A NATIONAL partnership between Isuzu Ute Australia (IUA) and Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) has just concluded its third year but Isuzu has reaffirmed its commitment to beach safety by extending support for an additional three years.

Since joining forces in 2021, IUA has been an ally in SLSA’s mission to safeguard Australian beaches and their visitors by providing significant annual contributions in addition to a fleet of ‘rescue-ready’ vehicles. 

IUA managing director Junta Matsui said that three years into the partnership, SLSA’s  legacy of 117 years continued to inspire the company.

“We are honoured to extend our support for an additional three years, recognising the profound impact they’ve had on the community and the ongoing commitment to their vital mission,” he said. 

(L-R); Jackson Brennan, Junta Matsui, Adam Weir and Rhiannon Brinckman

“Embedded in the heart of local communities, the essence of SLSA lies in safeguarding Australian beaches and the people who frequent them. 

“Isuzu Ute Australia is extremely proud to continue to support SLSA and the courageous individuals dedicated to beach safety through their patrols, training initiatives, and educational endeavours.” 

Mr Matsui said his company recognised the importance of providing SLSA with reliable and durable vehicles that can withstand the rigours of beach patrols.

“The Isuzu D-MAX Ute and MU-X SUV have proven to be invaluable assets, and we are proud to continue supporting SLSA with these vehicles,” he said.

Surf Life Saving Australia CEO, Adam Weir, expressed his gratitude for IUA’s continued support.

“All our lifesaving equipment needs to be durable to withstand the challenging beach conditions and dependable when called upon by our surf lifesavers. The Isuzu D-MAX Ute and MU-X SUV are no exception, and we are pleased to continue the partnership with IUA for at least three more years,” he said. 

“It is with the support of partners like IUA that we can effectively patrol our beaches. This partnership will increase the capabilities of surf lifesavers and lifeguards in day-to-day duties and allow them to focus on what they do best; saving lives. We look forward to continuing our partnership for the next three years.”

The renewal of the partnership between Isuzu UTE Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia reaffirms both organisations’ commitment to keeping Australian beaches safe and to flying the iconic red and yellow flags that symbolise their dedication to beach safety and community service.

Surf Life Saving Australia is the largest volunteer movement of its kind in the world, with 193,009 members across 315 affiliated surf life saving clubs.

It was established in 1907 and it is estimated that over 670,000 lives have been saved.   

Surf Life Saving is a unique not-for-profit, community cause that exists through community donations, fundraising, corporate sponsorship and government grants.

Based in Brisbane, Queensland, Isuzu UTE Australia was founded in 2008 when it launched the Isuzu D-Max to the Australian market. In 2013 it expanded its product range with the Isuzu MU-X 7-seat SUV. 

It is a subsidiary of Japan’s largest trading and investment company, Mitsubishi Corporation, with which Isuzu Motors Limited (Japan) maintains extensive business collaborations. 

Isuzu Motors, with a history dating back to 1916, is now one of the world’s largest manufacturers of trucks and diesel engines and has a product portfolio of heavy, medium, and light-duty trucks, buses, passenger vehicles, and industrial-use diesel engines.