General News
4 March, 2026
Support volunteer lifesavers
THE incredible contribution of Victoria’s volunteer lifesavers will be recognised and celebrated on the first ever Red and Yellow Day today (Wednesday, March 4).
The day is a national moment to say thank you and show support for the 200,000 volunteer lifesavers across the country who give their time freely to keep the community safe in the water.
Members of the public can show their support for volunteer lifesavers through a range of Red and Yellow Day activities such as wearing red and yellow to show their appreciation, donating to the Red and Yellow Day appeal where every dollar will go towards assisting lifesaving clubs, becoming a member of their local lifesaving club or sharing vital water safety messages within their community and on social media.
Life Saving Victoria chief executive officer Cath Greaves thanked and commended volunteer lifesavers for their efforts.
“Our volunteer lifesavers show outstanding dedication, skill and selflessness in giving their time and energy so Victorians and visitors can enjoy our waterways safely,” she said.
“Red and Yellow Day is a terrific opportunity for us all to show our gratitude and support and I encourage everyone to get involved.”
Despite the best efforts of volunteer lifesavers and paid lifeguards, 18 people have drowned in Victoria since the beginning of summer.
While this is down on record numbers in previous seasons, one drowning is one too many.
The community is encouraged to remain vigilant and help prevent these tragic incidents through a number of simple measures.
These include swimming at patrolled locations between the red and yellow flags where possible, supervising children at all times, checking conditions before heading out and making sure their activities are within their capabilities, skills and fitness levels, always swimming with a friend and keeping alcohol consumption to after water-related activities.
Always remember public pools are among the safest places to swim, with lifeguards always on duty.
They’re a great place to cool off, swim, and have fun, particularly if residents or their loved ones aren’t confident in the water.
To find out more about Red and Yellow Day, go to https://redandyellowday.org.au.
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