It’s been a pleasure and an honour to spend another
season as Patron of Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving
Club. And what a good year it’s been, with all sections
performing admirably.
Education awards were as high as ever, with many
comments from examiners on the high standard of our
squads.
Patrol strength was at an all time high, not just in numbers,
but also in the quality of their Lifesaving ability, from the
Captains down to the newest Bronzies. So much so, we will
be adding another Patrol in the not so distant future.
Our Community Service has continued at a rate second
to none when compared to equivalent Clubs. Each one
of these exploits, which include Silver Salties, Swim Sisters,
Dippers program, Community Xmas lunch, and assisting
smaller Clubs like Garie and Pacific Palms, are all spelt out
in other Sections of this report.
The competition section has improved in leaps and
bounds, culminating in winning back to back Stan Mac
events, and the Australian Championships Masters’ point
score for an unprecedented seventh time straight by a
record margin.
Our presence in Open competition continues to improve,
with many semi-finalists at the Australian Championships
and a Bronze Medal that I will elaborate on further in a
moment. Thank you Dori and Nick for your dedication to
this section.
I could not help but mention forty-something-year-old
Simon Nothling, who, during the nine days of Australian
Titles competition, in both Masters and Open events,
competed in 24 events, rounding the buoys 30 times.
What an inspiration to the younger competitors (and
older ones).
One of the events that we now compete strongly in is the
Champion Lifesaver and the Patrol Lifesaving Events. The
Patrol Competition comprises of four lifesaving members
plus an IRB Crew. The four competitors compete in a surf
race, a tube race, a board race and a beach sprint, as well
as performing a random First Aid drill together. Then there
is a mass rescue, in which the IRB Crew is involved.
In my opinion, it is only a matter of time before the above
event becomes the SLSA premiership, as it is now the
leading Life Saving event. And yes, then we will be back
fighting for the pennant. You only have to consider that we
came from nowhere in 2023, to have our youngest team,
the under 17’s win the State Title, and the Bronze Medal at
Australian Titles.
PATRON’S
REPORT
Cyril Baldock OAM
Club Patron and Life Member
117TH ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2023/24