Gerringong Surf Club bid a heartfelt farewell to its current clubhouse over the weekend of 6 & 7 January, 2024, which is situated at the southern end of Werri Beach. As the impending demolition and reconstruction deadline approaches, the club anticipates the start of the demolition phase between Monday, 15 January, and Friday 19 January, 2024.

Gerringong Surf club half demolished on 20/1/24

A temporary kiosk and operations facility have been set up on the foreshore near the southern Werri Beach car park and are expected to be in operation for at least 8 to 9 months until the completion of the rebuild.

GLSC Farewall to old club house

Local-born and raised Iron Man Alistair (Ali) Day, a nine-time Coolangatta Gold Champion at 33 years old, has committed to participating in the Werri 2024 Warrior event around Christmas 2024. Although currently based on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Alistair remains connected to his roots in Kiama. Gerringong Lions have accepted the challenge, assembling a formidable team for the 2024 Werri Warrior competition.

The Werri Warrior, initially a sibling rivalry, has evolved into a challenging 45-minute event, with GLSC nipper Lucy Darragh surprising everyone by clinching victory in 2023. The competition fosters friendly rivalry among boardriders, the surf club, and the local football club. In 2023, Mitch Booth from the boardriders and Noah Parker from the surf club secured the team victory.

Kiama council site graphic showing car park extension to south

Another significant aquatic event, the Captain Christie Ocean Swim, is scheduled for 17 March, 2024, taking swimmers from Gerringong Boat Harbour around the headland to Werri Beach.

GSLC patrol captain Simon Sadler reported a busy day on Sunday, 14 January, 2024, with five rescues and one touch-and-go incident on the previous sweltering Saturday 13 January 2024. Additionally, the patrol was involved in removing debris from a car that had rolled down the hill from Tasman Drive and landed on the beach.

Gerringong SLSC President Gary George talked to The Bugle about the very serious incident on the Saturday, where about 30 teenagers from Chittick Lodge swam beyond the designated area, though within the flags, leading to over 20 individuals struggling in the water at the same time. Quick action by the patrol, with all eight members entering the water simultaneously, averted potential drowning incidents. Gary emphasised the crucial role of lifesaving movements in preventing beach drownings, comparing the potential death toll of beach drownings to the annual road toll if surf life savers had never existed as a movement.

Original 1978 members Trevor Russel and Dave McCallum still on patrol

During the ongoing rebuild, a temporary operations area, comprised of six shipping containers in the southern car park, is serving as the temporary clubhouse. Gary George reassured The Bugle of security measures in place, including fencing, locks, and surveillance cameras.

Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club, established in 1978, has experienced substantial growth in membership. With the current building unable to accommodate the increasing numbers, especially among Nippers, the club secured funding for a new clubhouse through a 2022 Federal election commitment and a 2023 grant from the NSW Department of Sport. The Kiama Council approved the redevelopment in April 2023.

The new clubhouse, spanning approximately 1600 square meters, will feature essential facilities on the ground floor and a Members Bar, Kitchen, and function room on the upper storey. Public participation is encouraged in the submission process for the proposed new Lease and licence for the Gerringong Surf Club, with submissions open until 1 February, 2024, through the council portal at kiama.nsw.gov.au under 'New Lease and Licence-Gerringong Surf Club.'

President Gary George anticipates the grand reopening of the clubhouse in August-September 2025, marking the culmination of a five-year journey involving meticulous planning, fundraising efforts, and collaborative input from club members.

Another photo from the farewell to the old GLSC clubhouse