BLSC MONTHLY NEWSLETTER (DEC 2023)

Training & Requal

A big month of training coming up, with Bronze Camp and SRC starting on the 11th December.

• Bronze and SRC Camp 11th to 15th December
• Crew Course 16th-17th December
• Advanced RESUS / First Aid  18th December Scout Hall

Any questions please email Kez at kezmelvin2@gmail.com

Nippers

After many meetings and months of planning, we have over 200 kids registered for this season’s Nipper Program. 

Our first session, a proficiency swim at Firbank Grammar, was a huge success and all attending Nippers enjoy their time in the water and received their age group caps. 

Out second session was supported by the Gould Institute and the kids learned about the plant and animals living in our bay and the surrounding areas. 

Our third session saw us move to the scout hall due to some heavy rain and Nippers learned DRSABCD and about beach signals. 

Session four saw the kids in the water on boards, swimming and running for flags. Two sessions remain before the end of the mid-season break, we are looking forward to more beach and water activities. 

There is also a really good group of parent volunteers signed up to help out on the beach doing set up, pack up, food duties and age managing - thank you all. 

To parents and guardians who haven’t volunteered, it is a requirement you volunteer for one of the roles we have in the attached schedule. See link: https://volunteersignup.org/RP8DH

Finally, a massive shout out to our young coaches - we couldn’t do this without you.

Thank you

Shane

Any questions please email Shane at nippers@brightonlsc.com.au

LSVj

LSVj is for anyone looking to have impact and make a difference. If you’re involved in sport, patrolling, training and development, LSVj is for you!!

LSVj provides the platform for you to have this voice, create programs youth members want to be part of and create a sustainable future for lifesaving and in return provide you with unique development opportunities.

Anyone wanting to participate please contact Mae at maejames02@gmail.com

For more details see link below:

Grommet Gurus

Grommet Gurus is a mentorship program designed to assist individuals from their Surf Rescue Certificate Assessment to their first day patrolling. Grommets are paired with Gurus who are experienced lifesavers that have been patrolling. All SRCs and U14-18 year olds are welcome to participate.

Any questions please email Sami or Remy at remy.c.horrobin@gmail.com

Thanks to Sami for the artwork, it looks great.

Meeting our Members: Andrew ‘Macca’ McDonald

I joined the Brighton Life Saving Club as a teenager in the late 1980's. Adrian Anderson (Jon Anderson's son) was a member and encouraged a few of us to join him. A season junior membership was $2. At the time there was not Nipper program, but a good group of teenagers started to attend, including people such as Jon Hotston (later to be President), Mark Pratt (later to take on almost every role at the club), and Cate Eves (another President), While some of the 'old timers' still running the club included Bruce Field (President) and Margaret Stevens (Treasurer). 

Over summer Pete Stevens could be relied on to be there everyday. However, it could be difficult to get enough people down for a patrol. Fortunately, we had a pay phone installed in the clubhouse, which we could use to call around our mates to join us.

We did not start out as great lifesavers, but we had a great time down at the beach each week with our friends. And learner a lot along the way. There was not a lot of equipment then (not compared to today). There was one, solid, hard hull IRB, half a dozen 'malibu' rescue boards, and a few short skis for paddling.

However, we started to add our contributions to the history of the club. The first 'Reel and Line Ball' was held (later renamed to be the Pirate Pete Ball). Mark got the IRB team going. I became Treasurer, where I moved Margaret's beautiful hand-written accounts into the computer age. We also started a Nipper program, where I trained Colin Ellicot's children, as well as a few kids from a couple of other families. Lani Prince joined us a few years later to help run the program (the junior trophy is now named after her) and it started to grow.

It has been great to see the life saving club grow from strength to strength. With a new clubhouse coming and a thriving Nipper program, with over 100 kids on the beach each week. 

New Clubhouse

No change in status, we look forward to welcoming our new clubhouse in March 2024 - what a great place for the Annual Ball.

Thanks to all for their patience, it will be well worth it.

A huge thank you to our wonderful Major Sponsors