Dear friends in our community,
 
Clovelly Community Bank has just launched our annual community Christmas present drive and we would like to invite you and our local supported community groups to mobilise their members to give a gift to someone in need in our community this Christmas.
 
Now in it’s 5th year, last year we were able to pass on 1,500 donated gifts, toys, toiletries, and food hampers directly to those in need.
 
5 local charities have been invited to receive the donated gifts this year. These charities will choose from the donated gifts and pass them on directly to those in need in their care.
 
The local charities we are collecting gifts for:
 

• The Lokahi Foundation (local domestic violence charity),  
• Bayside Women’s Shelter (local domestic violence shelter),
• The Deli (local domestic violence charity),
• Project Kindness (To help those struggling in our community),
• Caring Kids charity (toys for child carers)

 
We gratefully receive all donations however you would like to donate!
 
Either directly under the Christmas Tree at the bank, open Monday – Friday 9.30 – 5pm.
Or we can arrange a specific time for you to drop the gifts off at the bank with a photo opportunity, to thank your groups on our socials.
Or if you want to collect the donations yourselves, we can organise to collect. Just let me know.
 
Specific requested items from the charities are outlined below: 
For Children: Toys, sport balls, LEGO, arts & craft supplies, board games & puzzles, school stationery, backpacks, water bottles, beach towels, goggles. 
For Teenagers: Gift vouchers in smaller nominated amounts for K-mart, Woolworths, Rebel, etc. 
For Adults: Toiletry packs, perfume, moisturiser, aftershave, 2025 diary or journal, water bottles, gift vouchers for food, botany pool vouchers, movie & bowling vouchers. 
Other Notes: No perishable foods for Christmas Hampers, gifts 30c of less in size unwrapped - optional gift tag or card, donations to be place underneath the Community Bank Clovelly Giving Tree until December 15th. 

Community Bank Clovelly 222-226 Clovelly Road Coogee NSW. Monday – Friday 9.30 – 5pm.
 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT 

On the 12th of October, a group of our South Maroubra Youth competed on the Gold Coast at the Coolangatta Gold Youth Challenge. Congratulations to the following members for their fantastic results. 

• U13 female iron person - Sophie 3rd
• U13 male ironperson - Billy 8th
• U11 female iron person - Grace 19th
• U17 male iron person - Aidan 19th
  

Welcome again to our September Bluing edition where we hope you take the time to keep up to date with the club latest news.
 
On that note you’ll be please to know that I’ve returned in one piece from a long trip overseas and ready to get stuck into the many challenges rapidly approaching at the start of the season including;
 

• Preparing the new Lifesaving Room for occupation. Phase 1 of contracted works have been approved to facilitate the movement of gear from the old room into the new room. Phase 2 will see the set up of the engine maintenance secure area. We know you will be thrilled with the final product.
• As we work towards setting up the new lifesaving room we also start work on our new multi-purpose room (the old lifesaving room) that will see the secure cage area become storage for a range of gear. You’ll see the room transition into a comfortable  and well equipped education room with audio visual, all lifesaving training gear, carpet, tables chairs, whiteboard etc. Plus we will trial the room as a meeting room for our younger members where it will serve as a social hub. Exciting isn’t it?
• Patrols start in September along with training courses, recruitment of new patrolling members, start of season gear inspection, so plenty happening on the red and yellow front.
• Gotcha4life mental health fundraising was an amazing success last weekend, led by our Vice President Linda Perrin. South Maroubra along with other surf clubs participated as a team to help the Gotcha4life and organiser Gus Worland during this major annual fundraiser. We managed to raise over $7,000 and rowed over 1000 km! You can still all the action by going to our Facebook site and you’ll see posts and clicking here to make a donation into the South Maroubra account.
• Octoberfest a fun day in the park and major fundraiser for our Summer and Winter competitors is on again Sunday 27/10. German oom pah band will be firing up, followed by good old Aussie rock and roll band, beers, food and fun so please put this in your diary. Children's rides, spring festival and refreshments will all be on as well. Spread the news and put it in your diaries.
• Sponsorship required: We’ve gone ahead with an order to purchase a new traditional racing surf boat which is now under construction. We’re searching for one or several sponsors that might like to have an exclusive of shared naming rights. These boats are big, so much like a mobile bill-board, they reflect the history and culture of surf lifesaving, feature regularly in media so a great PR opportunity. With a big membership could you bounce this around your place of work or perhaps open a door or two we can walk through to pursue a sponsorship. The boat will be ready in a month or two so we must act quickly! Enquiries to [email protected]
• Launch of 2024/25 surf season – will coincide with the start of nippers 13th October. All patrolling members will be invited to some live music and a refreshment to mark the start of summer!  
• Lastly, Social Sundays have proven to be a big HIT. Don’t miss out on one of the nicest spots on the coast. Family, friends are all welcome in our beer garden and remember we now have special members prices but you must apply to be part of the Members Loyalty Program. See within this report further information on how to join as we are launching SOON. Any enquiries or queries to [email protected] so please do NOT miss out as no discounts will be provided within your loyalty pass presented at the bar!

 
See you all soon
Paul ‘Stretch’ Fownes APM OAM
President

Following the fantastic results from our pool rescue team at the NSW State Pool Life Saving Championships earlier this year, and months of training, a team of ten junior and youth members travelled to the Gold Coast in August to compete in the Australian Pool Rescue Championships. The team had a very successful championships and we would like to congratulate them on winning fourteen championship medals.
GOLD
 Under 12 Boys 100m Obstacles – Billy Holford
SILVER
 Under 12 Boys 100m Obstacles – Jacob Roorda
 Under 12 Boys 50m Brick Carry – Jacob Roorda
 Under 12 Boys 50m Freestyle with Fins – Billy Holford
 Under 12 Boys 10m Line Throw – Tenison Millward & Liam Knibbs
 Under 12/13 Boys 4x50m Obstacles Relay – Billy Holford, Jacob Roorda, Liam Knibbs, Tenison Millward
 Under 14 Boys 50m Manikin Carry – Ryan McNamara
 Under 14 Boys 10m Line Throw – Ryan McNamara & Jordan Pribadi
BRONZE
 Under 12 Boys 50m Brick Carry – Billy Holford
 Under 12 Boys 50m Freestyle with Fins – Jacob Roorda
 Under 12/13 Boys 2x50m Patient Tow – Billy Holford & Jacob Roorda
 Under 12/13 Boys 4x50m Medley Relay – Billy Holford, Jacob Roorda, Liam Knibbs, Tenison Millward
 Under 14 Boys 50m Freestyle with Fins – Owen Roorda
   Under 14/15 Boys 4x50m Obstacles Relay – Ryan McNamara, Owen Roorda, Jordan Pribadi, Christopher Kondilios

Congratulations also to Ryan McNamara and Owen Roorda who were selected as the Under 14 male representatives in the NSW Interstate Pool Rescue Team. Following three days of competing in individual and team events, the NSW team placed second place overall in the Australian Pool Rescue Interstate Championships.
Thanks to our coach and team manager Renae McNamara, as well as all of the parents who assisted the team. We look forward to the team competing at the Australian Pool Rescue Championships again in season 2024/2025 in Adelaide.

The Club is currently seeking expression of interests (EOIs) for the below courses. Please note the minimum ages for each course are depicted in brackets below. The Bronze Medallion is a prerequisite for the IRBC. Dates are TBC. 

• First Aid Course (14+) 
• Advanced Rescue Techniques (ART) (15+) 
• IRB Crew Course (15+) 

Similarly Sydney Branch will be running the Silver Medallion Patrol Captain Course (SMPC) and the Silver Medallion Aquatic Rescue Course (SMAR) from October onwards. A prerequisite of Bronze Medallion is necessary. Please note you have to be 16+ to complete the SMAR course and 17+ for the SMPC course. 

The Education Team is excited to provide Surf Skills sessions for patrolling members. This includes the practice of board and swim skills in the surf. Please use this link to express interest regarding this particular course. 

With all EOIs regarding any of the above courses, please email [email protected]. 

As the SLS World Championships are fast approaching, with competition commencing in September we highlight our athletes representing the club in the Gold Coast. This includes our sand competitors and our IRB competitors. 

The Sandies are sending 2 relay teams to the Surf Life Saving World Champs hence we have been training through the off season with no real break.

We have a team of 9 attending Worlds consisting of Ruby Gray, Annabel Penny, Chris Kondilios, Zac Getz, Tom Far Jones, Luke Newrick, Jake Lynch, Blake Drysdale, Jett Van Der Wallen. Unfortunately, Dylan Sharpe was going to attend but succumbed to a Hammy and broken wrist. Speedy recovery Dylan.

We have 3 open men joining us from Newport this coming competition year who will be competing under our proud South Maroubra cap. We are proud to have Jake Lynch, Blake Drysdale, Jett Van Der Wallen join our ranks, and it will certainly bolster our relays and our overall strength on the sand.

We are sending our U17 Relay team consisting of: 

• Chris Kondilios
• Zac Getz
• Tom Far Jones
• Luke Newrick

We are also sending our first ever opens team:

• Jake Lynch
• Blake Drysdale
• Jett Van Der Wallen
• Luke Newrick

The following IRB competitors are competing:

• Samantha Playfair
• Tara Georgas (injured)
• Thomas Hetherington
• William Shaddock
• Elisa Garay
• Scott Parker
• Tom Mcintyre
• Tyler Perry
• Laurie Golsby
• Liam Smith
• Lucy Burns
• Marshal Lines
• René Prochnow
• Alex Shaddock
• Angelina Garay 
• Isabella Garay
• Iona Dyson (injured)
• Isabelle Hazelwood
• Joshua Ricamara
• Josh Stephans
• Kai Jones

Good luck to all those competing!