Administration - Fi Blackmore
This season has been another busy and productive year for the club. My focus has been on providing administrative leadership and practical support across all areas of club operations, ensuring regulatory compliance is maintained and continuing to create and improve processes that lift efficiency and reduce the need to “reinvent the wheel”.
A key part of the role this year has been supporting systems and processes that allow the club to operate smoothly. This included oversight of memberships led by our Memberships Officer, Bre McGrath who together with Carole Irving provided support for requalification activities, and registration & back end activities with Bronze and SRC camps. These activities are often behind the scenes, but they are the grease to enabling our core programs to operate well.
Merchandise was another active area, with Mel Davies continuing to evolve the club’s range with new patrol hoodies, surf hats, rugby jumpers, bathers, other merchandise items and patrol uniforms. These items support Nippers and patrolling activities, and enhance club identity as well as ensuring we look great and are cozy and warm as the weather turns cooler.
The club’s tree planting day in October was a great example of the club’s community contribution and environmental care. Thank you to Landcare and BUPA for their financial support, and to Phillip Island Nature Parks for their guidance on planting & weeding on the day. This important ongoing work contributes to dune stabilisation, ecological diversity and fauna habitat. With 15 attendees, all plants were placed in the ground quickly and a significant amount of weeding was completed. Subsequently weed spraying took place to reduce weed reemergence.
Other grant activity during the year obtaining generous sponsorship from the San Remo and District Bendigo Bank to purchase AEDs and cases which are now attached on the outside of the clubhouse and Smiths Beach rescue base. These resources provide critical lifesaving help when we’re not around. More generally, the club was successful in obtaining several grants to support equipment and capital works. Brendan Smart’s coordination of this area has, as always, been outstanding, and the support of the Grant Seeking Unit of SLSA is also appreciated.
Work was undertaken to respond to the federal government’s U16 social media ban and the introduction of the Stack Teams App. These changes require ongoing coordination, communication and adjustment across the club, with a focus on keeping members informed and connected. Jasmine Kuerschner and Erin Close’s great work on our socials has been greatly appreciated, and we now have a significant gap in resourcing this important area. If you can help, please let us know.
As the season progressed, coverage of patrols became an increasing issue, made more complex by increasing fuel prices. We thank all members who stepped up to ensure our two patrolled beaches were covered up to the closure of the season in April.
I would like to sincerely thank the many people and groups who have supported the Admin portfolio throughout the year, including Mike Whittaker, Mel Davies, Bre Goodger, Carole Irving, Melina van der Weerd, Brendan Smart, PINP, the Smithsonians, and the Board, especially Jason. Their support, advice and willingness to help have been greatly appreciated.
This is my last year on the Board, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to the governance and administration of the club, as well as being an active patrolling member. It has been a privilege to support the club in this capacity and to work alongside so many committed volunteers.
I encourage all members to get involved. There is a job and a place for everyone, and the friendships, fitness and fun involved with contributing to the club are significant.
You will not regret it.
