An invitation is extended to all members, especially nippers/juniors, new members, U15-U17 surf athletes to come along to board /surf training.

Junior parent members who have the relevant qualifications (surf rescue certificate or bronze medallion) are more than welcome to attend and learn how to use rescue boards and rescue tubes for water safety duties.

Any club coaches are also welcome to attend, especially those that did the Junior Coaching Course recently with Kevin at the surf club.

Starting 2pm Sunday 3^rd June and every Sunday thereafter.

For any further enquiries please contact Kevin on mobile 0434248701 or email starlo13@hotmail.com

Dean has been the club's Chief Instructor (Director of Education) for the past 8 years and has been instrumental in making our club members aware of their responsibilities towards education & lifesaving. Heaps of members (including numerous Junior Parents) have over this period been active in obtaining awards & qualifications to assist the surf club in lifesaving duties.

He has also been a Patrol Captain during this time and this past season took on the role of Under 6 Age Manager within the Junior Activities Section of the club. Dean has been part of the Management Committee at the club and is a very passionate person when it comes to education & lifesaving for our members.

1st Prize Ticket No2463 B Denner

2nd Prize Ticket No 2453 K Denner

3rd Prize Ticket No 1748 K Paterson

First prize was a 9' Malibu (Raw Design) valued at $1,300. Second Prize ' A Room of Paint ' which included 1 x 10lt Wash & Wear, 1 x 4lt Ceiling & 1 x 2lt Aquanamel paint valued at $240. Third Prize $30 Gift Voucher from Bulli Home Timber & Hardware plus $100 worth of Carlton Breweries merchandise.

All winners have been contacted & are very happy with their prizes. Victor (Manager) from Bulli Home Timber & Hardware drew the winning tickets. 

The surf club would like to thank Dulux Paint, The Hardware Man stores including Bulli Home Timber & Hardware, Inspirations, Carlton Breweries & Colour Print Solutions (printing of tickets) for their support. 

All proceeds will go towards our proposed building extensions on the southern side of the surf club.

The Management Teams are as follows:

Open Team AUS TEAM 

Team Manager – Keith Caldwell, Bulli SLSC
Ocean Coach – Danny Short, Maroochydoore SLSC
Pool Coach – Rebecca Cohen, WA RLSSA
Sport Scientist – Wade Sinclair, Picnic Bay SLSC
Physiotherapist – Troy Eady, Byron Bay SLSC

U/20 Team AUS TEAM

Team Manager – Katrina Kirk, QLD RLSSA
Ocean Coach – Barry Newman, Northcliffe SLSC
Pool Coach – James Evans, Mordialloc SLSC
Sport Scientist – Caitlin Braddick, Southport SLSC
Physiotherapist – Nick Marshall, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC

Our Club President Keith Caldwell has previously been an Australian Surf Life Saving Team Manager in 2007 Australian Invitational Team - International Pool Rescue Challenge vs New Zealand @ Homebush Sydney, in 2007 Australian Open Team - International Surf Challenge @ Bondi Beach, in 2008 Australian U21 Development Team - Sanyo Bussan International @ Japan, in 2009 Australian Open Team - International Surf Challenge @ Durban South Africa & in 2011 Australian U21 Development Team – International Surf Rescue Challenge @ New Zealand.

This is the first occasion for Keith as a World Championship's Team Manager and he is looking forward to the appointment.

"I am very excited and privileged to be selected as the Australian Team Manager and look forward to working with the National HP athletes & others in the management team to justify Australia's standing as No.1 in Life Saving at Rescue 2012. This is an achievement for not only myself but for Bulli SLSC in our standing as a successful surf sports club"  

SLSA congratulates all athletes and coaches selected. There will be 2 Australian Teams selected (Open & U19) to compete at Rescue 2012.

Both Downie Langthorne & Keith Caldwell have gained a start as Coach & Manager of the Squad. Congratulations to both!

Downie after a long career representing Australia as an athlete has taken the step up to the mark as one of 6 coaches in the squad, with his expertise a great bonus in both surf & pool rescue events. This is a just reward for Downie with our senior club squad gaining some excellent results over the past few seasons.

Keith is also one of 3 managers who will look after the squad during the winter months and is excited to work with such a talented bunch of athletes & management team. 

Unfortunately 4 of our athletes who nominated for the squad namely Mitch Fagerstrom, Hannah Minogue, Beau Wheeler & Lachlan O'Grady missed selection but they should be proud of their efforts during the past season and their time will come for higher representative honours.   

Date: Saturday 5^th May & Sunday 6^th May 2012

Location: Bulli Surf Club

Times: 9am-5.00pm both days Please note - Must be in attendance for both days as it is too difficult to catch up on any missed sessions.

Workbooks will be utilised during the course & will be completed during the face to face sessions. An introductory letter will also be sent out the week leading into the course outlining what you will need to bring.

This is a very good time to do either your Surf Rescue Certificate or Bronze Medallion as the water is usually still quite warm & conditions very calm this time of year. Important for Junior Parents wishing to assist with water safety on Sundays at Bulli SLSC next summer & at surf carnivals.

Surf Rescue Certificate and Bronze Medallion are part of the education program provided by Surf Life Saving Australia. For Nippers to continue on to their next phase of being Rookies, this is a mandatory requirement & once completed they then can do patrols on Bulli Beach.

Please Note: Members will be placed on a patrol roster when the course is completed and are expected to patrol Bulli Beach next summer (Oct 2012 to April 2013). 

Please note: Surf Rescue Certificate is the minimal award required for a member to assist with water safety duty at nippers &/or surf carnivals.

Please Note: Junior Activities Parents that complete either their Surf Rescue Certificate or Bronze Medallion will be expected to assisted with water safety at nipper Sunday mornings and/or surf carnivals. Assistance with patrols at suitable times will be requested from time to time as well (they do not have to placed on a patrol roster if they wish not too & if over 35yrs of age).

SURF RESCUE CERTIFICATE Candidate must be a minimum of 13 years of age AT THE COMPLETION OF THE COURSE

BRONZE MEDALLION  Candidate must be a minimum of 15 years of age AT THE COMPLETION OF THE COURSE

Enrolment Keith Caldwell – mkcaldwell@bigpond.com or Dean Dudley - deandudley@gmail.com 

U12-U14 are now included in the Pool Rescue Program of events at State & Nationals. So if we have any younger members that swim train or are keen to try some different events in a pool environment with manikins, swim fins & rescue tubes.....then this is for you.....you are more than welcome! For our Masters athletes, you no longer have events at State & Nationals in the pool but there are some events at Rescue 2012.

Can U12-U15 members please bring rubber fins, the surf club will also supply rescue tubes, manikins & pool rescue fins to the senior members at the session.

With the NSW (Peninsula Leisure Centre Woy Woy 28 & 29 July) & Australian Championships (South Australia Aquatic & Leisure Centre 17-19 August) coming up it is a good opportunity to refresh our memories with the events that occur and do this in a firstly, relaxed atmosphere down at the beach, with further sessions at later dates in a pool environment.

A DVD will be shown highlighting events & various techniques at 10am and then hit the pool after that for some training under the watchful eyes of some of our talented senior squad members. At our club we have Australian Reps in Downie Langthorne, Mitchell Fagerstrom & Sean White plus along with former Australian & World Champions in Matthew Freeman, Ben Denner, Greg Miller, Brittany Sharkey & Drew Cairncross who have indicated  that they will assist with our program & training sessions.

Regards

Keith Caldwell

Surf Sports Manager

Firstly, as a club we must thank the following people for helping out with duties associated with surf sports during the year, but most importantly at the State & National Championships.  If any names are missing from the below thankyou’s please accept the clubs apologies. As always we have a great bunch of people who continually put their hand up to assist the club with surf sports duties during the season. From all athletes & parents concerned it is greatly appreciated. 

Thanks must go to our hard working officials namely Dennis Allen, Kevin Starling, John Meehan, Dave Greene, Peter Hammersley, Al Green & Leanne Taylor  who between them worked at Junior State, Senior State & Aussies. Well done to our competition secretary’s Maria Caldwell (Senior’s) & Leanne Taylor (Juniors) for the hours in submitting entries.

 Special mention to big Al Green who toiled for 6 days at Aussies from 5am-5pm each day in the IRB area.......big effort & noted by all surf sports athletes.....if we didn’t have Al there as our IRB representative the club would not have started in events!

Massive thanks to Lincoln Costello, Paul Jones, Ben Lowe, Russell Brinkworth, Keith Caldwell, Brett Wheeler, Dave O’Grady & Sean Taylor for the towing of craft & boat trailers to State/Aussies.

To our members who acted as Area Managers at both championships making sure athletes knew when events were on & marked off, a big thank-you to Keith Caldwell, Robyn Fagerstrom, Kris Crilley, Sean Minogue, Lisa O’Grady, Sandra Brinkworth, Peter Lord, Stu Brown, Debbie Brown, Paul Jones, Lincoln Costello & Leanne Taylor.

 Approximately 80 people attended our post Aussies dinner at Broadbeach Bowling Club and a great night was had by everyone that attended. It was great to see our family atmosphere to the fore with athletes & parents mixing from both the surf/craft & boat sections. Big thank-you to Colleen Gilbert from Broadbeach Bowling Club for assisting on the night.

Congratulations to our 2 Australian medallists, huge efforts & richly deserved;

3^rd U23 Female Boat Crew (Shane Geloven, Olivia Krowka, Sheree Gallagher, Melanie Ireland & Elizabeth Walker).....first year of rowing with Olivia, Sheree & Melanie gaining their bronze medallion only this year!

3^rd U17 Male Belt (Lachlan O’Grady & belt team Dave O’Grady, Oscar Bradley, Emma Lockhart & Jake Hogarth)

Outstanding achievements by the following members to make an Australian Final;

110yrs Male Ski Relay – Michael Locke/Peter Lord/Ian Timbrell

40-44yrs Female Ski – Kimberley Fleming

40-44yrs Female Board – Kimberley Fleming

40-44yrs Female Surf – Kimberley Fleming

40-44yrs Iron-woman – Kimberley Fleming

45-49yrs Male 2km Beach Run – Peter Richards

40-44yrs Male Double Ski – Michael Locke/Ian Timbrell

130yrs Male Taplin Relay – Peter Lord/Brett Wheeler/Michael Locke

Open Surf – Mitchell Fagerstrom

Open Iron-woman – Hannah Minogue

Open Female Ski – Hannah Minogue

Open Male Surf Teams – Mitchell Fagerstrom/Beau Wheeler/Sean White/Matthew Crilley

Open Male Ski – Downie Langthorne

Open Lifesaver Relay – Paul Jones/Ben Lowe/Heath Mercer/Daniel Porra/Dean Roberts (A Boat Crew), Downie Langthorne (Open Ski), Beau Wheeler (U19 Board), Lachlan O’Grady (U17 Surf) & Hannah Minogue (Female Sprint)

Open Male Boat – Paul Jones/Ben Lowe/Heath Mercer/Daniel Porra/Dean Roberts

U19 Iron-man – Beau Wheeler

U19 Male Surf – Beau Wheeler

U17 Male Surf – Lachlan O’Grady

U17 Female Surf – Jamie Brinkworth

U17 Iron-man – Lachlan O’Grady

U17 Male Taplin Relay – Lachlan O’Grady/Dale Dawson/Calvin Richards

U15 Female Surf Teams – Abbey Dawson/Kiah Taylor/Emma Brown/Bridgette Lockhart

U15 Female Surf – Abbey Dawson

U15 Female Rescue Tube – Kiah Taylor

U15 Female Board Relay – Kiah Taylor/Emma Brown/Abbey Dawson * Bridgette Lockhart injured & replaced by Abbey in final.

A majority of our members were on the beach on the Wednesday when the alarm was raised that an U15 competitor was missing. We had U15 male & female competitors in the area when the incident occurred & the search took place. Hundreds searched for the rest of the day without result. Our management team made sure that everybody was trying to cope with the sad news of Matthew Barclay, firstly missing and then located when his body was pulled from the water the following morning. He had suffered major trauma to his head, most likely hit by his own board, or that of another competitor. Tears were shed on the sand by young competitors, mums, dads, officials and emergency personnel over the days of the championships.

The greater lifesaving family helped each other through this sad ordeal, with professional counselling offered by SLSA over the course of the championships which after much discussion re-commenced at North Kirra on the Friday. To our members please let it be known that counselling is still available from our State Centre Surf Life Saving New South Wales. This has been a very stressful time for all concerned, please look out for your friends & fellow club members for signs of post traumatic stress and don’t hesitate to contact myself or my wife Maria if you need help and we can point you in the right direction. We need to ensure our surf lifesaving family assists each other at this difficult time.

A lot has been said about the incident & I am sure most would have read newspapers or listened to television stories about surf life saving in general. Some of the information reported has personally disgusted me concerning the continued bagging of a great organization. Surf Life Saving is the Australian way of life, getting our kids to grow up wanting to do patrols and maybe race in surf sports events, it’s about mate-ship that lasts a life time. It's a tragedy and surf lifesavers are grieving as one alongside the family of young Matthew. There is no denying the surf movement has battled in dealing with the aftermath of Saxon's death - its previously untarnished reputation has taken a battering. I personally would like to see the championships moved away from Kurrawa Beach, but that is my thoughts as an individual. I also spoke with members of the Organising Committee & Competition Committee including Surf Sports General Manager (Dave Thompson) & Surf Life Saving President (Graham Ford) plus Surf Life Saving’s Legal Counsel about issues leading up to the incident. The decision was made by the Competition Committee to keep the carnival running, a decision not made lightly and made by people with hundreds of years experience in the movement. I personally made sure it was known to each of our area managers & competitors that if they wished not to compete on any given day due to the surf conditions, it was not a problem, the club would stand by their decision.

We say it each year, “what is Kurrawa going to throw at us?” But teams travel there with members from U15 (including U13-U14’s with awards) through to Masters keen to challenge themselves in the testing conditions, including parents as coaches, managers & even as masters athletes.

Conditions were rough, especially on the low tide, with the competition committee meeting every hour to discuss what events could go ahead. Big sets of waves were rolling through every few minutes, some breaking hundreds of metres out. But that's normal at a big, open beach like Kurrawa, where 15 of the past 19 national titles have been held. Conditions were variable across the many competition areas stretching almost a kilometre along the beach, depending on the position of sandbanks and wave zones. Surf boat races had been suspended a few hundred metres up the beach after a spate of injuries amid the dumping waves and heavy, cumbersome boats. Similarly, the two-person women's double ski event had been postponed due to the size of the craft and the tidal conditions. But for smaller, individual craft like skis and boards, it was business as usual. Surf conditions on Tuesday were not as big or as bad as those terrible, cyclone-driven days. Challenging, yes, but many on the beach saw it as nothing more than another testing day at the "Aussies", the sport's highest arena of competition.

Just to let people know that after Saxon Bird’s death in 2010 & subsequent Coroners Inquiry, what cannot be questioned is that there was a very definite response to the recommendations following his death in 2010. Apart from inflatable life vests, of which 16 versions are being considered and tested, every recommendation made by the coroner had been implemented. 3 tragedies have occurred in an ocean environment (all at Kurrawa....Robert Gatenby 1996 - boat, Saxon Bird 2010 - ski & Matthew Barclay 2012 - board) that can be as unforgiving as it is awe-inspiring. Sadly, none of that good work will bring back Matthew, Saxon or Robert. It's perhaps worth remembering that the very reason lifesavers exist is to protect swimmers from the extreme dangers of the surf and as it has been mentioned sometimes, tragically, the surf is too strong for even lifesavers.

The actions of Matthew's parents (Stephen & Donna) in encouraging his Maroochydore club mates to stay and compete in the 14-year-old's honour at the remainder of the national titles is a moving tribute to their young son. Some competed...some didn’t. For most of us it would be hard to understand the incredible loss and grief suffered by all those close to Matthew. The strength of Matthew’s family especially his mother & father had to be seen to be believed. They were on the beach at North Kirra on the Friday dealing with their grief in their own way, many a tears flowed when the U15 Maroochydore girls won gold in 2 team events. Some of our members attended the Memorial Service at Kurrawa Beach on the Sunday morning prior to competition starting with Matthew’s dad (Steve) speaking to everybody that attended the service ......how hard it was.....a very important part of the grieving process!  

I hope that we don’t lose any of our current or future members from our great movement, volunteers who keep our beach safe, but I can understand if it does happen. We do this because we love teaching our younger members how to handle the surf. As everybody knows volunteers are already stretched protecting our beaches, catering to the expectation of Australians that the red-and-yellow flags are there and we will look out for everybody whilst at the beach.

So in closing I will send through another email after the Easter Break with our club results.

I am sure everybody would join with me & offer our condolences, thoughts & prayers to the Barclay family. Matthew was laid to rest last Thursday in a very moving ceremony on the Sunshine Coast.

Life can be short, make sure you enjoy life to the fullest!

Rest in Peace Matthew Barclay....a champion young kid gone too early in life! 

Yours In Surfing

Keith Caldwell

President

BULLI SLSC