Media Rehearsal - Thursday 1 March 6.15pm

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Thursday night's rehearsal will be at Centennial Park for 1 to 1 ½ hours. Please meet at Grand Drive near McKay Fields at 6.15pm sharp. We will be opposite the Learners Cycleway (click on the image above for detailed map - X marks the spot). Most gates to the park close at 7:30/8pm but you will be able to exit through the Robertson Road Gates exit.

This final rehearsal will be for developing our formation and marching style in an open space. Please all participants attend, including flag bearers and beach goers. Media will be attending this rehearsal - they will be arriving at 6.45pm, so we have 30 minutes to look perfect!

Following this rehearsal we will go for celebratory drinks at the Light Brigade Hotel - 2a Oxford St Woollahra.

A final thank you to our supporters

To Surf Life Saving Australia for the support it has given its members who are marching in the Year of the Surf Lifesaver float in this year's Mardi Gras Parade.

To Westpac for being our financial saviour!

To Eyra Medical and Skin Clinic for helping us finance the 1000 inflatable beach balls.

To Gary Polivnic for your kind donation.

The final rehearsal - now with flags!

We bid a fond farewell to our home of the past four weeks, Tamarama Surf Lifesaving Club. Thanks to the club for allowing us the use of its premises. The biggest thank you however has to go to our Creative Director - Angela Kennedy. You are THE BEST. Click on the YouTube below to see her handy work in action.

[You can see more pics from the final rehearsal by clicking here.]

Lifesaver float in the news #3

Click on the above two images to read The Sun Herald's 'Lifesavers float along with Mardi Gras' by Daniel Dasey (28/01/2007).

Click on the above two images to read Queensland Pride's 'LGBT Lifesavers on prade' (Feb 2007).

Mardi Gras Fair Day

We came, we saw, we conquered!
It was our first Mardi Gras Fair Day as lifesavers and we were warmly welcomed. We scored a Bronze Medal in the Drag Relay Race (congrats to Grant, Nick, Josh and Drew); we put on a stellar lifesaving demonstration around the pool and were well and truly beaten in the tug of war by the Lesbian Soccer Team (commiserations to Anthony, Ronan, Ruairi, Josh, Drew and Mark).

[You can see all the pics from the Fair Day by clicking here.]

Heroes

“Whether you are a woman, Muslim, gay or lesbian; surf lifesaving is a great way to give back to the community and make life long friendships, while also being a fantastic way to keep fit. I urge every gay and lesbian who loves the beach to find out how they can become a lifesaver at their local surf club.”

Co-float Organiser, Ruairi O’Connor of Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club.

Lifesaver float in the news #2

Click on the above two images to read the Sydney Star Observer's 'SURF'S UP FOR MARDI GRAS' by Ian Gould (25/1/07).

Click on the above image to read about our float being featured in the Wentworth Courier (7/2/07)

Click on the above image to listen to co float organiser Drew Lambert be interview by Nelly McKenzie on Macquarie Regional Radio's Nelly at Night program (40 stations across Australia 12/2/07)

Click on the above image to read Adelaide gay and lesbian newspaper, Blaze, reporting on our float (2/2/07)

Click on the image above to hear float co-organiser Ruairi O'Connor talking about the inaugural Surf Lifesaver float in this years Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (9/2/07).

Song Lyrics for you all to learn and later dance to...

Holding Out For A Hero

Where have all good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where’s the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?

Isn’t there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn and dream of what I need

I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong
And he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light
He’s gotta be sure
And it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life

Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There’s someone reaching back for me

Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It’s gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet

I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong
And he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light
He’s gotta be sure
And it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life



Up Where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I would swear that there’s someone somewhere
Watching me
Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach
Like a fire in my blood

I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong
And he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light
He’s gotta be sure
And it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life

Rehearsal # 2 - getting better!

[You can see more pics from the second rehearsal by clicking here.]

With 50 people now registered to march and all the moves learnt, this float is certainly going to impress. Now it's time to get slick! If you click on the YouTube video below, Brenton will give you a first taste of what to expect on the night. As you can see, he hates being in front of the camera!

Sponsorship, media and registering to march inquiries

We need one more sponsor to join our other two fantastic sponsors (Westpac and Aussiebum) to help make this float a reality - can you help?

Sponsorship inquiries
Ruairi O'Connor
0400 401 519
Ruairi.O'Connor@iag.com.au

Register to participate
Email lifesaver2007@gmail.com
(include name, email address, phone number, surf club)

Media inquiries
Drew Lambert

Message from Surf Life Saving NT Gerneral Manager

Surf Lifesaving NT general manager Paul Dale has also endorsed lifesavers marching in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade this year.

"We are a non-denominal organisation and we are involved in all community events," Mr Dale said. "The Mardi Gras is a huge tourism event and if any of our individual members were interested in going down and joining in, they can." Mr Dale continued by saying the Territory surf lifesavers had "historical links" to the Sydney clubs. "The North Bondi and Bondi clubs actually assisted us in the 1960s by lending us equipment," he said.

Northern Territory News - 29/01/07

Rehearsal # 1 - sweaty armpits!

On Monday night (5 February) we had a very successful rehearsal; better than we could have ever imagined. This is truly shaping up to be an awesome event.

If you didn't make it on Monday night, make sure you get to the next rehearsal on Monday 12 February at 6:30pm until 9:30pm at Tamarama SurfLife Saving Club. We had a laugh and a workout all in one and learnt some very easy steps.

Any questions you've got (and they are welcomed) drop us an email at lifesaver2007@gmail.com. Remember - swim between the flags!

Rehearsal # 1 continued...

Rehearsal Details

Place: Tamarama Surf Lifesaving Club House, 1A Pacific Avenue, Tamarama

Time: 6.30 – 9.30pm

Date: From Monday 5th February

What Now?

At rehearsals wear something comfortable

Bring:
Runners (preferably the ones you think you'll use on the night)
Water and
Snacks

We'll have a warm-up and put all your fears at bay. Most moves choreographed into the march are the moves / signals we already know as life savers.

Supporters who turn up will be given some moves as well.

Everybody’s capabilities will be accommodated and enthusiasm will be greatly appreciated.

This is shaping up to be a hell of a lot of fun - see you there!

Thanks to our sponsor - Westpac

Without the fantastic support of Westpac - this inaugural Surf Lifesaver Mardi Gras float would not be happening.