The Bondi Patrol Podcast: Episode 20: Michael Hallam, Patrol Captain, Nightingale Patrol

What does it take to become a Patrol Captain? It takes time and effort, but anyone can do it if you have the motivation and interest!

What is an unconscious rescue really like? Michael describes how the team rescued an unconscious surfer.

This podcast is supported by City Ford Sydney. Ford have supported the “Blue Water Challenge” for many years - we appreciate their ongoing support of surf lifesaving and the Bondi club. The City Ford Sydney Blue Water Challenge is an annual competition that raises money for our Club, and helps us to provide surf lifesaving services to people at Bondi; – to see what our friends at City Ford Sydney have to offer, visit www.cityford.com.au

Delighted to welcome Michael Hallam to the podcast; Michael is Patrol Captain for Nightingale Patrol.

Michael’s journey to Patrol Captain started with education, Silver Medallion, and helping to train the Bronze groups; Michael then became a Vice Captain.

Michael talks through being a Co-Captain so he could build up his experience, the value of Mentors, and how this helps to be a Patrol Captain.

1. Tell us why you joined Bondi Surf Life Saving Club?

2. You’re a Patrol Captain – what does it involve?

3. What training do you do to become a patrol captain?

4. Who is Nightingale named after?

5. Challenging rescues – the story of an unconscious rescue by Noah, and other examples

6. Your other life/work life: tell us what you do outside of surf life saving

7. Important issues/key messages: importance of teamwork, mentoring to become captain

Thank you for listening to this episode. thank you to our long-term supporters City Ford Sydney; we appreciate your support of the Bondi Blue Water Challenge – this enables our club to raise money for the lifesaving service we provide the community; you can learn all about Ford’s range of cars, vans and SUVs, including electric cars and SUVs at www.cityford.com.au

If you want to get involved, whether for our Nippers program if you have young kids, or you want to become a volunteer surf life saver, You can learn more at www.bondisurfclub.com

Finally, over 300 lives were lost at Australian beaches last year– So please, swim at a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

“It was the friendly people at Bondi who encouraged me to join and made me feel welcome,” says Amy.


Amy O’Brien arrived in Australia in 2022 from Ireland, where she was a full time surf life guard as well as water safety teacher for primary school children.
In this episode, Amy shares her journey from Ireland to Bondi, why she chose Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club, and the opportunities available for people interested in surf sports.

Amy competed in the European and World Championships with the Irish National Team and has made an easy transition to being a surf sport competitor at Bondi. Amy talks through her weekly training and diet, as well as the work she does as a teacher outside of the club.

SLSA has over 180 thousand members and over 300 Surf Life Saving clubs, this is the largest volunteer movement of its kind in the world. We exist to save lives, create great Australians and build better communities.

Sadly over 300 lives were lost at Australian beaches last year– So please, swim at a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

“Surf Life Saving gives you Leadership skills for life”

Grant joined Bondi Surf Club as a 13 year old in 1988 obtaining his Surf Rescue Certificate (the same time as Harries!), Grant has been heavily involved in many aspects of the club during his 35 years as a member.

Some of Grant’s achievements include:

● Four time Australian Champion

● the youngest ever Patrol Captain at 18

● winner of the Open Club Champion of the club and Lifesaver of the Year

● playing a lead role in the organisation of the Annual Legends lunch fundraiser that has raised over $250,000 for the club.

● involved in club junior development and is currently the age manager for the Under 8’s Nippers

Grant has been a Bondi Lifeguard and has had a career working professionally in sport including holding roles as Event Manager Swimming Australia, General Manager - Sport with Surf Life Saving Australia and CEO Equestrian Australia. He is currently the co-owner of a successful sports consultancy company Beyond the Break Consulting. Grant was awarded Life Membership on Bondi Surf Club in 2023.

In this episode we discuss how Grant worked his way through various roles at the Club, to become a Life Member. The importance of giving back, the importance of physical and mental health, Grant’s sadness at the passing of Louise Santos, who was made life member at the same time as Grant. Grant describes the importance of junior members to the club’s success.

Our skin is our biggest organ, and it’s our first line of defence. Every day, our skin can be damaged by the sun. This can cause cell mutation which may turn into skin cancer. Thankfully, if you find and treat a suss looking spot early enough, your chances of survival are better than almost any other cancer, which is why getting a skin check is so important.

Scott started Skin Check Champions after losing his best friend to skin cancer at an early age; he turned this tragic event into a national campaign that saves lives – listen to his story.

Skin Check Champions’ mission is “to win the race against skin cancer by championing early detection”. SCC raise awareness for, and access to, early detection services, especially for communities most at risk of skin cancer. The goal is to connect people to their local GP, Skin Clinic or Dermatologist via free, educational pop-up skin check clinics.

We encourage all surf life savers and people working outdoors to have their free skin check every year. You can learn more here: https://skincheckchampions.com/

“Always ask questions, always ask for help – and support Movember!”

Chris grew up in Sydney, started at Coogee Nippers aged 5 and then moved to Bondi in his teens and has been here ever since; he was Age Group Champion in Nippers and has an Australian Surf Life Saving Title; he’s now a lead Bronze Trainer at Bondi.

Outside of Bondi surf life saving, Chris works in fashion retail and is a Movember Ambassador. Chris is a classically trained musician (having learnt the clarinet and piano), he’s a writer, performer and singer; his passion is hip hop –

Learn more about Movember here: https://au.movember.com/

Listen to Chris’ music here: search for ‘S13GE’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEPfNSN8Eu0

Felicity joined the Bondi Life Saving Club in 2015 and is patrol Captain for Jeppessen Patrol (the Best patrol!). Felicity has held various roles at the Club, she’s taught 8 Bronze and SRC Courses, has been a Spinal, ARTC Trainer, Bronze Assessor, and was the ‘Destination Patrol Captain’ for 3 years leading the Club’s away trips to places like Pacific Palms in NSW. Felicity competes in Champion Lifesaving and First Aid – she is the go-to person for Community, Inclusion and Diversity; Felicity leads the ‘Access Waverley’ Project for accessible beach wheelchair access, and set up the Club’s Dippers program (which helps disabled people learn to swim & enjoy the sea); she’s now the Vice President of Bondi Surf Life Savers Club, and is currently setting up the Club’s ‘Member Services’ Team.

When not down at the Club, you can find Felicity Sailing (fun fact, Felicity competed in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race this year, one of the world’s most challenging yacht races!), or in her day job as a Physiotherapist at the Mater Hospital.

In this episode we discuss:

1. How did Felicity start with surf life saving?

2. What got Felicity into the club at Bondi?

3. What does a Vice President do? (we discuss formal and informal parts of the job; Member Services, like HR, and also OH&S, recruitment. The Constitution states: The Deputy President is to assist the President in the performance of the President’s role and is to undertake any role of the President in the absence of the President. This meant this past year I became (the first female) Acting President whilst Brent Jackson needed to take an extended leave of absence. And how in the past 10years the VP has become someone who represents “the members”, their wishes, and brings every Board decision back to the members.

4. So why did you want the role of Vice President?

5. What help did you have to develop in your roles at the club? (we discuss SLSA Women’s Mentoring Program, McCarthy Mentoring, mentoring programme was set up by Suzanne Storrie, this was also funded by Kerry Briody - Bondi Surf Club Member - and the WMP partnered with ‘McCarthy Mentoring’ to give us professional guidance and teaching. Also of note; SLSA Leadership Masterclass, where we completed MBA-level modules in strategic thinking.

6. First Female Life Member at Bondi SBLSC

Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Bondi Patrol Podcast.

SLSA has over 180 thousand members and over 300 Surf Life Saving clubs, this is the largest volunteer movement of its kind in the world. We exist to save lives, create great Australians and build better communities.

Sadly over 300 lives were lost at Australian beaches last year– So please, swim at a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

You can learn more at www.bondisurfclub.com

We are all Ocean Lovers!

Anita is a positive, passionate and dynamic change-maker. She is the Founder of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival, an annual celebration of Ideas, Art+Music and Actions, showcasing some of the latest innovations, science, state-of-the-art technology and cool ideas for helping the ocean.

Anita successfully staged the first Ocean Lovers Festival in April 2019 at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach, as a place to provide hope and positive messaging around ocean issues. The Festival attracted around 15,000 people to mainly free events promoting eco and sustainable practices, showcasing global alliances as well as local best practice. After the delivering the 3rd festival in 2023, they achieved a combined total media reach of over 12.5M

Anita championed the Sydney Coast Hope Spot at the inaugural Ocean Lovers Festival with Mission Blue / Sylvia Earle Alliance, to recognise Sydney’s cherished coastline on the international stage. The Festival showcases successful marine projects restoring the coastal ecology, hero’s ocean innovating entrepreneurs and gives a platform to government initiatives, ocean champions, marine scientists and community groups.

Beyond inspiring action and behavioural change, Anita created the festival with a mission to turn ripples of action into waves of change. She is recognised as global connector in the ocean sector for her innovative approach of bringing inspiration and hope for the ocean, and engaging and empowering audiences to accelerate change that positively impacts our world.

In this interview we discuss:

1. When did you become aware of climate change, the health of our oceans and what did you want to do about it?

2. How will the oceans and beaches be impacted?

3. Tell us all about the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival, and the Blue Solutions Summit?

4. What’s next for Ocean Lovers?

Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Bondi Patrol Podcast

Sadly over 300 lives were lost at Australian beaches last year…

So please, swim at a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

You can learn more at www.bondisurfclub.com

In this episode, we are delighted to welcome Bronte Surf Life Saving Club President, Basil Scaffidi as our guest.

Basil has been a member of Bronte Surf Lifesaving club for 20 years. From nipper age manager, then Nippers President, and now the Club President for the last 13 years. Originally from Perth, Basil has three daughters, who all attained their Bronzes and have competed for the Club. When not on the beach, Basil is Managing Director of SEL which is a sports and entertainment management and events company. Clients include individuals like Ian Thorpe and Melissa Doyle and sport bodies such as Rugby Australia and Cricket Australia. SEL is the promoter of annual concerts at the Mission Estate Winery in New Zealand. This year’s concerts include Rod Stewart and Robbie Williams.

In this episode, we discuss:

1. Basil’s love of surf life saving and the world of sports

2. Basil tells us about Bronte (the beach) and the Bronte SLSC, the equipment they use and the types of dangers at the beach

3. What does it mean to be Club president?

4. Surf Life Saving is always evolving – what are the current challenges and opportunities?

5. Thinking of volunteering at Bronte: join the Bronte SLSC here: https://brontesurfclub.com.au/

Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Bondi Patrol Podcast

SLSA has over 180 thousand members and over 300 affiliated Surf Life Saving clubs, this the largest volunteer movement of its kind in the world. We exist to save lives, create great Australians and build better communities.

Sadly over 300 lives were lost at Australian beaches last year– So please, swim at a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

You can learn more at www.bondisurfclub.com