UNDER 12 LIME CAPS
Age Managers: Cameron Billingsley, Niranjan
Kale, Neil Shilbury, Adrien Meredith and Teena
Wooldridge
It’s truly inspiring to witness the growth and
dedication of the Lime Caps year after year.
This year we were pleased to welcome several new
faces to the Lime Cap family. Their ability to forge
on in challenging conditions alongside seasoned
Nippers was particularly impressive.
With each passing season, new skills are
developed, and existing ones are more finely
tuned. As a group, we worked hard on longer
distance swimming and board skills. We were
fortunate to get some particularly memorable
coaching sessions out in the water and to have the
support of additional water safety.
Throughout the season, each Nipper was asked to
focus on making small incremental improvements
to their individual skills. They delivered. As a group,
the Limeys are now significantly more confident
which has, in turn, meant they could focus on the
task at hand.
This season the team got a head-start on critical
first aid skills, as well as being able to start with
board rescues. It’s hard to imagine you can
squeeze two Lime Caps on those foam boards, but
they managed it!
It’s been a privilege to witness and contribute to
the journey of these remarkable young individuals.
Whether it’s during team-building exercises
or cheering each other on during challenging
moments, our Nippers consistently demonstrate
their resilience and determination to excel. Most
importantly, we hope they had fun and are proud
of their individual and group achievements.
UNDER 13 BLUE CAPS
Age Managers: Paul Wallace, Margaret
Douglas, Steve Davey, Karen Spencer, Emma
Blake and Richard Pearson
Season 2023/24 was the second in a row with great
conditions. The Blue Caps certainly made the most
of it and are continuing to find their confidence in
the water. The team are well & truly on the way to
blitzing the SRC next Xmas.
In competition the highlights this year would have
to be:
•
Jacqui Bugg 6th in the 2km beach run at State
•
Jacqui Bugg & Eva Ferrer 5th in 2 x 1 km beach
run relay at State
•
Alex Spencer & Cooper Falzon board rescue
semi-final at State
There were some huge efforts by several Nippers
across the State, Branch & Waverley Shield
Carnivals. We always have a good showing.
As we head into our last Nippers season in 2024/25
we reflect on the terrific times we have been
fortunate enough to be a part of, along with the
kids, volunteers & parents.
Margaret Douglas has once again been our rock.
Margaret’s boys finished up in Nippers before
this Bluecaps team kicked off. Margaret was
approached to guide us in the U6s & has stuck
with us all the way.
Special thanks to Sticks (Michael Walker) and all
the Coaches for their hard work. We have been
blessed with Coaches over our time in Nippers.
Sticks’ inclusion into the Bondi Nippers team this
year has been no different. His experience, ability
to communicate with all age groups and the fun
he provides at training has been fantastic. Sticks’
coaching team have all been awesome.
As we head into our last Nippers season in
2024/25 we reflect on the terrific times we have
been fortunate enough to be a part of, along
with the kids, volunteers & parents. We must also
unfortunately reflect on the recent passing of our
dearest Blue Cap, Louise Santos. Louise was a
mentor and true friend to many Bondi Nippers.
She helped coach and encourage many of this
Blue Cap team, throughout their Nippers’ journey.
Louise will always hold a special place in all our
memories and our hearts.
UNDER 14/SRC BROWN CAPS
Age Managers: George Burrows, Matt Souter,
John Castles and Gill Cameron
In time, perhaps 10-20 years, this group will be
fossicking in a sock drawer, box, or old basket and
there, like a diamond in the rough, will be a faded
brown Nippers cap. A Nippers cap that, for some,
tells the story of nine seasons of summer Sundays
at Bondi Beach.
Over the years, not only have they learned valuable
lifesaving skills, but their confidence in the water
has also grown, their leadership and teamwork
skills have blossomed and they have made lifelong
friends. Now in the new role of helping the younger
Nippers learn new skills and gain confidence in the
water, it is worth reflecting on how far the journey,
the achievements and what you can offer others.
Undertaking the SRC is a tough course that
requires commitment, attention and effort. The
Brown Caps rose to the occasion and excelled
prompting the assessors to rate the team as one of
the best groups they’ve assessed over recent years
including Bronze Medallion groups.
Bondi Nippers is proud of the efforts made in your
Surf Club journey, forming the building blocks to
contribute to the good standing of Bondi SBLSC for
many years to come.
The Brown Caps have earned their place as
patrolling members of Bondi SBSLC although this
is the beginning of the Surf Lifesaving journey. This
organisation has so many opportunities no matter
what your interests are. It is important to stay
involved and seek those opportunities out.
The focus is now on keeping this group together
to develop from “young lifesavers in training” into
“young lifesavers”.
81
117TH ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2023/24