By Goya Dmytryshchak
Williamstown lifesavers are taking on the world.
Seven Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club lifesavers have been selected for the eight-athlete inflatable rescue boat racing squad to represent Australia at the Lifesaving World Championships in Adelaide during November.
Kate Czerny, Calum Dickson, Abby Esdale, Shaun Leith, Rachael Moloney, Rhys Treloar and Alastair Thomas will be joined by Samantha Pownall from Barwon Heads 13th Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
Esdale said the team was excited to be competing against the world’s best.
“Basically, it’s us against the world,” she said. “Countries like Japan, Germany, New Zealand will all be there.
“It’s pretty exciting, nerve wracking, as well. But I think Australia has a good lifesaving background, so I think it will be a good competition for the rest of the world.”
The team will be racing the boats commonly known as “red rubber duckies” over about three days.
Last month, Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club’s racing squad took out the Australian IRB Championships, securing Victoria’s second only national IRB title by beating Queensland’s Broadbeach Surf Life Saving Club by a point.
The Lifesaving World Championships are held every two years, with the previous event held in Netherlands.
