In This Edition
- From The Editor
- Commemorating Anzac Day
- ILSAR: Inverloch Leadership Search & Rescue Camp
- Membership & Leadership Development Update
- Training Update
- Event Recap: Let the Fun Be-Gin
- Operations Update
- Seeking Newsletter Editor EOI’s
- Sponsors
From The Editor
Hey Team,
As we close the chapter on the 2024/25 season, this edition of the ISLSC newsletter captures the spirit of what makes our club so special: community, commitment, and the strong bonds we share.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen our members step up in incredible ways. From honouring ANZAC Day alongside other community groups, to running the kiosk over Easter, launching our first youth-led Easter Egg Hunt, and finishing strong on patrol… the dedication and passion of our volunteers has been on full display.
This newsletter also celebrates the return of ILSAR, Inverloch’s own Leadership Search and Rescue program, which has been recognised as both the State and National Lifesaving Innovation of the Year. That’s an incredible achievement and a credit to every member who’s helped shape this camp into what it is today.
We’ve also seen major wins in youth engagement, new training pathways like our Adult SRC, and a booming social calendar thanks to events like Let the Fun Be-Gin, all of which contribute to building a club culture that’s inclusive, dynamic, and forward-thinking.
As things slow down on the beach, I encourage you to reflect on what the Club can offer you and what you can contribute in return. If you’ve been on the fence about getting involved or taking on a new role, now’s the perfect time to dive in! There are plenty of ways to stay connected, contribute, and help shape our Club as we head into the 2025/26 season.
Finally, a big thank you to everyone who contributed to this edition, through stories, ideas, or simply by showing up and getting involved. This newsletter is created by members, for members, and I’d love to grow the team that puts it together. If you’re keen to write, design, or just get creative, check out the EOI for Newsletter Editor at the end of this edition.
See you around the club soon,
Xavier Korbel
Director – Member Engagement
Commemorating Anzac Day
ANZAC Day is a special day where we honour and remember the servicemen and women who have served and sacrificed for our country and the freedoms we enjoy today.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with other community groups, a small crew from ISLSC – led by President Glenn Arnold – laid a wreath in remembrance. The presence of the team in their patrol uniform, and barefoot no less, was noted by many in attendance as particularly striking.
ISLSC is proud to continue our long-standing tradition of supporting ANZAC Day and remembering the ANZAC spirit.
Lest we forget.
ILSAR: Inverloch Leadership Search & Rescue Camp
Inverloch’s award-winning ILSAR (Inverloch Leadership Search and Rescue) program is back this September school holidays! Recently awarded State and National Lifesaving Innovation of the Year, ILSAR is a high-intensity leadership and scenario based camp designed to challenge and upskill our most committed members.
- Camp dates: 1 – 5 October 2025
Applications open with the next newsletter, arriving the week of Monday 9th June. Spots are limited, and participants will be selected based on merit.
Membership & Leadership Development Update
Kiosk over Easter Long Weekend
A massive thank you to the amazing volunteers who ran the ISLSC kiosk over the Easter weekend. We’re proud to share that we raised a great amount of money to help support club operations for next season, an incredible result made possible by our community. A special shoutout to Holly Foster, Xavier Korbel, Saskia Cehun, and Mathias Twomey for organising and running the kiosk so smoothly across the weekend. And a big thanks to Jono Li for stepping in when things got busy, no surprise that his coffees were voted the best in Inverloch!
Youth inflatable competition success
The youth inflatable comp was held on Sunday 20th April and was a huge success! This fun and friendly inflatable competition had prizes going to the Best Inflatable + Costume, Wave of the Day, and Run-Float-Run winner. It was great to see everyone involved and having a ripper time. Shoutout to all the participants for braving the cold and somehow finding waves when there weren’t many (classic Inverloch)! Special mention to Millie, Maddy, Charlotte and Demi for winning the competitions!
Easter egg hunt run by our own youth members for our community
Our first ever Youth Easter Egg Hunt was a huge success, bringing together plenty of smiling faces for a fun and festive morning around the club. It was the perfect way to wrap up the season, with chocolate, laughter, and a great sense of community. Thank you to all of the volunteers that put this event together and to everyone who came down and got involved!
Nipper helper of the year award
A massive thank you and congratulations to Chris Tatnall, the well-deserved winner of our Nipper Helper of the Year Award.
Chris’s continued dedication to our Nippers program is nothing short of incredible. Always reliable, always supportive, and always there when we need him.
As we all know, it takes a village to run a program of this scale, and we’re so proud of the effort and support shown by our entire Nippers Committee this season. Chris’s outstanding contribution truly stood out, and we’re so grateful for everything he brings to our team.
2025/2026 Nippers & Starfish Dates Announced!
All Nipper dates from 2024-2030 have now been published on the ISLSC Website. For more information please see https://islsc.org.au/lifesaving/education/nippers/
- Prelim Swim Day – 27th December
- Week 1 – 28,29,30,31 December
- Week 2 – 2,3,4,5 January
- Nippers Competition – 10th January
*Subject to Change
Training Update
Congratulations Chief Instructor Award Recipient Finley Withers!
Finley has contributed above and beyond in her multiple roles on the training team this season. In addition to taking on the Training Committee roles of Training Admin, ARTFA Coordinator, and Requal Coordinator, she has also stepped into the role of Invy Bronze Camp Coordinator, leading Inverloch’s biggest bronze camp to date, mentored new head trainers for our SRC course, head trained our new Bass Coast College SRC course which was a live in camp for the first time this season, organised our first ARTFA course in two seasons and trained on multiple IRB courses. She brings an energy and motivation to the team which inspires us to think bigger and be open to new ideas, as well as being a fun and positive person to work with. Thank you for all your hard work, we look forward to seeing you shine again next year!
Adult SRC done and dusted
Our Adult Surf Rescue Certificate course has officially wrapped up as of Sunday 5th May! A huge congratulations to all the participants for giving it their all and embracing every challenge. We’re so proud of everyone for stepping up and joining the lifesaving community!
Event Recap: Let The Fun Be-Gin
Our sold-out Let the Fun Be-Gin event was a night to remember! Organised and executed entirely by our team of dedicated volunteer social committee members, the night brought our members and community together in celebration. Best of all, every dollar of profit goes directly to supporting lifesaving operations at Inverloch SLSC.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended, and those who helped make it happen: Mathias Twomey, Saskia Cehun, Holly Foster and Xavier Korbel.
See you at the next event!
Operations Update
End of Patrol Season Wrap-Up
That’s a wrap on the 2024/25 patrol season! We finished strong with Patrol 2 taking on the final weekend, bringing out an impressive number of patrollers for one last day on the beach—ending the season on a high.
Thank you to our 4 Patrol captains Sam Dimopoulos , Finley Withers, Josh Robinson and Brydie Smith/Angela Malan and the Patrol Leadership Team that has supported each patrol across the season.
We also held a hugely successful end-of-season working bee, with members pitching in across all areas of the club. Thanks to their effort, the garage and operational equipment have been fully cleaned and stocktaken, setting us up to be rescue-ready from day one next season.
Presentation Night was a celebration of the incredible achievements of our members, and we’re proud to share some highlights:
- Rob O’Neill – Special Acknowledgement for reaching 1000 patrol hours
- Lucas Jungwirth – Most Outstanding SRC
- Jake Hetrelezis & Morrie Tatnall – Rotary Rookie of the Year
- Elke Pearson – Most Improved
- Sam Dimopoulos – Patroller of the Year
- Jackson Comrie – Recognised for his outstanding commitment and leadership as Patrol Manager on the ISLSC LSOC committee
Patrol 1 – Patrol of the Year, marking the first time in ISLSC’s history this team has taken out the award! A phenomenal effort by all Patrol 1 patrol members who showed consistency, teamwork, and dedication all season long.
We also announced our Active April winner on the night – congratulations to Patrol 2 and everyone who stayed engaged and moving post-season!
A huge thank you to every member who patrolled, trained, volunteered, and contributed to another incredible season. We can’t wait to see what next summer brings.
April Patroller of the Month
Congratulations to Alyssa Wong, our Patroller of the Month! Alyssa has consistently shown enthusiasm and dedication on patrol. She went above and beyond during her patrol rotations, staying at the water's edge with her group well past her scheduled time simply because they were keen to be there. She also lent a big hand after lunch, staying back to help with the dishes longer than most. Alyssa’s positive attitude, strong work ethic, and team-first approach make her a standout member of the patrol. Well done, Alyssa!
Seeking Newsletter Editor EOI's
Love writing or design? We're seeking Expressions of Interest for a Newsletter Editor to help shape and share club stories. No formal experience needed, just enthusiasm and a keen eye for detail!
Interested? Reach out to Xavier at engagement@islsc.org.au
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