2 minute read
Two Coast events aim to get women in the water
SURF LIFE SAVING
Two Central Coast surf clubs will share almost $9,000 from the NSW Government in support of NSW Women’s Week from March 6-12.
Advertisement
Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club (ABSLC) will receive $5,000 for its Women in the Water program and Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club collects $3,900 for a Women in Lifesaving networking event.
Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club’s Women in the Water event will be held at 9.30 am on Sunday, March 12, inside the club and finishing on the beach and in the water.
It will be a free social event for women and girls in Avoca Beach and the surrounding community to bring females together to be inspired by other women and to reinforce that everyone is welcome at ABSLSC.
There will be a free brunch featuring an inspiring guest speaker, local female heroes from the surf club and a lifesaving demonstration showing what a rip looks like and concluding with some fun play in the water.
The club’s women and girls members are invited to bring along their female friends.
“ABSLSC has over 1000 members and about 47 per cent female membership,”
President Stu Harvey said.
“The Club is a hub for the local community, but we know that sometimes women are hesitant to be involved.
“We know that people are more likely to get involved if they are invited by a friend, so we hope that by holding this event women know how important they are to us.”
Also to be held on March 12 is Terrigal Surf Lifesaving Club’s Women in Lifesaving Lunch and engagement workshop from noon-2pm.
“This directly aligns with the health and wellbeing and participation/empowerment focus areas for Women’s Week 2023,” spokesperson Julie Redfern said.
“We will bring together 100 women to celebrate their volunteerism in surf lifesaving.
“We will have guest speakers who focus on leadership, health and empowerment as physical lifesavers, mentors and role models for the hundreds of young girls coming through.
“Our goal is to unite women lifesavers to realise their potential.
“Surf lifesaving is a traditionally male dominated area.
“Women need support to get back on boards, practice first aid and (participate in) rescues and swimming.”
Redfern said the event also aimed to foster confidence and willingness to take on leadership by bringing in other lifesavers such as Jenni Darwin from SLSNSW Member Services and Australian Lifesaver of the Year Shannon Fox to inspire women in the community.
They are two of 45 events state-wide promoting and supporting women’s education, employment and wellbeing to receive funding.
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said the Government is providing $200,000 in grants to support Women’s Week events which help connect and celebrate the incredible contributions of women in the state.
The NSW Women’s Week Grants Program provided grants of $3,000 to $5,000 for events that support at least one of the key priorities of the NSW Women’s Strategy 2023-2026.
These include improving women’s economic opportunities, health and wellbeing, and participation in community.
Terry Collins
•
•
•