Votes open for Sunshine Coast’s best surf club
A Sunshine Coast surf club that came from humble beginnings has taken out the Daily’s ultimate club powerhouse ranking. But did we get it right? VOTE NOW
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A Sunshine Coast surf club which grew from humble beginnings has outperformed all others in the ultimate powerhouse ranking.
A Sunshine Coast surf club which grew from humble beginnings has outperformed all others in the ultimate powerhouse ranking.
Kawana Surf Life Saving Club has proven it punches well above its weight claiming the top spot in the Sunshine Coast Daily’s ultimate surf club ranking.
The club, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021, excelled in financial performance and membership numbers.
The Daily ranked the Sunshine Coast’s surf clubs performances based on each club’s beach visitation figures as the country’s clubbies geared up to compete in the 2022 Australian Championships.
Surf Life Saving Queensland general manager Kerrie Barnes said all Queensland clubs save lives “as one” and asked the Sunshine Coast community to support the movement by swimming between the flags.
“At Surf Life Saving Queensland we believe that all of our clubs have unique qualities for their members and community. Some clubs are particularly strong in sport, others in nippers or education,” Ms Barnes said.
“The one thing that binds our clubs together is their drive to keep the community safe and to save lives.”
But did we get it right? Vote for your favourite club and check out our rankings below.
Votes close at close of business on Friday.
1. Kawana Waters Surf Life Saving Club
Growing from humble beginnings the Kawana Surf Life Saving Club and its 823 members have claimed the top spot as our powerhouse club.
The club celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021.
Its 250 patrolling volunteers achieved 7080.03 hours of keeping swimmers safe in 2021.
Inaugural member Bob Clements said Kawana’s members and the club’s community focus were essential to its success.
“It’s all about the comradeship and knowing you are doing something for the community and everyone gets a buzz about helping children (and others) enjoy the surf,” he said.
“I have a lot of pride being involved and get a lot of pleasure from stopping rescues from taking place – it’s a good feeling knowing you’ve helped people.”
Kawana Waters Surf Club was formed in 1980 before the clubhouse – built through a $99,000 loan from the local Commonwealth Bank – was opened roughly two years later.
With the help of a state government grant the club has focused on renovating and expanding which included an upgrade to the ski shed, a new first aid room and new bathroom facilities.
Mr Clements said physically improving the club’s facilities to match its growing membership was a priority.
He said the club was in the process of applying for a grant that would allow them to spend a “couple million” on the tired clubhouse.
“We need some improvements in a physical way and we are looking at building more rooms for training and more meeting rooms for the active members so they have somewhere to go and hang out,” he said.
Mr Clements said Kawana Waters won the World Championships in 2006.
“For a club as young as ours this was a mammoth achievement, there are not many clubs in Australia that have achieved this,” he said.
2. Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club
From Ironman legend Grant Kenny to Olympians Janelle Pallister (Elford) and Aly Bull, Alex Surf Club’s black and gold spirit shines in every aspect of the club.
Alex’s 1668 members, 421 patrolling members and 46 life members makes it the Sunshine Coast’s second biggest club.
It placed in the top four across all categories and took out the top spot in the competitive point score and ranked an impressive second financially.
Alex also notched up 3919 points at the selected championships.
Two-time Nutri-Grain ironman Tayla Halliday was born wearing the black and gold cap, something she is very proud of.
“My family’s been apart of Alex since I was born … it’s my family, my home and I wouldn't go anywhere else,” she said.
She described the club as having strong community ideals.
“If someone came here later on in their surf life saving journey or nippers I think they’d grow into the family and become a part of it because everyone here is so kind and welcoming,” she said.
The club, which held the 2021 Australian Championships along side Maroochydore and Mooloolaba will celebrate its centenary in 2024.
Alex performed 14318.18 patrol hours in the 2021 season.
Alex ranked second financially recording a surplus of $1,424,464.
3. Marcoola Surf Life Saving Club
Marcoola Surf Club rounds out our top three.
Started in 1969 the club quickly grew to have 718 members in 2021 and continues to go from strength to strength.
Its 194 patrolling members contributed to a total of 7837 volunteer hours in the 2021 season and performed 273 preventive actions and 17 rescues.
Marcoola Surf Club general manager Drew Palmer said the club flourished despite Covid-19 challenges and earnt Sunshine Coast Branch and Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Club of the year award in 2021.
“We have a really a good feeling about the club and the fact that we are giving people something to look forward to,” he said.
Mr Palmer credited the award to Marcoola’s record number of Nipper sign ons that saw the club increase its program from approximately 150 to 200 in 2021 and 250 in 2022.
“We looked at how to bring the community together during Covid-19 and lockdowns to give the community something to look forward to … and increased our numbers considerably,” he said.
Despite its successful growth Mr Palmer said the club was determined to remember its grassroots and maintain a high quality of training to ensure its lifesavers were equipped to save lives.
“We are committed to training to the highest standard and best practises,” he said.
The club recently invested in a new surf boat and recorded a surplus of $269,249 in 2021.
While the family orientated club’s competitive point score is lower than that of older clubs, Marcoola competes in all aspects of surf life saving including surf boats and champion lifesaver.
In true trailblazer style the club was also the first on the Sunshine Coast to form a Niperette Club catering to only females before women were excluded from the surf life saving movement.
Marcoola was severely reprimanded for the move but just one year later females were allowed to become full members of the movement.
4. Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club
Proud life member Ian Jobson describes Maroochydore Surf Club as having dedicated hardworking and successful members in its DNA.
With 985 members the 105-year-old club is known for its competing prowess and has had many Olympians including kayakers Alyce and Jordan Wood compete under their blue and black cap.
When compared to other Sunshine Coast clubs Maroochydore placed second in the competitive point score leaderboard with 3005 across the selected competitions.
Led by head coach Nathan Greig (Bugsy) Maroochydore was represented by Tiarnee Massie, Adam Palmer and swimming gun Hayden Cotter during the most recent Nutri-Grain Iron Series.
Highly revered Sunshine Coast community members including Mal Pratt OAM are among its mammoth list of 66 life members.
Mr Jobson said the club’s success came down to its dedicated club members.
“It’s in their DNA to do well,” he said.
“Whether it’s beach sprints with Swanny, first aid with Lenore Bryce, or Bugsy with his phenomenal group of athletes, everyone is very serious about doing a good job and that goes right down the line to patrolling.”
Mr Jobson said the club previously struggled to retain its athletes with bigger Gold Coast clubs offering other opportunities, but said its success was now attracting competitors from other states.
“They have really helped increase the quality,” he said.
The club’s 284 patrolling members recorded8,928 patrol hours in the 2021 season and actioned the most preventive actions to keep swimmers safe.
In financial aspects Maroochydore rated lower than its counterparts, recording a deficit of $71,501.
Despite the loss the club states it is continuing to reduce debt after recording a loss of $145,713 in the 2020 season.
5. Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club
Life member and 2019 Surf Life Saving Australian volunteer of the year Craig Law said Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club “punches well above its weight”.
With just 638 members the club is among the Sunshine Coast’s smallest.
“It’s a smaller club where everyone is very passionate about it,” he said.
“People know each other’s name, there is a very good dynamic and people are well invested in regards to what they can do for it, not what they can get out of it,” Mr Law said.
Sunshine Beach ranked third in the patrolling members category and recorded a surplus of $282,256.
Its 240 patrolling lifesavers contributed to8217 volunteer hours between the flags and actioned nine rescues in 2021.
Like many clubs Mr Law said Sunshine Beach had endured financial heartache but after securing a $2.5m federal government grant the club was able to completely rebuild its facilities.
The modern club that now boasts two outdoor decks and modern member facilities was opened in January, 2020.
Mr Law said the club rebuild set Sunshine Beach in good stead financially.
Sunshine’s strengths also flow on to the competition line with the club scoring the fifth-highest point score.
5. Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club
As the second-oldest surf club in our region Coolum celebrated its centenary season in 2019 and proudly boasts 29 life members.
Over the years the club has endured major challenges including World War II, when most of its active men joined the fight.
The club’s active membership dwindled to just two after a 1948 Boxing Day tragedy that saw two holidaying swimmers and war hero turned lifesaver Dick Lugge drown during a heroic rescue attempt in rough seas.
Despite the club’s struggles life members Keith Peterie and Ron Want continued to train local youngsters to carry on the proud tradition of vigilance and service, with no lives lost between the flags.
Their legacy of loyalty and faith lives on with the club’s 952 members.
Coolum’s 258 patrolling members punch well above their weight serving 12,350 hours in the past season, placing it seventhin the patrol hours category.
The club enjoyed $2m worth of improvements in 2009 and was now one of the highest-earning clubs with a surplus of $1,110,003.
Coolum also supported 250 nippers and more than 100 competitors in the 2021 season.
7. Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club
Mooloolaba CEO Cameron McConville says the iconic Sunshine Coast club is back on track after suffering significant financial heartache in 2016 and 2017.
Mr McConville said the club had good funds in their bank accounts and the Supporters Club was on track to repaying a $1.5m loan by November, 2022.
“The club certainty wasn’t experiencing good financial times, but we have navigated our way out of that and we are on track with the last couple of years making a surplus, which is fantastic,” he said.
The club had a surplus of $149,651 in 2021, $114,919 more than 2020.
He said the club, which was involved in providing the water safety for the Mooloolaba 40.3 Ironman and Triathlon, was “proud” of its community engagement.
“It’s something that we think we do very well,” he said.
“The Anzac Day is quite a big tradition here at Mooloolaba Beach and although we get some assistance from the Maroochydore RSL and council we put that on off our own bat which is not a cheap or small exercise.”
Previously known for its ironman and ironwoman heavyweights Mooloolaba – who currently ranks third per capita – was determined to improve its competition performance.
Mr McConville said a strategic review into the club’s surf sport division was underway and would work as part of a strategic plan to retain athletes.
He said the club experienced a 20 per cent increase in nipper registrations in the 2022 season.
8. Dicky Beach Surf Life Saving Club
Dicky Beach’s 326 patrolling members generously volunteered 10382.76 patrol hours and achieved another year having no lives lost between their flags.
Formerly known as North Caloundra the surf life saving club was established in 1950 and was now the Sunshine Coast’s fourth-biggest club having 1180 members.
Three of the club’s members, including two school students, displayed particularly memorable courage and bravery when they rescued a swimmer from the Kawana Waters Aquatic Centre on February 8, 2021.
One of the members performed CPR allowing the swimmer to recover from the incident.
The club is also prospering on the books, earning a surplus of $141,760 after suffering a $92,447 loss in 2020.
In 2009, Dicky Beach was awarded Club Of The Year by Surf Life Saving Queensland and the supporters club has twice won the Clubs Queensland Small Club of the Year Award.
9. Mudjimba Surf Life Saving Club
Community is vital to the small but mighty Mudjimba Surf Life Saving Club.
With just 432 members the 25-year-old club has 145 patrolling members contributing to9428.5 patrolling hours in the 2021 season.
Proud club president and 23-year member Darrin Edwards said each one of the club’s members go “above and beyond” to keep the little club ticking over and growing.
“I think when you are a small club volunteerism just has to go up that extra level … everyone has to have a job,” he said.
The life member said the club prided itself on being a fun, family-friendly, community-oriented club.
“We used to have a shed on our vacant block where we stored our gear to now what we have which is by comparison to the larger clubs very small, but from my perspective where we started to where we are now is just amazing,” he said.
Despite its young age (founded in 1996) and smaller membership the club boasts an incredible 10 life members.
Mr Edwards said the equal blend of male and female life members was another reason to be proud of the club.
In 2016 Mudjimba was named the Sunshine Coast’s club of the year and was later titled the 2019-20 Handicap Champion Club of the Year.
The 2021 Australian Championships was the club’s most successful in its short history scoring 172.5 points at the competition.
10. Rainbow Beach Surf Life Saving Club
As the fourth-best performing club in the financial category Rainbow Beach has proved it can more than match the powerhouse clubs.
Rainbow Beach Surf Club was founded in 1965 and has since grown its membership to 248, 12 of who are proudly named as life members.
Its spirit is illustrated in its 79 patrolling members’ 3552.49 volunteer hours who tirelessly cared for swimmers performing 584 preventive actions and 11 rescues.
Club president Shane Handy said the impressive number of life members showed the club’s ability to retain members through its family focus.
However, he said the remote location of the club made it difficult to attract members.
“We are in that period now where we need membership growth, we are a little bit stagnant,” he said.
Mr Handy said growing their members was the club’s biggest aspiration and described a multistage renovation as a “game changer”.
New dorms were included in the renovations so active members, required to travel long distances, could stay at the club.
He said a new deck would also improve the club’s financial performance.
“Not only are we able to increase the numbers of customers at any given time, but the vista will also be a major drawcard for weddings and other functions,” he said.
With limited competitors the club was excited to have two athletes compete at the 2021 Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships.
Mr Handy said the club was supporting its athletes and interested in improving their competition results.
11. Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club/ Peregian Beach
With highly respected surf life savers among its members Noosa is well established as a leading surf life saving club on the Sunshine Coast.
The club, originally known as the Cooroy Royal Life and Surf Club in 1928, had a clubhouse built on the beach in 1929 before it was renamed to be the Noosa Life Saving and Surf Club in May, 1931.
The club underwent a major clubhouse refurbishment which they say is rated as one of the finest on the Sunshine Coast with “the best seat on the beach”.
Father-daughter iron legends Jordan and Darren Mercer OAM are among the club’s 2284 members and 410 patrolling members that contributed to a whopping 16,599 patrol hours in the 2020/2021 season.
Mr Mercer leads a strong nipper, cadet, senior and master cohort with the club’s athletes scoring 3065 points across the selected carnivals.
Noosa’s competitive point score ranked sixth across Coast clubs.
Financially the club is kicking goals having a surplus of $1,173,042 compared to $873,477 the previous season.
Noosa Heads’ statistics including their patrolling hours totals are combined with Peregian Beach which the club also patrols.
11. Metropolitan Caloundra Surf Life Saving Club
Caloundra was just a small fishing holiday village with 700 to 1000 residents when the Metropolitan Caloundra Surf Life Saving Club was opened in 1933.
During its 88 years the club has grown to have 896 members including 229 patrolling members that contributed to a mammoth 11716.72 patrol hours.
The club’s life membership numbers are among the highest across the Sunshine Coast, ranking ninth.
Caloundra executed an impressive 557 preventive actions in the 2021 season and performed 30 rescues that ensured no lives lost between their flags.
13. Redcliffe Peninsula Surf Life Saving Club
Despite Covid-19 challenges in 2020 and 2021 Redcliffe was triumphant opening their highly anticipated new clubhouse last season.
The doors to the new training, equipment and trailer rooms opened on September 18, 2021 after the club was the recipient of the federal government's Community Volunteers Grant.
Redcliffe’s growing junior and youth program is also turning heads with the club being named the Sunshine Coast’s junior and youth development club of the year.
Established in 1991 the club has 680 members and 60 patrolling lifesavers who served 4493.67 hours protecting swimmers between their flags.
The family orientated club caters to keen Brisbanites and ranked third financially after achieving a surplus of $697,068.76 in 2021.
Data explainer
All data included was sourced through Surf Life Saving Queensland, each surf club’s 2020/2021 annual reports and the clubs directly.
All Sunshine Coast clubs have been ranked using eight categories including beach visitation, the amount of members, life members and patrolling members, their competition point score from six surf life saving events, their total income, patrolling hours, preventive actions and rescues performed.
The competitions include the 2021 Queensland Junior, Senior and Masters State Titles, the 2022 Junior and Senior Branch Titles and the 2020/2021 Australian Titles.
Each category was divided by beach attendance before being ranked from 1 to 13, with each category given equal weighting.
The club with the lowest total after all the categories were combined was named the powerhouse club.
Bribie Island Surf Club’s annual reports was not available.
*The author of this article was previously a member of Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club.
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