SAVING LIVES AND BUILDING GREAT COMMUNITIES 2019/20 ANNUAL REPORT | 2019/20 ANNUAL SURF LIFE SAVING WESTERN AUSTRALIA SURF LIFE SAVING 2019/20 ANNUAL REPORT 7 Delawney Street Balcatta WA 6021 surfl ifesavingwa @slswa Ph: +61 8 9207 6666 W: mybeach.com.au surfl ifesavingwa @slswa SWANBOURNE NEDLANDS COTTESLOE CITY OF PERTH SNAPSHOT STATS ALBANY SCARBORO FLOREAT ESPERANCE GOLDFIELDS YANCHEP 57,076 4,301 TRIGG ISLANDOUR CLUBS BROOME PREVENTATIVE ACTIONS FIRST AID TREATMENTS CLUBS YEAR EST. MULLALOO NORTHCottesloe SLSC COTTESLOE1909 City of Bunbury SLSC 1915 North Cottesloe SLSC 1918 945 RESCUES QUINNS MINDARIECity of Perth SLSC MANDURAH1925 Scarboro SLSC 1928 Geraldton SLSC DONGARA1930 DENISON GERALDTONSwanbourne Nedlands SLSC 1932 Aerial 501 115,632 Fremantle SLSC 1934 PATROLS SHARK SIGHTINGS KM’S PATROLLED SORRENTO CITYFloreat SLSC OF BUNBURY1948 Trigg Island SLSC 1954 Albany SLSC 1956 DENMARKDenmark SECRET SLSC 1958 HARBOUR Sorrento SLSC 1958 136,028 22,427 Mullaloo SLSC 1961 PATROL HOURS BINNINGUP Secret DALYELLUP Harbour SLSC 1981 BEACH MEMBERS Quinns Mindarie SLSC 1982 Broome SLSC 1988 Esperance Goldfields SLSC 1990 BUSSELTON SURF LIFE SAVING COOGEEYanchep BEACHSLSC 1991 Mandurah SLSC 1996 31 CLUBS Binningup SLSC 2002 SMITHS BEACHChampion Bay SLSC FREMANTLE2003 Coogee Beach SLSC 2003 7,820 Dongara Denison SLSC 2003 PORT BOUVARDMargaret River SLSC 2003 NIPPERS Dalyellup Beach SLSC 2004 12,702 Port Bouvard SLSC 2004 PEOPLE TRAINED IN FIRST AID PORT WALCOTTBusselton SLSC 2008 Smiths Beach SLSC 2011 CHAMPIONPort Walcott BAY SLSC 2015 Alkimos SLSC 2017 766 BRONZE MEDALLIONS MARGARET RIVER ALKIMOS CONTENTS 2 6 16 INTRODUCTION LIFESAVING SURF SPORTS SERVICES 22 24 29 NIPPERS TRAINING COASTAL DROWNING & YOUTH & EDUCATION RESEARCH 30 32 34 EVENTS MARKETING & FUNDRAISING COMMUNICATIONS 36 38 PARTNERSHIPS RECORDS, RESULTS & FINANCIALS A MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER The past six months have presented enormous difficulties and challenges for Australian “...the role communities as we have all fought tenaciously to overcome the devastating impact of COVID-19. I have been extremely proud of the resilience and the self-discipline of Western Australians who of the surf have accepted and complied with the stringent measures which had to be imposed as we fought to contain this global pandemic. life saving It is no surprise that the surf life saving movement in this State has played a significant role in our quest to maintain some level of a normal lifestyle by ensuring we have been able to continue to movement safely enjoy a recreational pursuit so deeply engrained in the Australian culture - the beach. in WA is Of course, it is unfortunate that Surf Life Saving WA was unable to hold the Nipper and Senior State Championships at summer's end. However, the fact that WA clubs and members were able to maintain regular patrols and other essential safety services is testimony to the strong community even more commitment of your organisation. relevant and As we emerge from the global pandemic, it has become obvious that the role of the surf life saving movement in WA is even more relevant and crucial to our way of life. During the months of lockdown and cancellation of all organised sports, our beaches became a much more valuable crucial to our recreational option. way of life.” The important role played by the surf life saving movement in WA has always been recognised and appreciated by State Governments. My thanks to President Craig Smith-Gander and the board, Chief Executive Officer James O'Toole and his staff and all the clubs involved in organising thousands of hours of volunteer patrols and training. The role of your organisation and the countless hours volunteers put in each year patrolling beaches and saving lives are greatly valued by all Western Australians. Mark McGowan MLA Premier of Western Australia A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO Craig Smith-Gander - President James O’Toole - CEO It is our pleasure to present to you our both of which saw significant uptake. We thank our partners, who continued Annual Report for the 2019/20 season. Unfortunately, training delivery was to support us across this period of Undoubtedly, this season was one like impacted by COVID-19 with all training uncertainty, and we are grateful for no other however, despite the impact ceasing in March. Despite this, award their ongoing support as we head of COVID-19 and the challenges that it activity was comparable to last season and into a new season. We also thank our presented us, we still finished the season we will see this activity recommence as many community supporters, whose with some significant wins and progress restrictions ease. contributions through our fundraising across all of our pillars, in no small part activity are invaluable in helping us keep thanks to the efforts of our clubs and One activity that did not stop was that of the WA beach-going community safe. members. patrolling. As West Australians flocked to our beaches during this period of We thank the McGowan state government, The season started off on a high as we saw uncertainty, it was to the credit of our clubs which has continued to provide significant year one of our new Woodside Nippers and members that they continued to put support to our movement and the delivery partnership roll out across WA beaches, the safety of the beach-going community of essential lifesaving services to the WA and what an impact that had, with every to the forefront, implementing modified community, and commend their leadership Nipper kitted out in their new Woodside formats around patrol activities to enable in these exceptional times. Nippers uniform. Thanks to a Lotterywest continuous essential service delivery during grant, we also saw every club receive a this much needed time. We also acknowledge and respect the new Woodside Nippers equipment trailer leadership of our Club Presidents over the filled with essential equipment, plus an Over the past season we were also past season. The challenges encountered additional seven nipper boards to each club successful in securing a number of new have been unprecedented and, in the thanks to partner AGL Energy. All of this Lifeguard Service contracts, which sees face of this, our Presidents have led their support helps us to continue to grow our our people patrolling an additional five WA members with clear and concise direction. program and we saw participant numbers beaches. We would like to recognise the Surf Life up 4% on the previous season. Despite the disappointment of having Saving WA Board of Directors and the Despite the last-minute cancellation of our to cancel a number of member events, staff, who have met and overcome the SunSmart Nipper and Open Championships including the inaugural Nipper & Youth challenges of the recent months. in March as COVID-19 restrictions came Awards, the Sporting Hall of Fame & Life As we close out the 2019/20 season with a into place, overall, our surf sports season Member Dinner, and our 2020 Awards record number of members and significant saw many triumphs. At the start of the of Excellence, these challenges were achievements to our collective names, season, we welcomed partner Healthway met head on as the team were able to we recognise that there is still some back on board for a further three years, deliver two high quality, professional video uncertainty on the horizon. We do know that which will see us continue to promote ceremonies to ensure the achievements of as an organisation we are well placed to the important SunSmart health message our clubs and members were appropriately meet these challenges, and we encourage across our surf sport season. recognised. our members to continue to support their We were delighted to be able to send three Another significant announcement made clubs and each other as together, we move WA teams to contest the new national late last year was the purchase of a forward. Super Surf Teams League and, with some property in Margaret River, which will serve We look forward to seeing you all on the exceptional performances by our roster as a development centre for our surf life beach again soon. of athletes, come away victorious with the saving community. We are excited about inaugural winner’s trophy. the potential for this new facility and the opportunities it will provide for our clubs We also hosted our first ever carnival at and members into the future. Craig Smith-Gander Smiths Beach over the Australia Day long President weekend, our largest of 2020 with more Our new strategic plan, which outlines how we envisage surf life saving in WA will than 1,100 competitors from 20 clubs. look over the next five years, was recently In training and education, we saw the released and we would like to thank the introduction of two new member training membership, whose involvement in pulling opportunities, being the Drone Operators together this document was integral. James O’Toole Award and Advanced Lifesaver Training, Chief Executive Officer Surf Life Saving Western Australia - 2019/20 Annual Report | 5 LIFE MEMBERS Name & Year Inducted L W LeQuesne* 1927 E V Hofmaster* 1969 J F Somers* 1992 I D Vilkson 2004 J L Paton OBE* 1930 D P Morrison OAM* 1969 D H R Becker 1993 T Snelling 2005 I T Birtwistle OBE* 1938 R J Trigg OBE* 1972 F J Parlevliet 1993 F Senior 2007 R E Gatherer* 1939 J Trethowan 1974 M E Cook 1994 G Clark 2007 Sir L P Gadsdon* 1941 W D Summers* 1974 A K Porteus 1994 A Widermanski 2008 C Bader* 1946 I F Anderton* 1975 R A Blake OAM 1995 D Somers 2008 D G White OAM* 1946 D T Blackley