PATROL flags are back up after the summer lifesaving season officially kicked off on Monday, November 17, and local surf life saving clubs say they’re ready for what will almost certainly turn into another busy stretch of long days, shifting tides and unpredictable crowds. For now, things are still fairly calm, but both Woolamai Beach and Venus Bay surf life saving clubs are warning people not to be complacent.
At Woolamai Beach, club president Jason Close said the biggest danger this summer won’t be where most people assume. The trouble, he said, lies in the parts of the coastline where the red and yellow flags aren’t flying.
“The key issue for us is people swimming at remote unpatrolled beaches,” he said.
“We patrol Woolamai and Smiths Beach, but by far the biggest danger is when people go to places like Forrest Caves or Surf Beach. That’s when we tend to get callouts and people getting in trouble, because if we can’t see them, then we can’t save them.”
Patrols are now running every day across Woolamai Beach and Smiths Beach, with paid lifeguards working alongside volunteer lifesavers until mid-February. Cowes Beach will also have daily lifeguards on duty through to February 6. The first week has been quiet thanks to cool weather, but Mr Close said that won’t last long. Once school wraps up, the sun comes out and holidaymakers start drifting down to the island, the beach fills very quickly.
“Numbers usually start out low in November, but once you hit the school holiday period they really jump,” he said. “After Christmas through to Australia Day is one of the busiest times all year.”
Over the winter break, the club spent a lot of time getting its equipment into shape. Inflatable rescue boats were serviced, rescue boards repaired and ATVs given the usual checkup. Life Saving Victoria inspectors have already done their annual checks. Volunteers have been requalifying too, which means running, swimming, CPR refreshers and all the other small but necessary requirements that allow them to get back on the sand.
Mr Close said beachgoers can do their part before they even leave the driveway.
“We’d really like people to plan a day at the beach,” he said.
“Check if the beach is going to be patrolled. The Beachsafe app is really easy to use, and it shows exactly which beaches have patrols and when.”
He also wants people to pay attention to signs and to bring their own shade and water, after several heat-related incidents last summer, including a case at Smiths Beach where lifesavers treated a woman for heat exhaustion before paramedics arrived.
Across at Venus Bay, the focus is much the same, though the beach itself presents a different set of challenges. The 2025/26 patrol season runs from November 15 to April 19, with volunteer lifesavers starting their weekend patrols from November 22. Paid lifeguards are already working weekdays. Beach One is the only patrolled spot, and each patrol generally includes eight to ten trained volunteers.
Club president Kimberley Gee said Venus Bay has a reputation for strong rips and powerful, unpredictable surf.
“These conditions can change quickly, even on calm days,” she said.
The hazards they deal with are familiar but serious: swimmers drifting into unpatrolled areas, people trying to help others without flotation support, inexperienced swimmers underestimating the surf and children entering the water without close supervision.
“We strongly urge all visitors to swim between the flags, stay close to shore and keep a close eye on children at all times,” she said.
Crowds have been slowly picking up since lifeguards arrived on November 15, which Ms Gee said is exactly what they expect at this time of year. Things are expected to escalate once the weather warms up, especially during the busy Christmas to New Year window, and also the whole of January. Venus Bay traditionally draws many holidaymakers during the school break, and so far, there is nothing to suggest this summer will be any different.
The club has spent the off-season maintaining its rescue equipment, preparing its Nippers program, and supporting young volunteers moving into patrol roles. Community education remains a focus for the club also.
Ms Gee kept her message to the public simple: swim at a patrolled beach, stay between the red and yellow flags, listen to directions and never underestimate the ocean.