How Surf Life Saving Has Come to Form Part of Australia's Cultural Identity

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This discussion paper will identify how Surf Life Saving has come to form part of Australia’s cultural identity, through a contemporary and historical perspective. Surf Life Saving, (2014) states that the surf lifesaving organisation acts as the major water safety, drowning prevention and rescue authority within Australia, and has been doing so since 1907. Surf Life Saving (2014) establishes that the philosophy of Surf Life Saving is to create a safe water environment for Australians. “Patrols, education, training, public safety campaigns and the promotion of health and fitness” (Surf Lifesaving, 2014) are some of the mechanisms they use to achieve this philosophy. Surf Life Saving is comprised of both paid, and voluntary employees, however the organisation itself stands as a non-for profit organisation. Therefore they have strong community ties, because they’re dependant on fundraising, community donations and corporate sponsorship. They community ties are strengthened due to Surf Life Saving being a sport for the masses. Surf lifesaving caters for all athletes from, “Nippers” to professional athletes, who perform in such events as the annual Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain ironman series (Australian Institute of Sport, 2009).

Surf Life Saving in Australia was born out of necessity in 1907, after a change of attitude and a social revolution resulted in the abolishment of a controversial that stood until 1905 (Australian Government, 2008). This law prohibited people to ‘bathe’ during daylight hours, as it was seen as an immoral act (Australian Government, 2008). O’Connell (2006) states that early morning and late afternoon were the only designated time men and women could ‘bathe’ legally, although they couldn’t do so together. This was t...

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