Giving back this summer
South Australia comes alive in summer. Beaches are packed with swimmers, backyard Christmas barbecues are in full swing, and there are plenty of people taking time off to relax and unwind.
But there are many South Australians who are sacrificing their summer to protect the community.
A Christmas Lifeline
The festive period is a time for celebration, but for many people who are struggling with their mental health, it can be overwhelming. That’s why it’s business as usual at Lifeline Adelaide, with volunteers on standby to help those in need.
Amy Louise Goodridge has been volunteering as a Crisis Supporter on the phones at Lifeline Adelaide for about a year. The Lifeline volunteer decided to give back after dealing with her own personal situation.
“When my daughter was born, we were living in a very dangerous domestic violence situation, and we had to flee and leave behind pretty much everything in order to stay safe,” Amy says.
Around that time, I did have thoughts of suicide, and what kept me safe was having that connection to my daughter and knowing how much she needed me.
“In my case, I was lucky to have my little girl, but some people don’t have people they can reach out to or people they can trust – that’s where Lifeline is so important.”
When volunteering at Lifeline Adelaide, Amy will sit with other Crisis Supporters, waiting for calls from people in distressful situations.
The caller might be dealing with grief or isolation. Other help seekers may be considering suicide. Some callers are ringing about domestic violence or homelessness.
“When we answer the calls, we have to be prepared for anything, and we wait and connect the best we can,” Amy says.
“We try and unpack the story with the help seeker.”
Christmas is one of the most important times of the year for volunteers to be on the phones ready for calls from people who are in distress.
“I think Lifeline as a service offers something incredibly valuable, which is connection,” she says.
“We’re able to hold the help seekers’ hands in a metaphorical sense and allow them a space to feel re-empowered and provide strategies to keep themselves safe through the Christmas period, because Christmas can be rough.
“For some people, it’s about family and having all of these lovely, exciting things, and for others it’s a reminder of the grief and isolation that they’re already experiencing.
So, being a Crisis Supporter is really a profound experience and it’s something I’m very lucky to do.”
If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or send a text to 0477 13 11 14.
Protecting South Australians from Bushfires
“People describe the sound of a bushfire being like a freight train or a jet engine, and it’s very hot and smoky – you can’t see a lot,” says Aldinga Beach CFS volunteer firefighter Liz Pryor.
With South Australia expecting a hot, dry summer and the Australasian Fire Authorities Council urging the community to prepare for the most significant bushfire season since 2020, Liz will be on high alert during the warmer months.
Liz has been a volunteer firefighter at Aldinga Beach CFS for about 11 years and is currently the brigade’s lieutenant and training coordinator.
“I joined because I wanted to give back to the community,” she says.
Aldinga is a beautiful place, the area is great, and I wanted to help that community.”
Depending on the severity of a bushfire season, Liz might be out fighting fires every day or just a couple times a week.
During the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires, Liz was out with her brigade most days, serving locally, or at other locations like Cudlee Creek and Kangaroo Island.
“Summertime is busy for fires, it’s a busy time for work, and then of course you’ve got Christmas and family holidays, and all that sort of stuff,” Liz says.
“Balancing all of those things can be really tricky.
“I have a very understanding spouse and family who are just used to me disappearing at a moment’s notice… so I’m really fortunate to have a supportive family that understands the importance of what I’m doing.”
One of Liz’s toughest moments as a CFS volunteer was fighting the fires on Kangaroo Island in the summer of 2019–20.
CFS volunteers
The number of CFS volunteers in South Australia in 2023.
“That was probably one of the most challenging fires I’ve been involved with,” she says.
“I think one of the things for those of us who’ve been around a while is that the fire didn’t behave the way we were used to fires behaving… it was dark, hot and noisy, which can make it hard to think.
“But when we’re challenged like that, we fall back to our training – we’ve trained a lot for these situations and that keeps us safe.”
On patrol this summer
Thousands of people flock to South Australian beaches during summer, and surf lifesavers are there to help beachgoers who get into trouble, whether it’s on the sand or in the sea.
Darren McAllister is one of those lifesavers, giving up his time to keep people safe while they’re at the beach.
For the past 15 years, Darren and his family have been part of the Somerton Surf Life Saving Club. He and his wife have served in various roles at the club and their three boys went through the Nippers program as juniors.
Darren says he joined Somerton Surf Life Saving Club for a couple of reasons.
“Part of the reason is that it’s a community – we’re a family-friendly club,” he says. “I really enjoy helping the community because it’s so rewarding.
Even on Christmas Day, you set up on the beach, and you get thousands of people walking past saying thanks and that they appreciate what you do.”
Darren regularly patrols the beach from midday to 5pm on weekends during summer and drives inflatable rescue boats, which are used to help people struggling in the water.
While Somerton Park is a relatively calm beach compared to others in SA, Darren still has had his fair share of rescues.
“If we get wind from Mount Gambier, which is blowing offshore and the beach is crowded, particularly over the Christmas period, we can see a few events,” he says.
“People get inflatables, and they either float out to sea, or they fall asleep and drift, or try to paddle and they can’t. So, you have to go out and drag them in.”
Darren’s sons are adults now and are patrolling members at Somerton Surf Life Saving Club with their parents. While many families are celebrating around the Christmas table this summer, the McAllister family, and other surf lifesavers, are united by their efforts to give back to their community.