Overall, our Club did very well, coming in fourth place on the club pointscore. Well done, with some excellent results.
On 8 February we competed at the Junior Branch Carnival at Bellambi. Again, we won the All Age Relay U8-U14 and placed 2nd in the March Past. All up our members were awarded 27 medals for our sprinters, flaggers and relay teams and 3 medals for water events. Congratulations, another fantastic effort.
On 16 February our club hosted the Senior Illawarra Branch Championships. The weather was on our side, we had a good crowd of competitors and spectators. The water conditions changed for the worse and the surf boat races and some craft events were cancelled. However, the boaties showed their true form and joined in the competition on the beach, and some even won medals. 22 medals were won on the day.
We would like to say a special thank you to all the life members and friends who attended and to the Lion’s Club and all surf club members who assisted on the day.
Those people who we forget to thank sometimes are those who act as officials at each and every carnival. These guys are standing the whole day in all kinds of weather. These people include Mark Thompson, Jeff Lucke, Michael Guyatt, Evan Griffiths, Colin and Wendy Doran, Bobo White, Don Harris, Peter Beehag and the water safety crew. Thank you from all of us.
190 members and guests of the Club celebrated the 95th Anniversary of community service and surf life saving in style at the Novotel Northbeach on 8 February. Dignitaries were the Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Councillor Alex Darling, President Surf Life Saving NSW, Peter Pearce, President Illawarra Branch Surf Life Saving, Gerald Davies and representing our Patron, the Helensburgh Workmen’s Club, Bob Goodwin.
We would like to thank the members and friends who supported us and a special thankyou to the Novotel, Greens Bus Company and David Cazalet and band for making this a memorable evening.
On 15 February the second of the new surf boats was christened at the Surf Club. The boat was purchased by the club with the support of local businesses as well as through fund raising by our members. The boat was named in honour of Richard (Dick) Cavanagh, a long-standing member and boatie of our club. Dick and his wife Shirley were on hand to christen the boat with the traditional pouring of champagne and a wee drop for themselves. Mark (Gator) Wallace and his young crew then took the boat to sea and in a superb display returned in a not too friendly surf. Sponsors of the Dick Cavanagh are Helensburgh Bowling Club, Russell Lewis from Lewis Fabrications and Southern Fasteners.
Sponsors of our other new surf boat The Coal Cutter, which was christened back in October last year, are Helensburgh Coal Pty Ltd, VA Eimco, Longwaul Hydraulics and DBT Pty Ltd.
We would like to wish all our members competing at the Australian Surf Titles in Kurrawa, Queensland from 19 to 24 March, all the very best. These competitors are our two boat crews including Don Burke’s crew of Ben Wood, Luke McCarthy, Michael Fairbairn and Max Nicholls, and Mark (Gator) Wallace’s crew of Chris Ryder, Eddie White, Michael Breeze and Nathan Thompson. Other competitors include Laura Humphries, Simon Cook, Allira Mercer, Daniel Robberds, Matthew Crilley, Michael Astill and Anthony Astill. Good luck guys.
The Stanwell Park Ocean Challenge is on again on 6 April. This great swim starts at Coalcliff beach and goes around the headland to finish at Stanwell Park beach, a distance of 2.4km approx. For more information and entry forms, write to Helensburgh Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club Inc, PO Box 111 Helensburgh 2508 or log on to www.stanwellparksurfclub.com.au. Entrants must be over 14 years of age.
Presentation Day for our Juniors U8-U14 will be held on 4 April at 6.30pm at Helensburgh Workmen’s Club. Presentation for the U6 and U7 will take place on the last day at the beach, on 9 March.
On 4 May the surf club re-union will be held at the Helensburgh Workmen’s Club commencing 10.30am. All members new and old, along with friends who have in any way been associated with the Club over the past 95 years, are most welcome. For further details contact the Club Secretary Peter McDonald on 4294 1247. Until next month,
Julie Humphries, Publicity Officer
The triumphant All Age Relay Team - Sydney Water Surf Premiership
Alana Humphries, Lauren Cook, Cameron Baillie, Courtney Blackwell, Adam Thompson, Damien Cook, Chenay Mercer, Chris Astill, Ben Dowling, Daniel Robberds, Laura Humphries, Paul Astill and Joe Blackwell