Woolamai Newsletter - September 2024 Edition
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:
Communications Introduction
President’s Update
Welcome to our new Board
Board Update (September 4 Meeeting)
Life Member Achieves Global Award
Smiths Beachcombers Association support the Smiths Beach Rescue Base
The Block Open House Event
Wooli Nipper News: Seeking Sausage Sizzle/BBQ Coordinator
Work Opportunity: Bass Coast College Rap Program
Training and Assessment
Member Spotlight: Getting to know you!
Communications Introduction
Hello everyone,
I’m excited to introduce myself as your new Woolamai Beach SLSC Communications contact. With a background in Marketing and Communications for businesses and individuals, both locally and internationally, I bring a passion for connecting people and sharing stories.
I’ve had a property on the island for the past 13 years. Over that time, I’ve made wonderful memories including watching my child participate in Nippers. The island’s strong sense of community is something I truly love and I’m grateful to be part of it.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! If there are any topics you’d like to see included or if you have any feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out. My goal is to continuously improve, ensuring the Newsletter reflects what matters most to you.
Wishing you all a fantastic summer season — enjoy the Newsletter!
Louisa Williams
President’s Update - Jason Close
Welcome to another big season.
Our new Board was elected at the Annual General meeting and affirmed at our first Board’s meeting of the season. I am excited to be working with a fantastic new team.
Welcome back Fi Blackmore, Christian Born and Jules Hay. Welcome to Nick Reynolds, Jordan Kuerschner, Erin Close, Emma Gallagher, Phoebe Clark who have joined the Boards and Darrell Clark who has rejoined.
I’m also looking forward to working this season with Louisa Williams, our new Communications Manager.
Even though we are in between seasons, its been a big few months.
Awards
We are thrilled to announce that our Club received the Victorian Rescue of the Year Award at the Life Saving Victoria Awards of Excellence for our efforts during the Forrest Caves incident in January.
A huge congratulations to Bonny Dickie for being named Victorian Educator of the Year—a well-deserved recognition for her dedication!
Shoutout to Ellie Ryan, Riley Fyffe and Alan ‘AquaMole’ Hailes, who were all finalists and nominees for various state awards. Well done to all!
Pre-season Forum
Our Club was well represented at the Life Saving Victoria Pre-Season Forum, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on September 14. The event brought together nearly 60 clubs from across Victoria and provided an incredible networking and learning opportunity.
Special mention to Ellie Ryan, our Chief Instructor, who gave a brilliant presentation on ‘Inclusive Training and Assessment at Your Club.’ I was also honoured to be part of two panel discussions: ‘Show Me the Money,’ where I shared our Club’s unique fundraising strategies and the ‘Welfare, Wellbeing, and Safety’ session, where I reflected on how our Club managed and was supported following the Forrest Caves incident.
The nine of us who attended came back with some fantastic ideas!
Smiths Beach
We’ve officially kicked off our Smiths Beach Rescue Base fundraising campaign and are proud to have already raised $25,000 thanks to the generosity of the local community (read more below).
A big thank you to Bass Coast Shire Council for including a much-needed storage facility in the new Smiths Beach toilet block. This space will be a game changer for us, allowing us to store lifesaving and Nippers equipment. A special thanks to Brendan Smart and Mark Donaldson for their efforts in securing this for the Club.
Congratulations and farewell Clare
We’d like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Bass Coast Mayor, Councillor Clare le Serve on her upcoming retirement in November, following 12 years of dedicated service. Cr. le Serve has been a tremendous supporter of our Club, attending many of our functions throughout her time as Mayor.
The Block
Woolamai Beach SLSC is now even more famous following our recent starring role on Channel 9’s "The Block!" The show’s contestants formed two teams—Island vs. Ocean—and transformed our Clubhouse with incredible renovations. If you missed it on TV, you can watch it on 9Now or via the Block and Club social media channels.
The results are amazing! We now have a freshly painted and refurnished Clubhouse plus there’s some fantastic memorabilia on display!
The Block contestants, alongside our members, took part in some fun filming including dodgeball, IRB and jetski rescues and, of course, the big reveal.
A massive thank you to Melina van der Weerd Arceo, Dave Ellison, Darrell Clark, Nick Reynolds, Fi Blackmore and Annie Coleman for their behind-the-scenes contributions including supervising some of the work being carried out. Special thanks to Graeme Clauscen for curating the memorabilia (even if he did threaten to kill a few of the contestants if they didn’t return things) and to Barb and Tony Webb for creating custom Nippers caps for the contestants.
We’re also grateful to the Cowes branch of the Commonwealth Bank for their generous donation of $5,000 which went towards the fantastic bunkroom renovation.
Renovations
Beyond the incredible work done by The Block, you’ll notice even more changes around the Clubhouse thanks to our Assets Team, led by Darrell Clark. We’ve been busy making improvements with more to come!
A big thank you to Troy Hungerford, who supervised the upgrade of our Club’s electrical systems, emergency lighting and fire exits—making our Clubhouse a safer place for all. A special shoutout to Andrew Dice at Middies Electrical for donating some of the products for the project.
Happy Birthday BT
Life member and former President, Brian Taylor recently turned 80.
Brian was Club President between 1990-92 and again from 1998-2003 and guided the Club through an era where we built the current Clubhouse and Club residence.
Happy birthday BT!
See you down the Club soon.
Regards
Jason Close (President) - President@woolamaibeach.asn.au
Welcome to our new Board
As previously advised, our club held our 2024 Annual General Meeting on Saturday 27 July 2024. We would like to thank all members who were able to make it to the clubhouse for the meeting.
At the meeting, the new Board of Directors for the 2024/25 season was elected and consists of:
Board roles and contact details
These positions have now been affirmed at the first meeting of the new Board, held on 4 September 2024.
Ellie Ryan has become the Club’s new Chief Instructor and can be contacted at chiefinstructor@woolamaibeach.asn.au.
Carole Irving will continue to fulfil the paid club administrator role and is the best contact for general enquiries, clubhouse and residence bookings. Please contact Carole at secretary@woolamaibeach.asn.au.
Thank you again to our members for your outstanding contributions during the 2023/24 season, our members on the beach, our members on our various committees and working groups and our members holding junior and senior leadership roles. It is amazing to see what we achieved last season and we are excitedly looking forward for what the 2024/25 season brings!
Development Fund Board
The proposed Club Constitution amendment to section 44 (to allow a Life Member to fulfill the Life Governor (LG) position on the Development Fund Board (DFB) should no LG nominates) received member approval at our recent Annual General Meeting.
With John Thomson retiring from the Development Fund Board (DFB), this opened a “Life Governor” vacancy. Alan Lawry (LG) nominated and was subsequently elected as the new member of the DFB. Thank you, John, for your continued dedication to the club and welcome Alan.
Link to view the 2024 AGM minutes – https://www.woolamaibeach.org.au/
For the post-2024 AGM letter to members which includes details about the Club’s Board for the 2024/25 season, please refer to the following link: AGM 2024 Letter.
Link to view the 2023/24 Annual Reports – https://www.woolamaibeach.org.au/annual-report-2023-24
Board Meeting (4 September 2024) - Update
Decisions
The annual Nippers budget was approved. This season, there will be a very small $5 increase in program fees which is the first price rise in several years. The program remains very affordable in comparison with other Clubs. Nippers will cost $125 per child, with a $30 membership fee per child and a $30 membership fee which covers both parent. The Nippers budget allows for the purchase of some more Nipper boards and rescue boards. The Nippers BBQ may not proceed if a BBQ co-ordinator is not found before the season (refer to callout below).
The Block TV show will air on Channel 9 in August/September. It was decided to hold an open day shortly after the episode airing. This will provide the Club with an opportunity to engage with the community and showcase our activities. The Club will also use it as an opportunity to highlight its fundraising efforts and the need for donations for Smiths Beach. A sub-committee will be formed to deliver this project and make other decisions relating to the Block follow up.
General Business
Louisa Williams will be helping the Club this season with some of its communications including a monthly newsletter and updates to the website. In between the newsletters, there will be some updates via the Facebook page although this may not be a weekly update. Ryan Box will continue to assist with Bass Coast Series and Erin Close will remain involved with social media. The Nippers Committee also has a number of members involved in communication.
In August, our Club confirmed affiliation with Life Saving Victoria again for this season. By affiliating with LSV, individual club members and life saving clubs agree abide by and be subject to the following: LSV Constitution, By Laws, policies and procedures, Operating Procedures, LSV Purpose and Values, Code of Conduct, member Protection Policy, Lifesaving Services Protocols. There are numerous benefits to affiliation including: formal recognition as a life saving club, funding, intellectual property, ability to run Nippers programs, insurance , workcover access, competition access, membership and leadership development, training, courses, support around training and assessment member recognition, grant and funding access.
Patrol Agreements will be forwarded to Clubs shortly by Life Saving Victoria. Jason Close is a member of Life Saving Victoria’s Patrol Agreement Advisory Working Group which has been set up to provide advice to LSV about implementation of changes to Patrol Agreements relating to length of season, hours of patrol, form of patrols, hot weather patrols. Based on concerns expressed by a number of Clubs about the capacity of Clubs to deliver increased services and the need for further engagement with Clubs, this season’s Agreements will be based on previous seasons. Clubs have until mid October to finalise Agreements. This will determine the dates and times we patrol this season.
The Board will hold a season planning workshop on Saturday 5 October to establish directions and priorities for the upcoming season.
New bathers and uniforms will be available for purchase this season.
Bass Coast Council has recently constructed the new Smiths Beach toilet block. Included in the building is a dedicated storage area for the Club.
Directors updates
President - Jason Close
It’s exciting to kick off another new season! We’ve spent considerable time setting up our new Board and recruiting for key roles. We’re thrilled to have an amazing team in place for the 2024/25 season.
Since the AGM, the Board and I have been actively engaging with many of the organisations we collaborate with. We’ve met with Life Saving Victoria, neighbouring Bass District Clubs, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Bass Coast Shire Council, local MP Jordan Crugnale and community groups like the Smiths Beachcombers Association. These partnerships are vital in helping us deliver our services and ensuring the community stays safe.
Vice President - Fi Blackmore
The Block will be showcasing our club and its activities during the week of 16–22 September including a makeover of parts of the clubhouse. To celebrate, we’re hosting a few events where you can catch what aired including an Open House on Friday 27 September (Grand Final Eve) from 2–6pm (more details below).
We’re looking for helpers to make this event a success! On the day, we’ll have clubhouse tours, information about club activities like Nippers, bronze & SRC, water safety education and our fundraising efforts for the Smiths Beach Rescue Tower. We need volunteers for a variety of tasks from managing tour lines to first aid and safety—and to make sure our new treasures stay safe.
We also need some extra hands in the lead-up to the event. If you can spare a few hours, please reach out to Fi at fi.blackmore@woolamaibeach.asn.au.
Director Life Saving Services (Co-Club Captain) - Jordan Kuerschner
First off, I’d like to warmly welcome you all to the 2024/25 season as one of your new Club Captains. I’m thrilled to be joined by Erin Close, who many of you already know as an outstanding member, trainer, patrol captain and lifeguard. I’m incredibly grateful to have her by my side in this role.
We also want to take a moment to thank Campbell Smart for his dedicated service as Club Captain and his endless commitment to Woolamai—his contributions have been invaluable.
Additionally, Erin has taken on the role of Director of Member Wellbeing. If you're interested in joining the Member Protection Officer team, applications are now open! You can apply via the link: https://form.jotform.com/Fyffe/member-protection-officer-mpo-commi.
Life Member Achieves Global Award
Life Member and Club Legend, Craig (Nappas) Ross, provided the animation for the acclaimed feature movie “Memoir of a Snail”. The movie recently had its world premiere and was awarded the “Cristal Award” for a feature film at the Annecy International Film Festival in France. Craig and his wife, Vicki, travelled to France to accept the award which was the highest award of the festival.
The movie is an adult comedy/drama with many A-lister stars such as Sarah Snook, Eric Bana, Jacki Weaver, Nick Cave, Magda Szubanski, Kodi Smit-McPhee and others providing voiceovers.
The movie is now released in Australia and is about to be released in the USA. Look out for it in a theatre near you. Congratulations Craig on this outstanding achievement; everyone at Woolamai is very proud of you.
Smiths Beachcombers Association support the Smiths Beach Rescue Base
Our club is currently raising funds for urgent repairs and upgrades to the Smiths Beach Rescue Base. Over time, the harsh coastal conditions have caused significant corrosion to the structure and staircase and we need to take action to ensure it remains operational.
We’ve launched a fundraising appeal and are also applying for grants to carry out these much-needed works. The goal is to ensure that the rescue base can continue to serve its vital purpose in keeping swimmers and surfers safe at Smiths Beach.
A special thank you goes to the Smiths Beachcombers Association who have generously donated $1,000 toward the project. As our Club President, Jason Close, shared, “We’re incredibly appreciative of the support. It was fantastic to meet some of the Association’s members on-site recently. Both organisations are committed to the local community and we share the goal of maintaining a lifesaving facility that keeps beachgoers safe."
Jason also emphasised why this work is so important, noting that while Smiths Beach is a popular spot for both beginner and experienced surfers, it’s not without its challenges. "Occasional rips can be tricky to navigate which is why having a rescue base is so crucial. It provides lifesavers and lifeguards a place to monitor the beach, administer first aid and store essential equipment.”
We’ve made great progress so far, raising over $25,000 of our $140,000 goal, thanks to the generosity of the local community. We’re incredibly grateful for the support so far and there are more exciting fundraising events coming up soon!
If you’d like to donate and help us reach our goal, head to www.woolamaibeach.org.au/donate and select 'Smiths Beach Rescue Base' when completing the donation form. Every contribution makes a difference!
The Block Open House Event
Did you see our Clubhouse on The Block recently?
The Club is hosting an Open House this Friday 27 September (Grand Final Eve) from 2–5pm. If you haven’t had the chance to check out the incredible "after" rooms from The Block contestant challenge, now’s the perfect time to come and see the transformations!
Even better, if you have a few hours to spare, we’re looking for Club members to help show visitors around the clubhouse and share information about our activities. If you’re able to assist, please contact Fi.
Wooli Nipper News: Seeking Sausage Sizzle/BBQ Coordinator
The Nippers crew is urgently seeking an enthusiastic Sausage Sizzle Coordinator to lead this year’s sausage sizzle!
A much-loved part of the program and an important fundraiser, the sausage sizzle needs someone to take charge. As the Coordinator, you'll be responsible for organising the daily roster, setting up, running and packing away the BBQ at Cleeland Bight Beach.
Without someone to fill this role ASAP, we won’t be able to run the BBQ. If you’re interested in helping out, please reach out to Jules Hay at juniordevelopment@woolamaibeach.asn.au.
For more updates, check out the latest Nippers Newsletter..
Exciting Water Safety Opportunity with Bass Coast College!
Bass Coast College (BCC) is offering a fantastic opportunity to assist with water safety for their Term 4 Rap Program which includes surfing and canoeing sessions.
BCC is looking for 2-3 staff members each day of the program to help maintain water safety ratios and assist teachers with activities. Sessions run for 2 hours but you'll be paid for a minimum of 3 hours at a rate of $37 per hour.
Program dates: WEEK 1 (October 7) to WEEK 9 (December 6):
Monday: 9:00am – 11:30am
Tuesday to Friday: 11:30am – 2:00pm
This is a fantastic chance to get involved and put your water safety skills to good use. If you hold the relevant qualifications, such as your Bronze Medallion, we encourage you to give it a go!
For any questions, feel free to reach out to Jordan Kuerschner or Erin Close at erin.close@woolamaibeach.asn.au or lifesavingservices@woolamaibeach.asn.au.
Training and Assessment
Bronze Camp:
We’re thrilled to announce that the Bronze Camp has reached full capacity!
If you missed out, don’t worry—you can still join the waitlist by visiting Bronze Medallion Camp Waitlist
Adult Bronze Medallion:
Ready to take your surf lifesaving skills to the next level?
Our Adult Bronze Medallion course is coming up soon! Mark your calendars for the following weekends:
Session 1 & 2: Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 November 2024
Session 3 & 4: Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 November 2024
For more details and to register, head to Adult Bronze Medallion Course.
SRC Course:
Exciting news—registrations for the SRC Course are now open!
📅 Dates: Wednesday 27 December – Saturday 30 December 2024
If you’re keen to join, head to our website for all the details. SRC Course Info & Registration
Skills Maintenance – Save the date!
It’s time to sharpen those lifesaving skills!
Our practical skills maintenance (requal) weekend is happening on:
📅 Dates: Saturday 30 November & Sunday 1 December. ⏰ 9:30am on both days.
Details on how to register will be coming soon so for now, save the date and keep an eye on the website:
Skills Maintenance Info.
SRC Trainers and Water Safety – Express your interest!
We’re on the lookout for passionate trainers, assessors and water safety helpers for our upcoming SRC course, running from 27 – 30 December 2024.
Helping with water safety will count toward your patrol hours so it’s a great opportunity to contribute. Even if you can only assist for one or two days, your help will be greatly appreciated!
We’re also excited to welcome Ava Close and Sophia Hungerford as this season’s course coordinators!
Interested in joining the team? Fill out this form: Join the SRC Team.
U15 Leadership Development Camp
Calling all 14/15-year-olds or parents with kids who are 14/15, the applications are open for the 2024 U15 leadership development camp.
This camp is run by Lifesaving Victoria at the YMCA Anglesea Recreation camp and is a great opportunity to broaden young leaders’ understanding of lifesaving and its pathways/opportunities.
This 3-day live in camp is a great place to explore the other side of the bay and to get to know other amazing young lifesavers from across the state.
Applications close: 13 October 2024.
Below is the circular containing all details and the application form:
Circular: https://clubs.lsv.com.au/cdn/storage/documents/Hbmq8QPsbg9vQCKpA/original/Hbmq8QPsbg9vQCKpA.pdf
Application form: https://lifesavingvictoria.wufoo.com/forms/mndqnie05meucr/
Feel free to message Phoebe on memberdevelopment@woolamaibeach.asn.au if you have any questions.
A big thank you to Alan Hailes
Due to personal circumstances, our wonderful Alan ‘Aquamole’ Hailes has made the difficult decision to step down as Chief Instructor. While we’ll miss his leadership in this role, we’re so grateful he will continue to be part of the training team and support Ellie Ryan as she takes the lead.
Alan’s contributions have been invaluable and we know he’ll continue to make a big impact in the club!
For any further questions, please check the website or contact us at chiefinstructor@woolamaibeach.asn.au.
Member Spotlight: Getting to know you!
We’re excited to launch a new feature in our newsletter: Member Spotlight, where we’ll be highlighting the amazing individuals who make our Club such a special place. Whether you’re a longtime member or new, we’d love to learn more about you and your connection to the Club and the beach.
If you’d like to be featured, send us your brief story and a photo(s)!
Questions to consider:
How long have you been a member of the Woolamai Surf Life Saving Club?
What first drew you to join the Club?
What has been your favourite memory or experience as a member?
Do you participate in any club activities (Nippers, surf patrols, events etc)?
What do you love most about being part of the community?
What’s your go-to surf or swimming tip for newcomers?
Anything else you'd like to share about your time with the Club?
We encourage everyone to participate—whether you’re a surfer, swimmer, volunteer or just love the beach. Your stories help inspire and strengthen our community.
To submit, simply send your responses to Louisa. We can’t wait to hear from you!