Most business owners would say accounting and surf lifeboat rowing are worlds apart; one is about analysing and balancing numbers, and the other is about stamina and saving lives. We’d like to offer a different perspective.
Accounting and Surf Lifeboat rowing
Before anyone can dip an oar into the water as a surf boat rower, they must first earn their stripes as a qualified surf lifesaver. This means mastering crucial life-saving skills, including first aid, rescue techniques, and resuscitation. It's a commitment that transforms recreational athletes into essential community safety personnel.
In a surf boat each member plays a crucial role in ensuring a successful launch and navigation through the surf. The sweep stands at the stern, steering the boat and giving commands. The stroke rower sets the rowing pace, while the remainder of the crew provide additional power and balance. To launch from the beach, the team must synchronize their efforts, pushing the boat into the water and jumping in swiftly. As they row through the waves, they must maintain a steady rhythm and respond quickly to the sweep's commands to navigate safely beyond the surf. Teamwork and precise coordination are essential to overcome the challenging conditions of the surf zone.
These team roles and dynamics contribute to the success of the surf boat team and are mirrored in the partnership between a business owner and an accountant. The business owner, like the sweep, provides the vision and direction for where they want their business to head, relaying business and financial information to the accountant. The accountant, much like the crew, analyses this information, offering strategic advice and optimizing tax to ensure the business remains profitable and grows, keeping the business strong with a balanced cash flow. Just like a surf boat crew, they must coordinate and synchronize their efforts to navigate choppy business conditions and achieve the best outcome.
Why Does ABA Advice Beyond Accounting Sponsor AHSLC?
We love where we live and want our community to thrive. Over the past six years, our investment in surf boat training and racing equipment has attracted between 60 and 70 local community members to the challenging yet rewarding sport of surf boat rowing.
The rowing program has grown so significantly that the club now boasts a dedicated “boaties” patrol team. Many members have gone above and beyond their initial bronze medallion qualifications, achieving advanced certifications as Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) crew members and drivers, obtaining first aid certificates, and taking on patrol captain responsibilities.
The equipment and support we’ve provided do more than enable competitive success at racing carnivals – it helps create confident, capable individuals who are ready to step up when their community needs them most. Members apply their training far beyond the beach in various community emergency situations and workplace scenarios, demonstrating how life-saving skills can be valuable in any context.
Surf Lifeboat Training into Rescue Action
During the last patrol season alone, the “boaties” conducted some 20 IRB rescues, including a dramatic incident where five swimmers were caught in a treacherous rip current. In this particularly intense moment, the IRB driver, Tim Minett, and crew rescued a swimmer who was on her last breath, while other team members, including Matt from ABA, assisted the remaining swimmers using rescue boards and tubes. Through methodical teamwork and professional execution, all five people were safely brought to shore.
Ripple Effects of Accounting and Surf Lifeboats
By supporting the Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club's surf boat section, we're not just sponsoring a sport – we're helping build a stronger, safer, and more capable community. This partnership creates a ripple effect of positive outcomes: from developing skilled athletes and lifesavers to fostering community leaders and emergency responders.
In the same way, our partnership with our accounting clients creates a ripple effect, building stronger, more successful, and resilient businesses, contributing to greater prosperity in the Sunshine Coast community.