Web: www.woolamaibeach.org.au | Email: secretary@woolamaibeach.asn.au | Postal Address: PO Box 49, San Remo, VIC 3925 | Telephone: 0467 475 263

In this Edition:

President’s Update
Board Meeting Update (4 December 2024)
Past Woolamai Beach member gets LSV Life Membership
Requal weekend
Merchandise
Patrol uniforms – swap/sale
Bronze and SRC camps
Sharing our Shores
Sunsets, Surf and Social Sips
Calling History Enthusiasts: Help Preserve Our Club’s Legacy!

Communications Introduction

As the year comes to a close, we’d like to take a moment to wish everyone a joyful festive season filled with happiness and good times.

Please stay safe while enjoying the waters - whether you’re swimming, boating or taking part in any coastal activities.

For our patrol members, click here for the Patrol Roster.

Key Contacts:

Director - Lifesaving Services: Jordan Kuerschner
Director - Member Wellbeing: Erin Close
Manager of Patrols: Christos Argyropoulos
Lifesaving Equipment Coordinator: Daniel Reynolds

We look forward to another great year ahead with you all.

All the best,

Louisa Williams

President’s Update - Jason Close

December has been another big month at the Club and there is more to come.

Over the past month, we have seen 4 Bronze camps and a requalification weekend. Our training team, led by Ellie Ryan, has put in an amazing amount of work which has seen close to 100 Bronze Medallion candidates gain awards and a similar number of members requalify.

It’s great seeing everyone getting around in their new patrol hoodies and Club merch. A huge thanks to Melanie Davies for all of her organising.

SRC starts soon and then we have our Nippers program running between December 29 and January 5.

We are about to start opening our Club bar to members and friends on Friday nights. This is an exciting new initiative to bring the community into our Club and enjoy our wonderful place with friends.

Club Champs will be held on Saturday 11 January and there are many more things planned throughout the rest of summer. Bring it on!

All I want for Christmas is a…….

What is the most effective piece of life saving equipment? Is it an IRB, jetski, rescue board or rescue tube?

No - it’s a whistle.

If you don’t have a whistle, you are going to find it pretty difficult to get the attention of swimmers to get them back between the flags.

A whistle is also very cheap and portable. It doesn’t matter what type you have. As long as it makes a noise, its fine.

Having your own whistle is also much better than having to share one.

With Christmas coming up, put a whistle on your Christmas wishlist and hopefully Santa will bring you one this year.

Woolamai Beach SLSC features on ABC TV News

Woolamai Beach’s potential Logie award winning award lifesavers have been at it again; this time featuring in a story on ABC News to be aired during the lead in to Christmas.

During the final day of the Club Bronze Camp, Journalist, Syan Vallance and a cameraman from ABC News visited the Club and filmed run swim run, board and tube rescues and a IRB rescue.

Syan interviewed a number of Bronze candidates and Club members. We are looking forward to seeing a great news story which will be a positive reflection on our Club and how we prepare life savers to patrol and keep our beaches safe - and have a lot of fun doing it.

It is also a great opportunity as we approach summer to promote our key beach safety messages.

Our surf boat needs a new home

We are looking for a new home for our Club’s surfboat.

One of our members has been very generously looking after the surf boat for some time but its now time for it to move on.

If you have space for a surfboat at your home or place of business (preferably under cover), we’d love to hear from you. We are also open to storing it outside but obviously this will limit its life.

If we don’t find a new home soon and with no active boat crew, the Club may have to consider selling the surf boat to another Club. It would be a real shame to lose an important part of our Club’s history.

Would you like to patrol at Waratah Beach on New Year’s Day?

Waratah Beach SLSC is looking for volunteers who are available to patrol on New Years Day.

The Club is holding its biggest fundraising event of the year, ‘the Current Cruiser’. As the majority of the Club’s members will be organising and manning the event, they are calling out to other Clubs in the area for assistance.

If you are free on New Years Day and would love the opportunity to patrol at a different beach and rack up a few bonus patrol hours, Waratah would love to have you visit for the day.

The patrol will be set up and ready from 10am to 5pm with some Club members returning from 2pm to relieve the patrol.

If you can help, you will get a free tee shirt and will be welcome to stick around for some live music, entertainment and receive a ‘Warabar Bucks voucher for use at their bar.

It should be a great day. If you can help out please contact:

Natalie Wischer OAM
President
Waratah Beach SLSC
E: president@waratahbeach.com.au
M: 0418 386 889

Wishing you all best wishes for Christmas and the festive season.

See you down the beach soon.

Regards,

Jason Close
President

Board Meeting Update - 4 December 2024

Meeting at Darrell Clark’s house, 160 Vista Drive, Cape Woolamai

Present: Jason Close, Fi Blackmore, Nick Reynolds, Jordan Kuerschner, Erin Close, Phoebe Clark, Darrell Clark

Apologies: Jules Hay, Emma Gallagher, Christian Born

Decisions

The Board has approved opening the Club bar on Friday nights from 20 December 2024 for members and friends. Non-members will need to sign in. Volunteers are required to fill a roster to support this initiative. Drink prices will be slightly higher than at other Club events where drinks are offered to members at a discount. Signs and procedures will be established to ensure the bar operates smoothly and adheres to Club requirements. Jackson Sinclair and Nick Reynolds will oversee these preparations.

Stubby holders and black Club caps have been approved for this season’s merchandise lineup.

A social media protocol has also been approved to guide member approvals for the Club Members Facebook group and to manage the types of posts shared. A Club members Instagram group will be created and a pilot of the Stack Team App will facilitate Nippers water safety communications this season. This prepares the Club for legislation in 2025/26 that will limit Facebook and Instagram use by those under 16.

General Business

The Club will feature in filming and interviews by ABC News on Saturday 14 December, focusing on beach safety messaging.

The Club has successfully secured a $1,500 Coast Care grant which will fund a beach clean-up day and planting event scheduled for January.

Bobby Bajaram, an extreme events athlete living with Multiple Sclerosis, will visit the Club over summer to train, speak at a Club event and serve as a Club ambassador.

Presentation Night is set to take place in May 2025, with the Club finalising preferred dates with the venue.

Directors updates

President - Jason Close

The Club attended the LSV Council of Life Saving Clubs meeting on November 6.

Phillip Island Nature Parks has been contacted to request sand movement for repairing access via the ramp and path.

Several media articles featuring quotes from the Club have been published and the Phillip Island and San Remo Advertiser is running a series on Phillip Island’s beaches leading up to summer.

The Club was represented at the Cross Council Drowning Prevention Workshop in Cowes on November 22. This half-day event, facilitated by LSV, included Bass Coast Shire, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Cardinia Shire, City of Casey, City of Greater Dandenong, Vic Police and Ambulance Victoria. A framework for cross-council cooperation and messaging is being developed.

A meeting with Bass District Club Presidents from Inverloch, Venus Bay and Waratah Beach discussed shared interests and ways to support each other during summer.

Vice President - Fi Blackmore

Along with Melanie Davies, organised and facilitated the patrol uniform exchange during the requalification weekend.

Attended the Bass Coast Shire Council grants celebration event at Cape Paterson SLSC on December 3.

Co-Club Captain - Director Life Saving Services - Jordan Kuerschner

The IRB motors have been serviced, both ATVs have undergone maintenance and new defibrillator pads and batteries have been received to ensure all equipment is ready for use.

Co-Club Captain -Director Member Wellbeing - Erin Close

Member Protection Officer training is underway with both online and in-person sessions including a Zoom session scheduled for December 11.

Woolamai Beach SLSC has received a grant for mental health training which will fund a mental health weekend featuring an accredited psychological first aid event.

The first patrols of the season have been successful with the hot weather patrol on November 16 proving particularly worthwhile.

Director Member Development - Phoebe Clark

Requalification weekend saw the following numbers of awards requalified:

SRC: 13, Bronze: 94, ARTFA: 46, IRBC: 50, IRBD: 19, SMAR: 17, SSV: 27 and RWC: 9.

Great feedback was received across all categories.

Additional training activities included:

Upwey Bronze Course: 12 Bronze, 10 IRBC.
Frank Dando Sporting Academy Bronze Camp: 16 Bronze, 10 SRC.
Club Bronze Course: 55 candidates.

A Club SRC course is scheduled post-Christmas with 45 candidates already booked in.

Past Woolamai Beach member gets LSV Life Membership

You may have read in a recent edition of LSV's eNews that Stuart Mackinnon was awarded Life Membership by LSV. An early memory he shared was his involvement in rescues at Woolamai Beach.

Adding to Stuart’s Woolamai story, he was an active member of our Club for over 20 years. He patrolled, competed in Malibu, Ski, Ironman and Board riding (still an Aussies event) and the Club’s water polo team. He won a few minor medals in Malibu and board riding events at Vic Titles and competed at the Aussies including a top 10 finish in a junior Ironman. He was an excellent surf swimmer and was involved in numerous rescues at Woolamai during his patrolling days.

With an extraordinary 52 years of dedicated service to lifesaving, Stuart’s contributions have marked a lifetime of impact.

Stuart’s parents met at a surf club and four children later, the surf club became home to the MacKinnons. The family’s love of their club and lifesaving has continued with Stuart’s wife of 45 years Margherita (Migs) also being involved along with their three children and now 5 grandchildren.

In the early days of his lifesaving experience, Stuart realised how important the job was after his first rescue in Woolamai when he was just 15 years old.

Stuart has filled almost every role within a lifesaving club and, more broadly, in State and National lifesaving. From sports competitor, coach and selector to serving as President of Half Moon Bay SLSC, LSV Director of Sport and now a Life Member, Stuart’s extensive experience and leadership have shaped the development of lifesaving.

One of the biggest honours for Stuart was to receive the Half Moon Bay Life Membership in 2001 which was also an honour bestowed on his father 38 years before.

His enduring commitment inspires and guides lifesavers, athletes and officials. Stuart says lifesaving is a great way for new generations to give back.

“It’s a role that ticks all the boxes. It’s your tribe, your health and physical activity. There are many life lessons: water safety, first aid, interaction with different people.”

Sharing our Shores 

From 1 December 2024 to 30 April 2025, Phillip Island Nature Parks together with project partners Birdlife Australia, Bass Coast Shire Council and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Conservation Regulator, will engage with the local community and visitors to Phillip Island to ensure everyone enjoys the beaches and helps protect wildlife on our shores.  

Let’s enjoy our beaches safely this summer and do our best to help wildlife nest and rest by taking these easy steps:

Stay on tracks and avoid walking on dunes  
Keep your distance from wildlife
Leash your dogs, keep cats indoors  
Take your rubbish with you

Requal weekend

It was great to see so many smiling faces at requal (lifesaving awards requalification) over the November 30 - December 1 weekend. Thanks to all members who came to get their qualifications updated. Around 275 awards were updated, ensuring strong patrols this season. Special shoutout to the 2023 SRC grads for completing their first requal—well done!

Our club spirit shone brightly with many random acts of kindness ranging from encouragement to ‘keep going!’ in water activities, water safety and IRB support, tech help with online learning, members supporting each other both in and out of the water and asking if they were ok (often!) given Wooli’s challenging conditions.

Huge thanks to Chief Instructor Ellie Ryan and her incredible team of assessors, trainers and admins. Shoutout to Phoebe Clark and her crew for organising the season opener dinner, featuring live music from Maddie and Cooper (and then a bit more from Josiah) and a stellar cleanup effort. Looking forward to more social events ahead!

Merchandise

New club merchandise is available and will be for sale on:

Sat 28 December 2-4pm at the clubhouse (Nippers gear pick up)
Sun 29 December pm at the clubhouse (SRC graduation)
Sun 29 December-Sat 4 January mornings at Nippers on the beach at Woolamai Waters (Cottosloe Ave)
Other dates/times advertised on the Members of WBSLSC Facebook group

Check out our new stock: surf hats and patrol peaked caps (both are adjustable).

Big thanks to Mel Davies, Merchandise guru, who can be reached at merchandise@woolamaibeach.asn.au.

If you have ordered a patrol hoodie, you can collect it at one of the above times. A limited amount of patrol hoodies will also be available for sale for those who didn’t place an order in November.

Patrol uniforms – swap/sale

Thanks for all who brought in old/too small patrol uniforms on requal day to swap for new ones. 56 items were provided to the LSV uniforms recycling station. If you didn’t bring yours in for a swap and would like to, please do so at one of the above merchandise dates. Uniforms are also available for sale ($14 shirts, $15 shorts).

Bronze and SRC camps

The clubhouse has been a hive of activity in November and December. Residential camps for Upwey HS and Frank Dando College were facilitated and supported. Our club Bronze camp also saw 50 candidates graduate. Despite the Bronze camp being held in challenging conditions all week, candidates demonstrated courage, great team work and mutual support to get each other through. An awesome group of trainers enthusiastically guided camp activities which were led by Ellie Ryan and Jordan Kuerschner. Big thanks and well done to all involved! Next up is our club SRC camp from December 27-29, led by Ava Close and Sophia Hungerford.

Sunsets, Surf and Social Sips

Keep your eyes and ears open, folks! The club has plans to open our newly refurbished bar to family and friends for Friday evening social drinks with plans to expand access to the general public.

The bar would be open every Friday during the summer months from approx. 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM—a perfect opportunity to enjoy a relaxed evening while showcasing the stunning views we sometimes take for granted. Share a drink, some nibbles and great company with others who might not usually get a chance to visit the club.

To make this a success, we’re looking for volunteers to help things run smoothly. Duties will include:

Setting up the bar area
Serving drinks (valid RSA required)
Packing up afterward
General cleaning (e.g. washing glasses, emptying rubbish bins etc.)

If you’re able to help, please contact Nick Reynolds at nick.reynolds@woolamaibeach.asn.au. Your support will be instrumental in getting this exciting initiative off the ground!

We can’t wait to see you all out on the deck for a drink as we kick off this new chapter for the club.

Cheers!

Calling History Enthusiasts: Help Preserve Our Club’s Legacy!

At our July AGM, beloved Club historian Graeme Clauscen announced this will be his final season as he plans to retire.

A founding member and near-lifelong contributor, Graeme has dedicated himself to preserving our history, including authoring the remarkable Wild About Wooli – 50 Years at Woolamai Beach SLSC, chronicling the Club's journey.

With over 50 years of service, Graeme has held many roles including President, but his most impactful contribution has been as Club historian. His legacy leaves a strong foundation and while his shoes will be hard to fill, this role is vital to preserving our heritage.

We are seeking a new Club Historian and volunteers to help catalogue the collection. If you're passionate about history and interested in contributing, Graeme is happy to chat. Contact him at historian@woolamaibeach.asn.au.

Woolamai Newsletter - December 2024 Edition