Water safety
Jordan CRUGNALE (Bass) (10:03): Our community is hurting and so very sad and affected by the loss of six precious loved ones to drowning on our Bass Coast in January: at Kilcunda beach, Sahil Panwar, in his 20s from Cranbourne East, known for his infectious laughter, warm spirit and zest for life; at Surf Beach, Barry Oakes, a 66-year-old pastor from the Ashburton Presbyterian Church; and then at Forrest Caves, also on Phillip Island, four family members from Clyde, Jagjeet Anand, a 23-year-old registered nurse, his sister Suhani Anand and Kirti Bedi, both 20 years of age, both studying nursing, and Reema Sondhi, 42 years old, on holiday from India – hearts of gold, caring and very down to earth. Their families, in all this grief, want to raise awareness of the dangers of swimming at unpatrolled beaches like these ones. We send love, strength and support to their families, friends, communities and all who cherished them. May your loved ones’ spirits and souls rest in peace for eternity.
Our arms are also wrapped around our first responders: our local surfers; Woolamai surf club lifeguards, including those who were off duty at the time; paramedics; members of both the San Remo and Phillip Island SES units; police; and those from our community at the scene who worked so hard in the most difficult of circumstances. Everyone involved did their best. Our Bass community is a very special one. They come together, they rally around and they support and hold each other in times of need, and they will continue to do so in the time ahead.