Presidents Chat - Feb 23

Members, a belated welcome to 2023 and what a start to the new year we have had here at South Maroubra.

So many events run and won to date including our traditional ‘Respect, Reflect and Celebrate’ Australia Day bbq, followed by our very Sportspersons Day fundraising event for our Aussie Touring team heading to Western Australia in March. We followed this event with resumption of Nippers, Branch Titles for Youth, Masters and Open competitors.  Our fitness class for members ‘Over 40’ resumed and still welcomes members over 40.  Emily Henville and Chris Kondilios from Nippers represented our club in the Branch Junior Lifesaver of the Year competition, both finalists.

Yes, there’s more, with our club hosting sponsors lunch recognising and thanking the individuals and companies that support the work our members do and the invaluable contribution to our community our club makes on so many fronts and finally, we finished the run of events to date with Nipper State Touring Team Trivia fundraiser in Horizons!

Wow, what a world wind 2 months in 2023!

Pleasingly we have had outstanding service from our Lifesavers over the festive season with records crowds on our beach, consistent large numbers at South Maroubra that I haven’t seen in many years.  Surf conditions were equally challenging but handled really well by our well trained and equipped lifesavers. Bronze and SRC training has resumed, a special ‘Sisters in the Surf’ patrol recognising 40 years of women in lifesaving takes place on March 11 with all female members welcome to join this nostalgic occasion.

In brief;

• We continue to work with contractors around the amenity block development and expect in the next month to experience some access interruption to the beach ramp and some storerooms, car park side.
• Bernie Kelly Dr will be resurfaced on the 14/2 with road closed btw 8pm and 5am.
• We continue to work up the next stage of the club redevelopment with plans nearing DA submission.
• Record private bookings of our ‘Heritage and BK bar’ continue with members taking up the offer of 'discounted room hire prices.’
• Social Sunday and our outside beer garden have boomed this year with the community and members embracing this wonderful social initiative.
• Last Sunday I celebrated my retirement in the Heritage Lounge, a wonderful way to close the policing chapter, thanks to Greg, Uri and Marcelo for volunteering their bar services.
• Club Champs this Sunday 9am with all lifesavers encouraged to join in on this fun morning.
• Extensive fire safety upgrades have occurred followed by electrical safety upgrades.
• We welcome back Ray Brownlee incoming Randwick City General Manager, an outstanding Local Government Leader.

And that’s a wrap for now, see you on Sunday!
Paul ‘Stretch’ Fownes APM OAM
President.