Evans Head Surf Club Wins Inflatable Rescue BoatEvans Head Surf Club Wins Inflatable Rescue Boat Members of Evans Head Casino Surf Life Saving Club recently gathered at Miami Beach to receive their new inflatable rescue boat. The club was one of two winners in the Ampol Inflatable Rescue Boat Hull giveaway. The boat, an essential tool for the club’s rescue efforts, played a crucial role during the 2022 floods. The club’s IRBs allowed volunteers to navigate floodwaters, rescue individuals from their homes, and provide assistance to the devastated community. “During 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 disasters,” said Evans Head-Casino SLSC captain Michael Pontefract. The IRB’s capabilities include maneuvering and landing on roofs, making it an invaluable asset for rescue operations. The new boat will significantly enhance the club’s ability to respond to emergencies and protect the community. Ampol, the sponsor of Surf Life Saving Australia, launched the IRB giveaway competition in 2020. This year’s campaign received 620 responses, highlighting the importance of these boats to surf life saving clubs across the country.
Surf club captain Michael Pontefract shakes hands with Shane Mangan, operations manager of Ampol Australia, on Miami Beach with the new boat.
Members of Evans Head Casino were in Miami Beach to receive the club’s new boat.
The surf club at Evans Head has won a boat. And not just any boat – an inflatable rescue boat.
Evans Head-Casino Surf Life Saving Club was named one of two winners of the Ampol Inflatable Rescue Boat Hull giveaway.
Batemans Bay SLSC was the other winner.
This is the third time the Ampol IRB competition has been held since Ampol began sponsoring Surf Life Saving Australia in 2020. The boat campaign received 620 responses.
Evans Head-Casino SLSC was nominated for the competition by several volunteer patrol members who assisted with rescue efforts during the 2022 floods.
The club’s IRBs were crucial in the rescue efforts, allowing the club to navigate the floodwaters that devastated homes in the Woodburn area. The IRB’s capability allowed it to manoeuvre and land on roofs and rescue people from their homes.
Evans Head-Casino SLSC captain Michael Pontefract said the IRB will make a big difference to the club.
“During 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 disasters,” he said.
Evans Head-Casino SLSC members accept the boat from Ampol Australia. Photos: Contributed
The information in this story was provided by Ampol.
