Brisbane Heat and Surf Life Saving Queensland team up this Summer

The Brisbane Heat and Surf Life Saving Queensland have joined forces this summer to increase beach safety awareness in young men.

Brisbane Heat players will star in Surf Life Saving Queensland’s new summer safety campaign to deliver an important message to young men this summer: She’ll be right won’t save your life. It’s the risks you don’t take that make you safer.

Surf Life Saving Queensland’s 2021 Coast Safe Report revealed Queensland had suffered their second worst year of coastal drownings since recording began, with 20 people tragically losing their lives on Queensland beaches. Of these twenty, 75% were young men between the ages of 20-49 years old.

The new campaign, which features four video commercials, encourages young men to consider how they can reduce their personal risk when visiting the beach. The key messages include deterring from swimming at night, not drinking and swimming, swimming between the flags and swimming at a patrolled location.

The partnership is all encompassing, with Surf Life Saving Queensland having the opportunity to spread surf safety awareness and fundraise at select Brisbane Heat home games.

Surf Life Saving Queensland CEO Dave Whimpey said the partnership was a perfect catch.

“We have noticed a trend in young men undertaking risky behaviour on our beaches, which sadly has resulted in drownings on our Queensland coastline,” Mr Whimpey said.

“Men have been swimming at very remote locations, swimming at night and also after consuming alcohol.

“Who better to talk to young men about the risks associated than their cricketing idols.

“Cricket and the beach go hand-in-hand and we look forward to working with the Brisbane Heat on this campaign.”

Surf Life Saving Queensland will have a presence at Heat home games these summer holidays with five games at the Gabba and two at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.

All home games will fall within the Queensland school holidays with three of the team’s last four games at the Gabba.

The Heat will take on the Melbourne Renegades at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast on Monday 13 December, with their first Gabba match inside a week later when they host the Sydney Thunder on Sunday 19 December.

Their other home matches feature the Melbourne Stars on Monday 27 December at the Gabba, the defending champion Sydney Sixers at Metricon Stadium on Tuesday 4 January, followed by Brisbane hosting the Hobart Hurricanes (Saturday 8 January), Adelaide Strikers (Wednesday 12 January) and Perth Scorchers (Wednesday 19 January), all at the Gabba.