Welcome to the December Edition 

of the

Surf Life Saving Illawarra Newsletter

Here we are, December already, time flies when you are on the beach having fun! The 24-25 season is well and truly underway and with the weather and water getting warmer, it's great to see everyone heading back to our beaches.

We have had our nippers, and their families return to our clubs and have hosted another successful Sydney Water Surf Series. A number of our club's athletes travelled to the Gold Coast to complete in the Coolongatta Gold and our Illawarra Branch Team travelled to Cape Hawke SLSC in Forster to compete at the 2024 SLSNSW Interbranch Championship.

Our Illawarra Branch held our Annual General Meeting and Surf Life Saving Illawarra Life Membership was awarded to one of our hard-working members. Branch Life Membership requires the member to not only dedicate many years of service to their club and their members, but the Illawarra branch and the wider membership and it's an honour to be elevated to life membership after many years of service. Keep reading to find out who are 58th Illawarra life member is.

As the weather warms up, remember, staying safe at the beach in the water, means swimming between the red and yellow flags at patrolled beaches. If you want to learn more about beach safety and help protect our community, you can always join a club as a patrolling member. Reach out to your club or contact our office to find out more about joining an upcoming course.

The branch would like to wish you and your families a wonderful festive season. Many thanks to our volunteers who give their time over this period to keep us safe on the beach.

Education Courses

Upcoming Branch Courses

Are you a current financial member? Are you interested in joining a patrol and helping out your club and community? Please keep reading below for more details on upcoming courses. These courses not only help you obtain lifesaving skills or upskill your current lifesaving skills but allow you to help out your club on patrol and contribute to the greater community.

If you wish to become a patrolling member of your club or help with water safety at nippers, then why not complete your Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC) or Bronze Medallion (BM). Speak with your club if you are interested or email Megs, our Education admin officer at educationadmin@slsillawarra.com.au.

Did you know that you can join a patrol in different roles? If being in the water performing rescues is not for you, then maybe you might like to be the First Aid Officer on patrol. If this sounds like something for you, then why not join our next First Aid Course. Details below.

First Aid

The next branch First Aid Course (HLTAID011) is being held in February on Tuesday 4 February and Thursday 6 February, 6-9pm.

First Aid is open to current financial members who are above the age of 14.

If you are interested in attending, please contact Amy at North Wollongong SLSC on amy@nwslsc.com.au 

Silver Medallion Patrol Captains (SMPC)

The next SMPC course is being held in the New Year. Dates to be advised. Please contact educationadmin@slsillawarra.com.au to register your interest.

This course is open to the following members;

• Minimum17 years old

• Hold an SLSA Bronze Medallion or have held an SLSA Bronze Medallion and currently hold a patrolling award

• Have 2 years patrolling experience

Coolangatta Gold  

Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold was held on the Gold Coast on the 12th and 13th of October 2024. Member's from Thirroul and Bulli travelled up the Sunny Gold Coast, with the following members coming away with awards.

Zahnie Freeman from Bulli SLSC 1st in U13 Youth Female and Zara Sharman 2nd in Open Female Short Course.

Thirroul SLSC'S Ben Constable 1st male 40-49years Downwind paddle.

Further results from the World Lifesaving Championships

In addition to the results from our members in the Illawarra in our September newsletter, the following members were also lucky enough to place in their events.

Congratulations to Kaye Norris from Windang SLSC 2nd in 55-59 years Flags.

Davina Strauss from Coledale SLSC 1st in Sprints and Flags and Coledale's Women's relay team, Davina Strauss, Kym Weidner and Symone Pearsell placed 2nd. Well done ladies.

If you compete at surf sports event for a club in the Illawarra, we would love to congratulate you and celebrate your success with our membership, please email your results to office@slsillawarra.com.au, along with any photos you might have!

Sydney Water Surf Series 

Another successful Sydney Water Surf Series was held in October and November, with four rounds of great competition on the sand and in the water.

Round 1 was held at Bulli SLSC, followed by round 2 and 3 at Warilla Barrick Point SLSC and our 4th and final round at Wollongong City SLSC.

A big congratulations to all competitors across our clubs in the Illawarra.

Thank you to our host clubs, officials and water safety who make these competitions possible and of course the Sydney Water Surf Series committee, who dedicate many hours to continue to make this such a successful surf sports event.

Enjoy some photos from the competition below.

Interbranch Team

Our Interbranch Team competed in the SLSNSW Interbranch Competition at Cape Hawke SLSC over the weekend. The Interbranch Competition has been held annually for many years and is an opportunity for young athletes to represent their branch in competition against other surf lifesaving branches in NSW.

The team consists of 20 male competitors and 20 female competitors from U/12- U/17. Each year our branch releases a circular for nominations to express your interest to join the team so if you are keen surf sports competitor, keep an eye out next year for 2025 team nominations.

This year our team was lucky enough to be sponsored by Dignam Real Estate. With accommodation, meals and uniforms required for a competition like this, we are extremely grateful for this generous donation. A huge thank you to Adam and his team at Dignam!

The team gave their all and came 6th overall in the pointscore out of 11 branches in NSW.

A very big thank you to our Team Manager, Aaron Smith, Head Coach, Louis Whant, Beach Coach, Glenn Beveridge and our chaperones, Skye Neville, Angela Smith, Rachelle Whant and Simone Elliot.

Interbranch History

Interbranch competition in NSW has a long and proud history. Featured below is a photo of a past Illawarra Branch Team who won the Interbranch Championships at Whale Beach in the 1960s.

Back Row: Phil Watt (Thirroul), Chris Clayton (North Wollongong), Bill Eddy (North Wollongong), Alan Wear (Wollongong), Phil Buckley (North Wollongong), John Nicholls (Thirroul)

Front Row: Gil Grant (Coach), Jack Dawson (Woonona), Will Phillips (HSP), Brian Burns (North Wollongong), Les Dennis (Towradgi), Kim Hannington (Wollongong)

Note:   Team positions   Jack Dawson - Ski       Brian Burns - Board     Les Dennis - Beach   All others - Water / R&R, R&R - (Watt, Clayton, Eddy, Wear, Buckley, Hannington)

Note: Wollongong City SLSC was once known as Wollongong SLSC.

Many thanks to Larry Jennett from Wollongong City SLSC for assisting in providing the names of athletes and their positions in this Illawarra Branch team.

Upcoming Surf Sports Events 

Surf Life Saving Illawarra Development Carnival

The Development Carnival is being held on Saturday the 7th of December at Towradgi SLSC.

This carnival is for juniors from U/8- U/14 and is a great local carnival for competitors to get involved in and get a taste for surf sports.

Follow us on social media to stay up to date with the carnival and enjoy some videos and photos on the day. @surflifesavingillawarra 

Surf Life Saving Illawarra Branch Championships

The Branch Championships, supported by Bluescope WIN Community Partners, involve competition for juniors, from U/8 and seniors over two days.

Entry circular will be released closer to the championships.

This season's carnival will be held on Saturday 8th February and Sunday 9th February 2025 at North Wollongong SLSC.

Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) and SLSA's Awards of Excellence 

SLSNSW held their annual Awards of Excellence (AOE) on the 24th of August.

Members from SLSI proudly represented their clubs. 

Bulli's Men's Open Boat Crew, Dean Roberts, Heath Mercer, Kyle Mercer, Fraser Worthington and sweep Shane Geloven, were awarded NSW's Surf Sports Team of Year.

The team then went to Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA)'s Awards of Excellence on the 9th of November, where they were awarded Surf Sports Team of the Year.

Amazing effort, congratulations to Bulli SLSC's Men's Open Boat Crew.

SLSI Life Membership

At Surf Life Saving Ilawarra's recent AGM, our President, Peter Evert was proud to announce SLSI's newest life member, Maria Caldwell. Maria is the current SLSI Director of Member Services and member of Bulli SLSC.

Maria is entering her 20th consecutive year on the SLSI board where she has served as Director of Member Services since the 2017-2018 season and prior to this role was SLSI's Director of Finance. In addition to her director role, Maria assists with administrative office duties and is always happy to assist whenever her help is needed. She has been instrumental in training office staff, club administrators and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Surf Lifesaving policies, procedures and systems.

Maria is a longstanding organising committee member of the highly successful surf sport series, Sydney Water Surf Series, and for many years acted as a Chaperone for the SLSI Interbranch Surf Sports Team.

Maria was elevated to life membership of Bulli SLSC in 2021. Congratulations to Maria on this well-deserved honour and thank you for your many years of service. 

Junior Lifesaver of the Year (JLOTY)

Nominations are open for our JLOTY. JLOTY recognises our young Under 14 age group members (DOB 1 October 2010 - 30 September 2011).

Clubs are welcome to nominate 1 female and 1 male financial member for SLS Illawarra Junior Lifesaver of the Year 2024-2025.

1 Female and 1 Male member will be chosen as Illawarra's JLOTY and then progress to be state finalists and represent our branch at the Junior Lifesaver of the Year Program.

More information can be found on our website; SLSI Memos & Circulars

SLSNSW Board of Directors Update

The SLSNSW Board recently held an election for two director positions on the SLSNSW Board and nominations from members within clubs in NSW were invited to nominate for the positions.

Following the nomination and election process, Shannon Fox from Wollongong City SLSC was appointed as SLSNSW Director of Member Services. 

Shannon is a passionate surf lifesaver, who has contributed to her club, branch and the wider SLSNSW and SLSA community through lifesaving, participation in surf sports and within the education portfolio as a trainer and mentor. Shannon is passionate about mentoring the younger generation and those new to the surf lifesaving movement. She has previously held the role of Club Captain at her club and  currently holds the position of the club's chief training officer and is a member of the Illawarra branch rescue services team and a member of our Illawarra duty officer call out team. 

In 2023 Shannon was awarded SLSA's prestigious lifesaver of the award. Congratulations on your new role Shannon.

Surf Life Saving Illawarra EOIs for Office

Expressions of interest are currently open for SLSI's Director of Finance.

Our outgoing Director of Finance, Jessie, is offering to stay on and mentor our new Director of Finance, which is a great opportunity for a new director to learn their role under the guidance of Jessie.

Please find further information regarding the position and how to express your interest at the following link; SLSI Nominations for Office

Surfhouse Office Closure 

The office will be closed from Wednesday 25 December until Friday 3 January 2025.  

The office email and phone will not be monitored during this time, for any urgent queries, please contact the relevant director, their information can be found at the following link; SLSI Director Contact Information

USEFUL LINKS

SLSNSW Club Mail

www.surflifesaving.com.au

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.

Improve your Surf Sport's Skills

Are you looking for a way to improve your swimming for surf or triathlon?

McKeon's swim school in Unanderra are excited to announce their new squad starting on December 3rd!

Designed for adults and teens 14 & over, our freestyle-based squad offers a supportive and competitive environment where you can push yourself to new heights.

Training Schedule:

•   Tuesday and Thursday mornings: 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM @ Western Suburbs Olympic pool, Unanderra.

Requirements:

•   Must be able to swim 200 metres freestyle.

Fees:

•   2 sessions per week: fortnightly direct debit $60 (2 weeks in advance)

•   Single visits or 1 session per week: $22.00 per class

To book your spot give the McKeons team a call on 42 727272.

Spaces are limited so get in quick!