Welcome to the March Edition
of the
Surf Life Saving Illawarra Newsletter
Welcome to our March edition of Surf Life Saving Illawarra Member's Newsletter for the 2023/24 Season.
Another month into 2024, as they say, time flies when you are having fun and fun we have had, with another successful month in Surf Life Saving Illawarra in March. The NSW Branch Championships were held, with many members coming away with medals.
Surf Life Saving Illawarra was also proud to be involved in another Multicultural Water Safety Day and held a Youth Development Day held at Woonona SLSC, which was a great success.
Clubs have now wrapped up their season for their young nippers and presentations are being held across the branch.
Keep reading to hear and see more about all the excitement and what's coming up in Surf Life Saving in the Illawarra. Enjoy the last month of the patrolling season!
Albert Program Expressions of Interest are Open
ALBERT is Australian Lifesaving Boat Emergency Rescue Training, a program which has been developed and successfully delivered to further develop our Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Drivers and Crew.
This course is open to IRB Drivers and Crew only and is going to be held at Towradgi SLSC on Saturday 13 February and Sunday 14 April 2024.
A circular has been sent to clubs about expressions of interest for the Albert Program. Drivers and Crew need to be endorsed by their club.
Please see the circular, which can be found in the Surf Life Saving Members Area and speak to your club's Club Captain for more information or contact the SLSI Office at office@slsillawarra.com.au
NSW Fire and Rescue Land Based Operator Training
Multiple members from our Support Operations Team participated in training held on Saturday 23 March in Nowra and Sunday 24 March at Lake Illawarra.
This training was offered to operations support members with an interest in supporting flood operations and provided further training around emergency response scenarios should theses members be called upon to assists as volunteers in emergencies and rescues. As an emergency service, Surf Life Saving NSW volunteers support other emergency services when needed.
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.
Upcoming Branch Courses
First Aid
The next branch First Aid Course (HLTAID011) is being held at North Wollongong SLSC on the evening of Tuesday 7 May and Thursday 9 May. 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
IRB Driver's Course
Get ready to become a certified IRB driver!
We are excited to announce that an IRB Drivers course will be held on the weekend of the 25th/26th of May, with the remainder of the course continuing over September/October. Spaces are limited, so if you're interested in participating and would like to receive more details, please email tcullen@surflifesaving.com.au. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your skills and contribute to the safety of our community!
Surf Life Saving NSW State Championships
SLSNSW State Championships were held earlier this month. With competition for Juniors (U/8-U14) being held at North Steyne SLSC and Queensclifff for Seniors and Masters Events.
Surf Life Saving Illawarra had members from the following clubs competing, Helensburgh Stanwell Park, Coledale, Thirroul, Bulli, Sandon Point, Woonona, Towradgi, Corrimal, North Wollongong, Wollongong City and Port Kembla. It's great so see so many clubs and members getting involved.
Well done to all competitors involved, and an extra big congratulations to the members listed below who came away with a medal in their event/s.
Helensburgh Stanwell Park: Nate Heffernan- 1st 2m Beach Run
Coledale: Davina Strauss- 1st 40-44 years Female Beach Sprints & 1st 40- 44 years Female Flags, Sharon Anderson, Davina Strauss, Sharon Anderson & Kym Weidner- 2nd 200 years Female Beach Relay, Symone Pearsall- 3rd 50-54 2km Female Beach Run
Thirroul: Archie - 2nd U/11 Male Beach Run, Ross Taylor-1st 75 + Male Surf Swim & 2nd 75+ Male Board Race, Jeff Wall- 3rd 70-74 Years Male Board Race, Brendon Miles- 3rd 65-69 Years Male Board Race & 3rd 65-69 Years Tube Race, Ian Sakoff- 3rd 55-59 Male Board Race
Bulli: Aria Freeman - 2nd U/9 Female Surf Race & 2nd U/9 Female Board Race, Hamish Barlow- 2nd U/10 Male Surf Race, Nate Brown- 3rd U/11 Male Beach Flags, Hamish Barlow, Nash Jones & Oscar Sheppard- 1st U/10 Male Board Relay, Sonny Moran, Zac Geloven, Lachlan Jory & Liam Smith- 3rd U9 Male Beach Relay, Taj Ashcroft, Hamish Barlow, Nash Jones & Oscar Sheppard - 3rd U/10 Male Surf Team , Zahnie Freeman, Sadie Jones, Andie Kennedy & Heidi Morris- 2nd U/12 Female Surf Race Team, Saige Lynch, Kirra Oxman, Jade Pilkington & Logan Sedgwick - 3rd U/11 Female Surf Team. Stephanie Roberts, Brooke Dent, Sarah Hill, Georgia Roberts and Sweep Paul Jones- 1st Open Female Surf Boats, Glenn Sweeny & Seb James, 1st 45-49 years Male Double Ski, Darren Turner- 1st 55-59 Years Male Rescue Tube Rescue. Lachie Mackinnon, Jake Potter, Jack Wilson and Brayden Woodford- 2nd U/19 Male Surf Teams, Brayden Woodford- 2nd U19 Male Surf Race, Jake Potter, Jack Wilson & Brayden Woodford- 2nd U/19 Male Taplin Relay, Seb James & Steve Vermey- 2nd 40-44 Years Male Board Rescue, Darren Turner & Mick Locke- 2nd 50-54 Years Male Board Rescue, Lincoln Costello, Glenn MacMillian, Craig Lunney, Jason Sparkes & Sweep Barry Lowe- 2nd 220 Years Male Surf Boat, Tim McLaren, Peter McLaren, Chris Mercer, Barry Lowe and Sweep Lincoln Costello- 2nd 260 Years Male Surf Boat, Max Butler, Coen Taylor, Euan Colquhoun, Adam Barlow and Sweep Paul Jones - 3rd Reserve Male Surf Boat, Steve Vermey, Darren Turner & Mick Locke- 3rd 150 Years Male Taplin
Towradgi: Beau Anderson- 2nd U/19 Male Flags.
North Wollongong: Callum Ardita, Jake Schulze, Jack Mulhern- 3rd U/13 Male Board Relay, Callum Ardita, Jake Schulze, Jack Mulhern and James Rutty- 1st U/13 Male Surf Team, Charlotte Neville- 3rd U/13 Female Ironperson
Wollongong City: Tayah Anderson- 2nd U/13 Female Flags, Rory Lindsay Cowan- U14 Male Beach Sprint, Zara Yatras - 3rd U9 Female Flags. Trent Lawrence- 1st 50-54 Years Male Board Race, Michael Jennett- 3rd 45+ Male Board Rescue, Stephen De Lorenzo- 1st 65-69 Years Male Swim Race, Michael Yatra- 2nd 25-39 Years Male Flags, Milton Stepanovski- 2nd U/15 Male 2km Beach Run, Isabella Evans, Shye Beveridge, Zoe Hope & Oasis Huender- 1st U/15 Girls Beach Relay, Xavier Anderson,Shye Beveridge, Isabelle Evans & Rory Lindsay-Cowan- 3rd U/15 Mixed Beach Relay, Kate Jennett, Renee Campbell, Morgan Clarke, Shannon Fox & Meghan Fox- 1st Female RnR, Claire Parker, Bronte Hawkesby, Alexandra Whitnell- 3rd U/19 RnR, 3rd U/19 Rnr
Port Kembla: Aaron Jackson, Corey Jackson, John Patison, Michael Hogan, Mitchell Foran- 3rd Open Male Surf Boat, Emma Cato, John Patison, Morgan Jackson, Renee Patison, Shannon Grimsey- 3rd Open Female Surf Boat
Well done to all our competitors from our clubs in the Illawarra. A full list of competitor results in the Illawarra can be found at the following link after logging into the SLS members area; 2024 NSW State Championships- Illawarra Competitor Results
A big thank you also to our dedicated officials and water safety volunteers who helped at State Championships.
Upcoming Surf Sports Events
Aussies are coming up this month in sunny Queensland. All the best to our athletes from the Illawarra who will be competing. We look forward to hearing your results!
If Surf Sports interests you, subscribe to Surf Sports Weekly to stay up to date; www.surflifesaving.com.au
Multicultural Water Safety Day
Our most recent Multicultural Water Safety Day was held at Fairy Meadow SLSC on Saturday 16 March.
The day was coordinated by NSW Office of Sport and involved other community organisations and educators who all come together to spread awareness of beach and water safety for multicultural families and persons who want to learn about beach and water safety.
Many thanks to all involved and to those who volunteered their time on the day to this important intiative. Thank you to Fairy Meadow SLSC for hosting.
Youth Development Day
Woonona SLSC hosted a youth development day on Sunday 24 March for youth members between the ages of 13-17. Our youth who attended helped patrol Woonona beach, heard from Duty Officers about pathways in Surf Life Saving and emergency services and got to see our UAV operators, IRB Drivers and Ski Operators in action and participated in team building activities, with a BBQ lunch.
Thanks to our youth members for getting involved and an extra big thank you to Woonona SLSC for hosting and their members on patrol during the day for sharing their patrol knowledge. An extra big thank you to our facilitators and helpers on the day who made the day a great success.
Calling volunteers for Water Safety Talks
After our recent stall at UOW's orientation week and the many discussions with students about beach and water safety, it was clear that their is a further need for water safety education with international students.
Surf Life Saving Illawarra is hoping to offer water safety talks to international students at the start of each semester and at other opportunities that may arise throughout the year.
We are looking for a group of people who would be interested in being part of these water safety talks in the future. Please reach out to Ash in the office for more information at office@slsillawarra.com.au or by calling 0403 224 258.
SLSI Life Member's Morning Tea
Our next SLSI Life Member catch up is coming up this Friday 5 April 2024.
SLSI life members, please check your email for an invitation with further details.
Surf Life Saving Illawarra Awards of Excellence
SAVE THE DATE!!
Our Awards of Excellence will be held on Friday 14th of June 2024 at City Beach Function Centre.
The Surf Life Saving Illawarra Awards of Excellence are an opportunity for our members to get together and celebrate another season of Surf Life Saving in the Illawarra. With many different categories of awards being celebrated on the night, including awards representing excellence in lifesaving, surf sports and support operations.
More information to come regarding nominations for Awards and how to purchase tickets.
We are looking forward to a great night!
Do you have a passion for Education in Surf Life Saving?
The Surf Life Saving Illawarra Branch is looking for an Education Administration Officer 2 days a week.
Please see job description at the following link; Branch Education Administration Officer (Illawarra)
OUR NEW WEBSITE IS LIVE; Check it out at slsillawarra.com.au
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.
