It’s been a successful few years across a broad range of areas for Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club, and after arguably their biggest season yet they have one more reason to celebrate after they were named Australia’s top surf club at the National Awards of Excellence last weekend.
The cheers could be heard across the Harbour Bridge when the Northern Beaches club was announced as the 2018 DHL Club of the Year.
“This means so much to us,” said outgoing president Richard Cole. “Our great achievement this year was working together as one club. As a movement, we’re doing incredible things as lifesavers and we really can be the heart and soul of our community.
“Across the board we raised our patrol attendance, patrol hours, the number of Bronze Medallions and SRC certificates we trained as well as doing well financially which allowed us to purchase new lifesaving equipment,” he said.
Some of their highlights from the 2017/18 season include the greatest number of active members, youth members, and new Bronze Medallion holders in club history as well as a near record-breaking year in revenue.
This summer will be fondly remembered for their success on the surf sports scene with two Aussie Gold Medals as well as the largest ever Nippers team to take part in the State Championships at Blacksmiths Beach.
A key part of their success has been a determination to embrace the one club, one movement ideal and ease the transition between the youth and senior club.
Not content to rest on their laurels, the club is keen to continue to build over the coming seasons.
“The foundations are extremely solid and as a management team that is what we want to build on,” said new president Ashley Cardiff.
“Our members do a huge amount of work in the community in addition to the lifesaving duties we do on the beach.
“We’re very good at our beach role and now the challenge is for us to continue to work with our junior members and improve the educational aspect of the club.
“We want to do better,” he concluded.
Tuesday 30 October 2018