Beach to Bush: the 30 year history 1994-2023
Since 1994, NSW surf lifesavers have been visiting schools in rural and remote areas in regional NSW to educate primary school students about beach, coastal and water safety. Lets have a look at the history of this iconic program.
1994 ~ 2003
Beach to Bush was launched in 1994 by Max Waters (life member Port Macquarie SLSC). As the Mid North Coast Director of Lifesaving, Max worked with SLSNSW to conduct a survey which led to the trial and implementation of the first surf education program for rural NSW students. Max, along with Robert Smith OAM spoke to over 2,000 regional and remote school children about beach and water safety. In that first year, they visited 30 schools over two weeks.
66,510
Students reached
532
Schools visited
128
Volunteer Presenters
969
Presentations delivered
2004 ~ 2013
In 2006 the first ever official launch of the Telstra Beach to Bush program took place on Monday 13 November at Queenscliff Beach.
The launch received national and statewide TV coverage via a live crossover with Channel 9’s Today Show. Brett Williamson from Surf Life Saving Australia spoke about the importance of the program and the strong partnership between Telstra and Surf Life Saving. Staff from SLSNSW also took a group of children from the Far Royal West Home located in Manly through a brief surf safety lesson.
As part of Channel 9’s syndication, this broadcast to over 40 stations nationwide and reached over 1.6 million viewers.
“A great presentation and a very valuable and important series of messages. We would love to have you back every year” – Goulburn North Public School – Goulburn Tour”
116,178
Students reached
794
Schools visited
173
Volunteer Presenters
1,296
Presentations delivered
2014 ~ 2023
The 2014 Beach to Bush program was the largest program in five years, with eight tours reaching 14,000 students from 72 schools. In 2020 for the first time in the history of the program, the B2B safety messages were delivered virtually by presenters from SLS Clubs along the NSW coast due to restrictions visiting schools during the COVID 19 pandemic.
I was at the beach only a week after that presentation and thanks to you I knew what to do. So thank you so much for visiting us and teaching as about the beach
91,379
Students reached
637
Schools visited
252
Volunteer Presenters
1,052
Presentations delivered
Since 1994 to 2023 our dedicated surf lifesavers have shared their beach & coastal safety knowledge with over 247,067 NSW bush students!
274,067
Students reached
1,963
Schools visited
3,317
Presentations delivered
553
Volunteer presenters
30
Years B2B has been educating rural NSW students
