Welcome to the December Edition
of the
Surf Life Saving Illawarra Newsletter
Peter Evert
President
Surf Life Saving Illawarra
Christmas message from the President
With the festive season almost upon us I would like to thank our Illawarra surf lifesaving club volunteers for their time, continued effort, vigilance, and service during this the peak holiday period.
A special thank you to the families that have supported our members this season and I look forward to their continued support as our surf lifesavers volunteer to keep all beachgoers safe during this holiday season.
A massive shout out and thank you to members that have volunteered to help with patrols at your neighbouring clubs by registering in the SLSNSW Patrol Support Program EOI. Your additional effort is truly appreciated and welcomed.
With the BOM forecasted weather warnings for high temperatures, little rain, and increased risk of heatwaves in January and February, we will undoubtedly see an increase in public beach visits and activity across the Illawarra.
Our biggest challenge for beach safety is that of our “unpatrolled beaches”, so as you frequent our coastline, please promote the beach safety messages, and encourage our community, and visitors to swim between the red and yellow flags.
Please stay safe during this holiday season and look after yourself, your family, and your fellow club members.
Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
See you on the beach soon.
Peter Evert
Welcome to our first Surf Life Saving Illawarra Members Newsletter for the 2023/24 Season.
A very warm welcome to our new and returning Surf Life Saving members. As this is our first members newsletter, this issue will give you a little more background about different areas of Surf Life Saving Illawarra and future newsletter issues will provide you with information about upcoming opportunities, what's happening within our Illawarra Branch and how you can be further involved.
Surf Life Saving Illawarra branch comprises of 17 clubs between Helensburgh Stanwell Park to Windang. Each Surf Life Saving Club has their own executive team to help lead their club and Surf Life Saving Illawarra's role is to support our local Illawarra clubs and members where needed.
Surf Life Saving Illawarra is a volunteer based organisation. The red and yellow caps you see on the beach and in the water are volunteering their time to keep you and your friends and families safe!
Introducing Surf Life Saving Illawarra's new Director of Lifesaving
Gunther Enthaler
SLSI would like to welcome Gunther Enthaler to the position of Director of Lifesaving (DoL) for Surf Life Saving Illawarra.
Illawarra's Director of Lifesaving oversees all lifesaving operations within the Illawarra branch, with the support of clubs and the lifesaving operations support teams.
Gunther is currently a patrolling member of Woonona SLSC and has previously been a patrolling member of Austinmer SLSC. Gunther is also part of SLSI's RWC operations and Duty Officer call out teams.
Gunther has also served as the Austinmer SLSC President, Club captain and Chief Training officer.
Gunther brings with him many years of lifesaving experience and in the 2016/2017 season received the Ted Marshall Lifesaver of the Year Award. Gunther has previously served of the SLSI board as the Director of Education for the 2018-2019 season.
SLSI would like to thank Gunther for volunteering his time to this position and congratulate him on his appointment.
Congratulations to our new Surf Life Saving Illawarra Life Members
Surf Life Saving Illawarra announces new life members at their Annual General Meeting. Life Members of the branch are nominated based on their contributions to Surf Life Saving Illawarra.
At this years Annual General Meeting, held on 31 October, SLSI Deputy President, Roy Wakelin-King AM was proud to announce three new life Members: Adrian Walsh, Peter Evert and Jayson Norris. All members have been long standing members of Illawarra Surf Life Saving clubs and have dedicated their time to serving their community.
Congratulations to the recipients on their life membership and thank you for your many years of service and contribution to the SLSI community.
Download Beachsafe App!
Access the latest information about every Australian beach or find a beach near you including local conditions and lifesaving services. There’s also safety advice and information about flags, signs, rips, waves and more.
Surf Life Saving recommends swimming at patrolled beaches, between the red and yellow flags.
Do you want help your local community? Do you love the beach?
Why not help out on patrol at your club!
Each Illawarra club has their own educators who help to facilitate training for members within their club.
Speak to your club about their upcoming training courses. Courses start at Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC) level which allows you to help in the water with nippers.
Find out more information about how you can become more involved here www.surflifesaving.com.au or reach out to Ash Wilkinson in our Illawarra Branch Office by calling 02 4228 3884 or by emailing office@slsillawarra.com.au
Surf Sports has a long and proud history within Surf Life Saving. The Surf Sports aspect of Surf Life Saving plays a significant role in ensuring that our members have the ability and passion to meet the changing environment within which we deliver our essential lifesaving service.
With competition offered to all age levels up to Masters (over 30), our program is for every one of all ages and all fitness levels. We are an inclusive branch and encourage members from all our 17 clubs to ‘have a go’; participation can be social or competitive, depending on your level of interest.
Whether you love racing against your club mates or aspire to represent ‘Illawarra’ at local, state or national level, we encourage you to get out and enjoy this summer of surf sport.
Surf Life Saving Illawarra recently competed at the following Surf Sports Events.
Sydney Water Series
Sydney Water Series is a four series surf sports event, that allows competitors from U/8s and above from clubs in the Illawarra and beyond compete against one another in beach and water events.
This season Sydney Water Series #1 was held at Warilla SLSC, followed by series #2 at Kiama Downs SLSC, series number #3 at Bulli Beach SLSC, followed by our 4th and final series at Wollongong City SLSC.
A big congratulations to all our competitors and a huge thank you to our hosting clubs, our army of officials and everyone who help pull these events together!
We are looking forward to another successful Sydney Water Series next season!
Interbranch Championships at Fingal Beach
Earlier this month, SLSI had a team of 40 athletes from multiple clubs across the Illawarra, represent SLSI at the Interbranch Championships at Fingal Beach.
Interbranch championships see each Surf Life Saving Branch in NSW, compete against one another in beach and water events. Surf Life Saving Illawarra's athletes proudly represent Illawarra branch and came sixth overall.
Congratulations to all our athletes and a special thank you to our team coaches and parent chaperones who help train and supervise our team!
Upcoming Surf Sports Events
Surf Sports Events occur frequently through the season. Each event has different entry requirements and these requirements and all details related to the event can be found in the event circular. Circulars are released to clubs prior to the event and can be found on our website ordinarily (which is currently undergoing a makeover).
If Surf Sports interests you, subscribe to Surf Sports Weekly to stay up to date; www.surflifesaving.com.au
14 January 2024 Manly Nipper Nats
19 and 20 January 2041 Manly Summer of Surf
10 and 11 February 2024 ILLAWARRA BRANCH CHAMPIONSHIPS at THIRROUL BEACH (Circular to come)
Do you have a passion for Surf Sports? Do we want to help contribute to the growth of athletes in Surf Sports in the Illawarra?
SLSI are on the lookout for new volunteer in the role of Director of Surf Sports (casual vacancy).
This role oversees and manages Surf Sports events within the Illawarra and oversees and manages teams representing the Illawarra for Surf Sports events outside of the Illawarra, such as the recent Interbranch Team.
Keep an eye out for an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Surf Life Saving Illawarra Director of Surf Sports in the coming days. This circular will be sent to clubs in the Illawarra so enquire with your club.
Surf Life Saving Illawarra would also like to thank Melissa Gorgijovski, who has been in the role of the Director of Surf Sports with SLSI for the past 18 months, for the time and dedication she has put into this role and the positive contribution she has made to Surf Sports Events in the Illawarra.
Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) Awards of Excellence (AOE)
Each year Surf Life Saving Illawarra hold an AOE night to celebrate our members, with selected members walking away with awards for their contribution to the Surf Life Saving Community.
AOE's awards are then held at the Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) level for which SLSI were lucky enough to have representatives.
This year SLSI had four representatives nominated at a National Level and attend the SLSI AOEs.
Congratulations to Glenn Beveridge from Wollongong City SLSC who was nominated for Surf Sports Coach of Year Jackie Percy from Bellambi SLSC who was nominated for Trainer of the Year, Brody Robertson from Bellambi SLSC who was nominated for Youth Lifesaver of the Year and Brigid Collaery from Coalcliff SLSC who was nominated for Volunteer of the Year.
Welcome to Ash Wilkinson, Branch Administrator for Surf Life Saving Illawarra.
Ash recently started in the the role of Branch Administration for Surf Life Saving Illawarra. Ash lives locally in the Illawarra and is from an administration and education background and has a passion for helping others.
The Branch administrator's purpose is to support the Surf Life Saving Illawarra executive team and act as a channel of communication between Surf Life Saving NSW and Surf Life Saving Illawarra and surf clubs in the Illawarra. Ash is also here to assist clubs and members as needed. Most member queries are resolved by the member's respective surf club, however if you need any further assistance or are having difficulty getting in contact with the right person, please contact Ash and she will endeavour to get you in contact with who you need at your club.
Ash works from our Surf Life Saving Illawarra office, affectionately known as Surfhouse on Monday, Tuesday and Friday and from home on a Wednesday.
Our new website is on the way, please bear with us whilst www.slsillawarra.com.au is under construction!
USEFUL DOCUMENTS
SLSNSW National Coastal Safety Reports
NEWSLETTERS
Does your club have any news, training dates or just anything you would like to share. Send it through to the SLSI branch office and we will put it in the newsletter.
