Cape Hawke Surf Lifesaving Club’s (SLSC) junior captains, Abby Mulligan and Jock Sweeney were both keen nippers from an early age.
They have loved learning surf and safety skills and the training and encouragement for competition from the family-oriented atmosphere at the club.
“With surf lifesaving you are learning skills, and although I do enjoy the competition side of it, it’s a sport that has a purpose,” Abby, who was last year a junior lifesaver of the year for Lower North Coast (LNC) as well as being on the LNC branch team, explained.
“While you are learning and having fun you are also learning valuable life skills. ”
Jock and his family have been swimming at One Mile for more than 40 years and Jock is now a patrolling member.
“I like Cape Hawke SLSC because I am surrounded by a positive and fun community,” he said.
The two young captains have regularly travelled away to compete and have accomplished many achievements between them.
Although they are too old for nippers they have loved it so much that you are still likely to see them on Sunday mornings helping with water safety and encouraging the younger children with their enthusiasm and experience as well as taking their turn on patrol.
Since Cape Hawke Surf Club was established in 1978, it has opened the beach to ever more swimmers during the summer period, and given the people who swim there a greater sense of confidence.
Many people still see One Mile as the dangerous beach.
If you do not know it, it can be.
Boasting a membership of more than 340 members from five-year-olds to retired life savers, there is a wealth of knowledge of the beach under all conditions; where to place the patrol area and how to advise the swimmers.
Over the past five years the club’s patrols have performed 36 rescues and more than 1700 preventative actions.
This season the club will be providing coaching in board and surf ski skills as well as subsidising the cost of a swimming skills program on Friday afternoons, focussing on endurance and safety in the surf in collaboration with the YMCA commencing October 6.
The club has a strong surf sports program supporting competition in local, country, state and national championships.
To encourage women young and old to learn about the fitness, skills and thrills of surfboat rowing, the club will be holding an open day on Saturday, November 3.
Cape Hawke’s ladies surf boat rowing crew ‘The Pearls’, are current State and National champions.
A bronze medallion course and surf rescue certificate course will commence on Thursday, October 18.
Cape Hawke is a level three good sports program member supporting healthy clubs and strong communities.
The club provides training in surf rescue, resuscitation and first aid through a dedicated team of trainers and assessors.
Club registrations will be held at the club on Sunday, September 23 from 9-11am, Sunday nippers commencing on October 21 from 9.15-11.30am.
New members are welcome at the daily gathering of the sunrise club from 6am for a coffee, or at the One Mile Bar Thursday and Sunday evening sessions for a stunning view of One Mile Beach.
If you would like to know more, go to www.capehawkeslslc.org.au or email info@capehawkeslsc.org.au.
