While some can’t wait for schoolies, others approach the two weeks at the end of the school year with some trepidation as the annual school leavers event has had its share of tragedy.
To avoid any heartache, surf lifesavers are reminding potential revellers that alcohol, drugs, and the ocean do not mix.
School leavers are heading to holiday hotspots in drove and Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, and the surrounding areas in the far north are already seeing a huge influx of party-goers.
SLS Far North Coast Branch will increase surveillance for the entire duration of the festivities, as always. This means jet skis, support operations vehicles and duty officers are on stand-by to respond to emergencies, even after hours, if required.
Dusk Patrol Program
New this year, too, is the Dusk Patrol Program that will see patrol hours effectively extended between 4.30pm and 8.30pm for the coming weeks. This will complement the weekend service offered by volunteer lifesavers and the service provided by lifeguards at Main Beach in Byron through the week.
The increase in surveillance is in line with an increased probability of incidents occurring and will run until 8 December.
Far North Coast Duty Officer, Jimmy Keough says it’s not just our lifesavers, but all emergency services are ready. ‘With Christmas and New Year right around the corner, this is really the beginning of a very busy period for the region.
‘This period often results in numerous aquatic and coastal incidents involving a high number of partying teens who come to town.
Be careful and smart
‘Basically, we just want them to be careful and smart.’
Byron Bay’s Main Beach is patrolled by Lifeguards from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. All local surf clubs will be patrolling over the weekends, as usual.
The impact of Schoolies week also extends down the coast to towns including Port Macquarie, Forster, South West Rocks and Batemans Bay which have all experienced a surge in popularity with schoolies in recent years.
A simple message
‘The message never really changes year to year, we just want people to avoid remote beaches and look after their mates,’ he says Mr Keough.
‘Social media remains a worry for us, because it’s an encourager of the wrong behaviour – a lot of people want to get to the remote beaches that celebrities feature in their selfies, but those beaches can be dangerous and, at times, hard to access for our first responders.
‘We encourage everyone to swim at the patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags.’
SCHOOLIES SAFETY CHECKLIST
•Only swim at a patrolled beach, between the red and yellow flags
•Don’t swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
•Never swim at night
•Ask a surf lifesaver or lifeguard for advice
•Look after your mates, and know where your group is while in the water
•Call triple-zero (000) to report an in-water emergency.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
