President's Chat - Sept 2024

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