Ampol has awarded an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Hull to both Evans Head-Casino SLSC and Batemans Bay SLSC as part of its 2024 giveaway.
Over 620 responses were received in Ampol’s third IRB Competition, highlighting the need for clubs to receive this critical piece of equipment.
Jenny O’Regan, Chief Brand Officer at Ampol, said the partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia continues to place an important spotlight on Ampol Foundation’s focus of safety and wellbeing within the communities in which they operate.
“We are proud to oversee the delivery of new IRBs to two deserving Surf Life Saving Clubs in Evans Head and Batemans Bay and wish them all the best for the beach patrol season ahead.”
IRBs are used by surf lifesavers to save lives around the country and were involved in 949 rescues last year. The IRB allows for multiple volunteer surf lifesavers to quickly attend to a rescue in challenging conditions, allowing one of the crew to enter the water to retrieve patients and make a rapid return to shore.
Michael Pontefract, Club Captain from Evans Head-Casino SLSC, said the IRB will make a huge difference to the club.
“Evans Head-Casino Surf Life Saving Club are so thankful for Ampol’s support of Surf Life Saving Australia and clubs all around Australia. We are privileged to be one of the recipients of the Ampol branded IRB, which will ensure that our club and volunteers can continue to support the local community and help train our young members. In the 2022 floods, our IRB was essential in the rescue efforts, and this new IRB will help protect our community on the beaches and also in times of natural disaster.”
Evans Head-Casino SLSC’s IRBs were critical in the 2022 floods, as the IRB allowed the club to navigate through the water which devastated up to 95% of the households in Woodburn area, 10km from Evans Heads.
In addition to donating equipment directly to clubs, Ampol will continue raising donations to support all of Surf Life Saving Australia by donating 10 cents from every purchase of select products from selected stores within the Ampol Foodary retail network between July 3 and August 6.
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