Surf patrols ramp up at Middleton Beach as new ASLSC team leader urges beachgoers to have a safe summer

Albany Surf Life Saving Club is urging beachgoers to do the right thing over the summer months as regular volunteer patrols at Middleton Beach get under way. New ASLSC life-saving team leader Alex Poulton said he wanted everyone to be safe this summer and make sensible decisions in and around the water. “It’s about swimming between the flags, checking the conditions and, importantly, not drinking and going in the water,” he said. “Particularly around this area, it can get quite shallow at points, there is a lot of sand that has moved up around the edge of the jetty — so make sure you look before you leap. “If you’re in doubt just ask someone, we’ll be down here in our bright yellow and red every weekend.” The first volunteer patrol took place on the first weekend of December, with weekday paid lifeguards due to start patrolling the beach in the coming weeks. Mr Poulton said it was important to listen to instructions from lifeguards whether they are being paid during the week or part of volunteer patrols on the weekend. “Let’s just make it a safe summer,” he said. “It just requires people to think about what they are doing, to be looking out for their mates and if you see something odd let us know because we should know how to deal with it.” Mr Poulton has taken over the role of team leader from Dani Lynch after returning to Albany this year after a couple of seasons spent at City Beach in Perth. He said he joined the club initially when he moved to Albany eight years ago and at the time “couldn’t swim the length of the shark net”. “If you are looking to volunteer in an organisation, it’s great because not only can you do surf sports to get fit, but there is a whole bunch of training to help you give back to the community,” he said.