To wrap up 2022, the crew from Surfrider South Coast went along to the Disabled Surfers Association South Coast (DSA) final event of the year at Thirroul Beach last month.
About 100 people came out on a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning to help the Disabled Surfer Association participants. Volunteers of all ages were so happy to get in the water with our less able-bodied friends and share the stoke. Throughout 2022, Surfrider South Coast members raised enough money to donate a beach wheelchair to DSA to give even more people the chance to enjoy the water.
A bunch of keen volunteers donned their wetsuits and kicked off the action in the Thirroul pool where we were able to provide confidence in the water to people of all abilities.
It was the first time for many of the volunteers, who all came away with huge smiles and said
“It was perhaps one of the most rewarding days of my life!” It’s such a good feeling to be able to pay the joy forward, and allow everyone to experience the freedom that water brings.
As well as helping out in the water, some of our volunteers did a beach clean. A group of UOW students came to do an AUSMAP (microplastics survey) on the beach.
After a couple of hours in the sun and enjoying the waves, everyone had worked up an appetite and were ready for a barbecue lunch. Huge thanks to Ian Picton and his crew for allowing us to share these incredible moments.
I would love all of the readers to come along to the first DSA event of the 2023 calendar at Port Kembla on Sunday, 26 February at 9am. For more information please check out the DSA South Coast Facebook page @DSASouthCoast
Musos for marine life
Surfrider South Coast was selected to take part in the ‘Village Green’ for the recent Jack Johnson tour where we engaged with fans, and raised awareness about important marine issues. Prior to the concert we met with CEOs of Australia’s major environmental NGOs to discuss and collaborate on various projects and solutions. It is great to see musicians using their celebrity to promote causes that will ensure a cleaner future, and to set an example of how all events can be run.
Choose to Up Cup
If you want to make a New Year’s resolution that is so easy to do, why not choose to Up Cup! For 2023, we are partnering with the Plastic Free July movement to drive home the message to choose to BRING, BORROW or STAY. As more people realise that single-use cups aren’t readily recycled, it’s getting easier to avoid them. You can either bring your own reusable cup, borrow or swap a cup from some cafes, or take 10 minutes and enjoy your favourite cuppa there. Support local cafes, support our oceans and choose to Up Cup.
Keep safe in the water and enjoy the summer of Surfrider! #UpCup #PlasticFreeJuly
