When a shark alarm went off at Coogee Beach last week, lifesavers didn’t hesitate.
They moved quickly to get people out of the water and keep everyone calm. But look under the red and yellow hats and you’ll see people from all over the world, from Berlin to Tehran, and far beyond.
They come from different places, but they work side by side as one team.
Whether it is heightened awareness after recent shark sightings or broader water safety concerns, these volunteers show that looking out for one another is a language everyone shares.
They are not just watching the waves. They are helping people feel safe, welcome and that they belong at the beach.
For Katrin Baldow, the journey began with a simple mother’s instinct.
She first walked into the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club not to volunteer, but to ensure her children were safe in the Australian surf.
"I grew up in Berlin, which is far away from any ocean, so I really just started to learn about the ocean in my adult life," Baldow said.
Baldow, who moved to Australia 20 years ago, is now in her seventh year patrolling the beach on weekends and public holidays, especially during the busy summer months.
"I joined the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club with my kids in 2019. It's more than just the lifesaving. It's a really big community," she said.
"I think I can relate to people who come to Australia and discover the ocean later in their life and don't necessarily have the knowledge about ocean safety and how to be safe around the ocean."
A growing community of multicultural volunteers
Nearly 44 per cent of Coogee’s residents are born overseas.
Royal Life Saving reports that, on average, 288 people drown in Australia each year, with about one in four of them born overseas.
Doug Hawkins, the club’s community education coordinator, says the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club has more than 800 volunteers from 24 different nationalities.
"We've got people from all over the world. We've got people with Vietnamese backgrounds. We've got people with Indian backgrounds. We have a really cohesive club in the sense that we're all there for one purpose," Hawkins said.
Madhav Raman, who has an Indian-Kenyan background, has spent years delivering safety programs for refugees and international students.
As patrol vice-captain, he believes visibility plays a vital role in keeping people safe.
He says when lifesavers reflect the community, it breaks down barriers.
"So when you have people from different nationalities patrolling at the beach and you see your own country members or your fellow community members, then they feel a bit safer," Raman said.
"It's more inviting for them to come up and ask questions and find out more information," he added.
Elnaz Talebi, originally from Iran, echoes similar sentiments.
She joined Coogee Surf Life Saving Club two years ago to bridge the gap in safety knowledge within her own community.
"Like my people from Iran, we have limited knowledge. So I saw this as a good opportunity to raise awareness within my community," she said.
Strengthening community bonds
For these volunteers, lifesaving goes beyond protecting swimmers. It’s about forging friendships and fostering a sense of community.
Outside patrols, the club has built a social safety net that endures long after each shift.
"From my three or four years in surf lifesaving, you get to develop really good relationships. We catch up for coffee or go to the club after patrol. We chat about life and share stories," Raman said.
For Baldow, that sense of community is the ultimate reward.
"It did change my life. It brought me closer to the community. I know there are people I can rely on for help or support," she said.
"I've made really good friends in the team as well. It really does give a sense of belonging and community," Baldow added.
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