Surf Coast Longboarders power lifesaving capabilities from winter fundraiser

A $5600 donation from the Surf Coast Longboarders Club will assist Torquay Marine Rescue to continue keeping people safe in and around the ocean this summer and long into the future.

The local surfing club’s ‘Winter Classic’ auction night in July was a catalyst for the fundraising effort, bringing the local community together to help fund the work of volunteer organisation Torquay Marine Rescue, who run a professional rescue service for the Surf Coast region.

Surf Coast Longboarders Club president Penny Andrews and life members Bob Smith, Noel Pittaway and Bud White proudly presented the $5600 cheque on Thursday to members of the Torquay Marine Rescue team at Fisherman’s Beach in Torquay.

With the funds, Torquay Marine Rescue endeavour to buy a defibrillator and a new rescue board which will help to expand the capabilities of the organisation.

Mrs Andrews said she was remarkably proud of the club’s fundraising efforts.

“The winter classic event has been running for over ten years and has been a fantastic way to give back to community groups or people in need,” Mrs Andrews said.

“Torquay Marine Rescue do such a fantastic job on land and in the water.

“We are incredibly happy to be supporting them in saving lives and certainly couldn’t have done it without all our amazing event sponsors who have also helped us fundraise.”

Each year, the surfing club pick a different local organisation to support for their annual major Winter Classic auction event.

In previous years, Surf Coast Longboarders Club has supported local families with sick children, accident sufferers and community groups like the Trevor Barker Foundation, CFA, Torquay SES and Food Aid.

Torquay Marine Rescue captain Adam Stevens said the large donation was an amazing show of support and one that will go a long way in protecting ocean-users.

“To be supported the way we have this time round is very generous and something we are truly thankful for,” Mr Stevens said.

“We’ve settled on using the funds to purchase a defibrillator and a rescue board which provide additional lifesaving capabilities for what we do.

“A defibrillator has amazing capabilities and to attach one to a ski means that we can save lives and access more remote locations.

“We also get a number of close proximity call outs, which a rescue board is just perfect for, it’ll certainty fill a niche in our rescue gear”.

While hoping not to have to undertake too many rescues this summer, Stevens looked forward to having some new products on board and was full of praise for the longboarding club’s donation.

To learn more Torquay Marine Rescue’s work, go to https://www.facebook.com/torquaymarinerescueservice/