Usually the ceremony is held over the weekend but, due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was held on Thursday 24 September with this event posted on YouTube on Saturday 26 September.
Mr Stuart Harvey, President of Surf Life Saving – Central Coast, told the small gathering of invited guests that the year ahead would be challenging especially as the health regulations concerning COVID-19 could change at any time and he thanked the sponsors for their continuing support.
In the interests of personal safety, there would be no mouth- to-mouth resuscitation and, for overall safety, all persons would be required to be the length of their towel apart except family groups.
With the changes outlined above concerning personal safety, emphasis would be placed on swimmers to swim between the flags. He then invited the Mayor of the Central Coast Council, Ms Lisa Matthews to open the 2020/21 patrolling season on the Central Coast.