We often recognise the great friendships made and the sense of ‘saltwater family’ in Surf Life Saving, as Simon Lee from Forster puts it, but we rarely take stock of the romances that blossom within the movement.
And it seems there’s many more than you’d think!
Take the love story of Avoca’s Riley Fitzsimmons and Georgia Miller, or that of Max Brooks and Lara Moses from Newport – there’d be hundreds, if not more, similar stories. It is the perfect place, really, and illuminates why a surf club is so much more than just that.
Bringing together like-minded people who love the beach, being social and active, giving back – it’s a recipe for magic.
Beth and Simon from Forster SLSC have their own story and shared what an incredible ride it’s been.
The couple jokingly argue about who joined the club first, back in the ‘90s. (To officially settle things, we looked up the official dates. Beth was first, joining in October, 1990 with Simon signing up the following year).
“I joined when I was 13,” said Beth.
“A friend said, ‘hey come do this with me.’ I loved the beach, so I thought why not. I got to know the people in the club and just loved being there.”
For Simon, it was his return from international exchange, and his brother egged him on to join with him.
The pair met as members of the club years later, they were just friends loving the same things. Until they moved in together.
“Surf Life Saving has been our life for more than 30 years,” said Simon, now a father of two.
“We’re both life members, we’ve done our own things, and so much together too – especially in IRB racing. Beth had her time in elite sport as a beach sprinter, and now we’re doing the family thing and have got our kids involved in IRB racing,” he added, proud of both his wife and kid’s achievements.
Last season Brayden (19) and Sophia (16) got their IRB crew qualifications, and the family was able to reignite the Forster IRB racing team. The club has a long and rich history with the off-season, rescue-ready sport, and once again put together a touring team which made Beth and Simon feel pretty good.
Beth said getting the new team up for the 2024 season was a dream come true.
“We’d been out of racing for about five years and when the kids were interested, they brought some friends along and we had enough to field a team in a few divisions,” she said.
The Forster team competed in the Sharkskin IRB Premiership, State Championships (where they made the Mass Rescue Final) and even contested the World Championships in Queensland in their first season back.
“I started IRB racing in ‘94. Walking up the beach with both my children and husband to race this year was an amazing experience for me,” Beth said.
After all, the Lee kids had been at IRB carnivals watching their parents since they were born. The buzzing engine and the thud through the waves, the crisp salty air and salt crusted hair is surely ingrained in their senses.
Being back on the beach, with kids ready to race, was like coming home.
“There’s about 300-400 people in the IRB racing community and once you’ve done a season you know everyone on the beach. There are so many people – legends, old friends – that have been part of the sport since the beginning and that we’ve known since our early days,” Simon said.
Simon and Beth both vividly and fondly remember IRB carnivals in those early days, where their relationship blossomed. One of their favourite, they say, was the Woolgoolga carnivals run by Les Pepper.
“The carnivals Les ran were the best time. You’d get so much racing in, and socialising, for some reason even if you were knocked out of a race, you’d still be in the next,” Simon said with a laugh.
Both Beth and Simon love, more than anything, the gift that Surf Life Saving has given them; the unique opportunity to train and compete together as a family and see the love and skills they’ve gained begin to emerge in their kids.
“It’s a sport that allows young and old to race together in the same division. And because of that the kids gain money-can’t-buy life skills and experience talking and working with people of all ages and abilities,” said Simon.
He emphasised that it’s so special because it’s not a specialist fitness-based sport, so anyone can find their place.
“It’s just about spending time in the boat, and then you get very skilled at rescues too. But the thing I love is that kids, (or anyone) with no confidence can find confidence,” he said.
Whether you’re interested in joining a club for the first time, or want to try something new within your club this season, all NSW clubs are open for registration now. The new season starts Saturday 28 September. Find your local club and join the family.
Thursday 19 September 2024
