Shire searches for legendary Surf Coasters

EXCEPTIONAL members of the Surf Coast are soon to be recognised with nominations for the shire’s Local Legends now open.

The shire’s 2022-23 Local Legends initiative celebrate people and groups across the region who are helping the community and environment to thrive.

Surf Coast residents Tristan Ross, Kate Griffin and Merrin Wake were last year’s recipients of the honour for their noticeable impacts on the community.

Ms Griffin has been a huge advocate for ocean environment and green practices, proving to be a driving force for anti-rubbish organisation A Cleaner Coast, and as joint organiser of the Surfrider Foundation Torquay paddle out against plans to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight.

She also helped her team raise $20,000 for remote surfing communities by surfing every day during last September in SurfAid’s Make A Wave challenge.

“I was a little bit surprised,” Ms Griffin said regarding the honour of being a Local Legend.

“It’s lovely that people think you are doing a great job. Sometimes you need a little boost to kind of get you motivated again, so it is really nice to be acknowledged for things like A Cleaner Coast and Surfrider and what we’re doing down here.

“I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

Ms Wake said her childhood was a major motivator in what she did for the community today.

“Coming from a childhood that was quite chaotic, what drives me is a wish to make sure that people who don’t have voices in the usual places are heard.”

Ms Wake founded SurfCoast for Equality and is a board member of LGTBIQ+ community organisation Speak.

She is also a peer for transgender advocacy and support group Transcend Australia, and a consultant for Loud Fence supporting survivors of child sexual abuse.

“My mantra is meeting people where they’re at, not where I assume they should be or need to be, but actually where they’re at,” Ms Wake said.

“I was part of giving evidence at the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse and was honoured to sit alongside many survivors who I have learnt so much from.

“The healing I have had and continue to get from other people’s stories is quite profound.”

Local Legends can be of any age, but nominations close at the end of October.