Member Spotlight - Stephen Crocker

𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐒𝐋𝐒𝐂

54 years

𝐁𝐢𝐨

I joined the surf club and achieved my Bronze Medallion as a 15 year old at the beginning of the 1972/73 season. I have three legends of the club to thank, Vic Walton, Barry Hodgkinson and Binni Wilson, who coached and mentored me, took me to surf carnivals around the state and gave me all the encouragement I needed to begin my journey with the Ulverstone Surf Club and surf lifesaving in general.

Early on my focus was swimming events, namely the Surf Belt and Surf Races, Rescue and Resuscitation (R&R) events. Over time I broadened my involvement to include Iron Man and surf boat rowing. I also competed in Lifesaving competitions and IRB racing. While I enjoyed success in these events my favourite, and where I achieved most success, was in the Surf Belt racing.

A few highlights from my surf boat rowing days: competing in the George Bass Marathon on the beautiful south coast of NSW which involved racing for 7 days at an average of 24 km/day from Batemans Bay to Eden; reaching the Open Surf Boat semifinals at the Australian Championships in Wollongong in 1990; wins in the Mercury Surf Safari; a State Title in 1989.

In my five-year term as President I was extremely fortunate to have a committed and effective executive who provided me with strong support in achieving club goals at the time. A significant milestone during this period was the successful merger of the Surf Club and the Nippers, previously two separate organisations, into a single, unified club.

My most notable achievements include: representing the state for 11 years, including as Captain in 1979; winning a Bronze medal in the 45 - 49 years Rescue Tube Race at the 2008 Australian Championships in WA; Tasmanian Lifesaver of the Year in 2002; Australian Sports Medal in 2000; Life Membership of the Ulverstone Surf Lifesaving Club in 1992.

As my competitive years wound down, I found immense personal satisfaction in coaching. For many years we had a senior squad upwards of 30 competitors, specialist coaches and enjoyed individual and club success in marathons, ocean swims and statewide carnivals. A standout moment was our victory at Clifton Beach State Titles in 2007 where we won the club point score by over 150 points.

On reflection over the years, it is important to mention that my enjoyment didn’t only come from the notion of competing, it was just as much about the people: team members from our club, the younger people I’ve coached, rivals from other clubs, the people I met along the way and the lifelong friendships that have endured the decades.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥?

Although I am no longer an active member (I am unable to meet the time requirements for the run-swim-run thanks to my ‘old’ legs – but I can still swim!) I have valued being part of an organisation with such a community focus. The members of our local Ulverstone community and visitors have a safe beach where they can swim and be assured that patrolling members are highly skilled and competent to help them if the need arises. It is important also to realise that there are many people (both current members and ex-members) in our community that have been trained in lifesaving techniques over the years and would have the skills to provide rescue and first aid assistance if required.

Patrolling has necessarily become more professional over the years, and this is evident from the appreciation that you ‘feel’ when, as a patrolling lifesaver, you engage with the public whilst on patrol.

I was a patrol captain for most of my 45 years on patrol and enjoyed satisfaction from supporting and training members of my patrol teams to improve their lifesaving skills. I particularly enjoyed the years when my three children were all members of my patrol team. But overall, the best thing about being on patrol is simply being on the beach.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭?

I particularly enjoyed Surf Belt racing. Although regarded as an individual event, I relied on a skilled team of four other people to manage the surf reel and line and I was very fortunate to have the support of some very experienced people in these roles.

Surf boat rowing relies on team dynamics - demanding commitment, trust, and mutual respect between crew members to achieve the team goals. Those years were special for me.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫?

I value the community in which I live, I value Surf Lifesaving as an organisation and the Ulverstone Surf Club is a highly regarded organisation within our community. I am proud to say that I have had a long association with the club over many years.

Volunteering has enabled me to contribute to the club and therefore my community and help with the education and experiences of club members and other people in general. Importantly it is the club that has given me a sense of belonging, and I’m thankful for the friendships and relationships that have endured for many years because of my involvement with our club.

𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 - 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝?

Over the years, I’ve taken on a number of roles, including:

> President

> Club Captain

> Surf Sports Captain

> Patrol Captain

> Nipper Age Manager

> Coach

I served on the Management Committee/Board for over 30 years and contributed to various committees, including Surf Sports, Bar, Clubhouse, Building and Life Members Committees.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐔𝐒𝐋𝐒𝐂?

What’s always heartened me most is seeing former members return—now with their own children—to rejoin the club. Members coming back with their kids is a sign that there is something special about Surf Lifesaving and the Ulverstone Surf Club and that those parents want their children to enjoy the same experiences that they had when they were younger members. What better recommendation could there be?

At this stage of my life I am exploring other interests and I am less involved with the club, yet still wish to contribute where I can. What is important to me is to be able to gather with my contemporaries at the club to enjoy each other's company and reminisce about the good times we’ve all had during our years as members of the club.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐔𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬?

Obviously, there are many elements to organise, and a coordinated effort is required. Start early with relevant meetings and the assignment of roles and responsibilities. Communication to all members is paramount, appealing for assistance both on the day and leading up to it. From what I’ve seen the initiative has been taken and the organisation is underway. Shame Binni isn’t still with us as he always used to organise the good weather.

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝? Mandy's lasagne or prawn saganaki

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? Tasmania’s East Coast

𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟?!

Being involved for 50+ years creates many opportunities - like multiple nominations for 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥!

#Volunteer #community #uslsc