2025/2026 Season Review 

Thank you everyone who attended our senior presentation night to wind up the season.

Before I now reflect on our season, it’s worth stepping back for a moment and recognising the broader context of what we are a part of.

Across New South Wales this season, surf lifesavers performed tens of thousands of rescues and preventative actions. Once again, there were zero drownings between the flags. A statistic that should never lose its impact. It represents countless hours of vigilance, training, and teamwork across beaches just like ours.

We also continue to see increasing demand for our services.  More people visiting our coastline, more complex rescues, and greater expectations on volunteer organisations. At the same time, there is a growing focus across Surf Life Saving on inclusion, mental health, and ensuring our clubs remain sustainable into the future.

At North Avoca, we align closely with Surf Life Saving NSW Strategic Planning.

Our focus remains on four key areas: saving lives, developing and supporting our people, growing and sustaining the movement, and engaging our community.

This season, we have taken deliberate and meaningful steps across all four pillars.

On the beach, our core purpose remains clear — saving lives.

I’m incredibly proud to say that once again, we recorded zero preventable deaths on our beach. That doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of preparation, leadership, and a team of patrolling members who consistently show up ready to act.

We’ve strengthened our operational capability. We increased our number of qualified IRB drivers, improved communication systems, and continued to build highly effective patrol teams. We’ve continued to invest in the foundations of our club. We are complying with our new Constitution, strengthening governance, improving financial transparency, and securing sponsorship to support our long-term sustainability.

Just as importantly, we’ve invested in our people and listened to what is important to them as we come together.…….Our education programs have gone from strength to strength, with strong numbers across Bronze, SRC, and proficiency awards. We are building capability not just for today, but for the future.

Our youth development continues to thrive, shaping the next generation of lifesavers. This, not just in skills, but in leadership, confidence, and connection.

In surf sports, we’re seeing exciting diversification from the growth of our IRB racing team to strong representation across multiple disciplines.

But perhaps one of the most important areas of growth this season has been in inclusion.

Our club continues to lead the central coast in this space, with initiatives like Rainbow Patrol, Pink Patrol, Blue Patrol, and Indigenous Patrol gaining recognition well beyond our beach.

Furthermore, our Inclusive Nippers program stepped up another level. It created opportunities for children and families who may never have felt that surf lifesaving was for them. It strengthened our entire community.

Community engagement has also remained a priority. Through events like Summer Sips, youth camps, holiday activities, and fundraising initiatives, we’ve created opportunities for members to connect beyond patrols and training.

None of this happens without people.

And I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the team that helps drive this club forward.

To our Office Manager, Sharon Tull. Thank you for your ongoing commitment and the countless hours you put in behind the scenes….

And to our Board — Vice Presidents John Avis and Kieren Paul, Director of Finance Scott Green, Director of Lifesaving Josh Duggan, Director of Administration Peta Quinn, Director of Education Kat Dwyer, Director of Member Services Megan Mille, Director of Youth Elise Avis, Junior Activities Coordinator Matt Slattery, and Public Officer John Rodrick — thank you.

And big thank you to each and every member of our club for your contribution.