Surf Life Saving Australia & New Zealand – Swim Between the Flags!
The beaches of Australia and New Zealand are famous the world over. Waves, sun, surfing and tons of people, both young and old. It’s hard to resist the sapphire-colored ocean that stretches calmly towards the horizon, glittering in the sunlight. It’s paradise, but it’s not without its dangers. Surrounded by open ocean, Australian and New Zealand coastal waters often serve up nasty surprises such as strong rip currents, which can drag people out to sea. These currents are the main cause of drownings.
On every Aussie and Kiwi beach you’ll find an SLS club and well-known red and yellow flags marking safe swim zones, from which a team of lifesavers in DHL-branded uniforms keeps a watch over the swimmers, ready to spring into action at any moment.
On every Aussie and Kiwi beach you’ll find an SLS club and well-known red and yellow flags marking safe swim zones, from which a team of lifesavers in DHL-branded uniforms keeps a watch over the swimmers, ready to spring into action at any moment.
Since 2003, DHL Express has been sponsoring Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) and Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ). Visually, they were a perfect match from the start, with Surf Life Saving’s traditional red and yellow colors – always found on beach safety flags and lifesavers’ uniforms – in harmony with DHL’s brand hues.
A partnership for better beaches
Established in 1907, Surf Life Saving Australia is one of the country’s biggest volunteer organizations and its key water safety authority. It has more than 150,000 members, of whom roughly 44,000 patrol over 400 beaches around Australia. Between 2009 and 2010 they conducted a total of 9,420 rescues, along with over 208,800 preventative actions. Meanwhile, Surf Life Saving New Zealand has existed since 1910 and has over 15,000 members across 71 clubs nationwide. Last summer, New Zealand lifeguards performed over 100,000 preventative actions during 155,000 hours of beach patrols.
DHL’s partnership goes toward supplying the uniforms each season, various educational and sporting events, and co-branded initiatives such as Volunteer Day. Freight shipments are carried free of charge for the organization. One of the many success stories of the partnership is helping to establish consistent and impactful uniform branding nationwide across all clubs, which has made the lifeguards more visible and recognizable on the beaches.
Our partnership also provides beach education programs in schools: we enabled a structured program to be implemented in schools nationwide, with children being taught by SLS educators on beach safety, first aid, etc.
No easy feat
A lifesaver’s typical day involves setting up his or her patrol area (marked by red and yellow flags), watching over the swimmers and performing aquatic rescues when necessary. They also warn beachgoers of any unusual conditions such as strong waves or the presence of poisonous jellyfish.
Being a lifesaver is hard work. With thousands of near-drownings each year on Australia’s and New Zealand’s beaches, the service requires dedicated volunteers.
DHL is extremely proud to support both Surf Life Saving organizations.
