The ISLA Experience: Mary Parker

ISLA caught up with Mary Parker from Australia, a volunteer from our humanitarian project in Indonesia. Here’s what she had to say:

Tell us about your professional lifeguarding work experience.

I’ve worked for Surf Lifesaving Queensland as a paid lifeguard on both beaches and pools since 2013, and my most recent employment is as a lifeguard and swim coach at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. I’ve also worked in Townsville, in tropical North Queensland, which means I’m used to working in hot, humid conditions, and I am also familiar with preventing, identifying and treating deadly jellyfish stings. I have also worked as a Community Awareness Presenter for Surf Lifesaving Queensland. In this role, I assist in teaching refugee and indigenous groups about surf-safety and swimming skills in order to lower the drowning rate in these demographics.

Do you volunteer in Australia?

Aside from my paid employment, I have been a passionate volunteer patrolling member of my local Surf Lifesaving Club, Townsville Picnic Bay, for seven years. This means I spend at least two Sunday’s a month on the beach as a volunteer lifesaver, working in a patrol team

I’ve also volunteered, and become qualified, as the Age-Manager for the U/6 and U/7 year old “nippers” (young lifesavers) for 4 years – I taught the nippers basic swim skills, water and surf safety, craft-riding techniques (largely on boards) and competition skills.

WOW! As an active member in your lifesaving community, have you ever received any awards for your efforts?

I was recognized for my volunteer work by Surf Lifesaving Australia: in 2013 I received Queensland Under 18 Young Surf Lifesaver of the Year, which was a testament to my dedication as a lifesaver. A few other recognitions include:

North Barrier Branch Young Surf Lifesaver of the Year (2013)
North Barrier Branch First Aid Champion (2013 & 2014)
Townsville Picnic Bay SLSC Age Manager of the Year (2012)
1st U/17, U/19, and Open Female Rescue and Resuscitation Queensland State Champion (2013)
Townsville Picnic Bay SLSC Female Age Champion (2012 & 2013)

Tell us about a notable experience where you’ve helped someone out of a bad or potentially dangerous situation.

Just a few months ago I had a guy stung by a baby box jellyfish after he was told not to swim in the water! He was swearing a lot, but he let me pour vinegar on his legs. He had accidentally grabbed the tentacles with his hand, so his hand was stung, then he touched his arm, so his arm got stung. He had actually pulled the jellyfish off with his shirt, but he wanted to put his shirt back on because he had a swastika tattooed on his chest, and I quote: “Mate I need to cover it up because it’s a bit racist.” His shirt was covered in tentacles which I pulled off and buried, but he wouldn’t let me pour vinegar on the shirt, so I wasn’t that keen to let him wear it. Finally he borrowed one of his friend’s shirts — they thought this whole scenario was really, really funny.

I told the guy that if it had been a bigger boxy jellyfish he could have ended up in hospital, or gone into cardiac arrest. I also tried to convince him to get secondary medical attention after he had his shirt on, because his leg was coming up in welts. But, he assured me that he had a super high pain tolerance, and refused any further assistance, but thanked me for “teaching him ’bout jellies.” It’s not the most serious case I’ve ever dealt with, but it was the weirdest!

Have your travels ever taken you to a place where you felt culture-shock?

Last year I went to New Zealand (my first time overseas) as part of a study with UN Youth, comparing Indigenous relations in Australia and New Zealand. We visited a living Maori village and spoke to the people there about how they fight to keep their culture and language alive. Our group came away with a better understanding of ideas surrounding land rights and cultural appropriation. It was really beautiful, and definitely not like anything I’d experienced before!

What do you like to do in your free time?

I am currently studying a bachelor of Law/Honors with a bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the Australian National University in Canberra (a long way from Townsville!). In my free time, I go to swimming training and I love to visit the beach. I also play the flute and I am part of my college’s choir, and I love reading and writing.

What’s your favorite beach?

Etty Bay, a little beach tucked away in Tropical Northern Queensland. People say it’s where the rainforest meets the ocean: it is on the other side of a large hill, surrounded by dense, bright green rainforest, white sand, and crystal blue, water that is never too choppy because the bay is quite protected. Unfortunately, being tropical, swimming at Etty Bay during summer is dangerous because of the crocodiles and jellyfish – I love that it’s a little bit wild, and being able to swim there in certain seasons only makes it more special.

There are many things I love about being a lifeguard, like being outside, or being at the beach, but my favorite would have to be the ability to interact with new people everyday. I feel as though I learn as much from them as they do from me! It is always interesting to hear people’s stories – whether they’re tourists, locals, or even other lifeguards!

I enjoy the feeling that I might be making a difference in other people’s lives – being able to educate people on the dangers of tropical waters, or what they should do if they get into trouble on my beach or in a remote location. When teaching swimming and lifesaving outside of regular lifeguarding, I am always motivated by the fact that I am increasing surf-awareness and water-safety, and decreasing the risk of another person drowning on Australian beaches – our goal is always zero preventable deaths between the red and yellow flags.

Why did you volunteer for an ISLA humanitarian project?

I am most interested in the intersection between activism to prevent the global drowning epidemic and the role of the lifeguard that ISLA promotes. I am passionate about the idea of young people acting as activists to develop innovative and creative solutions to water-safety problems all over the world.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Diligent, Sunny, and Active.