We have forged links with Birubi Point Surf Life Saving Club in New South Wales, Australia, as a result of one of our old members, Mark Fuller, emigrating out there.
Birubi Point SLSC is situated 150 km north of Sydney, and just north of Newcastle at Anna Bay, Port Stephens.
Click here to see a map of the area on MultiMap.
The club patrols a 32 km long beach, known as Stockton Bight, which is adjacent to the Tasman Sea. The club was formally recognised in 1998, however the patrolling of the beach began before then in 1993, operating out of the back of an old Land Rover.
Anna Bay*
Now in 2006 they have 300 members, consisting of 160 children aged between 6 and 14 years, with the remainder being patrolling members and committee.
The club is run by one main committee of volunteers and has various sub-committees to run different areas of the club, eg. Junior Section.
They have a clubhouse which they operate from. They are planning to build a new clubhouse, which will be pretty amazing. Click here to see what it might look like. Patrolling season starts in September until the end of April, although the club is continuously organising new equipment and funding ready for the new season.
Birubi Point Beach and Clubhouse*
The club trains Surf Lifesaving Awards in a structured learning environment every Sunday morning. Children start as 'Nippers', gaining Surf Safe Certificates, before moving on to Surf Rescue, Bronze Medallion, Silver Life Support, Silver Patrol Captain, Silver IRB Drivers Courses and finally Gold Medallion. Other courses are available in advanced resuscitation, defibrillation and general first-aid. Courses from Bronze Medallion onwards are recognised through the national education system within Australia.
Competition Aussie Style*
* Photograph courtesy of One Mile Photography (Stuart King)
© St Edmundsbury Life Saving Club 2006 - 20010
