The 2020/21 Nipper Season was challenging due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Impact of the pandemic on the program included: limited enrolment numbers, capped age group sizes, split session times, reduced session durations, socially distanced groups through beach zoning, no social events, and reduced income due to no sales on the beach (food, drink, merchandise, second hand). Despite these challenges, feedback from members was resoundingly positive, and the season featured many successful innovations that will carry through into future years.

Thank you Ivan Webb for over 1000 amazing photos!

In terms of numbers, enrolments were fully subscribed with 280 Nippers completing the program delivered across 2 locations – Cleeland Bight Beach and Smiths Beach. Groups were capped at 20, with 2 groups per age group offered consecutively during the morning, making a total of 14 groups (i.e.: 280 Nippers). Volunteer members supported Nippers in great number, with 89 Water Safety Crew, 48 Age Group Managers and Assistants, 6 Coaches, and 2 COVIDSafe Officers. Parent helpers from the 177 families involved aided with equipment set-up and pack-up, beach organization and admin, QR scanning and hand sanitizing stations, first aid, equipment cleaning, online merchandising, and fundraising (raffle), to name just a few.

It was a most successful season, with thankful families and excited children. Community spirit was high, and we had no shortage of helpers, as members were grateful to have the program running despite the modifications.

This season was a season like no other! Bass Coast Shire Council were supportive of the program running and assisted ably when asked. COVIDSafe guidelines were monitored and enforced by our trained COVIDSafe Officers – Michelle Murphy and Kathy O'Keeffe. Their efforts were greatly appreciated, and the role they played was critical to our ability to operate this season. Melbournians were thankful for the activity and local families supported the program in great numbers.

Across both beaches, Kathy O'Keeffe coordinated 18 Age Managers supported by 30 Assistant Age Managers and 6 Coaches. A total of 10 new Age Managers achieved their LSV Age Manager Award.

Tough conditions pushed our older Nippers to excel at Smiths Beach. This year both light and dark green cap Nippers (U12 and U13) were run at Smiths Beach. This represented a total of 84 Nippers across the 2 sessions. Building off a successful pilot program offered last season, a team of strong and experienced Age Managers, Coaches, and Water Safety Crew, led once again by Michelle Murphy, provided instruction and supervision. Feedback from this location was positive, and Nippers were challenged by the surf, experiencing conditions not offered at Cleeland Bight.

Over the duration of the Nippers program, 89 qualified Woolamai Beach members gave up their time to assist with Water Safety, totaling over 1000 hours of volunteer time. This was coordinated by Maddie Hungerford, with Stewart Irving as Water Safety Supervisor on the beach. A dedicated team of Doctors, Nurses and First Aiders coordinated by Dr. Michelle Martin and Dr. Tuong Phan provided medical assistance from the first aid tent.

For the past decade, a big part of the Nippers program has been the raffle. Many local businesses have supported the Nippers program over this time through the donation of prizes to be raffled. As these businesses had been doing it tough throughout 2020 due to COVID-19, we did things differently. Our motto was to ‘support the businesses who have supported us’. With endorsement from the Board, rather than asking for prizes to be donated, we purchased vouchers from these businesses. Raffle prizes were drawn remotely each day, with streaming of the draws posted on our Facebook page and winners contacted by SMS. Over 60 prizes were given away in our raffle, either purchased or donated by 21 businesses and individuals. The Nippers raffle was coordinated by Donna Brunt and Jason Close, and their families.

On the last day, we said a final thank you to two families who have been heavily involved in supporting and contributing to the Nippers program over many years. The children of these people – Nick and Roz Reynolds, and Kerri and Tim Smith – have now graduated from Nippers and look forward to patrolling into the future. We thank them for their wonderful contributions to Nippers.

Over 1000 images of Nippers in action were taken and made available for use by photographer Ivan Webb. Nippers were seen around town and on the beaches rocking their new mesh swim bag that was part of the enrolment pack this year, and thanks go to Jason Coombs for arranging this.

Major sponsors this season included Twisted 8, Smash, and Beach Style Renovations. Community partners who assisted during the season included Westernport Water, Bass Coast Shire Council, and Phillip Island Nature Park.

It takes a community of generous volunteers to run a successful Nippers program each year, and we thank them all. A special group of volunteers worked behind the scenes to organize an extraordinary Nippers program during unprecedented times, and that was our Nippers Committee. These people did a stellar job during 2020/21, attending additional LSV training sessions, more committee meetings than ever before, and innovating to deliver a very special season. A massive thank you goes to the 2020/21 committee: Alex Webster, Bre Goodger-McGrath, Jason Close, Jeremy Goodger, Kathryn O’Keefe, Michelle Murphy, and Vicki Tuchtan.

Charles Tuchtan

Director of Junior Development