Volunteers on beach patrol

The red and yellow flags will be flying again at Redcliffe and Bribie Island when the new surf lifesaving patrol season gets under way.

First patrols will be held on Saturday, September 19, with volunteer surf lifesavers across Moreton Bay and beyond returning for the eight-month season.

It’s a milestone year for Redcliffe Peninsula Surf Life Saving Club, which marks 30 years in its current clubhouse. The club started out in 1991 from a shipping container at Woody Point, before moving to its current site in 1995.

“It has so many impacts, bringing our community together and creating a safe environment for kids and adults to enjoy the water in such a beautiful location,”

Redcliffe Peninsula Surf Life Saving Club Co-Junior Activities Chair Renee Manzi said. “It’s really about connecting people and bringing people together.”

Until early May, patrols will be monitoring surf conditions, performing rescues, warning of dangers on and under the water, and performing first aid.

“The water is extremely dangerous, so we need to keep young children within arm’s

reach at all times,” Renee said.

They will also be informing and helping educate beachgoers about current and changing conditions, the best areas to swim, and simple steps to stay safe.

Redcliffe’s patrol area runs from the surf club south to Scotts Point, with lifesavers completing patrol rounds roughly every hour.

Bribie Island Surf Life Saving Club patrols Woorim Beach.

Redcliffe and Bribie are part of surf lifesaving’s Sunshine Coast region, and the 2025-26 season figures show the size of the task ahead.

The last patrol season saw more than 11 million visitors to the Sunshine Coast surf lifesaving region’s beaches, with 1,047 rescues, 157,259 preventative actions and 8,386 first aid treatments.

Redcliffe’s popular Nipper program, for children aged five to 13, runs on Sunday mornings during the season. Families can join the club’s mailing list at any time, with expressions of interest for new members opening around June each year, ahead of offers going out to families closer to the start of the season.

“It’s really important that we recruit as many lifesavers as we possibly can within our community, so we can patrol our beach and keep everyone safe,” Renee said.

The club is also on the lookout for adult volunteers, with contact details available on its website.

“We’re always looking for volunteers. It’s also really fun, connecting with your friends,” Renee said. “The friendships you make are what brought us to the club, and what keeps us here.”