Dive into Australia’s iconic surf lifesaving culture, as Back Roads this week heads to 90 Mile Beach in Victoria’s Gippsland region.
Heather Ewart visits one of the longest, uninterrupted stretches of coastline in the world, and discovers the undercurrents of community spirit that link three of the coastal towns along 90 Mile Beach: Lakes Entrance, Seaspray and Woodside.
Connected by this iconic beach, these three small beachside communities always have each other’s backs, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fierce rivals too! This on full display as Heather takes in the annual surf lifesaving carnival.
The local Nipper movement is teaching life-saving water skills to children as young as seven, ensuring they respect this sometimes-dangerous stretch of coastline. These beaches may look stunning, but they are notorious for rips, as the brunt of the powerful winds and currents of Bass Strait bear down on them.
As she travels the length and breadth of the beach, Heather meets the people behind the flags and learns the difference between a lifeguard and a lifesaver.
In Seaspray she discovers a genuine lifesaving Legend, in Lakes Entrance she finds a former Victorian Lifesaver of the Year and at Woodville Beach she meets 19-year-old lifeguard Charlie Dillow, whose hearing impairment hasn’t held him back.
Plus of course, there are the adorable little Nippers. More than just being a whole lot of fun, the surf lifesaving culture creates family bonds, forges lifelong friendships and offers young people new pathways into the future. Heather also addresses a burning question: How long is 90 Mile Beach? The answer is not as straightforward as you might think.
8pm Tuesday on ABC.
links to content on ABC
TV Tonight
