Blog Posts

Gibbo's Lotto NZ Award - Please read & Vote!

28/2/2017

Lotto NZ award / Sport Makers

Recently our President Peter Gibbons (Gibbo) was nominated by one of our members for the Lotto NZ Sport Makers competition and was lucky enough to make it into the top 10 contestants out of hundreds. Gibbo has been a massive part of our surf club and many members’ lives for years and we are sure this will continue on for many more.
Read the story in the picture below that Senior Lifeguard Mel Ibbotson wrote for Gibbo’s nomination.
Thanks for all you hard work Gibbo we all appreciate it!
The next step for Gibbo is to enter the final top 10 stage where all your votes will count in giving Gibbo the opportunity to win the ultimate team experience. The final round asks that members of the public vote for their chosen Sport Maker. All you have to do is go to the website, sign in using your Facebook, twitter or email and find the picture of Gibbo and press the heart button to vote and that's it! The person with the most votes will win this great prize. Everyone can vote once a day so please get voting for this fine gentleman and share the link on your Facebook's.
Voting starts today the 1st of March at 9am and finishes midnight on Friday the 10th March.
So please, if you understand the huge amount of volunteer time Gibbo has put in to our club, please place a vote in for him!
Website link: https://www.goodonyou.co.nz/#/boards/sportmaker/entries/peter-gibbons-of-st-kilda-surf-lifesaving-club

Say hi to Duncan in our latest 5 mins with

26/2/2017

Name: Duncan New
Age: 17
Day job: At polytech doing outdoor leadership and management

What is your role at St Kilda SLSC? I am a lifeguard and I am part of the IRB team as a IRB driver.

How long have you been with St Kilda? For about 3 - 4 years

Why did you join? Because I love to be at the beach and wanted to surf and wanted to get in the boats

Most memorable moment/incident at St Kilda SLSC and why? Going to south islands for IRB in 2016 and just going on some pretty amazing adventures in the boats with all the great people at St Kilda

Pet hate? Bad surf and cold weather

What do you like to do in your spare time? Going surfing and doing anything in the outdoors

What has been your greatest achievement in your time at St Kilda SLSC? Getting rescue of the year 2 years ago and top under 21 crew for IRB racing last year

Aims for 2017? Going to IRB nationals and keeping St Kilda beach safe for the summer

Any message to readers? Always swim between the flags and keep safe out in the water

Get to know Cam, in our latest "5 mins with"

20/2/2017

Five minutes with....

Name: Cam Third
Age: 22
Day job: Ambulance Officer
What is your role at St Kilda Slsc? Senior Lifeguard and Asset Manager
How long have you been with St Kilda? This is my 10th season patrolling
Why did you join?
Max dragged me along for a few years in a row and Gibbo told me if I was going to keep using the showers I had to become a lifeguard.
Most memorable moment/incident at St Kilda Slsc and why?
Being part of the mass rescue of Columba College students at Canoe Beach because we were expecting to find one patient on arrival but instead there were 10+ girls in distress needing rescued.
Pet hate?
Not having 3 ply toilet paper!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Hang out with my gangster little daughter and Fiancé Emilee :)
What has been your greatest achievement in your time at St Kilda Slsc?
Probably getting the Otago presidents trophy a couple of years running and having the privilege of project managing the rebuild of our Hall/function room.
Aims for 2017?
Run the 50km Nasby water race thingy
Any message to readers?
Come and get your lifeguard award. You won't regret it and you'll love the chilled atmosphere!

5 mins with... Zach " ladies man" Mason

20/2/2017

Name: Zach Mason Age: 17

Day job: being top dog

What is your role at St Kilda SlSC: I am a part of the IRB team and the Sands team I specialize in driving crewmen and board paddle I am also a very keen life saver doing my part to keep New Zealand's beaches and community safe

How long have you been with St Kilda: for 9 years

Why did you join: cos life is better knowing that u are a gangster and being helpful. Plus there are lots of ladies here

Most memorable moment: having a blast at the beach with some of the most beautiful people in the world

Pet hate: normal people
What do you like to do in your spare time: play hockey and surf

What has been your greatest achievement in your time at St Kilda SLSC: going to birds island and chilling out in the swimming hole

Aims for 2017: to be the best that u as an individual can be because u can't ask for more

Any message to readers: stop being ordinary and put yourself in the most challenging spot and then strive to make the most out of what gets through at u and love doing it

Coastal Otago Classic LongHaul IRB race 2017

23/1/2017

On the 14th January St Kilda held the Coastal Otago Classic on behalf of surf lifesaving NZ. The event was created by our Club asset manager Cam Third who based the concept off the 90 mile race in the far north.
The race was held in the harbour this year as the surf conditions were forecast to be dangerous where the original course was planned along the coastline between Aramoana and Brighton. The course consisted of teams racing from Vauxhall to Aramoana to complete their first challenge before racing from checkpoint to checkpoint and completing further challenges down the length of the Otago harbour.
We would like to acknowledge and say a huge thanks to Coastguard Dunedin and the Otago harbour master for assisting in planning and safety for the event and to AREC for their help with tracking teams through the radios.
We are planning to run the same event pre-Christmas but along the coastline instead allowing us to create more challenges that will test competitor’s ability.
Check out our photos in the gallery!

White Island Race 2016

3/11/2016

White Island Race 2016

The season has started off in true fashion with members of the surf club competing in the Annual White island race run by the St Clair surf club.

This year we had 2 of our clubbies Nic Harwood and Brynn Schievink Swim the 5km race alongside a Brighton member and an ex St Kilda member (Shakes) Nic completed the race in just over 1 hour and Bryn unfortunately had to with draw with a short distance left to go. Well done lads that’s a huge effort!

We also had 15 members paddle around the island on knee boards. This is the biggest turn out of St Kilda competitors to this event in many years with many more to come. Michael Thompson (Tomo) may have let out a wee grown man’s scream when he was graced with the presence of what he thought may have been a shark but quickly proved to be a dolphin. Some say there may have also been tears shed from this gentleman.

The team managed to squeeze in a cheeky team photo on the island mid race.

Well done to all and looking forward to many more events this season.

Get to know Bryn in our latest 5 minutes with!

29/9/2016

Name: Bryn Schievink
Age: 17 years young
Day job: Student/ Maccas Rep

What is your role at St Kilda Slsc?
General clubbie

How long have you been with St Kilda?
Around 3 years

Why did you join?
Dragged along by the D-dog himself

Most memorable moment/incident at St Kilda SLSC and why?
My first Rescue at Kilda/ Having a BBQ with the boys

Pet hate?
When people won't go paddling with me

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Hitting up the beach, Chilling with mates, Work

What has been your greatest achievement in your time at St Kilda SLSC?
Rescue of the year,

Aims for 2016?
Swim the white island race, Have a pumping summer

Any message to readers?
Get stuck in, If you're keen on being a lifeguard Hit me up

Check out what our Club Members got up to recently!

23/9/2016

Some of our club members not only spend there time at the beach patrolling during the summer but are also a part of the SLSNZ Otago Search and rescue team who respond to afterhours callouts and searches around the Otago district 365 days a year 24 hours a day.

This team over the past few years have attended multiple incidents from surfers caught it rips outside of patrol hours to searches following possible sightings in the sea.
Over the past week the team have been very busy. This started with a Friday night callout to St Kilda beach for a surfer in distress but were stood down on arrival at the surf club as the lucky surfer had made is way to shore.

On Tuesday the 13 September the squad was turned out to an incident at Heyward Point where a recreational fisherman run into trouble when he discovered a fire is his engine room. The quick thinking of the skipper saw him radio a distress message across the marine radio before running his vessel aground on a secluded beach below the Heyward Point light and disembarking to avoid the fire. The St Kilda members responded by road with 1 IRB to Long beach where they launched. Upon arrival at the incident they saw the skipper being winched to safety by the Otago Regional rescue Helicopter. The team where tasked by Dunedin Marine search and rescue advisers to assess the safety of the vessel on the beach being the only service who could easily access the beach by water. One of the members Sam just so happens to be a qualified fire fighter and liaised with the Port Chalmers volunteer fire brigade to come and extinguish the blaze.

The team used their IRB to ferry Fire fighters and equipment to and from the beach when they arrived on Coastguard Vessel. This was shortly followed by a Second IRB from the St Clair Surf Lifesaving club arriving on scene with 3 of their members who help form a part of the SAR team. The team assisted fire with keeping the suction for their pump submerged and assisted Coastguard with securing the burnt-out vessel to the rocks ready for the incoming tide to prevent it drifting out to sea and causing further problems.

The following Saturday night saw the whole team with members from St Kilda, St Clair and Brighton surf clubs respond to Warrington beach where 4 people were reported in difficulty 100meters plus off shore. This rescue saw the first arriving member’s suit up in full gear ready for the night time operation including hi-viz, strobes torches and helmets. Fortunately the kayakers managed to swim to shore before the team launched.

On the Sunday morning we were once again paged out for another job at Warrington beach, This time a search after a beach goer noticed an empty kayak and multiple sets of paddles on the beach.

The team responded and performed a search but it was later proved the kayaks actually belonged to those who were involved in the incident the night before and the official stand down was given.
Thanks to the members from St Clair and Brighton Surf Clubs who also make up the rest of the team.

A Brief Update from Cam our Assets Manager on the Club Renovations

30/8/2016

We are currently going through a major re roofing project following our old roof leaking significantly and the spouting was failing.

As we are a voluntary non-profit organization we have to rely greatly on sponsors to provide us with funding for needs like these! We have been lucky to have 3 community organizations come together and help us with the re roofing project.
NZ steel have provided us with the materials for free through Otago roofing solutions. Our major sponsor Bendigo trust has come forward and picked up the cost for the re roofing.

Club funds are paying for the spouting and any extras involved as well as renovating the beach education hall and meeting room which is getting a whole new ply wood ceiling with LED down lights along with some new carpet and blinds with a updated media and sound system. The roof is around 28k to finish and the building repairs and renovations are a further 25k from members funds.

We have had a great turnout with many club members of all ages turn up and help with demolition and reconstruction of the premises. Many thanks to these members!

5 Minutes with Surf Lifeguard Bexy

30/8/2016

Name: Bexy Shingleton
Age: 18
Day job: Work at Starfish Café

What is your role at St Kilda Slsc?
Patrolling lifeguard and Eat the free food!

How long have you been with St Kilda?
1 year lol

Why did you join?
Peter Crowley bullied me until I said yes, but its one of the best decisions I've made!

Most memorable moment/incident at St Kilda Slsc and why?
There are too many! But IRB trips to cliff jumps are always a favourite

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Surf, swim, play music, hang out with pals, anything to do with the ocean is always a go to

What has been your greatest achievement in your time at St Kilda Slsc?
Learning how to drive the IRB, and also just becoming a qualified lifeguard :)

Aims for 2016?
Become a stronger swimmer and get more confident in the IRB, so i can hopefully get in some comps!

Any message to readers?
You experience your greatest joys when you go outside of your comfort zone.

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