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First Nations lifeguards - respecting the past, present and future on Gold Coast city beaches.

From the early days of Barney Currie, to future lifeguards, Zane and India Silvester and Nate Corowa. Barney’s direct ancestors, Adam and Nate are also pictured here. We’re proud to have this exhibition of display at @greenmount_beachclub as part of our Salt Water People exhibition at @flotsam.festival - it will also be displayed at the club until June 3rd as part of reconciliation week.

We thank the Queensland Government for funding our event

Photography by @mattea.mckinnon
Directed by @wetflicks1

@firstnationslifeguards
@bombora.surf.school
@cityofgoldcoast
@curriecountry

@natecorowa
@dangerman2035
@notzanesilvester_
@_indiasilvester_ by @firstnationslifeguards

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5 months ago

Really honoured to have contributed with the photography for the Saltwater People Exhibition: The Deep Connection Between Culture and Ocean 🌊- now showing as part of @flotsam.festival at @greenmount_beachclub - a photo exhibition and short video presented by First Nations Lifeguards and directed by Indigenous cinematographer Brook Silvester.

Thank you to the Queensland Government for being a funding provider for this event and project

This project shares the stories of Indigenous saltwater people across coastal Bundjalung Country and their deep cultural connection to the ocean, community and water safety

It includes the story of Indigenous Elder Barnie Curry, who worked as a shark spotter at Greenmount Beach in the 1940s. Also featured in the photography are Barnie’s direct descendants, Adam and Nate, who are First Nations lifeguards.

Some of the photographs were also taken during the @adaptivesurfbyronbay , where FNL were on patrol, and around Tugun.

It was such a privilege to spend time listening, learning and helping document these stories alongside Brook and his amazing First Nations Lifeguards team. Best crew! 🩵

Huge thank you to @wadesworld_photographics for all the amazing printing and framing of the shots

@firstnationslifeguards

Director: Brook Silvester
Video: @dave.emge
Video Editing: @wetflicks1 & @notzanesilvester_

FNL:
@natecorowa @dangerman2035 @notzanesilvester_ @_indiasilvester_ @adamcorowa @wetflicks1 taken in Greenmount Beach by @firstnationslifeguards

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5 months ago

❤️ NEW: FIRST AID, CPR & DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING

We’re excited to share that Bombora Surf School and First Nations lifeguards now offer First Aid, CPR and Defibrillator Training qualifications

Being safe in and around the water is something we’re passionate about, but knowing how to respond when an emergency happens is just as important.

Our hands-on training helps people build the skills and confidence to step in, help others and potentially save a life when it matters most.

Training covers:

🩹 Essential first aid for injuries and medical emergencies
❤️ Recognising cardiac arrest and performing CPR
⚡ Safely using an AED (automated external defibrillator)
🫁 Responding to choking
🚑 Knowing what to do while waiting for emergency services

We believe these are skills everyone should have access to. By sharing this knowledge within our communities, we can help create safer environments, both in and out of the water.

📩 Interested in training with us? Get in touch to find out more about our courses and how to book. Email info@firstnationslifeguards.com

#FirstAidTraining #CPRTraining #DefibrillatorTraining #BomboraSurfSchool #FirstNationsLifeguards WaterSafety CommunitySafety taken in Tugun, Queensland, Australia by @firstnationslifeguards

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6 days ago

The ocean is for everyone! 🌊✨

Reaching the sand is only step one. True beach accessibility means catching waves, feeling the ocean, and sharing memories with loved ones. 🏄‍♂️💙

Swipe to see how adaptive surfing groups, coaches, and water safety teams are transforming coastal participation! Shoutout to the legends on the Gold Coast driving this movement:
✨ @allinaqua7
✨ @goldcoastparasurfer
✨ @bombora.surf.school
✨ @firstnationslifeguards

Because coastal access should mean full participation for people of all abilities! 🙌

👉 Tap the link in bio to read the full article!

#AdaptiveSurfing #wheeleez #inclusioninsport #accessiblebeach #GoldCoast by @firstnationslifeguards

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18 days ago

Barney Currie spent just 14 days observing this stretch of coastline in South East Qld and recorded a surprisingly large number of sharks. The dates were from 17th December 1948 to 1st January 1949.

It’s an interesting number to look back on. Particularly when there’s a feeling these days that there are more sharks around than there used to be.

To see that many sharks in just 14 days, is probably well beyond what most of us would have imagined.

It doesn’t tell us what species exactly or the specifics of his processes, but it’s a pretty compelling piece of data to have from 14 days of observation.

Thanks for your work Barney and @firstnationslifeguards lifeguards for passing on the info.

Cut from the latest ep with @pro_guarding

If anyone knows what the processes were back then for alerting swimmers when sharks were present, please let us know. by @firstnationslifeguards

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a month ago

Massive thankyou to our @firstnationslifeguards team for their efforts at the @kirra_longboard_klassic “waves without limits” adaptive surf session🔥 From the water safety to the JetSki assist everyone did such an amazing job
❤️✊🏽🪃🌊🛟⭐️
#firstnationslifeguards #watersafety #kirralongboardklassic #adaptivesurfing #indigenous by @firstnationslifeguards

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a month ago

Another Proud FNL team day !! Doing an excellent job with Water Safety, JetSki Assist & Shark Mitigation on the “ Waves Without Limits “ Adaptive Surf Session at the @kirra_longboard_klassic on Kirra Beach GC. A big Shout out to GVCC & @gail.oneill.div14 & @lauragerbermp for their On going FNL Support ❤️✊🏽🪃🌊🛟⭐️

#firstnationslifeguards #watersafety #kirralongboardklassic #adaptivesurfing #indigenouslifeguards by @firstnationslifeguards

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a month ago

Our team had an amazing time lifeguarding for at the @kirra_longboard_klassic on Sunday, keeping everyone safe in the water. Thanks so much for having us! An amazing event we are proud to have been a part of. Amazing surfing and crew 🤙🏽 @agentkaos11

Photos by @mattea.mckinnon

Thanks to our crew:

@wetflicks1
@notzanesilvester_
@_indiasilvester_
@kauri_aiwa_
@summalongbottom
@natecorowa
@adamcorowa

Boards by @waynemckewendesigns

@adaptivesurfingprofessionals
@surfing_queensland
@watersafetyservices
@goldcoastparasurfer taken in Kirra Beach, Gold Coast, Queensland by @firstnationslifeguards

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2 months ago

Big up to beach wheels @beachwheelsaustralia 🙌 they make a real difference, helping people with disabilities get onto the sand and into the water to enjoy the surf. Experiencing the ocean. That’s what it’s all about!

Photos📸 @mattea.mckinnon

@ndis_australia @surfing_queensland by @firstnationslifeguards

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3 months ago

Thanks to @tracksmag magazine for publishing the story of the Saltwater People

A huge thank you to @firstnationslifeguards for trusting me to help share this story through words and photos. It was amazing to work with FNL and learn more about their mission reconnecting Indigenous people with the waterways that have been central to culture, identity and community for generations 🖤

starting with the story of Barney Currie, an elder who spotted sharks from at Greeny in the 1940s with just his eyes 🦈

Through water safety, surf education and cultural connection, FNL are helping create pathways for Indigenous people to return to the ocean with confidence, knowledge and pride

The full story is out now and is only a 3-minute read, link in my bio

A little bts fact: the final photo in this series, of @notzanesilvester_ tucking into a barrel at his homebreak, was only taken this week, so the end of this came together pretty quickly!

⬛️🟨🟥

Featuring the amazing:

@firstnationslifeguards
@bombora.surf.school
@notzanesilvester_
@wetflicks1
@natecorowa
@_indiasilvester_
@dangerman2035
@adamcorowa
@curriecountry
@firstnationsboardridersclub

Featured at @flotsam.festival

#TracksMagazine #SaltwaterPeople #FirstNationsLifeguards #GoldCoast taken in Gold Coast, Queensland by @firstnationslifeguards

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4 months ago

From Barney Currie to today’s First Nations surfers and lifeguards, saltwater people continue to shape life on the coast.

Photographer Mattea McKinnon set out to capture some of them doing what they do best.

You can learn more about the saltwater people and their shared connection to the ocean at the link in our bio.

📷 @mattea.mckinnon by @firstnationslifeguards

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4 months ago

Brook Silvester, Founder of First Nations Lifeguards and @firstnationsboardridersclub claimed the Australian Indigenous Surfing Title 2026 at Bells Beach 🏆🥇

@notzanesilvester_ also represented @firstnationslifeguards reaching the semi-finals 🔥

@surfingvictoria
@surfing_queensland
@wetflicks1
@bombora.surf.school
@reconciliationaus
@surfingaus taken in Bells Beach by @firstnationslifeguards

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5 months ago