the National Surf Lifesaving Championships over the years.
