DON Carlyon and Chris Carroll have decades of experience as lifeguards – but their latest rescue perhaps isn’t what they were expecting.

With the Portland Leisure and Aquatic Centre not immune from a nationwide shortage of lifeguards, Mr Carlyon and Mr Carroll have come to the rescue.

The pair have come out of retirement to work at PLACE, many years after they were last there in a professional capacity.

And like all good lifeguards, they’re in the nick of time too – “without them we probably wouldn’t be able to open the facility as much as we do, we can’t get staff,” said Kerri Jennings, who manages PLACE for Belgravia Leisure.

“It’s great to have them back.”

And they’re glad to be back.

Mr Carlyon has a long history in the industry, though it was many years ago.

“I spent 27-28 years managing pools and leisure centres,” he said.

That included Heywood for 3-4 years, PLACE for 7-8 years and many years in Western Australia in locations as diverse as Cottesloe Beach in Perth (where he was the beach inspector), Kununurra in East Kimberley, Mandurah south of Perth and Derby in West Kimberley.

On his return to Portland he coached the Portland Football Club’s under-18 side for seven years and the seniors for three.

“They got me into a job with Keppel Prince where I was for 22 years looking after the Telstra contract,” Mr Carlyon said.

 “That was a new experience, I’d only ever done pools.”

He retied about three years ago but answered the caller after “a couple of people put a feeler out”.

“They’re short staffed, and the Heywood pool through no fault of anybody’s hasn’t been able to pen, there’s just no staff,” Mr Carlyon said.

“I thought I’d come down and fill gaps when they need someone.

“It’s good, it keeps you active and there’s a good bunch of young kids who are polite and made me feel welcome.

“I haven’t worked here for 34 years, there was no indoor pool then, and when I did the first lap of the outdoor pool I wondered where those 34 years have gone.

For Mr Carroll, it’s a return to a role he filled at PLACE between 1993 and 2005.

“I come down and swim laps but I’ve also known Kerri for 40-odd years, I went to school with her,” he said.

“I basically work down at the (Port of Portland) but it’s been pretty quiet since China pulled the pin on the logs a year-and-a-half ago.

“I’ve been sitting at home not doing much and I popped my head in and said to Kerri does she need a lifeguard.

“She was quite happy for me to come back on board.”

And like Mr Carlyon, he is really enjoying it.

“It’s taken a bit of getting used to after the wear and tear on the knees and feet,” Mr Carroll said.

“The shifts are really good, they’re not too long and there are a lot of old familiar faces still coming back here that I saw all those years ago.”

Mr Carroll was happy to do three or four shifts a week.

“The younger lifeguards are really good, a lot of them are new to lifeguarding so it’s always good to share your experience with them and they can teach you a lot as well.”

Ms Jennings said Belgravia was desperate for more lifeguards – it will shortly lose some younger lifeguards to universities – and was offering generous incentives for those who want to take up the challenge.

“We’re actually paying for them to do the training course, including travel and accommodation,” she said.

“Basically it’s all of the stuff to get them qualified.”

Ms Jennings said the role was suitable for people of all ages.

“Even for retired people it’s actually quite a good part time role,” she said.

“Even if you just want to work one or two shifts a week, we’re happy to do anything.”

Anyone interested in becoming a lifeguard can contact Ms Jennings at PLACE on 5521 7174.