Lifeguard uniform change to 'Bondi blue' makes waves - The Australian

Lifeguards and Bondi Rescue stars Bruce Hopkins, Daniel McLaughlin and Harry Knightingale (left to right) at work at Bondi. Source: news.com.au

• Paid professional lifeguards change their uniforms to blue


• Volunteers: Bondi Rescue's popularity "sole reason" behind change


• Pros say they have more training, should look different

PAID lifeguards are changing their uniforms to "Bondi Rescue blue" - sparking criticism the decision was made only because of the success of the Network Ten program.

Council lifeguards on NSW's mid-north coast (in Newcastle, Port Macquarie-Hastings and Coffs Harbour) are now donning the blue uniforms.

But volunteer lifesavers are dumping on the change, saying the lifeguards should follow the volunteers and have to wear an element of red-and-yellow.

"Our view is they're changing their colours due to the perceived popularity of Bondi Rescue, and that's the sole reason," said Surf Life Saving NSW operations manager Matt Rodwell.

There is only anecdotal evidence overseas tourists would recognise the blue outfits because of the TV show, he said, and the red-and-yellow would be much easier to see on the beach.

"I would ask anyone to go out and sit 100m in the ocean on a crowded beach and look for the red-and-yellow of the volunteers… versus the light blue," he said. "They would stand out far more."

But it's important for the paid lifeguards to stand out because they have a higher level of training and responsibility, according to Terry McDermott, a spokesman for the professional lifeguard association.

"People need to be aware and proud of that," he said, adding that tourists would recognise the uniforms from Bondi Rescue.

Many of the professional lifeguards previously wore a white uniform, whereas volunteers wear red and yellow.

"The only people who get concerned about [the colour change] are Surf Life Saving (the volunteer charity)," Mr McDermott said.

"They're a different organisation to us. They wear the red-and-yellow uniform of volunteers because mums and dads should be recognised for their contribution to the community.

"I can't see why they'd want us to cash in on their iconic image."

In May, the then president of the professional ocean lifeguards association Greg Hackforth predicted to The Illawarra Mercury all lifeguards would make the change to "Bondi blue".

"We're letting each council make their own decision at this stage, but we're supporting the change," he said.

Mr Rodwell said professionals should be able to wear a different uniform to volunteers but it should include red and yellow.

80 per cent of Australians recognised red-and-yellow as the surf lifesaving colour scheme, according to Newspoll research.

But no matter what the colour, you're safe in the water this summer, said Mr Rodwell.

"Council lifeguards … are extremely talented individuals in the water and take their jobs very seriously," he said.

"When someone needs to be rescued, it doesn't matter what they're wearing, they will be rescued."

Volunteer lifesavers don red and yellow uniforms. Picture: Nathan Edwards