Nippers

        This past Sunday at Maroubra Beach, I got the chance to watch the Nippers in action. The Maroubra Beach Life Saving Club has a program designed for children of all ages to learn about the beach and water safety. They meet once a week, every Sunday, for about one and a half hours. The program starts around 9:00 AM with the youngsters running around the beach and competing in races. After a period of time, they proceed to the water. Normally the children present range from age five to thirteen, but due to a surfing competition that was taking place on the same day, we were only able to watch the young ones. For this age group, the program is intended to inform the children not about life saving skills, but more about beach safety. As they get older, however, they get more involved in the water and the activities associated with being lifeguards.

            This program is not only a great opportunity for the children, but also for the parents and the local community. The program is completely volunteer-based. The adults get such pride and a sense of community from watching and helping the Nippers out. Because Australia places a great deal of importance on its water sports and its beaches, it is important for these young children to understand, respect and feel comfortable with the water; but it is not all work. The youngsters and the adults participate in this program mainly because it is FUN! The kids wait all week just to get the chance to run around in the sand and get their feet wet in the ocean. This program is an example of the importance and emphasis that Australia puts on community and water safety.