From the President's Desk
Hi All,
I hope the cooler winter months are treating you all well.
It has been full steam ahead for the Board, Staff & Committees as we set plans in place for the 2018/19 season. There is lots happening and a lot of hard work being invested to make sure we are ready to go with better member programs in place than ever before whether it be lifeguarding, surf sport, junior surf or the club social program!).
I want to take this opportunity to speak directly to all members, parents and supporters about the health, safety and well-being of our #WhangaFam.
Ensuring all members can participate in our club activities in a safe & healthy manner is of paramount importance to the Board and I. In addition to our values and ‘what we think it right’, we also share a legal primary duty of care to ‘manage the health, safety and well-being of members so far as is reasonably practicable’.
There are a number of serious risks, some of these can be life-threatening, that we are all exposed to within Surf Life Saving. To further challenge us, we operate in the often unpredictable aquatic environment where there are tight margins to recover safely from events when they do occur. That all said, “health and safety” should not be seen or cited as a reason not to undertake these activities. Quite the contrary in fact. It’s about us all having awareness and being responsible for identifying and assessing the risks generated by the activities we undertake and ensuring there are effective controls in place to ensure we can undertake any given activity in the safest manner reasonably possible. If we didn’t have a level of tolerance to risk, quite simply, we couldn’t operate as a club. What will drive success in this area does not lie in manuals, policies and risk registers (although we do have all those). It sits with every single member as part of our club culture and our deep commitment and desire to enjoy all the great benefits of being in the surf club, ensuring we are aware of and alert to, the risks we are exposed to and ensure that we always aim high on safety with regard to our attitudes and behaviours.
In practical terms, this translates to parents having regular ‘safety conversations’ with their kids to support risk management education, all participants listening to safety briefings provided by coaches & instructors at the start of sessions and following their instructions/safety protocols during the training. It’s about speaking up and raising concerns with coaches, patrol captains, instructors etc in a trusted & respectful environment if you are uncomfortable with any situation. It's about looking out for your mates when out in the surf and making ‘good calls’ when the conditions become challenging, such as never leaving anyone behind ensuring everyone has a buddy.
While the Boards strong preference is to take a positive proactive approach to this area of the club, the bottom line is that where members put themselves or others at risk through reckless behaviour, these matters will be addressed as a formal disciplinary matter resulting in suspension (including missing carnivals, club events etc) or termination of club membership.
If you would like to find out more, have great ideas for managing safety or wish to raise any concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me or Andrea Paynter our Club Manager or the likes of Rachelle (Club Captain), Tom (Club Coach) or Emily (Junior Surf Chairperson).
Until the next edition… let's aim high on safety!
Nathan
Club President
Club Captain's Update
Hello fellow Clubbies,
I do hope the winter months are treating you well and are not stopping you from improving your lifeguarding/sport and coaching skills.
A few things are starting to happen at the club ready for the 2018/19 season...
The Board, Club Committees and other leaders in the club are coming together at the end of July to review our strategic plan put in place two years ago, and to get a gauge around where the club is currently and where we want it to be in the next few years. I look forward to updating you on how it goes.
If you are wanting to be considered for a paid guard position at Whangamata this season then you need to attend a briefing on 29th July at midday in the Annex. If you cannot attend then please contact me.
Thank you to all those who have begun to participate in camps, IRB Auckland training, first aid courses and other training. Please make sure that YOU understand that YOU have a responsibility when you attend these sessions to act within a responsible, safe and positive manner. We all have and should show a high level of duty of care to all those at these sessions and are in charge of our own health and safety.
On the 21st of July, we will attend the Eastern Region Awards of Excellence, I wish all those who are finalists the very best of luck on the night.
Please continue to stay connected with the club via Facebook and email. If you ever have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Cheers,
Rachelle Bright
Club Captain
Lifesaving Update
- Awesome effort to those who turned up for our May Development Camp, it was a very successful weekend which saw guards refreshing their first aid skills and discussing how they want the #WhangaFam club culture to look. It was also an excellent opportunity to meet guards from the surrounding beaches and compare how each beach operates. A big thank you to all the instructors who helped on this.
- We held the first of our Auckland based IRB trainings at Bethells Beach last weekend. This was a good chance for our up and coming guards to get some experience driving in West Coast surf. If you are interested in attending future training days please get in touch.
- If you are looking to progress your lifeguarding skills get in contact with us on our Lifeguard Development Email, Feel free to ask any questions about potential courses and development opportunities, to ensure you hit the ground running next season!
- The committee would also like to congratulate Max Jones for his selection for the 2018-19 BP Leaders for Life Programme. Natalie Wilson completed the 2017-18 round of this programme in May by presenting the new SLSNZ Rock Navigation Module, which she helped develop. We look forward to introducing this module to Whangamata guards in the coming season.
Surf Sports Update
- The water may be chilly but that's no excuse! Winter trainings are in full swing and will be held most Sundays in Whangamata. Exact dates and times will be posted on the Surf Sports Facebook Group.
- We will start training for Eastern Region and National Pool Champs within the next month, if you have any interest in participating in this please contact Tom Lowe.
Junior Surf Update
- We will soon be looking to fill a number of positions on the Junior Surf Coaching team. These roles are perfect for anyone looking to build their leadership skills and work with others likeminded people to develop the future of the #WhangaFam in a beachfront office. Keep an eye on the Facebook Group where we will be posting the applications for the Junior Surf Coordinator and Junior Surf Coached in the next few months.
- Parents of Junior Surf kids! It's time to start thinking about how you can help your kids get the most out of Junior Surf! We're always in need of awesome people to help our coaches both on and off the beach; wethers it's in the shop, on the beach or at a carnival, your help is always greatly appreciated. Contact the Club Manager if you're interested in lending a hand.
That's all for now, if there is any other club news you want to know about in the future, or you have some news you would like shared get in touch and we will make this happen. Make sure you have joined our Facebook Group and followed our Instagram account, as these feature information regarding club events, lifesaving updates and sports results.
