Vice President - AC
The 2022/23 season saw the creation of the Woolamai Beach SLSC Diversity and Inclusion committee. The development of this committee was a recommendation from the gender diversity, equity and balance internal review which was conducted last season. The aim of the committee has been to carry out the recommendations of the internal review, as well as focus on the Club’s broader diversity and inclusion. The committee has worked on updating the Member Code of Conduct and developing a Woolamai Beach SLSC Inclusion statement, as well as developing an Acknowledgement of Country guide for board meetings and major events. New Lifesavers with Pride posters and signage has been placed around the clubhouse to communicate inclusive and safe messaging to our members. Woolamai Beach has also acted as an advisor for other Victorian Lifesaving Clubs regarding improving gender diversity and communicating diversity and inclusion to memberships. Thank you to the following people for their work on the Diversity and Inclusion committee this year: Louise Smith, Alanna Broderick, Nick Reynolds, Liam Comber, Ellie Ryan and Nakisha Vessey.
This season, Woolamai Beach SLSC hosted their second annual Rainbow Zinc patrol to support the LGBTQIA+ community. Our patrolling day was highly successful with over twenty members present. On the Saturday night we had guest speakers Cassie and Kate present on same sex couples and first nations peoples in community sport groups. Rainbow Zinc Day also saw the launch of the pride stripped rescue boards which were a hit with all members. Thank you to the following people for their work in pre-planning and leading this day: Nick Reynolds, Lachie Casey, Maddie Woodmason, Liam Comber, Phoebe Clark and Erin Close.
Along with Rainbow Zinc patrol we celebrated our twelfth Pink Zinc patrol day. The Pink Zinc patrolling day is always popular and gives our more junior patrol leaders an opportunity to lead patrol themselves. This year a Slumber Party was organised on the Saturday night complete with henna and hair braiding. Woolamai was invited to the first Bass Coast Pink Zinc breakfast hosted at Inverloch SLSC. The breakfast was a great way to connect with other Club's across the Bass Coast and hear from female identifying leaders across the State including a few of our own. Thank you to the following people for their support and work on Pink Zinc this year: Ellie Ryan, Maddie Woodmason, Hannah Wallis, Erin Close, Phoebe Clark, Maddy Reynolds, Terry Aslandis, Alice Webb and Ella Arnold.
The member welfare space was strong this season and provided our membership with thorough and appropriate care. Liam Comber and Rex Mynott were appointed our new Member Protection Officers and completed their training pre-season. The MPOs provided support and care to various members and groups throughout the season, for which we thank them greatly. Support was offered to members involved in major incidents throughout the season; thank you specifically to Jason Close and Liam Comber for their help in this. I am proud that Woolamai is a Club where all members are looked after, and where welfare is a priority for all. Thank you to Life Saving Victoria for their continued advice in this area.
The Vice President portfolio also worked on the sale and organising of Surfboat equipment; we sold a trailer to St Kilda SLSC and a boat to Venus Bay SLSC and have kept one boat for advertising and one boat in case anyone is keen to row in the seasons to come! Thank you to Stafford Smith, Georgie Wettenhall, and Nick Reynolds for their help. A guide has been developed for booking the Residence to make it more available to the membership at low costs while adhering to COVID-19 cleaning requirements. And finally, Woolamai Beach SLSC has been nominated for Club of the Year at LSV’s Awards of Excellence evening. We eagerly await results in August. Thank you to everyone for their support and work throughout the past season – we are looking forward to another.
Annie Coleman
Vice President