Standing Together When It Matters
Over recent weeks, our club and the wider community have been reminded how fragile life can be. When someone connected to our world is lost suddenly, the impact ripples far beyond immediate family. At a life saving club, we train together, patrol together, compete together and socialise together – and that means we also feel things together. It’s okay if this feels heavy. It’s okay if you’re not quite sure how to process it.
Grief does not follow a neat timeline or a single pattern. Some people feel shock. Some feel sadness. Others feel distracted, flat, irritable or simply unsure what to say. Young members, in particular, may be experiencing this kind of loss for the first time. There is no “right” way to respond. What matters most is allowing space – for yourself and for others – and remembering that everyone moves through these moments differently.
If you feel you would benefit from extra support, confidential counselling is available to members and volunteers through Surf Life Saving Victoria’s wellbeing program, provided by Telus Health. This service is available for anyone who would like to speak with a qualified professional, now or in the weeks ahead. Further information about these services, along with other LSV Member Welfare resources and support, can be found here: https://clubs.lsv.com.au/areas/204
As always, please check in on your fellow patrollers, your teammates and your friends. In times like this, our strength is not in pretending we’re fine – it’s in standing together as a community.