$500 gift helps life-saver

Press, 26 December 1985, Page 2

$500 gift helps life-saver

A 5500 gift from a stranger will help a lifeguard, aged 17, tour Victoria as part of the Canterbury sorf life-saving team. The trip had been put in doubt for Peter Walker when last Saturday a thief took his bag, which contained spending money in Australian currency, for the trip. Other life-saving gear, including wetsuit tops, was also taken. Walker, the youngest member of the Canterbury team, was patrolling his club’s beach at New Brighton when the gear was stolen. Publicity about the theft, however, has resulted in gifts of money for Walker, who at one stage was considering selling his bicycle to raise funds. One man gave Walker $5OO in $2O notes. “He just walked in and gave me an envelope with the money,” said Walker. The man told Walker that he lived at New Brighton and was appreciative of the work done by the lifeguards. Another man, who had been associated with surf life-saving, gave Walker $5O in 50c pieces, from a fund he usually spent at Christmas. Walker said that he was overwhelmed by the generous gifts, which more than covered the sum of money stolen. Walker, the national champion in surf-ski rescue and a winner of the Canterbury iron man title, will leave with the team for Australia on January 3.