Andrew Crow

 
Andrew Crow training the next generation of lifesaving superstars.

Andrew Crow training the next generation of lifesaving superstars.

Andrew "Crowy" Crow is a mentor to many and a perfect person to have by your side in the surf! He has guided the future of the Surf Life Saving movement and continues to be a guiding hand for our members when times get tough!

 

Question 1: What season did you join the club?

I joined Wooly in the fantastic season of 1994/95.

Question 2: Why did you become involved in Surf Life Saving?

Craig Ross (my former arts teacher and club captain at the time) is the reason I first became involved. He put out a notice at our school advertising bronze camp. A great friend and former clubbie Grant Edmunds and I decided a week down the beach doing bronze camp before heading to his dad’s farm near Wonthaggi was a good way to finish the year. To be honest, when I signed up for the bronze camp I thought this will be good to learn more about being safe in the water, however I didn’t have intentions of coming back.

Question 3: What keeps you coming back every season?

There are a lot of reasons why I am still here 24 years after I joined. Initially I was very keen due to competition (surf boat rowing) and learning/gaining new awards like IRB drivers. I couldn’t believe that you could also get paid for lifeguarding and that became my summer job for a number of years. There have been two constants through throughout the years that has mainly made me return and that is the people and the beach. I am very fortunate to be able to call a number of fellow clubbies (past and present) very good friends. I have always been a lover of beaches, however Wooly is one of the most spectacular and powerful beaches I have seen in the world and I have been fortunate to have seen a lot! A great place for swimming, diving the cape, cape walks, surfing, a beer and a chat while watching a sunset.... I also believe it is important to give back to the community. Obviously saving someone from drowning is important, however Wooly is great at doing more than that. Nurturing junior members and supporting other members when they face difficulties is an amazing feature of the club. I have seen many lives saved out of the water as well! In the last five or so years, a new reason has been nippers. I have been fortunate to be able to give my two children Hannah (11) and Tom (9) an opportunity to experience nippers and be an age manager and it is great to see the enjoyment on all the kids faces as they spend time exercising outdoors in a really positive environment.

Question 4: Who were/are your mentors in Surf Life Saving?

Andrew Barratt is an absolute champion and encouraged me into surf boat rowing. He was a true leader of the club and made a really big difference not only in my lifesaving but in my life. There are a lot of Gerries with great stories, however no matter how many long road trips I went on with Barratt, he always had new stories to tell and always keen to generate new stories! There are so many amazing people at the club though that have assisted me over the years- Macca, Thommo, Georgie, Moatey, Dougy Johnson, Mark Donaldson, the Webbs and about another 50 at least!

Question 5: What do you love most about being a Surf Life Saver at Woolamai Beach SLSC?

Spending time at an amazing beach with your friends!

 
Member profile