In This Edition
- President’s Message
- Patroller Of The Month
- Off-Peak Nippers Pilot Program
- Membership & Leadership Development Update
- Training Update
- Competition Update
- Social Recap – Wine Not?
- Sponsors
President’s Message
Hey Team,
As we wrap up February, I want to acknowledge the incredible work of our volunteers over the past few months. Your efforts on the beach, behind the scenes, and within our community don’t go unnoticed, and they continue to strengthen the club every day. This month, we’ve seen new initiatives and long-standing programs thrive, and members step up to support each other and the community.
Congratulations to our newest Adult Bronzies who have completed their qualifications. Welcome to the team, and we look forward to seeing you out on patrol. Steve Duncan and I have also been working with ICAN to continue evolving the conversation with DEECA regarding the erosion issues and the need for protective works. I’ll keep everyone updated as we progress.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed – whether on patrol, through training, supporting events, working behind the bar or mentoring others. Your dedication ensures the club remains a safe, welcoming, and progressive place for all members.
As we head into March, I encourage everyone to stay involved, take up development opportunities, and continue supporting one another. The season is far from over, and I look forward to what we can achieve together in the coming weeks.
Glenn Arnold
ISLSC President
Patroller Of The Month – January
Morrie Tatnall
Morrie has once again proven to be a reliable, punctual, and enthusiastic member of the team, always eager to help and encourage new patrollers. His commitment to mentoring others has been invaluable, consistently stepping up to run and participate in scenarios with SRCs to support their development.
Morrie has demonstrated maturity and leadership time and time again, setting a fantastic example for fellow patrollers. His positive attitude and dedication make a real difference to the club, and we truly appreciate all his efforts!
Congratulations to Jake Hetrelezis, Saskia Cehun and Campbell Blake for being nominated across the month for their outstanding contributions to patrol.
Off-Peak Nippers Pilot Program
Starting March 5
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Off-Peak Nippers Pilot Program at Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club! This pilot initiative is designed to provide local families with the chance to engage in surf lifesaving activities outside the traditional summer period. Running from Wednesday, March 5 to Wednesday, April 2, 2025, this 5-week program will introduce children aged 10 and under to essential surf safety skills, water confidence, and basic life saving techniques.
Sessions will be held from 4:30 PM to 5:45 PM, followed by dinner at the clubhouse. The initiative is led by Holly Foster and the off peak nippers committee with support from experienced beach coordinators, age managers and water safety volunteers.
As a pilot program, this initiative is designed to test the feasibility and demand for off-peak surf lifesaving activities. If successful, we aim to expand the program to include all nipper age groups in Term 4 of this year. Further membership and program cost details, along with registration information, will be shared with those who have expressed interest mid-week. We are excited to trial this new initiative and hope to see many of you there!
We are specifically looking for water safety volunteers to ensure the safety of all participants. To qualify for this role, volunteers must hold either their SRC (Surf Rescue Certificate) or Bronze Medallion certification.
In addition to water safety, we are also seeking age managers and any other interested people to join our committee to help with the program.
If you’re interested in volunteering, please sign up via the links below:
Water Safety – https://volunteersignup.org/BLHXA
Age Managers – https://volunteersignup.org/8YQYE
If you’re interested in signing up your child for the program, please express interest via the link below.
Membership & Leadership Development Update
Upcoming Course, Camps and opportunities to be found throughout the LSV Membership and Leadership development February newsletter here; M&LD February Newsletter.pdf
- Upcoming Youth Opportunities – U13 and U18 Camp
- Champion Junior Lifesaver Day Wrap-Up
- Ready to Lead 2025 – Bigger and better in 2025
- And more!!
Champion Junior Lifesaver Development Day
A massive congratulations to Mia Sutherland for coming 3rd during the recent LSV CJL Day! Out of 26 participants aged 13-14, Mia showcased her skills and determination through a day filled with team challenges, developmental workshops, interactive sessions, and key LSV personal, CPR, and rescue scenarios. What an amazing achievement and a fantastic example of young members representing their skills at the state level! Well done, Mia!
Ready to Lead 2025 – Bigger and better in 2025
Registrations are now open for the 2025 Ready to Lead and Ready to Lead + programs. This year we are excited to be offering two streams to cater for- and develop the diverse array of women that come into the program.
Program cost: $400 per registration – Club members that are successful applicants will have 50% of the program cost subsidised by the club. Note that this program is only available to members identifying as female.
More Information and registration links can be found in the following link; Ready 2 Lead LSV clubs.pdf.
International Women’s Day Breakfast
- When: 5th March 2025
- Time: 7:00 AM – 8:45 AM
- Location: Lifesaving Victoria HQ, 200 The Boulevard, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207
- Tickets: $70 for members, $80 for non-members
Purchase your tickets here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1329333
The theme this year will align with the UN theme of ‘March Forward’. With this in mind, we are very grateful to announce this year’s inspirational keynote speaker, Rana Hussain.
Third Annual Bass Coast Pink Patrol and Pink Patrol Brunch – 2025!
A huge congratulations to the club and our patrollers for celebrating Pink Patrol in such an impactful way! Special shoutout to Bella Perich for her outstanding work PC’ing the Pink Patrol on Saturday and making the day a success. A big round of applause to Lucy Tate for being awarded the Change Makers Award, and to Finley Withers for receiving the Rising Star Award for Inverloch at the Pink Patrol brunch – both so well-deserved! This day wouldn’t have been possible without a few special people, but in particular, a huge congrats to our very own DLO, Ella Arnold. Ella is one of the founders of the Bass Coast Pink Patrol Brunch and once again facilitated an incredible event this year. We had the privilege of listening to three inspiring guest speakers and connecting with men and women from across the Bass Coast. What an unforgettable day!
Applications now open: U13 Youth Development Camp!
The U13 Development Camp provides our youth members with a platform to develop their interpersonal skills, broaden their understanding of lifesaving, and support participants as they progress through their lifesaving journey. Mentored by current outstanding volunteer leaders and lifesaving role models, participants will have the opportunity to learn, share and network with like minded lifesavers from across the state over a 3-day live-in camp. Further info at:
a href=”https://clubs.lsv.com.au/cdn/storage/documents/HapNDTNb8ndXHN8Ti/original/HapNDTNb8ndXHN8Ti.pdf” target=”_blank”>https://clubs.lsv.com.au/cdn/storage/documents/HapNDTNb8ndXHN8Ti/original/HapNDTNb8ndXHN8Ti.pdf
Key Information:
- When: Friday,4 April – Sunday, 6 April 2025
- Where: YMCA Camp Lake Dewar, Myrniong VIC
- Applications Close: Wednesday 26 February
Training Update
Over 2 weekends in February and one Thursday evening online session, Inverloch hosted the annual Adult Bronze course. The course saw 10 members, including a few from other Bass district clubs, attain their bronze medallion award and walk away with a wealth of first aid, CPR and rescue knowledge. It was amazing to see everyone battle the unfavourable conditions on both weekends and express enthusiasm during theory sessions. We have yet another amazing group of adults ready to join patrols and put their skills into practice.
However, we would be nowhere without the fabulous group of trainers and water safety who helped out throughout the course and imparted their knowledge. Thank you to everyone who was involved and I look forward to seeing our newly qualified Bronzies out on patrol or water safetying during nippers next season!
Finley Withers
Head Trainer
Competition Update
Club Champs
The Inverloch Club Championships were a huge success this year, we saw a fantastic turnout of athletes competing across a variety of events. The atmosphere was incredibly positive, filled with a strong sense of community and camaraderie among all participants. It was truly awesome to witness individuals of all ages and abilities stepping up to the challenge, pushing themselves to their limits and giving it their all.
The events featured a mix of water and beach activities, including a swim, board paddle, 1km run, sprints and flags that showcased some fierce competition. A big thank you to the committee who helped put everything together, to Josh and Tim Robinson for officiating, and to the IRB race team for organizing the BBQ fundraiser. We can’t wait to see all of our dedicated athletes back next year! Winners for each age group will be announced at the upcoming presentation evening.
Bass Inter-Club Senior Carnival
What an awesome day last Sunday at the Bass Inter-Club Senior Carnival at Cape Paterson! Despite it being a very windy day, the vibe was fantastic as our athletes went head-to-head against other Bass Clubs. It was fantastic to see every Bass Coast club represented, showing off the talent and spirit of our community.
With a setup similar to our Club Championships, everyone really gave it their all in the beach and surf events. Huge thanks to everyone who registered and came out to support! You all made the day even more special. Can’t wait to build on this experience for future events. Let’s keep that momentum going and shoot for even more success next time!
Social Recap – Wine Not? Wine/Cheese Tasting
Our Wine & Cheese Tasting Night on Jan 25th was a huge success, with over 50 members coming together to enjoy an evening of exceptional local produce. It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces, along with new members, sharing great conversations over beautifully paired wines and cheeses. With selections from Harman Wines, Prom Country Cheese, and others, the night was a true celebration of Gippsland’s finest offerings.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and made the night so special! I’d like to extend my thanks to Kim White, Saskia Cehun and Eli Fox for their help with the event.
We love bringing our members together for unique and memorable experiences, and we’re already looking forward to the next event. Keep an eye out for more exciting social gatherings coming soon—we’d love to see you there!
Want to stay in the loop? Make sure to follow our socials (including TeamApp!) and check out the club newsletter for upcoming events.
Xavier Korbel
Director – Member Engagement
Please support our Sponsors
