Patrol season ends 4 weeks early

24 March 2020

Dear Members and Friends,

As you are aware operations and activities at your club South Maroubra have had to be reduced in
accordance with health and government increasing restrictions. Actions taken by the club to date have been formally published and distributed to all members via Surfguard emails, Facebook posts and stored on our website in the form of a SITUATION REPORT.

We have done this to ensure every one of our members from youngest to mature are kept aware of how the
club is responding to this developing Covid-19 crisis and status of the club.

Essentially, effective immediately all club storerooms, showers, gymnasium, socials, training, functions
have ceased with Surf Patrols restricted last weekend to surveillance after the beach was closed by Council.
This developing situation we as a club and society are confronting, is new to us, there is no blueprint or
manual in which we are operating, rather implementing all 3 levels of government decisions and doing what
we believe is right for the safety and security of our members and club.

On the evening, a further development occurred after a video conference where all Sydney Branch Club
Presidents decided unanimously to cease ALL beach based surf patrols effectively meaning for us the
2019/20 patrol season has prematurely ceased. We made this decision based on member safety, restriction of beach attendee numbers and the likelihood the next phase of restrictions will soon be implemented.

The next paragraph is a message from Nicole Cooney, our Director of Lifesaving Services:
“I would like to send my thanks to all patrolling members, patrol captains, trainers and section leaders who
have been supportive throughout the season. I thank you for all your hard work and commitment in ensuring
Maroubra Beach is a safe place to visit. While this is not the way we expected the season to end the key is
we are all safe and healthy. I look forward to seeing you all back in the new season in the red and yellow,
and I’m sure when we can socialise again the bar will be open for some celebratory drinks.”

Continuing on and with Nippers having finalised their season, all competition cancelled or postponed, social
events suspended and now surf patrols ending, I would like to take this opportunity to thank every single
person who has made this year such a memorable one. So much achieved so many happy nipper faces
each week, great people on patrol and regrettably a large SRC and Bronze training group that could not
complete their final 2 weeks of the course when going so well. To all those trainees we hope you stay
committed to complete the courses as soon as we are back on deck as you are our priority.

To the various leadership groups and, patrol members, its likely we will not be able to formally acknowledge
your efforts this season but rest assured when we are able too, we’ll put on one hell of a celebration when
kissing goodbye to the coronavirus.

Thank you to our loyal sponsors this year, we were in the final phase of organising sponsor events like we
were our Gold Members night. We will definitely finalise many of these things early next season as Nippers
will with their various age group and competition awards.

For your information our Caretakers Barry and Leslie will remain on site looking after the security of the club,
our Club Office will remain operational for as long as possible although likely access into the club will not be
possible so any enquiry for now can be made via email or phone with details previously published and on
SITREPs sent recently.

The Club Office bearers will still be working hard through this crisis, probably remotely, so we welcome any
enquiries via our office email address, plus we will be ramping up our Facebook Posts so be sure to join in
the conversation with a trip down memory lane ensuring we provide some entertainment, club history and
connectivity to each one of you.

Finally, I would ask all members to look out for your neighbours particularly the vulnerable who are not so
fortunate, lets try and lend a hand where we can and grow as a better and more giving society.

Be positive, stay fit and well, recognise how good we really do have it here in the lucky country and we’ll see
you as soon as we possibly can.

If any further developments occur, be sure we will advise you.

​Kind regards,
Paul ‘Stretch’ Fownes
Club Chairman/President

SLSS Circular
SLSNSW Media Release