In September / October this year, a group of incredible lifeguards from the 2015 Building Leaders Scholars (BLS), will be setting off to Sri Lanka. One of the lifeguards is Georgia Davey from Victoria.
Welcome Georgia Davey! How old were you when you joined Aspendale Life Saving Club?
I joined Aspendale Life Saving Club when I was 7 or 8, so have been a member for about 15 years now. I have also been a member down at Black Rock Life Saving Club for the past 3 years, who I compete for as well as patrol.
Do you still remember your first day?
I have so many memories of lifesaving, my earliest being surrounded by lots of friendly faces, having fun, laughing and just always having a great time. I remember receiving my Aspendale Club Nippers Cap and it going on my head and almost never coming off over the first day at nippers (and every nippers after that!). I earned myself the nickname “Strop” because of this. I remember being excited that I could one day become a lifesaver.
Who’s your hero, besides your mother?
My hero, or role model, from lifesaving would be my junior coach Sanja. She is such an inspirational woman who has taught me to aim high and never back down from my goals. When I started lifesaving she became a big part of my life, teaching me much of the skills and knowledge that I have today. As I grew up she helped me develop my skills and encouraged me to seek further training and development through leadership programs and camps that Life Saving Victoria offers selected members. As an adult, I can look back and see how much her motivation has helped me achieve my place within life saving as a Nipper Coach, Cadet Mentor, and Trainer in Awards, Patrol Captain, Chief Instructor and Club Captain. She continues to help me train in competition at Black Rock. She has helped me become a self-motivated, well organised and passionate person.
What’s your daily routine?
My daily routine varies quite a bit! Most days see me working one or two of my three jobs – retail and nannying, studying at university with a Bachelor Degree in arts/education (Secondary), rushing of to some form of training: gym (PT training) and pool or beach/surf training. This is of course balanced out with a healthy social life (haha). On top of this I have committee meetings once a month, appointments, administrative work for Aspendale, running Awards courses for the 2015/2016 Life Saving Patrol Season and Technical/Leadership training 1-3 times a months for the Sri Lanka trip in September/October.
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What is your favourite food, fish and chips?
My favourite all time food would have to be Lasagne, although I would never say no to a good piece of chocolate!
In September, you will be embarking on an amazing trip to Sri Lanka as a part of Life Saving Victoria’s Building Leaders Scholarship program to help train Life Guards of Sri Lanka. Is this your first time overseas?
This will be my second trip ever overseas and my longest plane trip ever! I don’t fly very well so it should be an interesting experience there and back.
This will also be my first time to Sri Lanka. We are currently in the middle of a 6month training program that is preparing us for our 2 week training program. This includes cultural awareness, learning to teach individuals and groups with boundaries such as English as a second language and techniques and strategies that will be implemented to help train the Sri Lankan life savers and other emergency services.
I am incredibly excited to have been selected for this opportunity to participate in this program. It is something I feel very grateful for and proud to represent my club and Life Saving Victoria on an international level.
How does it feel to be part of a Life Saving Club?
Being part of a Life Saving club makes me feel incredibly proud. For some people being part of a Life Saving club is about the social side or the competition side, but to me it involves these aspects and so much more. So much of my life is dedicated to the clubs that I hold membership at and that takes good organisational skills, commitment, passion and a love for the sport to be so heavily involved. I think being a life saver is something people should aspire to. Last year alone life savers and life guards completed 1000s of preventative actions and to think that we are changing so many lives, helping so many people and keeping our beaches and water ways safe makes me feel very proud to be a member of such an inspirational organisation.
How would you describe your work mates at the club?
My work mates at my club all vary in ages, many starting off at nippers and ranging right up into the masters categories. These people all participate in life saving for different reasons but the over arching theme that they all seem to have is this love of the beach, the appreciation they have of the surf, and the passion and dedication to help out the community in an environment that promotes fun, good health and motivation to all members at all levels.
Besides, reading Academy League Magazine, what’s your favourite magazine or newspaper?
Lastly, what advice would you give to someone that is thinking of joining his or her local Life Saving Club?
I think everyone should give it a go. Its not for everyone, as with all sports, but it is definitely something everyone should have a go with. You learn so many life skills and can make so many amazing lifelong friends. Joining a life saving club in your local community or down on the surf coast doesn’t just stop during summer, life saving can open so many doors and other opportunities up, can help you develop many different skills and its so much fun.
Thank you for your time Georgia, good luck and have fun in Sri Lanka, we hope to interview you again, upon your return!