Vice President - Nick Reynolds
The 2025/26 season has been a productive and rewarding year for the club, with significant progress made both on and off the beach. Thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, board members, patrolling members and community supporters, we have strengthened club operations, enhanced member engagement, upgraded gear, equipment and facilities, and continued to build a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Key achievements from the season are outlined below.
Bar Management
Throughout the season, the club bar helped provide a positive and relaxed environment for members to gather after patrols. Several events were hosted at the club, with members and visitors reporting a positive experience. Bar processes were also improved to support smoother operations and compliance requirements. Thank you to all RSA volunteers for delivering excellent service to members and guests.
Sunset Sips Events
Sunset Sips was a hit last season, and this year was no different. These social evenings give members, families and supporters a relaxed, laid-back opportunity to wind down after the working week, enjoying great company and making the most of our wonderful surroundings. They also create valuable opportunities to connect outside regular patrolling hours, helping to foster community spirit and strengthen relationships across the club.
Special thanks go to Ryan Andreola, who consistently put his hand up to help behind the bar when we were short-staffed. Thanks also to Warren Dickie for emptying the bins and, importantly, cleaning the windows each week so we could enjoy the sunset.
Kinder Visit Program
The club was pleased to visit Newhaven Kindergarten again this season. This initiative gives young children the opportunity to learn basic beach and water safety in an engaging and age-appropriate way. The program was well received by parents and teachers and helped deliver important water safety messages to some of our youngest community members.
Special thanks to Maddy Reynolds, (a kindergarten teacher herself), who designed & helped deliver the program.
The program also supports community involvement and creates pathways into club activities such as Nippers.
Social Membership Platform
A new social membership platform is being implemented to improve engagement with supporters and community members who may not participate directly in club activities. The platform will provide a structured way for supporters to stay connected, receive updates and contribute to the club’s ongoing success.
I would particularly like to thank Mike Whittiker for his continued support and investigation into this project, helping ensure we select the right system for our club. Stay tuned — we hope to have this in place for next season.
Presentation Night Organisation
The successful planning and delivery of the club’s Presentation Night gave us the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of patrolling members, volunteers and supporters throughout the season. The event was well attended and recognised the significant contributions made across all areas of the club.
Although I oversaw the organising team, the event would not have been possible without the support of an extraordinary group of people, particularly Nic Francis Gilley and Lara Olsen. Thank you for your input and efforts.
MCs: Sophia Hungerford and Kadek Humphries
Awards coordination: Fiona Blackmore, Carol Irving, our club captains and the training team
Decorating team: led by Lara Olsen, Maddie Hungerford and Roz Reynolds
Support for the World Surfing League at the Club
The club provided support to the World Surfing League for its surfing competition held at Woolamai Beach. Collaboration between volunteers, WBSLSC board members, WSL organisers and participants helped ensure a positive experience and reinforced the club’s commitment to inclusivity and participation. A signed competition rash vest was donated to the club as a token of appreciation from the WSL. The vest will be framed & be displayed in the club somewhere. Keep an eye out for it.
Looking Ahead
The achievements of the 2025/26 season would not have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers, board members, patrolling members, sponsors and supporters. Their commitment continues to strengthen our club and create opportunities for future growth.
As we look ahead to next season, we remain focused on keeping our beaches safe, building membership, enhancing community engagement and providing a safe, welcoming environment for all club members.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to another successful year. See you where the salt water meets the sand. Stay safe.