Currumbin Surf Girl Courtney Taylor is one of the Vikings’ most respected members but even she has felt the effects of gender bias

Courtney Taylor is one of Currumbin’s most respected and most established surf lifesavers but even she has experienced gender bias in the sport.

COURTNEY Taylor is one of Currumbin’s most respected and most established surf lifesavers but even she has experienced gender bias in the sport.

From chief training officer and youth development officer at Currumbin to holding down a position on the membership and IRB lifesaving advisory committees for Surf Life Saving Queensland, the 23-year-old has done it all.

Currumbin Vikings are celebrating International Women's day with a high tea function, 40 years of women in surf lifesaving. (l-r) Brooke Hanson, Carole Walle, Jade Mickle, Carly Burg, Courtney Taylor, Emily Pade and Keely Smith. Picture: Jerad Williams

Growing up idolising her dad Derek as a Shoalhaven Heads nipper, Taylor’s favourite surf lifesaving memory came when she first stoop up for herself at age 16.

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“One of the bigger (and respected) members of our club was explaining something (at proficiency training) and I corrected him and he turned around and started basically lambasting me and saying ‘what do you know, you’re a girl’ so I asked him to explain his reasoning and I explained why I thought it had changed and we shook hands.

“I realised then that my age and gender didn’t matter and my organisation accepted me for who I was.”

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At times the “only female in the room,” Taylor said she’s occasionally been told she couldn’t fulfil some positions in the sport as a female.

Currumbin Vikings are celebrating International Women's day with a high tea function, 40 years of women in surf lifesaving. (standing l-r) Carly Burg, Carole Walle, Jade Mickle and Keely Smith, (sitting - l-r) Brooke Hanson, Courtney Taylor, Emily Pade

But as one of Surf Life Saving Queensland’s 2020 Surf Girl ambassadors, Taylor hopes to change all that and inspire the next generation of females across the movement.

“The role I wanted to form this year that was anyone, no matter their age or gender, can make a difference in surf lifesaving,” she said.

“I want to be a leader for the youths and females involved in the organisation and demonstrate that these members can be involved in every capacity, including leadership roles on the board.”

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To celebrate 40 years of women being officially recognised in surf lifesaving and also 100 years of the Currumbin Vikings, Taylor has organised a High Tea tomorrow morning (11:30am) at Currumbin Surf Club to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Currumbin Vikings are celebrating International Women's day with a high tea function, 40 years of women in surf lifesaving. (l-r) Carly Burg, Emily Pade, Carole Walle, Keely Smith, Courtney Taylor and Brooke Hanson. Picture: Jerad Williams

“While females have only been officially recognised in the organisation for 40 years, they have been involved from day one,” Taylor said.

“We’re hoping to celebrate our history, the diversity and different types of women as well as looking forward to change in the future.”