Its hard to believe 21 years have gone by since I started in Sthoee.
As we look to the future and to the next 21 years its always nice to look back to the years gone by.
Well that's why we take photos to look back at the good times. You can't always point to a defining moment in your life but the day I put my name down to join a lifesaving class was definitely my moment. That Sunday evening and for me was November 10th the second official week of Sthoee was life changing.
Over the years you make many, many friends and for me I met my wife because of Sthoee. Sthoee has changed over the years and indeed for the better but always keeping our values. We have moved from St.Paul's Swimming pool to DCU and we have moved beaches too.
Its nice that we are settled in Claremont Beach with our own facilities there to store our gear. The years of having to carry it with us on the tops of cars and alot of the times on the train although fun you were tired even before you got to use it.
Lifesaving in the pool is great fun and always enjoyable ( or else we wouldn't do it ) but if you ask me and a lot of the others they will remember the Open water stuff.
From Balscadden beach to going out to the Forty Foot in Sandycove to the good times we are having now in Claremont. If you are not going to the Sea you are really missing out.
Lifesaving & Life Support will always be the basis so you can go on and be a Lifeguard and a Trainer. Others have gone that step further and have become Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics.
Joining Sthoee may have been your defining moment in your life and have yet to realise it.
We will go on into the next 21 years with all new AED courses, Training courses and who knows what we will be training people to do in the future.
See you out there
Paul Collins
