Lifetime recognition for Alan Pitts
Lifetime recognition for Alan Pitts
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When most of us envisage the epitome of a surf lifesaver, we generally conjure up a images which include being young and fit, tanned with sun-bleached hair, and generally bearing the chiselled physique of a Greek god in red Speedos. And whilst most people would agree that these gladiators of the surf generally have to be extremely fit and possess great strength and courage to swim against crashing waves and unpredictable rips, this is not always the case. We’d like to illustrate this fact by profiling one of the Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club’s members who was acknowledged last weekend for his outstanding contribution to the club and its members.
In the late 1960’s a father of a couple of young Nippers volunteered his time in assisting in the running of the Cowes and Woolamai Nipper Program. He was Alan Pitts, a lawn and garden maintenance contractor from Burwood, Victoria. He and a couple of other parents slowly but surely strengthened the existing Nipper program and they continued developing it for over 14 years. By 1982 Alan was a 52-year-old who desperately wanted to obtain his Surf Bronze Medallion, now that his two boys had grown up and were ready for the senior club. Alan and his two sons, Warren and Murray, obtained their Bronze Medallion after many months of swimming and theory training involving first aid, resuscitation, surf awareness and more.
Within two years of obtaining his medallion, Alan not only acquired many other awards including Inshore Rescue Boat drivers certificate, instructors certificate and First aid certificate, but he was also voted in as Club President. He served in that role for two years before taking on the position of Chief Instructor, teaching young candidates the necessities of becoming a lifesaver, a role he particularly enjoyed. Whilst Alan possessed a somewhat flamboyant and almost eccentric personality, he did however have the ability to communicate effectively with all members, particularly the younger members, and within a very short time he became one of the most popular and well-respected characters of the club.
Alan, commonly referred to as ‘Pittsy’, served on the committee for many years and was the club’s delegate at state centre meetings for many years also. He upgraded his qualifications to become a state centre instructor and a state centre examiner. Pittsy was also a very keen and dedicated official at competition carnivals and assisted at many local, interstate and international carnivals as a beach event official. As a garden contractor, Alan was keen to use one of his tools of the trade, his ever reliable rake. He would be seen raking the sand divots level to ensure the beach flag competitors didn’t stumble and injure themselves. He was known nationally and internationally by both competitors and officials as ‘the rake man’. He initiated the long service medals at WBSLSC, and he himself was awarded Life Membership a few years ago.
At the ripe age of 81, Alan was no longer actively patrolling the beach, but he still managed to man the radio room and he loved it - he’d often be heard referring to the females as ‘Shelias’ and the males as ‘the louts’. Alan was renowned for his unique mannerisms, colloquialisms and phrases. His most popular catch phrase, which he repeated on many occasions, was “There’s man of the match in cricket, there’s mark of the day in Footy, but what’s wrong with Surf Life Saving, what’s wrong with Surf Life Saving.” Alan used this phrase to express his frustration that the media focused on cricket and footy and effectively ignored all other sports including Lifesaving.
One of Alan’s most memorable occasions as a surf lifesaver was the time he performed Expired Air Resuscitation (mouth-to-mouth) on a 10 year old girl who was pulled out of the surf not breathing. Alan revived her, and he would often shed a tear when conveying the emotions he experienced on that very memorable and proud occasion. Despite Alan’s health deteriorating in recent months he still managed to travel to the Woolamai Club with his entire family for his special day of recognition. Over 70 friends and family attended a BBQ lunch and a few members exchanged stories about Alan’s antics and eccentricities, but they mostly spoke about his passion for life saving, Woolamai Beach SLSC and his family and friends. Alan was presented a poster size framed photo of his beloved Woolamai Beach by the Club’s President Mark Donaldson and Vice President Craig Ross in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the club, but more importantly to its members. Alan thoroughly enjoyed the day and his family was most appreciative. So, as you can see it’s never too late to obtain your bronze medallion and become a fully-fledged Surf lifesaver.
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