Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown—Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault)— The 2022-2023 beach season has drawn to a close and it has been an incredibly tough one for our Hunter Surf Lifesavers.

The hard-working Hunter patrols completed more than 56,000 patrol hours on our beaches and performed 164 rescues.

We know that it is the presence of our surf patrols that keep people, locals and visitors alike, safe on our beaches. Tragically, there were 54 coastal drowning deaths in Australia between 1 December 2022 and 1 March 2023.

NSW had its highest number ever recorded, with 28 deaths. All of those deaths occurred either at an unpatrolled area, outside patrol hours, or outside the red and yellow flags. Thank you to our local surf lifesavers who give their time and energy to keep others safe and allow everyone to enjoy the beach.

Many locals enthusiastically participate in Nippers programs each year. In fact, in 2022-2023, more than 3000 Hunter kids took part. Thank you to the volunteers and age managers who make this program, teaching our kids beach safety and water skills, possible. I am incredibly grateful for the time, expertise and dedication of all our Surf Life Saving members.

A Community Recognition Notice is an opportunity for an MP to submit a short statement praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Notice, please email and let me know!