The Dawn Patrol

Story and imagery created for The Argus Magazine, published in 2017

Became Editor of The Argus Magazine 2018

 

Meet the Surfers Paradise Dawn Patrol; the heartbeat of our beach and surf culture. The Dawn Patrol was formed when lifesavers noticed a dangerous gap between when the red-and- yellow flags were packed down and when they went up. The volunteers begin each morning at 4:30am, when most of the Coast community are still asleep, and cover a 16-kilometre stretch of beach from the Spit down to Miami. Greeting 6am beach walkers by name, the Dawn Patrol seek to connect with the coast community, keep a watchful eye on early-morning beach goers and raise awareness about the dangers of night swimming. Peter, a member of the Dawn Patrol for over 20 years, has just celebrated his 80th birthday. “Doing this; volunteering for our Gold Coast; it really has filled a hole in my life that I struggled to fill. It has been the highlight of my life. The people I have met, the sunrises I have seen and the stories that I have heard are just remarkable. To me, it will never get old.”

Whilst the Life Guard season has a slight pause during the winter seasons, the Dawn Patrol never rest. 365 days a year, every year, the volunteers arise at 4:30am in harsh conditions to connect and monitor the activity on the beach. Here, the volunteers pause to debrief the day, whilst the early morning Beach Tractor smooths the sand and the sun continues to hide behind the horizon. Having just had Cyclone Debbie pass the Queensland Coast, the air temperature had dropped to just 15 degrees at the seaway. The Dawn Patrol arrived rugged up in their winter uniforms, despite it being April.

Whilst the Life Guard season has a slight pause during the winter seasons, the Dawn Patrol never rest. 365 days a year, every year, the volunteers arise at 4:30am in harsh conditions to connect and monitor the activity on the beach. Here, the volunteers pause to debrief the day, whilst the early morning Beach Tractor smooths the sand and the sun continues to hide behind the horizon. Having just had Cyclone Debbie pass the Queensland Coast, the air temperature had dropped to just 15 degrees at the seaway. The Dawn Patrol arrived rugged up in their winter uniforms, despite it being April.

Peter spends about 500 hours a year volunteering for Surf Life Saving Australia, and has no intentions of slowing down. "It's a tough call to put your body and life on the line," Peter explains. The team begin their shift at 4:30am and cover a 16-kilometre stretch of beach from Miami to the Southport Spit until the professional lifeguards begin at 8:00am. They send out two vehicles, patrolling the beach stretch in opposite directions, in order to have a wider eye on the beach swimmers. Whilst the Winter Sun slowly rises over the Cyclone Debbie storm clouds, the Dawn Patrol team meet beside the Jetskis to debrief, assess the situation and check in on each other's health to ensure each team mate is focused.

Peter spends about 500 hours a year volunteering for Surf Life Saving Australia, and has no intentions of slowing down. "It's a tough call to put your body and life on the line," Peter explains. The team begin their shift at 4:30am and cover a 16-kilometre stretch of beach from Miami to the Southport Spit until the professional lifeguards begin at 8:00am. They send out two vehicles, patrolling the beach stretch in opposite directions, in order to have a wider eye on the beach swimmers. Whilst the Winter Sun slowly rises over the Cyclone Debbie storm clouds, the Dawn Patrol team meet beside the Jetskis to debrief, assess the situation and check in on each other's health to ensure each team mate is focused.

"For me it's been the absolute highlight of my life, it truly has been. Every single day when I’m watching the sun rise, I am so thankful to be on that beach, to be doing what I do. Each sunrise is new and unique. It will never get old to me. It keeps me healthy, fit and active. As long as I can meet the requirements, I'll keep volunteering until I am no longer able. 80 is not the end. And I strongly encourage anyone who has retired to consider volunteering. It filled a hole in my life that I spent years trying to fill. It truly is the higlight of my life."

"For me it's been the absolute highlight of my life, it truly has been. Every single day when I’m watching the sun rise, I am so thankful to be on that beach, to be doing what I do. Each sunrise is new and unique. It will never get old to me. It keeps me healthy, fit and active. As long as I can meet the requirements, I'll keep volunteering until I am no longer able. 80 is not the end. And I strongly encourage anyone who has retired to consider volunteering. It filled a hole in my life that I spent years trying to fill. It truly is the higlight of my life."

Peter notes that one of his most memorable moments was a particular rescue on a stormy morning. “A jet ski was found without a rider so myself and my partner were requested out on the jet ski,” he says. "The life saving boat found the rider but the boat broke down and went into limp-mode. They drifted to the mouth of the Seaway but couldn't see because of the huge spume from the waves. There were about 200 people watching on the wall. The media were there too. My partner David Clarke and I were called and he set out on the jet ski to guide the boat in. But it was so rough and the boat was in such poor shape they put the rescued rider on the back of the jet ski. All you could see was David disappear into the mist at the Seaway entry and we all just held our collective breaths. He was gone for 20 minutes, it felt like an age." “Then suddenly, out of the spray he appeared, riding down these huge waves with the rider on his back. Everyone was cheering." It just epitomises the selflessness of this organisation. It’s such a tough call to put your body, your life, on the line like that. But time and time again I see these guys do it. “It’s an honour to walk the beach with them.”

Peter notes that one of his most memorable moments was a particular rescue on a stormy morning. “A jet ski was found without a rider so myself and my partner were requested out on the jet ski,” he says. "The life saving boat found the rider but the boat broke down and went into limp-mode. They drifted to the mouth of the Seaway but couldn't see because of the huge spume from the waves. There were about 200 people watching on the wall. The media were there too. My partner David Clarke and I were called and he set out on the jet ski to guide the boat in. But it was so rough and the boat was in such poor shape they put the rescued rider on the back of the jet ski. All you could see was David disappear into the mist at the Seaway entry and we all just held our collective breaths. He was gone for 20 minutes, it felt like an age."

“Then suddenly, out of the spray he appeared, riding down these huge waves with the rider on his back. Everyone was cheering." It just epitomises the selflessness of this organisation. It’s such a tough call to put your body, your life, on the line like that. But time and time again I see these guys do it. “It’s an honour to walk the beach with them.”