Barwon Heads 13th Beach - Annual Report 2022/2023

Barwon Heads 13th Beach Surf Life Saving Club would like to acknowledge the Wadawurrung People, the Traditional Owners of the land and seas that we meet on and patrol. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and extend those respects to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our membership base.

i. President’s Report

ii. Treasurer’s Report

iii. Balance Sheets

iv. Life Saving Operations

v. Junior Development

vi. Gear and Property

vii. Award Recipients

Committee of Management

EXECUTIVE

President

Vice-President

Secretary

Life Saving Operations Manager

Finance Manager

Business Manager

GENERAL COMMITTEE

Junior Development Manager

Building and Projects Manager

Surf Sports Manager

Communications Manager

Sponsors

Matthew Burke

Andrew Mckinnon

Andrew Curnow/Bronte Sprenger

Georgia Mckinnon

Tania Ladyman

Matthew Napier

Michael Schofield

Nathan Maher

Samantha Pownall

Vacant

President’s Report

MATTHEW BURKE - PRESIDENT

As I sit here and write this report it closes of another season for the Barwon Heads 13th Beach Surf Life Saving Club I would like to thank our club sponsors for their ongoing support and relationship with our club RT Edgar Bellarine, Jake Pownall Roofing and Apex Steel. I would also like to thank our Foundation Members that assisted us in completing the new club renovation for us all to enjoy.

When I commenced the president’s role this season the club was still in the building stage and at a stage where progress was slow. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both Nathan Maher and Andrew McKinnon for their dedication and time to make sure the building made it to the stage of being opened and operational.

I would like to thank all the members that patrolled our beach this season to make it a safe environment for all beach goers to enjoy, the countless hours you all spend watching the water and patrolling the beach often go unrecognised and we need to remember this is our main purpose of our existence.

We ran a very successful nipper program this season, with the highest numbers of nippers the club has seen, and early indicators are this upcoming season has the potential to be bigger again. The nipper area contributed to the most successful doorknock the club has seen during their program, which netted approximately $30k for the club and I would like to thank Tim Elsoft for his time and efforts to make the doorknock what it is.

To all our competitors who represent the club in surf boats and IRB, what an outstanding season we had, we had the best upcoming sweep award for Victoria awarded to Jake Pownall and the most Improved IRB competitor in the state awarded to Zoe Campbell. As recent as 1 week ago on the 22nd July our club completed at the Australian IRB titles in QLD and as a Club we completed the event in 6th place for all Surf Life Saving Clubs in Australia.

I would like to thank the support from the Committee of Management for the past season and while I will be the first to say there was some challenges and learnings from this season, without the time and commitment of these members the club would not be where it is today. For those members not restanding, thank you for you years of service and commitment shown to the club.

I would like to personally thank both Liz Pratt and Margaret Burke for all their time and efforts contributed to the club in the past 12 months. Liz has undertaken the membership role within the club and completed the task without fail. Margaret Burke has run the kiosk over summer and the bar area through winter with a team of supporters and helpers to lay the foundations in the area of the club which we are all keen to see grow.

Moving forward into the 2023/2024 season, I will be re-standing for the president role. I would like to take this opportunity to let you all know that there are areas of the club we need to get better at, and this will be a key driving force moving with the club. We are currently working with people to assist us in developing better process, systems, and practices to better our communication to all members and growing the club profile. We will have a new website, online store, social events, and other exciting things coming very shortly to assist the club in its natural growth.

See you all at the club soon.

Treasurer’s Report

TANIA LADYMAN - TREASURER

2022/2023 has been positive year for the Club financially. The Club has managed its funds in a responsible manner and maintained a focusedon core revenue streams to ensure we operated in a positive cash position for the year.

We happily introduced a new income stream of café & bar sales, excitedly opening a café in time for the summer season and a bar later in the year. A huge thank you to Margaret Burke for making this happen, we couldn’t have done it without you.

Funding from the State Government meant we were able to complete new building and what a beautiful venue it is!

The Door Knock Appeal had a hugely successful campaign this season, being a fundamental community afternoon and gives the local community a chance to contribute to The Club. An outstanding turnout from members meant the whole of the Barwon Heads neighborhood was door knocked. A remarkable total of over $30,000 was raised in 3 hours. A big thankyou to Tim Elstoft for coordinating this event and introducing mobile devices to take donations, genius!

The Merchandise and Apparel continues to perform a vital role for the club by providing a comprehensive range of products to our membership base. This season we cleared out excess stock to make room for a new range of Club merchandise and apparel.

The Nipper program continues to assist the club membership base and is a great means of attracting new members to the club and training our future lifeguards. The Nipper program was the biggest ever.

During the Financial Year 2022/2023 we received $56,200 in Grants mainly with VESEP, Beach Safety Equipment Fund and Rescue Equipment Maintenance funding. Please find the draft Profit & Loss Statements and Balance Sheet for 2022/2023 to follow. The $390,000 spent on the new build have been moved to Fixed Assets (Property, Plant & Equipment) on the Balance Sheet reporting a Clubhouse worth of $1.4 million.

BalanceSheet

ProfitandLoss

Life Saving Operations

GEORGIA MCKINNON - LIFE SAVING OPERATIONS MANAGER

I am pleased to present the annual report for Barwon Heads 13th Beach Surf Life Saving Club for the 2022/23 season. As the Operations Manager, I am delighted to reflect on our achievements, challenges, and the overall progress made by our dedicated team in ensuring the safety and enjoyment of beachgoers at Barwon Heads 13th Beach. Throughout the year, our club has strived to uphold our core values of community service, beach safety, and fostering a welcoming environment for all. Our efforts have been focused on various aspects, including patrol activities, member engagement, education, and competition.

During the season, our club conducted a total of 51 patrols covering an impressive 1508 hours of beach surveillance. These patrols encompassed weekdays, weekends, and public holidays, ensuring that beachgoers were protected at all times. The dedication of our members to fulfilling their patrol duties was instrumental in maintaining a safe and secure environment for the community.

Our highly trained surf life savers performed commendably during the season, providing 253 minor first aid treatments and 6 major first aid, offering immediate medical care to individuals in need. These interventions were crucial in mitigating potential risks and ensuring the wellbeing of those visiting our beach.

Prevention is an essential aspect of our patrol activities. Our proactive approach and effective communication with beachgoers resulted in 2298 preventative actions taken throughout the season. These actions included verbal warnings, educating beach visitors about potential hazards, and encouraging adherence to surf safety guidelines. By promoting awareness and providing guidance, our members played a vital role in preventing incidents and promoting a culture of safety.

To uphold our commitment to excellence in beach safety, our club invested significant resources in training and skills development programs for our patrolling members; in total

64 awards were attained ranging from juniors to open members. In collaboration with external organisations and trainers, we facilitated regular proficiency sessions, refreshers, and scenariobased training exercises. These initiatives ensured our members were equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and confidence to respond effectively to any emergency situation.

We are proud of the outstanding engagement and participation of our patrolling members throughout the season. Their commitment to attending patrols, undertaking additional training, and upholding the values of surf lifesaving has been exemplary. To recognise their dedication, we conducted an end-ofseason awards ceremony, honouring members who demonstrated exceptional performance, leadership, and teamwork. Our top ten patrolling members for the 2022/23 season are listed below:

1. Michael Schofield 92.7

2. Elizabeth Pratt 55.7

3. Conor McKinnon 53.8

4. Andrew Mckinnon 46.1

5. Darragh Maher 45.2

6. Zoe Campbell 43.8

7. Graham Neale 43.4

8. Bronte Sprenger 43.3

9. Pippa Twaits 42.6

10. Olivia McGurn 42.1

Our club recognises the importance of collaborating with local authorities, emergency services, and other community organisations to enhance our patrol activities. This season, we continued to foster positive relationships and actively engaged in joint training exercises and initiatives aimed at improving beach safety. These partnerships have proven instrumental in expanding our reach, resources, and overall effectiveness. While we celebrate our achievements, it is essential to acknowledge the challenges we faced during the season.

Struggling patrol numbers, an extended patrol season and the influx of beach visitors, increasing from 4876 persons in the 2021/22 season to 9764 for the 2022/23 season, posed a significant challenge for our patrolling efforts. However, these challenges served as valuable learning experiences, strengthening our ability to adapt, respond, and improve our strategies for future seasons.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our patrolling members, whose unwavering commitment and selfless dedication were the driving force behind our successful patrols. I would also like to extend my appreciation to the families, friends, and supporters who stood behind our surf life savers, providing encouragement, and understanding throughout the season. Additionally, I am thankful for the ongoing support from community members who share our vision for a safe beach environment.

In conclusion, the patrol season at Barwon Heads 13th Beach Surf Life Saving Club was marked by the remarkable efforts of our patrolling members. Their commitment, professionalism, and bravery ensured the safety of all who visited our beach. As we look towards the future, I am confident that our club will continue to excel in its mission of preventing incidents, saving lives, and fostering a culture of beach safety.

Junior Development

MICHAEL SCHOFIELD - JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

This season, Barwon Heads 13th Beach SLSC saw a record 301 junior memberships. The nippers program grew exponentially off last year and has further projected growth into season 2023/24. The program saw a number of changes from previous years including shortening to a 7-day program to allow our Melbourne based families some more time after the Boxing Day public holiday to settle in. Through this we also attempted to structure the theory section of our program, drawing on resources provided by LSV and SLSA.

We faced a few administrative hiccups in the leadup to the season with not having structured membership record processes in place however with the onboarding of Liz Pratt as the membership registrar saw these processes significantly improved as we found our feet with such a massive growth in memberships this season. Going forward I would like to workshop streamlining these processes further to assist our members in joining our club.

Thank you to my nippers sub committee Jane Tiernan, Emma Cahill, Hayley Calver, Tim Elstoft, Sheridan Indarto. This team of dedicated nippers parents were key in helping shape how the program looked this season.

I’d also like to thank Graham Neale, our Water Safety Manager, and all our Age Managers for the season:

• Davina Gunn

• Robert Blackwell

• Steven McDonald

• Michael O’Dea

• Belinda Trebilco

• Mal Coates

• Archie Patron

• Emma Cahill

• Phillipa Beck

• Margaret McArthur

• Tim Elstoft

To everyone who volunteered to make the program a success, my thanks to all of you.

Looking forward to future seasons, we would like to see a further structure of the junior development leadership, which has already been kickstarted this year by the formation of our nippers subcommittee. We would like to see this further developed into a fully autonomous group that reports back to the Committee of Management via the Junior Development Manager. We would also like to see the formation of a Membership and Leadership Development Officer to work more broadly across the club in guiding our young people towards the various pathways available through life saving.

I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve been able to achieve as a club with our junior development this season. A nippers program that has come leaps and bounds over a season and fundraising efforts that have gone above and beyond anything that has been achieved before. I look forward to what the future has in store for the club.

Surf Sports

SAMANTHA POWNALL - SURF SPORTS MANAGER

The 2022/23 Surf Sports season at Barwon Heads 13th Beach witnessed remarkable growth and participation, encompassing both summer and winter competitions over a span of eight months. Our vibrant activities unfolded through rigorous training and exhilarating races.

We embarked on the summer competition with a bang, particularly for our Boat competitors. Our Reserve Men’s crew, consisting of Conor McKinnon, Matthew Napier, Seamus Spanner, Thomas Lenehan, and Sweep Jake Pownall, showcased their dedication and consistency throughout the summer series. Their triumphant Third Place at the State Championships in Ocean Grove was a standout achievement against fierce competition. Jake Pownall’s recognition as the recipient of the Best Emerging Sweep Award at the Victorian Boaties awards further underscored their unwavering commitment. Congratulations to the team, and we eagerly anticipate an eventful 23/24 season. In the summer months, our competition members continued to play a pivotal role, contributing over 70% of the total patrol hours during the 2022/23 season. This crucial service aligns with our core objective of ensuring a safe beach environment. As the Surf Sports manager, I take immense pride in our competition team’s dedication to giving back not only to the club but also to the broader public.

Furthermore, our competition team actively engaged in various fundraising initiatives. We provided water safety for the Indented Heads Yacht Club’s Wreck2Reef open water swim and organized a successful Tin Rattle in Geelong. While we were geared up for our Senior Club Championships, adverse weather conditions unfortunately led to a postponement. We are excited to announce plans to hold this event in conjunction with the final nippers carnival day next season.

The winter IRB competition, which commenced in February and concluded in July, witnessed exceptional teamwork. Our team of 16 competitors, enriched by new faces, made a resounding impact in carnival #2 at Ocean Grove, clinching victory in the Taplin event and overall carnival success. The club gained some added expertise and competitors following this event with the addition of the Wonthaggi IRB competition members.

We feel very lucky to have had this group on board for not just this season but also season 23/24 leading into World Championships at the end of next year. We also added an additional coach in Brian Happ who brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to the entire team and we look forward to the years ahead as we grow and develop this coaching space. The team was hugely successful, winning carnival #3 Hampton, #4 Bancoora (Lorne) and #5 Anglesea made it a clean sweep of the attended carnival for the season, an achievement that was certainly not on our radar for this season. Partnering with Geelong Sports Medical Centre the team worked hard on ensuring that the 1%’s were being achieved in the lead up to the tail end of the season. State Titles were held in Lorne with day 1 being a sunny lovely day and Day 2 being some of the worst conditions imaginable. The call for the day was “Do Cold Better” and that the team and club did, coming away with a huge overall win by over 40 points.

State Titles

• Open Womens Tube: 1st and 3rd

• Open Mens Tube: 1st and 6th

• Open Womens Mass: 1st and 2nd

• Open Mens Mass: 2nd and 3rd

• Open Womens Teams: 1st

• Open Mens Teams: 1st and 5th

• Open Womens Rescue: 1st and 2nd

• Opens Mens Rescue: 5th and 8th

• Open Mixed Taplin: 1st

• Masters Mens Mass: 1st and 9th

• Masters Mens Rescue: 5th and 7th

The pinnacle of the season was the Nationals in Kingscliff, NSW, where 13 of our members were part of the Victorian State IRB Team. Our achievements were exceptional, including appearances in all 10 Australian Open Semi Finals and impressive performances in Women’s Teams, Men’s Teams, Women’s Rescue, and Mixed Relay events. Not to mention some cheeky master’s finals appearances for our very own President and Gear and Property Managers.

Australian IRB Championships

• Women’s Teams: 3rd

• Mens Teams: 6th

• Women’s Rescue: 6th and 7th

• Mixed Relay: 3rd

Overall the club finished an amazing 6th place overall in Australia which is a testament to the competitors, management, coaches, supporters, sponsors and the club. This leads me into my thanks to you for the season:

To our competing team members - thank you for conducting yourself in a manner that is respected and awed.

To our coaches and management - thank you for the countless thankless hours in the background that will never be seen but always be appreciated.

To our Families and Supporters - the coat carrying, soup making, videoing, and cheering heroes of our club. I stand by that without you we would never be able to do what we do without you

To our officials - often a thankless job but your expertise and fairness is so valued both internally and externally

To our sponsors - Apex Steel, Glenn and Janine Cain and Jake Pownall Roofing, we are fortunate to have your financial support, but I think we all know that your support of the teams values and your genuine care of the competitors makes these relationships important to all of us for so many more reasons than just financial.

To the club - supporting what we do, day in day out and being proud for us to wear the colours gives us the pride we need to race and be as successful as possible.

Looking forward, our goals remain clearstrengthening our Boat area and expanding participation in other summer beach events and striving for victory in the upcoming winter season. The highlight will be the World Championships in Kurrawa, QLD, where we aim to field a formidable team both on and off the beach. We extend our invitation to all members to join us in this exciting journey, contributing their enthusiasm and energy to our vibrant Surf Sports community.

Gear and Property

NATHAN MAHER - GEAR AND PROPERTY MANAGER

The 2022-2023 season has been a busy one around the club with the new building being handed over to the club for the start of the patrol season. A big shout out to all that helped get the equipment back from storage and into the new building. This is still a work in progress and always will be.

We have installed a car/trailer hoist to add to the floor space by putting at least one trailer/ surf boat up out of the way. We concreted the rest of the car park with marked cars spaces.

We also removed the paving at the front of the club and replaced it with grass. We have also recently installed acoustic panelling in the upstairs bar and lounge area, which makes the venue the pleasant space we imagined.

Again, thank you to all that have helped get the club to where it is today.

Award Recipients

PRESENTATION NIGHT HELD ON THE 5TH OF AUGUST 2023

2022/2023

Clubperson of the Year

Presidents Award

Nathan Maher Senior Patrol Person

Peter Bell Junior Patrol Person

First Year Patrolling Member

Bob Cain Official of the Year

Phillip Hughes Patrol Captain

Competitor

Coaches Award

Malcolm Bell Team of the Year

Broken Prop Award

2021/2022

Clubperson of the Year

Presidents Award

Nathan Maher Senior Patrol Person

Peter Bell Junior Patrol Person

First Year Patrolling Member

Bob Cain Official

Phil Hughes Patrol Captain

Competitor

Coaches Award

Malcolm Bell Team of the Year

Broken Prop Award

2020/2021

Clubperson of the Year

Presidents Award

Nathan Maher Senior Patrol Person

Peter Bell Junior Patrol Person

First Year Patrolling Member

Bob Cain Club Official

Patrol Captain

Competitor

Coaches Award

Malcolm Bell Team of the Year

Liz Pratt

Margaret Burke

Michael Schofield 66.85 hrs

Darragh Maher 45.22 hrs

Scarlett Knight 42 hrs

Glenn Cain

Bronte Sprenger

Tom Lenehan (Lenny)

Steph Dimitrio

Zoe Campbell, Georgia McKinnon, Aaron Robson

Aaron Robson / Tom Lenehan (Lenny)

Tania Ladyman

Tim Elstoft

Andrew Mc Kinnon 64.5hrs

Mackenzie Brown 47.5hrs

Mackenzie Brown 47.5 hrs

David Pownall

Georgia McKinnon 61 hrs

Ryan Wilson

Aaron Robson

Aaron Robson, Zach Santullo, Bronte Sprenger

Jake Pownall

Conor Mckinnon

Nathan Maher

Andrew McKinnon 92.25 hr

Madison Adams 78.75 hrs

Josh Ames 41 hrs

Sam Ranson

Nathan Maher 87.75 hrs

Jake Pownall

Thomas Lenehan (Lenny)

Conor Mckinnon, Ryan Wilson, Zoe Campbell, Steph Dimitrio

Broken Prop Award N/A

2019/2020*

*Competition awards not presented due to COVID-19