Gaby attends emergencies seminar

Umina Surf Life Saving Club member Ms Gaby Krucler was selected to attend a Young People in Emergency Services seminar at Luna Park late last month.

The 17-year-old was among four people from Central Coast surf clubs to attend and represent the views of young people in the organisation while gaining exposure to the experiences of other young volunteers throughout NSW from organisations such as the Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Services and the Volunteer Rescue Association.

The two-day seminar included three workshops where presentations and views were shared about marketing and promotion of involvement in volunteering for young adults.

Amongst presenters were co-founder and managing director of Centre for Skills Development Dominic Thurbon and youth programs manager of Country Fire Association in Victoria Sherri McKerley,

Ms Krucler said the most enjoyable parts of the weekend included the opportunity to network with other young volunteers, hearing about the activities of the other organisations as well as the opportunity to do a presentation in front of a large audience.

She said she also enjoyed dinner with leaders of many organisations and the free-time to go on some of the rides at the Sydney amusement park.

Ms Krucler said she felt she had come away from the seminar with a better perspective of how volunteering in Surf Life Saving compares to other organisations, with new friends as well as with new ideas to develop and promote within the organisation.

Ms Krucler also attended a Youth Opportunities Workshop for 15 to 17-year-olds at Port Hacking earlier in the year where she took part in seminars, initiative challenges and bonding activities to help develop her leadership abilities, teamwork, goal setting and communication skills.

During the forums, surf life saving members expressed their views about things they would change in the organisation.

"I realised that we all shared pretty much the same views," Ms Krucler said.

"The communication skills exercise was insightful.

"We had to construct a small lego structure by communicating through word of mouth through three two-man bases (club, branch and state).

"It took a lot longer than expected and was quite difficult.

"After half-an-hour we still had only one-and-a-half small layers high and half of it was back to front.

"The initiative activities are always something I enjoy and these were great.

"I was surprised by how well our group worked together as it was a group full of leaders but we shared the roles and did well.

"The group that went were amongst the best as far as teamwork goes and everyone gelled well, leaving no one out.

"It was a great opportunity to have been selected to go on and I got a lot out of it."

Press release, 13 Sep 2010 Carl Krucler, Umina SLSC