Lynne Mowbray It has been a text book summer season for Clarence Valley’s patrolled beaches this year. Lifeguard Supervisor Greg Wyllie with the Australian Lifeguard Service said that it has been a brilliant summer. “The beaches were really good for most of the season and well attended,” Mr Wyllie said. “There were only seven minor rescues and one incident which needed an ambulance – and not requiring hospital treatment. “During the peak season there was a gentle swell which resulted in a record low number of rescues and minimal first aid required. “I’ve been a supervisor for 11 seasons and this has been the best weather and possibly the best attendance; from a supervisor’s point of view, I don’t think that you could ask for a better season,” he said. Big seas did however hammer the coast last week from 17 – 19 January, resulting in five of the seven patrolled beaches being closed. “We had three days of big seas,” Mr Wyllie said. “Turners Beach [at Yamba] was hit with a huge, powerful southerly swell.“The beach was left with a six foot wall of sand at the back of the beach [near the car park] and around 12 foot near the breakwall. “It will eventually go back [to the way it was],” he said. Mr Wyllie commended the work of lifeguards on the beaches as well as the board riders and general public which frequented the beaches, for their good behaviour and adhering to swimming between the flags; hence the positive outcome.

Image Caption: Lifeguard Harrison Henwood who was nominated for lifeguard of the year in 2017. Image: Contributed