ODIN Augey represents the next generation of surf life savers who will dedicate hours every weekend during spring and summer to keeping a watchful eye over local swimmers and surfers.
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He is 14, a member of Crowdy Head Surf Life Saving Club, has his Surf Rescue Certificate and is counting the days until he is 15 and can gain his bronze - the ticket to full duties as a patrolling member.
Odin's first official duty for the patrolling season will be to participate in Saturday's Raising of the Flags ceremony for the Lower North Coast branch. The event signals the start of the patrolling season and Odin, along with the club's oldest patrolling member, 75-year-old John Ward, will raise the flags at 10am at Crowdy Head Beach.
Standing on the beach with Odin and John will be NSW Surf Life Saver of the Year 2014 and Crowdy Head Surf Life Saving president, Allan Davis, Crowdy Head director of life saving, Adam Eady and president of Surf Life Saving Lower North Coast, Brian Wilcox along with life members of the club. It is also expected that state and federal politicians will attend.
Crowdy Head SLSC is keen for the community to attend the event which is also the sign-on day for existing and new club members.
Odin has been a club member from around six-years-of-age and came up through the Nipper program. This year he will be one of a group of 14-year-old boys who will do their first patrolling season.
"It's fun because you can sit out on a board in the surf and watch people," Odin said.
"You get a roster and you have to show-up to the beach about half-an-hour before to set it up."
Odin says his rostered time will be four to eight hours and during that time he will "watch over the surf and go for a swim."
He thinks surf life saving is great and will be encouraging other people to join the club.