Dramatic dip in Nippers sign-ons for Gold Coast Surf Clubs as border rules shut children out

There are fears tight border restrictions will leave hundreds of kids without crucial water safety skills as Nippers sign-ons dip to an all-time low. ALL THE DETAILS

TWEED youngsters face being unprepared for beach risks and without lifesaving skills – compared to Gold Coasters – as border restrictions block them from Queensland surf clubs’ famed Nippers programs.

Registrations for the kid’s water safety program had dipped to an all-time low for several surf lifesaving clubs at the Gold Coast’s southern end, the Bulletin revealed earlier this month.

Greenmount Surf Lifesaving Club Marty Damjanoksi reported sign-ons for the upcoming season, due to start late September, had dipped to just 28 from 300 the year prior.

Coolangatta Surf Club’s Janeen Nowlan confirmed it was a similar story for the six-decade-old club with numbers almost halving: “We were all geared up to have a great season.

Coolangatta SLSC nippers (L-R) Ewan McConnell 11, Javi Harding 5, Kai Rideout 6, Anne McConnell 7, and Alastair McConnell 13. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“We like to keep our nippers under 100 and keep it quite personal. Last year we had 70 kids sign up and now we’re at about 40.”

With the season weeks away, Point Danger branch officials – from Tallebudgera to Rainbow Bay clubs – are scrambling to deliver a program to New South Wales members locked out of state.

Tweed went back into lockdown this week due to a reality TV show crew worker who was Covid positive in northern NSW. The border bubble with Coolangatta was also ended, isolating the two connected border communities once again.

“People are unsure about what’s going to happen, it’s very sad,” Ms Nowlan explained.

“We put a lot of time and effort into planning our Sundays and the whole season – it’s very hard when you’re planning for a blank page.”

Coolangatta Surf Club is losing almost half the sign-ons from last year. Picture: Jerad Williams

She fears ramifications for missed seasons will force a delay in kids being permitted to test for bronze medallion certificates as they progress to becoming a volunteer lifesaver.

Fears for the children’s own water safety skills, however, prove far greater: “These skills could one day save their life or others. Our objective is to get every kid to do Nippers, especially ones who live near the ocean, not for competitive reasons but to get used to rips and the dangers of the ocean,” she said.

“They’re going to miss out on keeping up those skills, lose momentum and even interest. If they lose that momentum then they lose that confidence in the water.”

Southern GC surf clubs are reporting massive dips in Nippers registrations due to many youngsters being locked out of state. Picture Glenn Hampson

Surf Lifesaving Queensland general manager of membership Kerrie Barnes holds “genuine concern” for cross-border kids, who made up a quarter of last year’s Point Danger numbers.

The southern branch recorded more than 500 lost registrations – dipping from 2000-plus to less than 1500 – since last year’s season.

SLSQ reported more than 2500 swimmers in distress were rescued by lifeguards or lifesavers during the 2019/20 season. while 11 drownings took place at Queensland beaches.

A combined 76 per cent of those rescues were the result of either currents or rips, while seven per cent were attributed to poor swimming ability. Other factors made up 17 per cent.

Border rules are keeping many Tweed-based nippers out of Queensland and unable to take part in the water safety program. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

“The Nipper program was built on water safety back in the 60s, the creator was actually from the Point Danger branch. It was created so coastal-based children had the opportunity to be safe in the ocean,” Ms Barnes said. “We would rather undertake preventive action rather than a rescue or resuscitation if possible.”

Ms Barnes confirmed youngsters over the border were for now unable to undertake practical assessments for bronze medallion certificates.

“They can do their theoretical training online, however, there is a huge amount of physical training attached to that and they have to be able to do that in a face-to-face environment,” she said. “If they can’t physically attend that will be delayed.”

Ms Barnes said those unsure about signing up should do so anyway and that new registrations were welcomed throughout the season.

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Originally published as Dramatic dip in Nippers sign-ons for Gold Coast Surf Clubs as border rules shut children out