President's Chat - Nov 2023

Welcome to another edition of our club newsletter, the Blu-ing which, like so much in our club, has a rich history of information sharing with our membership and friends so please take a short time to read the content.

Vale Horst: I start this edition with a heavy heart after what has been a difficult week for many of us
here at South Maroubra Surf Club. On Wednesday 22nd November a much loved and long serving Life
Member Horst Menzel who many of you would have seen nearly on a daily basis in various settings around the club was involved in a sudden and tragic surf  accident resulting a couple of days later in his passing at Prince of Wales Hospital.

The long history of Horsts involvement and service to South Maroubra SLSC will be detailed at a later time, suffice to say it was 40 years plus of distinguished service and love of this club and its members. His connection with South Maroubra SLSC and Dolphins Winter Swimmers whilst long, productive and dotted with contributions in so many ways also extends to his families significant involvement which like Horst remains invaluable today and hopefully well into the future.

On Sunday, 25/11 from 4pm to 6pm, our club has invited Horst’s family and friends down to the club
to share stories of both the good, funny and sad  times. We hope many of you were able to share this
special time! As this situation continues to unfold, we are unable to advise funeral details but will do so as soon as the information becomes available.

On behalf of every single member, all of our many friends and the wider community we thank Horst
for his service and extend our deepest sympathy to Marj, Craig, Tracey, Simon, Kellie and the entire and large family. Vale Horst, gone to soon but never forgotten!

Can I also take this opportunity to thank Paul Duffy, John, Leo, Peter and all of the Lifeguards along with the off-duty Paramedic that worked to save Horst's life on that fateful morning. This is what Surf Life Saving and Service is all about!

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Vale Tony: Also, this week at a packed St Andrews church, we bid farewell to Foundation Member Tony Brown after a long health battle. Tony was part of the group of members that ventured from Malabar Surf Club to South Maroubra back in 1959 establishing the great club we enjoy today. Living at Matraville, Tony was a quiet, unassuming businessman and gentleman that gave a great deal of time and energy starting the club with a tent, through to a donated demountable then the first footings of the club we are in today along with his great mate and one of only a couple remaining
Foundation Members Lou Armstrong. (see photo of Lou with hand on Tony's shoulder) 

We extend our sympathy to Jan, Justine, Jay, Camille and the entire family on the loss of one fine
man!

Well, that’s it with the sad news except to say over 100+ years of experience and service to the club gone in one week. We’ll all need to give a little bit more to cover the loss of these outstanding members.

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Other news in brief.
Administration Upgrade: As a result of continued support of our Sunday Socials and Private Functions in the Bernie Kelly Bar and Heritage Room, we have been able to find additional funds to employee a second person in the club office. This position will be known as the Assistant to Directors with the objective to reduce the mounting workload on the club leadership whilst supporting each section of the club. A selection process has recently concluded with the successful candidate to be known soon.

Amenities Block: By now you will have seen the new yellow brick Council amenities block up and running and what a stunning building, well done to Randwick Council, a much-needed piece of community infrastructure. With the opening of new facilities, the old public toilets attached to our club have now been officially signed over to our club. This space will eventually be part of a full club upgrade so are vital in terms of footprint. Until the upgrade happens, which will be some years away the space will be used for storage of club gear not used frequently. We are presently going through a comprehensive deep clean plan followed by fumigation followed by a repaint of the old men's changeroom which are in poor condition. The extra space is much needed as we continue to grow.
Stay tuned for further information.

Club Parking: It has been reported to me that a number of club members specifically leaders of the club and lifesavers have been booked by Council Rangers for parking in the Surf Patrol parking spots, south end of our carpark. Permits have now been issued upon request to patrolling members a limited number of senior club management. Essentially these spots are for patrolling members rostered on patrol at the time of parking. If you have a permit please place it clearly on your dash as failure to do so may result in being infringed. If there is no space available in the Patrol spots then park in the carpark in front of the club (in marked parking spaces only) and put the permit on display.

Fundraising: Thank you to those that assisted the Maroubra Fun Run and Spring Festival. As we promised all funds raised will be allocated to Summer and Winter competitors to reduce costs. Also congrats to our IRB on their Santa Photo shoot Fund Raising efforts, great idea and well supported by the membership.

Sportspersons Day: Our SPORTSPERSONS DAY is schedule for Sunday 28/1/24. We are now searching for quality guest speakers which can be high profile current or former sports people or speakers with a fantastic story to tell. If you can identify a speaker that fits the bill, you are welcome to accompany them at no cost, the speaker can stay from start to finish including lunch and refreshments or simply jump into a 30-minute slot. Start recruiting your tables of 10 or even single ticket holders are welcome to be part of this fantastic day.
If you have a person that fits the bill we’d appreciate YOU touching base and coming back to us at
[email protected]

See you all at Social Sunday and please start having a chat about sportspersons day and a possible
guest speaker.

Cheers everyone!
Paul ‘Stretch’ Fownes APM OAM
President