6 minute read
Silver salties: meet our
Surf’sup
Meet the Silver Salties, a club of age-defying beach buddies who are fun and fabulous, gutsy and resilient, and who change lives.
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WORDS b LIZZIE WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY b WILL HORNER
It’sa brisk autumn morning in the charming coastal town of Forster on the New South Wales mid-north coast, and a bunch of lively locals has gathered at the historic Bull Ring Ocean Baths. With the water temperature an icy 18 degrees and the sun barely poking above the clouds, not even a biting westerly is going to stop this mob from taking an early morning dip.
These are the glorious Silver Salties, an all-inclusive club of dedicated, sea-loving men and women. They’re members of Surf Life Saving Australia’s pioneering fitness and wellbeing program aimed specifically at the over-65s.
Stripped down to just their cossies, the pack of 20 or more Salties have donned their goggles and caps, and with plenty of bluster, are ready to plunge head-first into life. Their program leader is retired psychiatric nurse Janet Litwin and she’s busy getting the group sorted for a water aerobics class. A respected local in the Barrington Coast region, the mum of two and grandmother to four – with husband Wally, a long-time coal miner – is an active member of the Forster Surf Life Saving Club.
“I’ve been involved on and off for over 50 years – it’s in our blood. I remember when women couldn’t get a bronze medallion. Thankfully, times have changed,” Janet, 68, tells The Weekly. “We’ve always been beach lovers, and Wally and I, as volunteers, are often rostered together on patrol – it’s a real family affair. There’s nothing more gratifying than giving back to the community.”
When the Silver Salties program was launched in Forster in October last year, Janet knew she would somehow end up involved, though never imagined she’d be running the local branch.
“We have 62 members, and the plan is to continue to grow. It is a lot like Nippers, meaning it’s about inclusiveness, enjoyment, fitness and social interaction with like-minded people – there’s no room for chestpounders,” she says with a smile. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see someone who might be a little hesitant in the beginning, barely able to put their toe in the water, and within a few sessions, they’re as fearless as us old-hands. Self-confidence is not to be underestimated.”
Already in 30 different locations across most states and territories, and with over 1400 members, the aim of the Salties is to provide activities uniquely tailored to the needs of older
Australians that can be played out at the park, the clubhouse, on the beach, in the pool or the surf. The world-first initiative is funded by Sport Australia’s Move It AUS – Better Ageing grant program and offered free of charge through a number of local SLSCs. Clubs can choose any one or more of the 20 Silver Salties programs on offer, from First Aid and Club Volunteering to Beach Surf Sports and Catching Waves. Regardless of age, weight, fitness, or mobility, there’s no discriminating – everyone gets to have a go.
Behind its rising success is an extraordinary woman who deserves much of the credit for turning the original blueprint into something very special. Laura Thurtell, a Masters Ironwoman champion amongst other achievements, is one of the program’s national ambassadors. A retired Detective Sergeant in the NSW Police, the 56-year-old mum of three now dedicates her life to her beloved Salties.
“This has been a long time coming. Being a senior citizen shouldn’t mean you become irrelevant,” she says. “Many of us, like me, were members of a surf club in our younger years but had to move away for our work. The Salties is a great way to come back
when you’re older. It’s not competitive, and while it’s aimed at the over-65s, everyone is welcome. We have members as young as 30 and as old as 91!”
Based at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, Laura is more than the token poster girl. After years of coaching Nippers and competing at the highest level, she’s confident she can expand this lifechanging concept into more clubs.
“I want this to be the bookend to the Nippers program across as many clubs as possible,” she says. “I want our ageing population to have the best lives possible. We all know the enormous benefits that sea air, salt water and sunshine deliver. Early on, when we were putting this together, we recognised that, for our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing, there’s nothing better than the ocean.
“We’re a wonderful mishmash of fabulous characters, and everyone has a story. No one cares how they look, and we wear our weather-worn lifelines like a badge of honour.
“Having a dip, riding a wave, or just being on the beach with sand between the toes, combined with being around people who are fun and adventurous – it’s hard to beat. It’s the best natural antidepressant, and the sea of smiles around the country means we’re doing something right.” At many clubs, the grandparents of their pint-sized surf heroes, the mighty Nippers, have been first to enlist. At Queensland’s Bundaberg SLSC, with already 144 registered Salties, 63-year-old grandma of two Jo McLellan and husband Steve, 67, couldn’t wait to sign up.
“Both of my grown-up children, Dwayne and Shelley, were Nippers, as are the grandchildren, Evella, 13, and young Bailin, 10,” says Jo, a retired nurse. “We went up a few notches when they found out Granny Jo and Steve were joining the Salties. The grandkids and their mates reckon we’re pretty cool – it doesn’t get much better than that.
“It’s like having a new lease on life. Steve and I only met in 2019 through the hospital where we worked together. We’re still newlyweds after tying the knot in January this year,” she adds cheekily.
“The beach is our happy family spot where we all come together. We do Nippers on Sundays, and Steve has become the club’s sausage sizzle king. Monday mornings, we Salties gather on the beach. The program relies heavily on our qualified surf club volunteers, much like the Nippers, to run the activities safely both in and out of the water.
“We’re from all walks of life. We solve the problems of the world, have plenty of laughs, and when someone’s doing it tough, we rally to lift their spirits. And it’s free – except for the ‘cuppa’ fund which covers the cost of our coffees. We might go home with our togs full of sand, but we’re grinning from ear to ear.”
Down in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, the Silver Salties Walk & Talk group has congregated. Leading the pack are new best friends Wendi Murray, 70, and Bernice Keane, 79, and the pair is mustering the troops for their Tuesday morning workout.
For Wendi particularly, the precious time she shares with her Salties is the best distraction from daily life spent caring for her husband, Doug, diagnosed with dementia seven years ago. “He’s a proud clubbie, has been in surf lifesaving for over 50 years and is a life member,” she says. “Anyone familiar with dementia knows it’s good and bad days – you never know. I thought about inviting him to join our group, but at the risk of sounding selfish, the Salties is my time – an all-important circuit breaker, and the best therapy of all.”
