Published Wednesday, 07 February, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
TODAY’S SURF LIFESAVERS BUILD ON A CENTENARY OF EFFORT
Premier Peter Beattie has praised the efforts of Queensland’s volunteer surf lifesavers for keeping the State’s world class surf beaches safe this summer.
“The statistics tell a fantastic story,” Mr Beattie told State Parliament.
“In the three and a half months to the end of December 2006, Queensland Surf Life Savers brought four people back to life from near drowning. They performed 1,098 rescues and took more than 108,000 preventative actions.
“Our surf lifesavers also provided 4,200 first aid treatments and a further 6,213 treatments for marine stings.
“It is a marvellous record that builds on a century of service. It is fitting that in honour of the centenary celebrations for lifesaving in Australia, 2007 has been declared the “Year of the Surf Lifesaver”.
“One of those rescued this summer was Mr Hou Quanzhang, a visiting Chinese national.
“His experience is outlined in a letter I received from the Chinese Consulate in Brisbane,” Mr Beattie said.
“On December 11 Mr Hou was rescued by lifesavers from the Kurrawa Surf Club. Mr Hou had stopped breathing. He was resuscitated by lifesavers and rushed to the Gold Coast hospital where he spent six days in intensive care before recovering and returning to China on December 27.
“The Chinese consul described it as a miracle – the type of miracle that is performed on a routine basis by our volunteer lifesavers.
“The Government strongly supports our surf lifesavers and has provided more than $31 million in financial assistance to Surf Life Saving Queensland over the past eight years. We have also provided $50,000 to both the 2005 and 2006 annual Channel 9 Surf Safe Appeals.”
Mr Beattie announced that the Government would provide a further $55,000 towards celebrating the “Year of the Surf Lifesaver” and would hold a State Reception in March to promote the “Year of the Surf Lifesaver” and the valuable service they provide to the community.
Media inquiries: Premier’s office 3224 4500
7 February 2006
“The statistics tell a fantastic story,” Mr Beattie told State Parliament.
“In the three and a half months to the end of December 2006, Queensland Surf Life Savers brought four people back to life from near drowning. They performed 1,098 rescues and took more than 108,000 preventative actions.
“Our surf lifesavers also provided 4,200 first aid treatments and a further 6,213 treatments for marine stings.
“It is a marvellous record that builds on a century of service. It is fitting that in honour of the centenary celebrations for lifesaving in Australia, 2007 has been declared the “Year of the Surf Lifesaver”.
“One of those rescued this summer was Mr Hou Quanzhang, a visiting Chinese national.
“His experience is outlined in a letter I received from the Chinese Consulate in Brisbane,” Mr Beattie said.
“On December 11 Mr Hou was rescued by lifesavers from the Kurrawa Surf Club. Mr Hou had stopped breathing. He was resuscitated by lifesavers and rushed to the Gold Coast hospital where he spent six days in intensive care before recovering and returning to China on December 27.
“The Chinese consul described it as a miracle – the type of miracle that is performed on a routine basis by our volunteer lifesavers.
“The Government strongly supports our surf lifesavers and has provided more than $31 million in financial assistance to Surf Life Saving Queensland over the past eight years. We have also provided $50,000 to both the 2005 and 2006 annual Channel 9 Surf Safe Appeals.”
Mr Beattie announced that the Government would provide a further $55,000 towards celebrating the “Year of the Surf Lifesaver” and would hold a State Reception in March to promote the “Year of the Surf Lifesaver” and the valuable service they provide to the community.
Media inquiries: Premier’s office 3224 4500
7 February 2006