Ann Sudmalis (Gilmore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One thing surfers have in common in Gilmore is their love of the sea and their community. This was plain to us all in the national Australian Boardriders Battle held in Cronulla on the weekend of 9 and 10 January. It was broadcast on Fox Sports and our local surfers were often featured.

There are 200 boardriders clubs around Australia, and only 20 qualified for the battle. Two of these, I am proud to say, are from Gilmore: Culburra Beach and Ulladulla.

The Culburra Beach Boardriders Club is actively involved in promoting and supporting youth in our community. It is the youngest boardriding club in Australia—only two years old. It now has 200 members. The Culburra Beach Boardriders Club team ranked seventh on the day, winning $3,000. The team members were Jay Quinn, Tyler and Mikey Wright, Ben and Nick Buckpitt from Culburra Beach, Ty and Jordan Watson from Currarong, Karla Thompson from Woollamia and Phil McDonald from Sussex Inlet. Jason Moon was their team manager.

The Ulladulla boardriders team—Matt King, Kurt Nyholm, Elliott Marshall, Rubie Reents, Chad Elkins and Sam Wrench—ranked 13th and took home $2,000. The Ulladulla club is encouraging other riders to learn important lifesaving skills this month, by attending free classes, learning CPR and surfboard rescue techniques with our local surf-lifesaving club in Mollymook. Congratulations to both clubs for their outstanding achievement in promoting the youth of our area and a healthy, great sport, and for doing such a great job for their community.