๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐? 30 years
๐๐ข๐จย
Iโve been a member of the Ulverstone Surf Club since I was around 4 years of age.
Over the years, Iโve represented the club in multiple state teams (captained one) and Australian championships, earning medals at carnivals and receiving honours like Junior Lifesaver of the Year, Open Lifesaver of the year, the Binni Wilson Award (best club person), and various coachesโ awards.
As a junior, I was part of a competitive and close-knit age group, and together we won the Advocate Junior Sports Team Award. Our training was intense and rewarding, swimming four mornings a week, board training at least three times weekly, plus two running sessions. I was surrounded by dedicated training partners who pushed me to be my best.
My favourite memories were competing in team events with my age group โ in particular the board rescue with Karina Crocker (the Barry/Crocker combination)!
The surf club has shaped who I am. Itโs given me lifelong friendships, unforgettable experiences, and a deep appreciation for our community.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ?
Canโt really say there is one particular favourite thing I like about patrol. Itโs more a combination of everything I have learned over the years that has helped me develop and grow. Iโve been patrolling since I received my SRC in the Under 14โs and doing senior patrols once I obtained my Bronze at 15. Back then, I was a nipper, spending weekends with friends, learning new skills, and hoping the sun would shine. Those early days were all about fun, friendship, and finding my way in the patrol team.
As I grew, so did my responsibilities. I trained in ARTC, IRB crew, and eventually stepped up as a patrol captain. Each stage brought new challenges and deeper purpose.
These days, patrolling is about giving back to the club, the community, and enjoying the BBQ lunches. Itโs incredibly rewarding to see the next generation coming through, developing their skills just like we did.
Looking back, I developed so many skills through patrolling, which can translate into my career today. You learn to:
- make decisions under pressure, delegate tasks, and look out for others
- use clear, calm communication, the ability to speak up, listen actively, and work as a team
- stay calm in unpredictable conditions, weather changes, emergencies, or just a busy beach.
- how to respond, whether itโs CPR, treating injuries, or managing a rescue, is a skills that can be used not only at the beach
- understand the value of the surf club community, of showing up for others, a sense of contribution and connection
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฏ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ซ?
The surf club has been a second home to me since I was young. Itโs where I grew up, learning, and building lifelong friendships.
Volunteering is my way of giving back to the place that gave me so much. Itโs about supporting the next generation, keeping our beaches safe, and continuing the legacy of community support and our great club.
๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ - ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐ค๐๐๐ฉ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐๐?
Over the years, Iโve worn many hats within the surf club, each one shaping my experience within the club. I have been an active competitor (junior, senior and masters), member of the junior club committee, patrolling member, working behind the bar, waitress for counter teas, the important role of cooking the toast for Sunday breakfasts. And most recently starting โShuffle & Sipโ with Eloise Crocker โ with the aim to bring more people to the club and stay active.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐๐?
The best thing about the surf club is the sense of belonging. Itโs where lifelong friendships are formed, where family isnโt just who youโre related to, itโs the people you patrol with, compete alongside, and share countless weekends and memories with. The older members and life members arenโt just mentors, theyโre family. Theyโve helped shape the club into what it is today.
Itโs a place where you learn skills that stay with you for life, itโs a place where people come together. It was built on community spirit, and that spirit should always be at the heart of the club.
For many of us, the surf club is home. And thatโs something we should never forget.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐จ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ?
**Make sure the water events are at high tide, no one wants to be running over those rocks**
Working together as a club. When every member from competitors to volunteers feel involved and valued, the energy is transmissible. Share the load, celebrate each otherโs efforts, and keep positive.
Listen to every voice, junior members, life members, behind-the-scenes helpers. When people feel heard, they feel invested.
Carnivals arenโt just about competition, itโs about getting the job done so we can have competitions. Everyone loves food and music and people are usually pretty receptive to having the odd raffle. Having the bar open to bring people together off the sand, to be able to sit and relax after a long, hot day on the beach and have a bit of a debrief. We canโt offer much to our volunteers, so maybe a free drink or have a โhappy hourโ, to show the Clubโs appreciation for the time and effort that the volunteers have put in on Carnival Day. Itโs not much and it is only a small reward but it does go a long way in saying thanks and people really do appreciate it.
We have a great club and we need to let the carnival reflect that by welcoming everyone and being inclusive. When people feel at home, they show up, pitch in, and come back year after year.
๐ ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐? Cheese and chocolate
๐ ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง? Europe
๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ'๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐?!
I was the youngest Tasmanian female to get a black belt in Karate
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