Woolamai Newsletter - June Edition
Telephone: 0467 475 263 Postal Address: PO Box 49, San Remo, VIC, 3925 Web: www.woolamaibeach.org.au Email: secretary@woolamaibeach.asn.au
In this Edition:
President’s Update
Vice President’s Update
Board Update
Annual General Meeting - Saturday 27th July
Presentation Night Summary
Congratulations Georgie Wettenhall! King’s Birthday Honours
Woolamai Beach SLSC Environs Management Plan Completion
Bass 100+ Hours Celebration
Thank you Phillip Island RSL
Thank you Bass Coast Shire
Bushwalker rescue - A thank you to the club
Smith’s Beach Rescue Base - Donations needed
Callout for historic club items!
Wild About Wooli Holiday discount!
President’s Update - Jason Close
Even though patrols have finished for the season, its been a big month for the Club.
On the 18th of May we held our Annual Presentation Night at the Silverwater Resort in San Remo. It was a terrific night celebrating and recognising the significant achievements of our Club and its members over the past season. Congratulations to all of the award winners and a huge thank you to everyone who helped organise the event and the after party.
The inaugural Bass 100+ celebration took place at Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club to acknowledge all of the life savers in the district. It was a great event
We also had celebrated the completion of the Woolamai Beach SLSC Environs Management Plan. Read more about these two events and more below.
Annual General Meeting
At 3pm on Saturday 27 July we will be holding our Annual General Meeting at the Clubhouse.
This is a very important event as the current Board will provide a summary of how the season went, there will be an opportunity for questions, we will elect a new Board, possibly amend our Club Constitution and elect a new member of the Club’s Development Fund Board. Notice of the AGM has gone out via a separate email so have a read and find out more.
Once the meeting has finished the bar will be open and everyone is invited to stick around for drinks and a bite to eat. More details to follow.
We need members to put up their hands for a range of vacant Board positions and have recently sent a newsletter with details of how to nominate. If you are thinking of becoming a Board member and want to find out whats involved, come along to our ‘Ask Me Anything’ online session from 7.30pm Wednesday 19 June. See the separate newsletter article for further information.
Congratulations Georgie
Finally, a huge congratulations to Georgie Wettenhall on being a very well deserved recipient of the Victoria Emergency Services Medal (ESM) in the Kings Birthday Honours. Over a life saving career of more than 30 years Georgie has been an incredible life saver, leader and inspiration to many. We are so proud of you Georgie and so privileged to have you as one of our members.
See you at the Annual General Meeting.
Regards
Jason Close - President@woolamaibeach.asn.au
President
Vice President’s Update- Fi Blackmore
Would you like to help out somehow at the Club? Do you have ideas on what you’d like to see happen in season 2024/5? Maybe you have a few hours during the quieter winter months. Or you’re already looking forward to the warmer weather later this year! You don’t need to be water based to help out either. Like to know more? Please contact me: fi.blackmore@woolamaibeach.asn.auInterested in joining the Board but want more info?
Ask me Anything
We’re holding an ‘Ask Me Anything’ online Teams meeting on Wednesday 19 June at 7.30pm. This is a chance to ask any question you’d like about being on our Board (as well as the all important question of whether pineapple belongs on pizza – or not!). Join via this link:
Any questions or issues, please email fi.blackmore@woolamaibeach.asn.au
Team news
We’re pleased to announce that Ellie Ryan and Alan ‘Aquamole’ Hailes are our new Chief Instructors. They will hold this role jointly, and have started planning for next season. Both Ellie and Mole are experienced trainers who have organised several club camps/awards, as well as holding a range of positions of responsibility at our club. If you’ve been a trainer or assessor in recent years, look out for a communication from them soon! A huge thank you to Ellie and Mole for stepping into this position.
Melanie Davies has also stepped into the Merchandise Manager role. Some of you will have met Mel, who coordinated our stocktake over the Kings Birthday long weekend, and is Mum to Mia, who recently was among our patrolling members recognised for 100+ hours this season. Welcome Mel, and big thanks for volunteering for this position.
Open day
As you’ll have read in Jason’s report, we’re expecting increased interest in our clubhouse when The Block episodes which feature us go to air in August (or thereabouts). It’s a great opportunity for us to have an open house and share with our local community and visitors what our club is all about. We’re pulling together a subcommittee to coordinate an open day. If you’d like to help, please contact Fi Blackmore, Vice-President by email (fi.blackmore@woolamaibeach.asn.au).
Board Update
Decisions
The Board made the following decisions:
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 subcommittee will be formed to deliver this project and make other decisions relating to the Block follow up.
General Business
The Board discussed the upcoming Annual General Meeting. Jason Close, Fi Blackmore, Christian Born and Jules Hay will be renominating for season 2024/25. Other Board members will not be renominating largely due to travel or work commitments. A number of members have informally expressed interest in Board roles. An ‘Ask Me Anything’ session will be held before nominations close.
The AGM will be held at 3pm on Sat 27 July at the Clubhouse. The bar will be opened afterwards for a social evening. A letter to all members will provide notice of the AGM, Constitution changes and the election/appointment of a Life Governor for the Development Fund Board.
Bass 100+ Celebration event will take place at Cape Paterson on 8 June -over 100 tickets sold, 6 Clubs attending.
Woolamai Beach SLSC Environs Management Plan Completion Event to be held at Clubhouse on 8 June 25-30 expected. Senator Jess Walsh and Jason Close will give a presentation.
LSV Awards of Excellence will take place at Sofitel in August. WBSLSC has received 3 nominations. Should any proceed to be finalists, the Club will pay for tickets for nominees.
Phillip Island RSL has granted Club $5,000 towards rescue boards. Christian Born will attend the grant presentation event on 12 June and accept the grant on behalf of the Club.
Director Updates
Director of Administration and Finance - Christian Born
The Auditor has started their audit of our Club’s financials, and the audited report will be distributed once complete.
Annual General Meeting - Saturday 27th July
Notice of 2024 Annual General Meeting
Dear Woolamai Beach SLSC Members,
Please find this linked notice letter regarding our upcoming Annual General Meeting which will be held at the clubhouse on Saturday 27th July 2024, commencing at 3pm.
This notice is a call for:
Any motion for inclusion as special business at the AGM.
Development Fund Board Nominations (Life Governor Position).
Club Board of Directors Nominations for the 2024/25 Season Board.
In addition, there is a proposed Club Consitution amendment being put to a member vote at this AGM with regards to Section 44 - Development Fund Board. Link to the Club Constitution containing proposed wording and changes.
Notice of 2024 Annual General Meeting Letter
Kind Regards,
The Board of Woolamai Beach SLSC
Presentation Night Summary
On Saturday 18th May the club held our presentation night for season 23/24 at Silverwater Resort in San Remo. Over 150 members and guests celebrated the Club’s achievements this season and also reflected on some of the challenges of the season.
Club President, Jason Close welcomed guests and reflected on the season. According to Jason “This season was our longest one yet -we fielded weekend patrols for nearly 6 months. For a volunteer organisation this is a huge ask and we are so grateful to those members who kept coming back throughout March and April even though, work, study, sport and other commitments made it harder for them to do so. We really appreciated every hour given to help keep our beaches safe. Over 200 volunteer life savers patrolled the Island’s beaches and over 20 of them served more than 100 voluntary hours"”.
Life Saving Victoria, President, Paul James ASM praised the Club for its work throughout the season and acknowledged the efforts of Club members in assisting other emergency services at some of the remote beach drowning incidents that occurred throughout the season.
Also attending the event were Councillor Clare Le Serve, Mayor Bass Coast Shire, representatives of Phillip Island Nature Parks and some local businesses who supported the Club throughout the season.
Councillor Clare Le Serve presented Simon Warde of Shoreline Pest Control with the Club’s Supporter Award. The Club acknowledged the support of Shoreline Pest Control throughout the season.
One of the highlights of the night was seeing the Club’s many young members receiving their Surf Rescue Certificates and Bronze Medallions. These awards are the first awards life savers gain to become eligible to patrol the beach and the future of life saving at Woolamai Beach is looking very bright with 47 thirteen to fourteen year olds gaining their Surf Rescue Certificate and nearly 80 teenagers and young adults gaining their Bronze Medallion.
Peter Moate was awarded Life Membership of the Club after more than 30 years of outstanding service. Peter joined the Club in 1991 and has patrolled for 32 consecutive years, gaining over 40 awards and serving also as a Patrol Captain for 5 seasons and 11 seasons of committee service. Peter has also been a professional lifeguard, a member of the offshore rescue boat crew, a jetski operator and a member of the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter.
Barb Webb, one of the Club’s life members was on hand to present the Barb Webb Trailblazer Award, named in her honour for supporting Diversity in life saving. This year the award went to the organisers of the Pink Zinc patrol which celebrates the contribution of female lifesavers. Barb herself was in Victoria’s first all-female Bronze squad which was run by the Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club in 1980.
Another significant award was the Presidents Award which was awarded to Maddie Hungerford for her outstanding contribution to a range of activities across the Club throughout the season. Maddie played a key role in the success of the Nippers program as its water safety co-ordinator. Maddie also patrolled, helped at working bees, barbeques and took on a lot of behind the scenes work around the Club, making her an invaluable member and a very deserving winner.
Thank you to Erin for putting together this awesome video recap of season 2023/24. Watch it HERE.
A big thank you to Jordan Kuerschner for taking photos on the night. they can be found HERE
Congratulations to all award winners below
President’s Award 2024 -Maddie Hungerford
Deciding on who wins the President’s Award is one of the most difficult decisions that a President has to make.
There are so many of our members who put in hundreds of hours on and off the beach throughout the season.
This season we had some outstanding contributions from our members.
All of our Board members were amazing with the amount of work they put in.
This season saw some incredible efforts from members of the Smithsonians patrol.
But this season one of the Smithsonians stood out.
This season the President’s award was awarded to Maddie Hungerford.
Maddie first joined the Club several years ago when her children Sophia and Jack joined Nippers.
Maddie found herself helping out with various tasks at Nippers and then gained her Bronze medallion and has been patrolling ever since with the Smithsonians patrol.
Maddie for the past few seasons has been the Water Safety Manager for our Nippers program and a member of the Nippers Committee, even though her children have both finished Nippers and have moved on to the senior Club.
Each day at Nippers Maddie is one of the first there in the morning helping set up.
Maddie played a very important role helping set up a program of events each day for Nippers and has been a great support to her daughter Sophia which has led to JAMS being such a success this season.
Maddie has roped her husband Troy in to help with a number of things at the Club. Over the years he has helped us with looking after and transporting equipment and checking out the electricals at the Clubhouse -which has been greatly appreciated.
Maddie is always one of the first to put up her hand to help when we put out a call.
Maddie is one of those people in the Club that we all wish we had more of, and is a great role model.
Maddie this season has taken on numerous other tasks around the Club and has regularly attended working bees, helped with fundraising and event barbeques, helped with organising food for Club social events and probably many other tasks that go unnoticed by many.
Maddie even made a trip out to the Smiths Beach Rescue Base recently to lock it up after a break in.
Most of Maddie’s work is ‘behind the scenes’ but it is just as important as some of the more visible roles around the Club. Maddie is a ‘doer’ and just gets on with the things that need to get done.
This makes Maddie invaluable to our Club and a very deserving winner of this year’s President’s award.
Congratulations Maddie.
Congratulations Georgie Wettenhall! King’s Birthday Honours
The Board and members of Woolamai Beach SLSC would like to congratulate life member and Club legend Georgie Wetttenhall on being the recipient of the Victoria Emergency Services Medal (ESM) in the King’s Birthday honours. We are so proud of you Georgie and so privileged to have you as one of our members.
Ms Georgie Wettenhall earned her bronze medallion in 1992 and has dedicated 32 years of service to lifesaving. She has patrolled some of the state’s most treacherous and notorious beaches, including Woolamai Beach and Gunnamatta Beach. She is a current patrolling member and has held leadership roles at both Club and State levels across training, patrols, and lifesaving services as president, and as a director.
In 1997, Ms Wettenhall was awarded the Woolamai Beach Surf Lifesaving Club (SLSC) - Darren Adams Memorial Award for Most Courageous Rescue in recognition of a complex and challenging rescue she and her fellow lifesavers performed at Colonnades Beach, saving the lives of two patients under extremely difficult conditions. She continues to provide welfare support and share her learning from critical incidents, mentoring younger lifesavers to be the best version of themselves to serve the Victorian community.
Ms Wettenhall is a role model and respected leader. She has been a trailblazer and mentor to many, paving the way for the next generation of women in lifesaving. She was one of the founders of the now state-wide initiative Pink Patrol, an all-women-led patrol, celebrating the past and present contribution of women in lifesaving and showcasing their operational capabilities.
Ms Wettenhall is a dedicated and courageous lifesaver and leader, serving the Victorian community for over three decades. She is respected amongst her peers and a mentor and inspiration to the next generation of lifesavers.
Sentinel Times have written a great article which you can read here - https://www.sgst.com.au/news/georgie-and-dianne-shine-in-kings-birthday-honours
Woolamai Beach SLSC Environs Management Plan Completion
On Saturday 8 June we celebrated the completion of the Woolamai Beach SLSC Environs Management Plan. Throughout 2023 the Club carried out a number of significant projects to improve our Clubhouse surrounds. We stabilised and revegetated dunes, built a retaining wall, improved beach access, built a concrete pathway and upgraded the all abilities access ramp. These works were made possible through a Commonwealth grant, Club funds and a significant contribution from Phillip Island Nature Parks
To celebrate these achievements Federal ALP Senator Jess Walsh visited the Clubhouse along with a number of other special guests including Councilor Clare Le Serve, Mayor of Bass Coast Shire. Catherine Greaves, CEO of Life Saving Victoria, representatives from Phillip Island Nature Parks and Regional Development Australia. A number of Club members who helped drive the project including John Thomson and Stafford Smith were also in attendance. It was also great to see Heather and Tom Atkins and his partner Lizzie, the family of the late Geoff Atkins who played a significant part in the project there to see Geoff’s great work come to fruition.
To see a video from the day please have a look at this youtube video posted by the Phillip Island & San Remo Advertiser - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vc8E6nrVRE
Bass 100+ Hours Celebration
on Saturday 8 June we held the inaugural Bass 100+ celebration at Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club to acknowledge all of the life savers in the district (including 20 from our Club) who achieved 100 voluntary patrol hours this season.
Cath Greaves, CEO of Life Saving Victoria spoke and outlined the value of the work we do. Our presenters Ella Arnold and Sarah Seddon presented awards to all of our award recipients.
It was a terrific night with presentations, great food, and the band ‘Hot Tub’ had everyone up on the dance floor until the night ended.
One of the best things about the event was the opportunity to get to spend time with members of other Clubs and find out how much in common we all have.
Congratulations to Cape Paterson SLSC for winning the first ever Bass District trophy for the highest average patrol hours.
Thank you Phillip Island RSL
A huge thank you to the Phillip Island RSL for their ongoing support of our Club.
Our Club Director, Admin and Finance, Christian Born attended an event at the RSL recently and was presented with $5,000 from the RSL which will be put towards new rescue boards for the Club. Thank you to Campbell Smart and team for their work in preparing the application.
Thank you Bass Coast Shire
A big thank you to the Bass Coast Shire for their assistance in providing the Club with a grant to upgrade the electrical systems, lighting and emergency exit signs at the Clubhouse. Thank you also to Troy Hungerford for carrying out an audit and preparing a scope of works to identify the work required. Works will commence over winter.
Bushwalker rescue - A thank you to the club
One Saturday evening in April a couple of bushwalkers were lost out on Cape Woolamai. It was a cold and very dart night and our members prepared to assist other local emergency services with a search and rescue. Fortunately we were not required as the VicPol helicopter was called and found the walkers and winched them to safety.
Afterwards we took part in the debrief and were given a tour of the VicPol helicopter which was very exciting.
Sergeant Tim Ryan from Wonthaggi Police sent us a thank you email and a message of thanks from the walkers:
Please find below an excerpt of an email which was sent to police from Reza and Jenny who were lost (and then found) in Bushland at Cape Woolamai on the 13th of April 2024. Your staff attended and provided assistance.
My name is Reza and I am one of the two people that your brave team came with a helicopter and rescued on the 13th of April from the Cape Woolamai park. Chen Nee (Jenny) and I would like to thank you once again for your act of heroism and great professionalism that you show cased during our rescue.
The memory of that night and the thrill of seeing the chopper coming to our rescue will be happily with us for the rest of our lives. We have told our friends and family about your act of bravery and the efficiency of action. Please extend our gratitude to the local volunteering community, CFA fire fighters, Ambulance Victoria, SES team and anyone else who we caused trouble that night. We have learned our lesson not to go hiking next the water during sunset and tide 😊.
If we ever come to Philip Island again we will definitely come to your stations to say hi and also bring some cake or cookies for the staff.
This great team effort of all emergency services resulted in this successful outcome. Can you please pass this onto your respective staff who attended.
Smiths Beach Rescue Base Repairs - Donations needed
Unfortunately since it’s inception the Smiths beach tower has been stripped down by the harsh weather conditions from the beach.
The rescue base is need of urgent repairs and maintenance (including re-painting in oil-rig spec paint) in order to avoid Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) issues / the structure becoming condemned; and to ensure that the two structures can continue serving the Phillip Island Nature Park (PINP) / Bass Coast Shire Council (BCSC) residents and visitors and Life Saving Victoria (LSV) lifeguard service over the next 20-25 years.
The required works includes
Wall panel works
Stair removal and replacement
Insitu painting works
We’re on our journey to raise 138K
If you’d like to donate to this cause please head to https://www.woolamaibeach.org.au/donate and select ‘Smiths Beach Rescue Base’ when filling out the donation form.
For more information on the rescue base head HERE
Callout for historic club items!
We now have a new email address historian@woolamaibeach.asn.au which is a great way to send in any photos or historic information you might have for the club’s records!
Hello to all Woolamai Members
From Graeme Clauscen, Club Historian
From the Archives a little bit of History !
S.L.S.A. Poster from 1977
Woolamai Aerial Photo 1987
I am currently working on the Club’s archives and cataloguing a lot of new items that have been given to the Club.
It is proposed that all of the items in the Club archive will be digitized and uploaded to Victorian Collections where anybody can access all of the items, on line.
The family of Dennis Harris recently provided a large number of photos and documents collected by Dennis over many years.
This is an appeal for donations of items of Historical interest to Club Members past and present. I am looking for the following:
Club Garments
T Shirts, Tops, Shorts, other Any item of clothing with the Club Name/Logo on it, condition not important.
Photographs
Color or black and white photographs of Club activities over the years 1959 -2022. Where possible, detail of, Location, Date, Names, and any other relevant info.
General Memorabilia
Any item of Club interest, Medallions Trophies Certificates Pennants etc. In other words if it is part of Woolamai History I would like to know about it and see it.
IMPORTANT. PLEASE PROVIDE – NAMES DATES TIMES LOCATION AND ANY RELEVANT INFORMATION
If you would like to donate any item that would be great, if not we will photograph the item and return to you.
Best Wishes
Graeme Clauscen
If you would like to contact me, 0412 789 499
Wild About Wooli! A 50 Year History of the Club
Discounted for the time being get in quick!
Want a segment in next Month’s newsletter?
Hi all,
If anyone would like to submit something for next month, the best way to do this is send me an email at communication@woolamaibeach.asn.au with a title for the segment, and text of what you’d like to be included as well as any pictures or images and I’ll be sure to add it in.
Deadline for July’s Newsletter - 8th of July
Cheers,
Ryan Box - Director of Communications