It was a welcome return to Camp Quaranup this weekend for the Albany Surf Lifesaving Club and a keen group of u14-17 youth members, parents and club volunteers for the annual youth development camp. With a program chocked full of lifesaving, surf sports and team building activities, the focus of the camp was placed squarely on participation, teamwork, fun, friendship, education, lifesaving and surf sports skills.
The camp was thoroughly enjoyed by all participating youth (check out our separate story about this!) and everyone else who helped out to make it happen – it took a big team of volunteers to plan and run the weekend, which also relied on the support of a number of generous donors who we would like to acknowledge and thank here. We all had a great time keeping up with the energy and excitement levels of our emerging crop of young lifesavers, who took every opportunity to jump in with both feet and familiarise themselves with some of the fundamental building blocks of lifesaving and club culture.
The camp combined current crops of u15 SRC (Surf Rescue Certificate) and u17 Bronze Medallion holders with the graduating Nipper class of u14’s, all receiving a pre-season shot in the arm and exposure to:
- The latest Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) technique and DRSABCD first aid principles
- The surf sport disciplines of surf swimming, beach running, long boards & surf skis
- Lifesaving tools of the trade including rescue tubes, spinal boards, rescue boards, Rescue Water Craft (RWC / jet ski) and Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB)
- Life on Patrol – the basic kit and equipment needed to patrol our beaches
- Lifesaving techniques – the theory and practice of sea floor grid searches, unconscious patient handling and transfers both on land and on water (rescue board assisted)
- Teamwork – the importance of working together in a team
- Volunteering – the need for everyone to chip in and volunteer for a role
The weekend also provided valuable opportunities to renew friendships from previous seasons and create new ones for the season coming – for all of the camp participants including parents and volunteers. As such it was a great way to build club culture early in the season, and served as a fitting welcome to some of our newer members in particular.
Parents were invited to take part in the camp open and welcome, where they were able to hear about some of the approaching highlights of the season coming, the huge range of opportunities available within the youth pathways program, and SLS and ASLSC approaches to member protection.
Thankyou’s for helping deliver this session goes to:
- Anna Emery – ASLSC Vice President & Camp Co-Organiser
- Prescilla Tollec – Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO)
- Celia Waugh – Trainer/Assessor, Officials Coordinator, SLSWA and ASLSC Life Member (+ too many other awards to mention)
- Liesel Freebury – Youth Coach, Age Group Manager, and Youth Leaders Program Gold award holder (+ a few more)
The group quickly proceeded from the welcome into CPR training under the guidance of Jo Lucas and Dani Lynch, both fresh from their Trainers session led by the SLSWA’s Lifesaving and Training Development Officer Domenic Cowdell.
Saturday morning remained firmly focussed on lifesaving, as we joined forces with the SLSWA ‘TAF Weekend’ (Training, Assessors and Facilitators) led by our own Education Team Leader Jeff Medcalf. Here we need to thank the following individuals who helped to turn these training exercises into such a valuable learning session … but also making it so much fun!
- Jeff Medcalf, Greg Webb, Rob Mason, Byron Bird, Pat McSweeney, Richard Langston, Cam Martin, Luke Roecker
- Dani Lynch was also on hand to coordinate Water Safety for this session (as well as Sunday’s) and generally help run things from the sideline – thanks Dani! She may as well go and get her car sponsored by SLSWA, it was a display of a mobile patrol if ever we’ve seen one!
We also managed to deliver a big group of SRC pre-requisite proficiency swims within the session which was fantastic. And this is a good reminder to all remaining youth u14-17 to sign up for their proficiency swim at ALAC on 27/10!
Donations
The camp couldn’t have been run so affordably without the assistance of a number of generous local businesses and private donors – on behalf of Albany SLSC, thank you. We appreciate your generous support!
- North Road IGA
- Dog Rock Woolworths
- Brooks Garden Woolworths
- Janet and John Inglis
- Rebecca Stephens
- Celia Waugh
Camp Helpers
A huge thankyou to all the volunteers who gave up their time to come out and lend a helping hand at some point in the weekend… it was great to see such a good mix of parents, brand new members and long serving club members working together. Thanks to fellow Camp Coordinator Anna Emery for pulling this together too!
- Sarah Elery, Chantelle Lawson and Melisa Ponsford for Saturday lunch, ably assisted by life members Kerry and Barry Oakley
- Shaye Holmes and Kylie Severin took a lead in the daunting camp pack up and cleanup process, with the other arriving parents taking turns when they turned up
- Julie De Jong, Kellie Loverock, Jackie and Nathan Riddell – all helping put on Saturday nights feast!
- Dave Loverock for his supervision and support over the weekend, including the long walk of 2 skis all the way from camp to the beach with Sophie!
- Jenny Jay for help with Sunday breakfast & water safety
- All the amazing bakers of savoury and sweet treats – these were absolutely crucial for keeping us all going and motivated between meals!
Activity Leaders
A huge thankyou to the team who helped deliver such a challenging and inclusive program of activities:
- Greg Pepall (board captain) – trekked spare boards out, ran a board proficiency with U14s, and ushered a big group onto the water for a long paddle to and fro camp on Sunday
- Jason Bresanello (ski captain) – a technique instruction and quick demo from the big wizard was all it took for some of our intrepid youth to paddle unassisted from inner Brambles back to the Jetty! Impressive, thanks Bresa and for dragging the ski trailer over (and somehow getting it back up the hill from the Jetty)
- Jo Abbot (yoga guru) – coaxing the group out of bed on Sunday morning, Joy took the group through a searching introductory session which reinforced the importance of flexibility, strength, breathing and the process of achieving mindfulness in our busy lives – thanks Joy!
- Rob and Jo Lucas – instrumental in planning and running the team building activities on Saturday afternoon and night, and further assisting to deliver all other sessions. Anyone next year for more Foxholes? Yes!!
Youth Mentors
- Oli Pass and Liesel Freebury – these two deserve a special thank you for being such amazing youth mentors during the camp and supporting all activities. The level of leadership displayed by these two doesn’t just happen overnight, with both rising from the Nipper ranks to take active roles on the beach with the Nippers as soon as transitioning into the Youth age group. Thanks guys!
- Mitchell Loverock – a recent graduate from the Youth program himself, Mitch also put in a huge effort over the weekend, juggling his own TAF training with water safety roles on Saturday and Sunday, and helping out with many of the little odd jobs that just needed to be done with a smile on his face. Thanks Mitch!
Camp Supervisors
To our all day and overnight supervisors – for embracing dorm life with a smile, and putting in efforts before, during and after the fun parts started and finished – you all deserve an award!
- Celia Waugh, Anna Emery, Jos Pass (Youth Coordinator), Nick Walker, Rob and Jo Lucas
Member Services
- Tara Pountney and Perdie Beebe – behind the scenes these two made a special effort to ensure everyone’s membership was up to date and without issue – and this was no small feat thanks guys!
Youth
All our youthies were awesome! Thanks to each of you for making the commitment to come, and for participating with such great spirit and willingness to give everything a go. Checkout the separate post to hear about the camp in their own words! The kids also wrote a thankyou and appreciation letter to the donating businesses and to Janet and John with a photo. Nice touch guys!
Youth Camp signing off for 2024!
Image gallery here.
Special mention also goes out to all of the wonderful club volunteers who assisted in the planning, organisation and delivery of such a great event! Thanks team!