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
Board Meeting Update (6 November 2024)
Requal – new patrol uniforms
Behaviour at the Club
Club Accommodation
Club Historian wanted
Member Spotlight: Getting to know you!

Communications Introduction

Hi everyone,

The summer lifesaving season is officially underway and there’s plenty happening! While The Block may now be behind us, our focus shifts to an exciting summer ahead with Nippers, social activities and lifesaving patrols kicking off.

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

Let’s make it a safe and successful season!

Louisa Williams

President’s Update - Jason Close

The season is now upon us.

Due to the warm weather forecast for the weekend of November 16-17, our Club has started the season a week earlier than originally planned. Thank you to all of our members who took part in the “hot weather stand up” patrol on Saturday 16 November.

Our ‘official’ patrol season runs from Saturday 23 November through to Sunday 21 April.

A patrol roster with all of the times and dates is located further into this newsletter.

Good luck to all of our new patrol captains, vice captains, junior captains and everyone else patrolling for a great start to the season.

Congratulations to our new Adult Bronzies who passed their course recently. A number of Bass Coast Clubs joined to deliver a two weekend Adult Bronze course and the assessment was carried out at Woolamai Beach last weekend. Thank you to all of our trainers, facilitators and assessors who gave up their time to deliver the course.

We are now entering Bronze camp season with the Frank Dando Sports Academy, Upwey High and Club Bronze camps over the next few weeks.

The Block Finale!

Imagine being up in the Clubhouse, looking out to sea towards the Cape and seeing 2 flag-bearing jet skis and 3 IRBs in formation charging towards the beach to Wagner’s ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ music.

Leaping out of their craft and running up the beach in slow motion carrying Baywatch style red rescue tubes are 5 of Woolamai’s finest young life savers - Maddy, Sophia, Ava, Kadek and Finlay.

They run into the Clubhouse and are greeted by Scott Cam and all of the Block TV show contestants.

Inside their rescue tubes is precious cargo - small toy penguins. Inside the penguins were the ‘reserve’ prizes for the much awaited Block auction.

Woolamai Beach SLSC played a key role in the highest rating episode of the series with over 3.4 million viewers.

More drama unfolds as contestants react to their prices. Auction order are filmed on the balcony and the beach.

A week earlier the Clubhouse was also the filmset of the ‘BlockWiz’ episode which featured Brian Nankervis of RockWiz fame, quizzing the show’s contestants for prizes.

A huge thank you to all of our lifesavers who took the day off work or school to drive, crew, carry flags and rescue tubes to be a part of the Block’s final episode.

Our members did an incredible job to so skilfully execute the scenes in fairly large surf. There is some terrific drone and Go Pro footage (and a Channel 9 GoPro camera is also still out there somewhere).

It was a lot of fun and we all enjoyed the mingling with the show’s cast and Kim’s Kitchen catering and Magiclands Kiosk coffee paid for by Channel 9.

Thanks also to Melina, Darrell and others who got the Clubhouse ready for more TV action.

We have enjoyed our association with the show, the makeover to the Clubhouse and the renewed community interest in the Club it has generated.

Most importantly though, it gave our Club some more exposure to a national and international audience and reminded everyone watching that our lifesavers do an amazing job patrolling the beaches (and maybe this will mean more people come to Woolamai Beach and swim between the flags).

Smiths Beach

The Club has been successful in its application for a grant to the Victorian Emergency Services Equipment Program to go towards the Smiths Beach project and the purchase of a new All Terrain Vehicle. The Club received just over $83,000 which will be split between Smiths Beach and a ATV.

This coupled with some of the donations received, some of the funds raised at our auction night and a commitment from Phillip Island Nature Parks to assist with the staircase component of the project gets us a lot closer to our final target -but we still have some fundraising to go.

Over summer we will finalise quotes, gain the necessary approvals, select a contractor and continue to fundraise with a view towards carrying out the project next winter.

A huge thank you to the local community for the support of the project, Brendan Smart and other Club members who have helped with fundraising and planning.

We would also like to thank Phillip Island Nature Parks, the Smiths Beachcombers Association, Life Saving Victoria, SLSA’s Grant Seeking Unit and our local member, Jordan Crugnale MP, for their support of the project.

Bobby’s back!

Last weekend we received a visit from the extraordinary extreme sportsman and honorary member Bobby Bajram.

Bobby was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis over 40 years ago but has managed to achieve feats many would never think possible, including climbing Mount Everest.

Several years ago, Bobby spent time training with members of Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club as part of his preparation for the climb - and this include runs up and down Spew Hill.

Bobby is a global ambassador for people with disabilities and raises money for disability causes and advocates for technological advancements to assist and empower people with disabilities.

Bobby is an inspirational figure and we are hoping to have Bobby visit us again over summer to further share his story.

There is a special place for Woolamai Beach in his heart and Bobby’s Mount Everest climbing suit even has the Woolamai Beach SLSC logo on it, alongside his many sponsors and supporters.

Bobby will be making another attempt on Mount Everest in 2026 and is hoping to qualify as a swimmer in the 2028 Paralympics. After spending a bit of time with Bobby, if he says he is going to do it, then he will do it.

Thanks Assets team

Darrell Clark and his Assets team have been doing an amazing job getting the Clubhouse into shape for the season and fixing things. Our Club is very lucky to have some very talented members who have helped save us money by carrying out a number of projects themselves. Darrell has been fixing countless things so I won’t even try to list them.

Thank you to Luke Guilmartin for installing the new shower outside of the gear room. Thanks to Nick Bartone for painting the windows facing the front deck. Thanks to Nick Reynolds for putting the new shelf above the big tv in the function room to protect it from sand and for replacing the Smiths Beach Rescue Base padlock. I am sure there are also a few other things that are just quietly fixed by other members whose work is also greatly appreciated.

If you (or a parent or family member) have some free time and a skill that can be put to use to help us save money on Clubhouse repairs and improvements, contact Darrell on assets@woolamaibeach.asn.au

See you down the Club soon.

Regards,

Jason Close (President) - President@woolamaibeach.asn.au

Board Meeting Update - 6 November 2024

Meeting online

Present: Jason Close, Fi Blackmore, Nick Reynolds, Christian Born, Jordan Kuerschner, Erin Close, Phoebe Clark, Darrell Clark, Emma Gallagher

Apologies: Jules Hay

Decisions

The Board has approved a package of improvements to the bunk rooms and ground floor corridors. Concrete floors in bunk rooms and ground floor corridors to be polished concrete. Bunk rooms to be re-painted, new bunks and storage to be installed in each bunk room. In total, there will be 41 beds. Timing to be confirmed but may now need to be post-peak season. Some of this work is required to meet council compliance requirements and some is general upgrade.
Garage roller doors to be repaired. This must be done for safety reasons.
Club merchandise budget authorised. This includes: jade hoodies, grey hoodies, red patrol pants, grey tracksuit pants, Surf Rescue ¼ zip tops, black Surf Rescue long sleeve tee shirts, patrol hoodies, tee shirts. Stubbie holders and caps may form a future order.
On requalification weekend, members will be able to either trade in their old uniforms for a new one. Alternatively new uniforms can be purchased (if the old uniform is not returned). Read more below.
New defibrillator pads to be purchased.
The Club will fund 2 members of each patrol (selected by each patrol’s leadership group) to obtain their Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate - conditional upon committing to at least two bar shifts through the season. This will enable patrols to operate the bar at patrol and Club social events.

General Business

The Club has been successful in its application for a Victorian Emergency Services Equipment Program grant. The Club will receive $83,000 which will go towards the Smiths Beach Rescue Base and fund the purchase of a new all terrain vehicle.
A meeting was held with Phillip Island Nature Parks in October and they have agreed to additional roping off and signage advising people not to walk on the dunes around the Clubhouse.
The Club is scoping holding a ‘Swim Between the Flags Day’ early in 2025 as a way of promoting beach safety to culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs.
It will be a busy Nippers program with nearly 400 enrolments. The program this year will feature visits from Phillip Island Nature Parks, Ranger Graeme, Matt from Marine Mammals and IRB demonstrations. There will be no Nippers BBQ this season due to lack of volunteers but there will be a coffee cart and snow cone machine. A number of social events being organised including movie night, disco night, helpers night.
A review of the Club’s membership structure is being undertaken to simplify and update our categories of membership.
All terrain vehicles serviced. IRB motors being serviced.
Outside of upper level seaward facing Clubhouse windows painted and balcony wiring re-tensioned - thank you to Nick Bartone for volunteering his time for these tasks.
Lifesaving Services leadership workshop completed. This included a session on mental health and the role of Member Protection Officers which was well received.
Contact list and patrol roster ready for website.
Some member development sessions have been advertised.
Pink and Rainbow Zinc events registered with Life Saving Victoria.

Requal – new patrol uniforms

Is your patrol uniform a little tight… or manky/torn/too many oil stains from the IRB motors etc?

If you bring yours to requal day, the club will replace it with a lovely new uniform – free! Even better, your old uniform will be recycled via new facilities organised by LSV. You must bring the old item to get a new one.

If you don’t want to exchange your current uniform, you can purchase one at requal day.

Please see Mel Davies or Fi Blackmore on your requal day.

Behaviour at the club

Our club has a Code of Conduct which all members need to follow. The Code sets out expectations on behaviour for members’ safety, wellbeing and to have an effective, harmonious culture.

It covers general expectations like being respectful and specific requirements such as not bullying or harassing others. There’s also details on areas like alcohol, staying at the club and cleaning up.

If a member doesn’t follow the Code, there are likely to be consequences. This may mean a warning, suspension or even, in the most serious cases, expulsion from the club. If you’re a junior member and break the Code, your parent/guardian will be contacted to pick you up from the club pending review of the situation. It’s important you’re familiar with the Code (and that parents are too) and that you keep to it, both in requirements and its intent.

Don’t know where to find the Code? It’s on our website, or via Members/Member Welfare.

If you’re unsure about something in the Code or if something’s happened that you reckon isn’t in line with the Code, please speak with your patrol captain, a Member Protection Officer (Rex Mynott, Erin Close or Emma Gallagher) or a member of the Board.

Club Accommodation

A timely reminder to our members about the club accommodation options available and the Accommodation Policy for the Clubhouse that was introduced last season.

Please refer to our website for the Accommodation Policy.

Staying at the Clubhouse

The Clubhouse has enough beds to accommodate 41 members and is available to members during the season with the following points applying:

If the clubhouse has been booked for a camp or an external event, bunk availability will be either vastly limited or not available.
Staying at the clubhouse is a privilege for members only.
Priority is given to members who will be patrolling or assisting with a club-endorsed event directly before or after the night of stay.
There is no fee to members staying at the clubhouse.
All members are required to complete the Clubhouse Accommodation Form for every continuous stay at the Clubhouse. (Junior members need their parents to complete the form)

The accommodation form can be accessed by the club’s website or directly using this link. We will also endeavour to add a QR Code poster for the form located in the bunk area shortly.
A single form submission is to cover a continuous stay at the clubhouse, for example:

If a member is staying at the clubhouse for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights, a single submission with a Friday check-in and Tuesday check-out is required.
If a member is staying at the clubhouse for Friday and Saturday nights, elsewhere for Sunday night and back at the Clubhouse for Monday night, one form is required for the first continuous stay (Fri check-in and Sun check-out) and a second form for the Monday night stay (Mon check-in and Tues check-out).

The Clubhouse Accommodation form was developed as one of our ways of keeping our members safe and in the unfortunate event of an after-hours incident, it informs our lifesaving services team of who is currently at the Clubhouse, allowing us to respond as quickly as possible in an emergency.

Staying at the Residence

The Residence, located on Ritchie Ave, is there to allow members with an alternative to the Clubhouse bunks (i.e. members with partners or families) and is available for member use all year-round.

While we have the occasional public booking for the residence, we have blocked out the full main season plus weekends of the shoulder seasons to ensure priority is given to our club members.

To keep costs down, use of the residence is charged at a per person per night basis.

The Residence has a total occupancy of 20 - split between 6 rooms.

ALL bookings for the Residence must be arranged in advance of the stay.

Please direct Residence enquiries and bookings to Carole, contactable at secretary@woolamaibeach.asn.au.

Our Club is privileged to enjoy the facilities we have and it is a responsibility of all members to keep the Clubhouse and Residence clean and presentable.

Our goal is to make the bookings process as easy as possible. The Board welcomes any ideas for improving these processes.

Are you a budding Historian?

At our Annual General Meeting in July, our beloved Club historian, Graeme Clauscen, announced that this will be his final season in the role as he plans to retire.

Graeme, one of the Club's first members and who has been with the Club almost throughout its entire history, has dedicated much of his life to meticulously preserving our history. One of his highlights has been authoring ‘Wild About Wooli – 50 Years at Woolamai Beach SLSC’, a remarkable chronicle of the Club's journey.

With over 50 years of service, Graeme has held numerous positions including President but his most enduring and impactful contribution has been as our official historian. His legacy leaves behind a remarkable foundation and while his shoes will be difficult to fill, the role is crucial for maintaining our Club’s heritage.

We are now seeking a new Club Historian and volunteers to help catalogue the Club's collection. If you're passionate about preserving history and want to contribute to this vital role, Graeme is more than happy to chat with anyone interested in stepping into this position. Please contact him on historian@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!

Woolamai Newsletter - November 2024 Edition