In This Edition
- President’s Message
- Erosion of Surf Beach & Resulting Action
- Kiosk Update – Invy Kiosk Surfside
- Seeking Newsletter Editor
- Upcoming at LSV
- Operations Update
- Membership & Leadership Development Update
- Training Update
- Funding Focus
- Member Comms – Stack Team App – Correction
- Sponsors
President’s Message
Hey Team,
This month, the erosion issues at the Surf Beach have been all-consuming, but I’m proud of how the Club has stepped up to meet the challenge. Our involvement in the Victorian Government’s “Inquiry into Climate Resilience” and the petition we presented to Parliament have brought the community together in support of protecting our beach and clubhouse. While this is an ongoing battle, we’re making sure the voices of ISLSC are heard loud and clear.
On a brighter note, I’m thrilled to highlight the fantastic work being done with our Skill Surge program. This two-day event offers an excellent opportunity for all patrollers to refresh and strengthen their life saving skills, with sessions designed to keep us sharp and ready for the season ahead.
We also welcome back Claudia Cox to the Invy Kiosk Surfside! Claudia has returned with a new menu featuring delicious options like fresh rolls, wraps, and a ‘Deck Bar’ menu for the late afternoons. Her return brings an exciting new energy to the kiosk, and we encourage everyone to check out her new offerings.
Lastly, we have several vacancies on our subcommittees, and we’d love to hear from any members interested in helping drive our club forward. This is a great opportunity to get more involved and contribute to the club’s success.
There’s so much more to read about in this month’s newsletter – there’s so much happening at ISLSC, stay safe and enjoy the school holidays.
Glenn Arnold
ISLSC President
Erosion of Surf Beach & Resulting Action
Since the August 2024 newsletter, three notable events have taken place and will continue to have an impact on our club:
- Release of the Draft – Cape to Cape Resilience Plan
- High level surge tide causes massive erosion along the full length of the surf beach that we all love
- ISLSC was invited to make a presentation at the Victorian Government “Inquiry into Climate Resilience” on Tuesday the 3rd of September 2024
As can be seen from the image above, all access to the beach was lost and the sandbags immediately in front of the clubrooms are in danger of being washed away, putting the existence of our Clubhouse in danger. Significantly, this storm tide event critically endangers the entire surf beach and adjacent housing and infrastructure. Lack of beach access and very little sand in front of the clubrooms makes our ability to patrol this summer problematic if the issue remains unresolved. We are currently unable to effectively initiate an emergency response via the Main Surf Beach access path.
The apparent lack of urgency and detail on how to address the ongoing erosion issues along our beach as outlined in the Cape To Cape Resilience Plan and the devastating erosion caused by the storm tide event enabled our club to put forward a very strong case in letting the parliamentary inquiry into climate resilience know that the relevant responsible authorities were not doing enough to address the Inverloch community’s concerns.
Melina Bath, who is a Nationals member of the Victorian Legislative Council, representing the Eastern Victoria Region and one of the Parliamentary representatives at the inquiry, agreed to sponsor the Club’s petition to seek immediate action from the government to address the issue.
The petition was launched on Thursday the 5th of September and with the great support of the town’s businesses and concerned citizens raised an astounding 2575 signatures by Tuesday the 10th of September and was delivered to Melina Bath and Peter Walsh on that day.
The petition was then tabled in Parliament on the 12th of September 2024.
The club would like to thank the community as a whole, and particularly the members of the Inverloch Tourist Association and all the local businesses who supported the petition process, as gaining this number of signatures in such a short period of time is very impressive and underscores how important this issue is to the community.
The petition alone does not ensure a positive government response. Further action is required.
How Can Our Members Help
The Club’s Online petition needs to have the endorsement of 10,000 Victorians. If you support the action, we encourage every member of your family over the age of 12 and who resides in Victoria to complete the submission. You can access and sign the petition online below:
Via ISLSC Website: https://islsc.org.au/about/save-the-club-petition/
We ask you to do this as a matter of urgency and advocate other family members or friends to do so as well.
We encourage every member to review either the Cape to Cape Resilience Plan Summary or the Draft Cape To Cape Resilience Plan and complete the survey or make a submission making your concerns known to the Cape to Cape Resilience Project Team. The beach and town require action now. Retreat as outlined in the documents should be considered a last resort. Action to help reduce the level of erosion is required now. Continual delay because the Government and responsible authorities do not have any money to take meaningful action is not acceptable.
Kiosk Update – Invy Kiosk Surfside
We are excited to announce that Claudia is back running the Kiosk, with some exciting new changes for all members and beachgoers! A revamped menu includes: Fish and Chips, Potato Cakes, Calamari, Fresh Rolls and Wraps, and much more! There is also a ‘Deck Bar’ Menu available in the late afternoon- so you can enjoy some delicious food with your beverage and the best view in Inverloch.
Volunteering at the Kiosk this summer has a great incentive attached to help fundraise for the club. Every shift a volunteer completes during the 2 weeks of Nippers leads to a donation of $45 to the Club. There has been a volunteer sign up link sent with the Nipper sign ups. If you need help finding this, please contact engagement@islsc.org.au.
Invy Kiosk Surfside operator, Claudia, is “excited for the opportunity to provide members and beachgoers with a great new experience on the Surfside of Inverloch”, and we couldn’t agree more. Get excited for the fantastic new menu and food, coming this Summer!
Seeking Newsletter Editor
Do you have a passion for storytelling and keeping our members informed? We’re seeking a Newsletter Editor to take charge of our Eagle Eye newsletter! This role involves coordinating and creating content for our monthly editions, ensuring that our members stay up to date with club news, events, and achievements. If you’re creative, organised, and enjoy working with others, this could be the perfect opportunity to contribute to the club in a unique way! The approximate time commitment for this role is two hours per week.
Interested? Reach out to Xavier at engagement@islsc.org.au to learn more!
Upcoming at LSV
Emergency Services Games
Registrations are open for the 2024 Victoria Police and Emergency Services Games being held from 20 – 27 October 2024, registrations close 19 October. The Games are held annually for members, employees and/or volunteers of affiliated agencies. Represent lifesaving and team LSV and showcase your sporting skills across 41 different sports and disciplines. For more information please contact Kyler at competition@islsc.org.au or view Circular 092.09.24 via the Club Gateway.
Victoria Police Careers Information Session
This exclusive opportunity for LSV volunteer members to join a Life Saving Victoria and Victoria Police Careers Information Session. This session is open to Life Saving Victoria members only, the session will be held at the LSV Headquarters in Port Melbourne on 30 October 2024. This event is free, but registration is required. For more information please contact Xavier at engagement@islsc.org.au or view Circular 088.09.24 via the Club Gateway.
Operations Update
Patrol Dates
We are currently negotiating with LSV regarding the best suitable times to patrol our beach across the summer period. Information regarding confirmed patrol times will be published mid October.
LSOC Committee
Thank you to those that applied for the Inverloch Life Saving Operations Committee. We are currently finalising the amazing team who will be assisting in the efficient running of beach duties. There is still the opportunity to join in the roles of Gear Steward or Radio Officer. If you are interested in either of these roles please email me at clubcaptain@islsc.org.au expressing your interest.
Membership & Leadership Development Update
2024 U15 Leadership Development Camp
Life Saving Victoria (LSV) is now accepting applications for the 2024 U15 Leadership Development Camp.
Dates: 29 November – 1 December 2024
Location: YMCA Anglesea Recreation Camp
Fees: $510 per participant (inc. GST)
This 3-day camp helps youth members develop leadership, teamwork, and lifesaving skills. Applications close Sunday, 13 October 2024.
Apply Here: https://lifesavingvictoria.wufoo.com/forms/mndqnie05meucr/.
For more information or questions, contact development@islsc.org.au.
Nipper & Starfish Nipper Enrolment
Quick reminder that enrolments for our Nippers and Starfish Nippers programs are still open! Be sure not to miss out.
Key Dates:
Registration & Intro Session: 27th December
Week 1: 28th – 31st December
Week 2: 2nd – 5th January
Nippers Competition: 11th January
Enrolments close on 30th November, unless filled prior. For more information and how to enrol, visit:
Nippers: https://islsc.org.au/lifesaving/education/nippers/
Starfish Nippers: https://islsc.org.au/lifesaving/education/starfish-nippers/
Grant Opportunity for Women Leaders in Sport
The Australian Government’s Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) Program is currently open, closing at 3:00 PM AEST 30 September 2024.
The objectives of this program are to support all women from community volunteers to senior executives and boards, to access professional development opportunities, develop specialist skills and enhance existing skills in areas specific to their stage in their leadership journey.
In this round, the WLIS program will offer funding under two streams: 1. Leadership Workshops 2. Individual Grants.
For more information, please see the following circular; https://clubs.lsv.com.au/cdn/storage/documents/ydBYisCGpTzeJ3j93/original/ydBYisCGpTzeJ3j93.pdf
Nipper Committee Position – Looking for applicants
Join our Nipper Committee as a Social Activities Coordinator!
This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in planning and organising fun events for our members. If you’re passionate about creating connections and creating memorable experiences for our nippers and their families, we want to hear from you!
Check out the position description and apply now through the link provided. https://islsc.org.au/lifesaving/education/nippers/committee-positions-available/.
National Leadership College
Applications are now open for the 2025 National Leadership College!
The NLC provides an exciting opportunity for Surf Life Saving members aged 20-30 to develop their leadership skills. The 2025 NLC will be held 26 January – 1 February in Sydney, and applications close 20 October.
The week-long intensive program provides an opportunity for members to enhance their leadership skills to contribute to the overall success of Surf Life Saving. It is a chance to make connections with like-minded individuals from across the country who share a passion for making a meaningful impact within the movement.
Circular is linked here; https://www.surflifesaving.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Circular-19-24-25-National-Leadership-College-2025-1.pdf
For any questions, please contact us at development@islsc.org.au.
Holly Foster
Member & Leadership Development
Training Update
Grom Camp
Grom Camp enrolments still open! ISLSC’s new development program, Grom Camp, is aimed at SRC holders aged 13-14 keen to develop and extend their life saving skills and have loads of fun. Grom Camp is designed to provide candidates with an engaging environment to develop their leadership, teamwork and rescue skills. By enhancing their skills from SRC they will have the chance to receive their requalification and gain an edge on their lifesaving development.
Dates: 30th November – 1st December 2024
Location: Inverloch SLSC (Live-in at the club)
To Apply: https://islsc.org.au/lifesaving/education/grom-camp/
Skill Surge – Refresher & Skills Weekend
The Skill Surge Weekend at Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club is an engaging two-day event designed to refresh and enhance your lifesaving skills. Participants will take part in a variety of hands-on sessions, including IRB training, communication techniques, DRSABCD refreshers and more. This event is specifically geared toward patrollers, focusing on relevant knowledge and skills. Join us for valuable learning and connection, with a group dinner on Saturday night!
This weekend is designed as a refresher for current Bronze, ART, FA and/or IRB award holders. Content will be discussed with the expectation of some reasonable prior knowledge. Attendees will be able to requal some awards (Bronze, IRB Crew & Drivers only). This is a free event for all active members (Excluding dinner which is $10/person).
Who: All bronze medallion holders. Some sessions will be targeted specifically at members with additional awards like ARTFA or IRBC/D.
When: Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th of October (Last weekend of school holidays). Arrival is 9:30 AM on Saturday.
Where: Inverloch SLSC.
Sign-ups are essential!
To help estimate numbers, please register using the link below and select the sessions you'd like to attend. The registration form includes a section for any questions or concerns.
Sign-Up Form: https://forms.gle/UVt3bzbafFiTyfhS8.
Requal/Skills Maintenance
Reminder that all awards expire on 31st December every year (with the exception of First Aid). In order to maintain currency and ensure you can patrol, you must complete a requal (also known as Skills Maintenance) for each award you hold prior to this date. This is a two step process as follows:
Step 1: Login to the LSV Member Training website and complete the skills maintenance online component for each award you hold, and sign up for the practical component.
Step 2: Attend one of the practical skills maintenance sessions. These sessions have a cap on numbers so it is essential that you book in through the Member Training portal. Dates for these sessions will be released in the coming weeks, however you can attend skills maintenance sessions at any other clubs if those dates are preferred, just remember to sign up online. If you are unsure about the currency of your award, please contact chiefinstructor@islsc.org.au.
ARTFA Requal: ARTFA holders, you must gain your CPR award every year for your ARTFA award to be current. This is separate from requal, and while we will try and hold a course at Inverloch, you may need to seek out other opportunities to gain this award.
IRB Driver and Crew Requal: After a two year review of the IRB crew and driver courses, SLSA have released new award requirements which will come into effect this season. This means that anyone who currently holds their IRB Crew or Driver awards will need to complete an extended skills maintenance this season to update their award to the current proficiency. This will be completed at a normal requal session, however the IRB component will be slightly longer than usual. Please also note that for future skills maintenance, there will be a requirement for all award holders to demonstrate a minimum number of practical hours in an IRB for the 12-month period ahead of skills maintenance each year. The number of hours required is yet to be released by LSV.
Bass Coast Adult Bronze
Enrolments remain open for Bass Coast Adult Bronze! A combined course with Woolamai SLSC, with each club hosting one weekend. This is a great opportunity to gain your bronze medallion in an adult-friendly environment. Enrolments can be found on Hello Club via the link below. The course will be held on 9th, 10th, 16th and 17th Nov.
Funding Focus
The Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) Grant, mentioned in the last newsletter, is still being reviewed by EMV and the Minister. We should have an outcome in October. The VESEP Grant is a large contribution towards essential items we need to operate as a Surf Life Saving Club. This season, this grant will be used for board storage, an externally mounted AED, various rescue boards, IRB motors, IRB storage rack, motor wash tub, hose reels, and more!
We are excited to share that we have secured a great value deal to replace both of the air conditioners in the main training/function room. This work will occur in the coming week to ensure a fully functional (and cool!) environment for our members throughout the coming summer months.
Member Comms – Stack Team App – Correction
The previous newsletter incorrectly stated we are transitioning to "Slack Team App". The correct name is "Stack Team App". Please see the corrected message below:
Inverloch SLSC is transitioning to Stack Team App for all member communications. If you are a patrolling member, you should have received an email to set up your Stack Team App account. It is essential that you complete this ASAP to receive accurate information regarding patrolling matters.
Non-patrolling members, including nippers/parents, will be receiving emails in the coming months regarding setting up their account. Nipper parents may already have an account.
If you have any questions or issues regarding this process, or you are a patrolling member who has not received an email to set up a Stack Team App account, please contact Xavier at engagement@islsc.org.au.
As we approach the season, our Club calendar will become more populated with events. You can access it here: https://islsc.org.au/season-calendar/.
Please support our Sponsors