Ballina High School gets life jackets for Marine Studies students
The Member for Ballina, Don Page, today presented 100 new inflatable life jackets to Ballina High School’s Marine Studies unit.
The new life jackets, which provide the highest level of buoyancy and are designed to keep the wearer’s head above and out of the water when unconscious, were funded by NSW Maritime as part of a statewide program to support schools running boating safety programs.
“Ballina High School’s Marine Studies unit does a fantastic job teaching young people about safe and responsible boating,” Mr Page said.
“New life jacket laws came into effect on the 1 November 2010, requiring life jackets to be worn more frequently by boat passengers on more types of vessels.
“This donation of life jackets from NSW Maritime will be well utilised by students from Ballina High as part of their Marine Studies course which has a strong focus on boating safety.
“If students are learning the importance of wearing life jackets at a young age, this will reap long-term benefits because, after all, a life jacket will not save a life if you’re not wearing it.
“This donation of 100 life jackets to Ballina High School is part of a statewide program involving the Marine Teachers Association, NSW Maritime and the Boating Industry Association.
“Marine teachers provide an excellent service to communities such as Ballina, which has a sometimes-treacherous bar crossing, and large numbers of recreational fishers.
“The presentation of new life jackets will not only raise awareness of the new laws, it will highlight the need for people to wear life jackets at times of heightened risk such as boating alone, or boating offshore.”
NSW Maritime has recently increased its safety education and advisory program. Safe boating practices have seen a drop in fatalities by 79 per cent and a drop in serious injuries by 58 per cent compared with the same period last year, Mr Page said.
