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With so many deserving Surf Lifesavers at North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club I don't think it is possible to choose one person to be the Clubbie of the Year. More important is being Club of the year! With so many volunteers contributing their time, I am honored to have been chosen from the nominees for our club to be the representative for North Bondi and I would like to think that a vote for me is really a vote for all Surf Lifesavers past, present and future at this great club. We desperately need a new clubhouse, so if I win I pledge the entire $10,000 towards this and will personally match with another $10,000 in respect for all those who took the time to vote. We have the best Surf Lifesaving Club in the world on the best beach in the world. Your vote to get some money to help build a clubhouse we can all be proud of will be greatly appreciated.
What's my background? When I was 18, I learned to swim by watching others in a local pool in Wales! That explains my wonderful technique!! Ha! Ha! Then I decided to train to become a lifeguard. After qualifying, I got swept up into an exciting computing career. However I swam everyday and that was rare thing to do in those days and even frowned upon by management - when everyone else went down the local pub for lunch, I went to the local swimming pool. I tell everyone that I thought I was a good swimmer until I came to Australia!! Anyway, here I am and still trying to improve my swimming! Ha! Ha!
After being an Associate Member at North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club for a number of years, I was inspired by "The Coffee Club" to do my Bronze Medallion and become an Active Surf Lifesaver. And when my squad was voted the best Bronze Squad of the year, it was a special honour because we started off as a motley bunch and halfway through our training we were easily the worst! Have you ever seen the film "Stripes" with Bill Murray? That was us!! Ha! Ha! Well, we made it!!! And I am proud of all of them.
A couple of years more training after getting my Bronze Medallion, I completed the Gold Medallion on a day where the seas were so treacherous that the Bronze Squad who were doing their exam had to be rescued. During the Year of the Surf Lifesaver I represented my club in more publicity events than probably any other Surf Lifesaver in Australia. One funny time was the occasion I was asked to demonstrate the signal flags for The Discovery Channel in Canada. I was not expecting to be interviewed by a "Miss Canada" and then asked to run up the beach shouting, "Gadday, from the Daily Planet at Bondi Beach", in my Welsh accent! Do you think they would notice in Canada? Ha! Ha!
Still trying to improve my swimming and ensure I stay fit enough to patrol the beach, every morning I swim across Bondi Bay with the Coffee Club, and every arvo I swim again with my mate Gunther, a Life Member who pioneered the IRB section.
Nominees were asked to answer three questions. The full answers are below.
What is the best thing about being a Clubbie?
Being a part of the best club on the best beach in the best Country in an awesome organisation, Surf Lifesaving, manned by volunteers past and present and I feel so humble and proud and grateful to be able to contribute whatever I can to save lives.
What is your proudest moment as a Clubbie?
My proudest moment personally, it is either being presented my Gold Medallion by the Prime Minister of Australia or going out in the scariest surf to successfully rescue someone, riding the rescue board all the way back to the shore on a massive wave to the applause of those on the beach! After the rescue, the Patrol Captain exclaimed that he did not know I could ride a rescue board like that and I replied, "Neither did I"! Ha! Ha! And that's what it is all about and I every moment I am proud of Surf Lifesavers everywhere going beyond the "Norm" to save lives.
What makes you Clubbie of the Year?
With so many deserving Surf Lifesavers I don't think it is possible to choose one person to be the Clubbie of the Year. More important is being Club of the year! And that is achieved by all members each volunteering their time. So I humbly represent all surf lifesavers past, present and future as a volunteer playing my part in this great club.
Since getting my Bronze Medallion, I have represented my club in the World Masters and probably more publicity events than any other Surf Lifesaver during the Year of the Surf Lifesaver; I completed the Gold Medallion; I have helped train new Bronzies and I manage the beach set-up for the club's two annual ocean swims at Bondi Beach. "Retired" from my highly successful computer company, I have freely donated my time to look after the club website for the past 5 years and am currently involved in a complete redesign. In line with my philosophy of compassionate entrepreneurialism I have pledged 50 percent of all my income from my Global Anti-Ageing business and my other entrepreneurial ventures to charitable organisations including North Bondi Surf Club.