FROM THE PRES

What a moment for our Club.

I’m thrilled to share that Portsea SLSC has been named Lifesaving Victoria’s Club of the Year, taking home the Sir Frank Beaurepaire Shield. It’s only the third time in our history we’ve won this award, following our victories in 2018 and 2020, and against 57 clubs across Victoria, that makes it pretty special.

But this Shield doesn’t belong to any one season, or any one committee, or any one person. There are countless fingerprints on it. Winning an award like this takes a whole of club effort: the patrol members, the trainers and assessors, the officials, the volunteers behind the scenes, the parents on the sand, the office staff answering the phone or prepping meals. It reflects not just the work of those leading the Club this season, but the efforts of everyone who has guided, shaped and contributed to Portsea across its 76-year history. Every one of them has a hand on that Shield, whether they realise it or not.

It felt right that we didn’t keep this to ourselves. The Shield made the trip down to the final day of Platinum Camp, where 22 of our members completed their Search and Rescue award, a brilliant achievement in its own right. Congratulations to every one of them, and to the crew of outstanding instructors who led them through the course. Sharing the Shield with that group, on that day, was exactly how a club award like this should be celebrated: together, and with an eye on the next generation coming through.

Winning this award also means we now represent Victoria at the Surf Life Saving Australia Awards of Excellence, to be held in Sydney this November. We’ll be giving our all to fly the Victorian flag, and it’s a genuine privilege to be given the chance to share the Portsea story on the national stage.

I also want to recognise the other Portsea individuals and programs who were finalists at the LSV Awards of Excellence this year. They may not have taken home the win on the night, but they are winners, and they deserve to be celebrated alongside our Club award:

• Jack Mitchell – Junior Lifesaver of the Year
• Jack White – Assessor of the Year
• Bev Thomas – Masters Athlete of the Year
• Portsea Nippers – Nipper Program of the Year
• Surf Academy Program – Innovation of the Year

To be a finalist among the best clubs and individuals in Victoria is a genuine achievement, and it speaks to the depth of talent and dedication we have across every corner of this Club.

Finally, thank you. To our members, our volunteers, our families, thank you for everything you bring to Portsea, season after season. A special thank you to our Committee, who give so much of their time and energy to steer this Club: Sas McNamara (Club Captain), Sue Crow (Deputy President), Damian Benson (Treasurer), Darren Thomas (Secretary), Phil Harford, James Nola, Kristen Sagar, Jack White and Glennis Winnett. And to our staff, led by our GM Rod Leonard, whose work behind the scenes makes so much of what we do possible, thank you.

This Shield is for all of you.

Matt Mahon President, Portsea SLSC