As we’re celebrating Anzac day on Sunday many people don’t realise that the Anzacs are the people who brought the red-and-yellow flags to our beaches.
During World War I many lifesavers served in the war, and on the shores of Gallipoli red-and-yellow flags were flown as a symbol of mateship so our diggers could easily recognise friend from foe.
When Anzac lifesavers returned from overseas they decided to utilise the red-and-yellow flag to show the public the safer swimming areas on our beaches as the red and yellow was a symbol of mateship and safety.
It’s just another lasting legacy that those brave soldiers have left for us.
It’s been a beautiful week on our beaches with small clean conditions and there’s been some intense competition at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.
Join an independent local news revolution by subscribing to our free daily news feed: Go to SUBSCRIBE at top of this article to register
It’ll be a big day of finals on Saturday and we wish all the competitors the best as the event wraps up.
With competition concluding, the normal beach patrol service will resume at Maroochydore on Sunday morning.
Weekend beach forecast
The good conditions look set to continue into the long weekend with mostly sunny days before the chance of a shower on Monday for the Anzac day public holiday. Air temps have dropped a touch though with maximums around the mid 20-degree mark.
The swell is expected to increase fractionally, but will stay around knee-height so there won’t be much on offer for surfers.
For swimmers, however, there should be excellent conditions across all the patrolled beaches on the Coast.
Low tides over the weekend will be late morning to noon by Monday so be mindful that rips will be working in this period of time.
With only two weekends remaining until the end of the volunteer patrol season, we are encouraging the public to swim only at a patrolled beach this long weekend.
Since July 1, 2020, 1,002 people have been rescued outside the flagged area by Sunshine Coast lifesavers and lifeguards.
Tragically, 17 people have drowned on Queensland beaches this season.
Aaron Purchase is Surf Life Saving Queensland’s regional manager for the Sunshine Coast. His column in sunshinecoastnews.com.au appears each Friday to keep the community informed of what’s happening on the beach and how to stay safe in the water.
