Portland Surf Life Saving Club

27/05/2026

HOODIE SEASON WRAP-UP!!!

The results are officially in and our local Hooded Plovers have absolutely smashed it this season, with a RECORD 6 juveniles fledged across our beaches.

Bridgewater Beach:
Chicky + Bont successfully fledged 2 juveniles

Murrells Beach:
Bubba fledged 1 juvenile

Dutton Way:
An incredible 3 juveniles fledged

For these beautiful birds, that’s a pretty huge achievement.

The engagement on our Hooded Plover updates this season has been incredible. What started as simple community updates quickly became something our members and wider community really got behind, with so many people following along, cheering on the hoodies, learning about beach-nesting birds, and helping spread awareness.

We also want to sincerely thank the Hooded Plover community for recognising the club’s efforts in promoting awareness and helping protect local nesting areas. Receiving these beautiful awards from BirdLife Australia was incredibly special and deeply appreciated.

A huge thank you to A.M. for keeping the club updated throughout the season and helping us share the journey with the wider community. Her passion, dedication, and genuine love for the plovers shines through in everything she does, and these little birds are very lucky to have such a strong advocate looking out for them.

And of course, thank you to everyone who respected signage, gave nesting areas space, kept dogs clear, shared updates, and helped these tiny beach legends get the best possible chance.

See you next hoodie season, little legends.

20/05/2026

A huge congratulations to all recipients recognised at the Glenelg Shire Community Awards last night. What an incredible celebration of the people who quietly and consistently make a difference within our community.

We are especially proud to see our very own Jaylan Tomlin recognised as the 2026 Glenelg Shire Youth Citizen of the Year.

At just 17 years old, Jaylan continues to represent everything community service and surf lifesaving is about. From countless volunteer patrol hours, mentoring younger members, helping behind the scenes, and representing Victoria at a national level through the Surf Life Saving Australia Youth Working Group, Jaylan is always stepping up and giving back.

This recognition is so incredibly well deserved, and honestly, it feels like only the beginning of what promises to be a very bright future ahead for him. He is constantly achieving amazing things, and we feel very lucky to have him as part of the Portland Surf Life Saving Club family.

Congratulations again to Bruce Elijah, Helena Lucas, Robyn Nunn, and Jaylan on this wonderful recognition.

❤️2026 COMMUNITY AWARD WINNERS❤️
Last night, as part of our National Volunteer Week celebrations, we recognised some incredible members of our community!

🏆CITIZEN OF THE YEAR - BRUCE ELIJAH
This Award recognises Bruce’s longstanding commitment to grassroots sport. His name is synonymous with junior sporting development through his extensive experience coaching and mentoring generations of tennis players, along with his active involvement in local junior football and basketball clubs.
Beyond the sporting arena, Bruce is also a dedicated advocate for small business and has become an unofficial champion for the importance of supporting local suppliers.

👤SENIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR - HELENA LUCAS
Helena has brought immense joy and connection to many in the Portland community through her line dancing classes.
Her work is particularly valuable given the vulnerable cohort who attend her sessions, including many older and socially isolated community members. However, Helena’s impact is truly multigenerational, with people of all ages coming together to share in the enjoyment that line dancing provides.

🧒YOUTH CITIZEN OF THE YEAR - JAYLAN TOMLIN
At just 17 years old, Jaylan is already making a significant difference through his leadership, service, and dedication to surf lifesaving.
Jaylan joined Portland Surf Life Saving Club as a 13-year-old cadet, and since then his involvement has grown steadily each season. During peak summer, Jaylan volunteers at least 10 hours each week, and in the off-season he continues working behind the scenes.
His excellence has also been recognised at a national level through his selection to represent Victoria on the Surf Life Saving Australia Youth Working Group.

🎖️VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - ROBYN NUNN
Robyn’s outstanding commitment of 56 yrs to the Tyrendarra Pastoral and Agricultural Society is certainly an achievement to be celebrated.
From the tender age of 11, Robyn became a steward at the Tyrendarra Show and this commitment has continued since. With a positive mind, Robyn has helped ensure the Show remains a major annual event for the local community.

Congratulations Bruce, Helena, Jaylan and Robyn!

30/04/2026

Yes, yes, YES!

Our little footy season hoodie, Bont, is officially fledged.

Bont will spend the next couple of weeks finding his wings as a near-grown hoodie, with a wonderful chance of a long life full of stories along Victoria’s surf coast.

Please take a moment to read the board update below, especially the big THANK YOU.

A huge thank you to everyone who has kept their distance, followed the signs, kept dogs away from the hoodie family, and helped give Bont the space needed to grow safely.

What a little legend.

27/04/2026

A few weeks on, we’re still feeling incredibly grateful for such a wonderful Annual Dinner.

It was a beautiful night celebrating another season at Portland Surf Life Saving Club, with Whacky Mac keeping the kids entertained through weird and wonderful magic tricks, plenty of delicious food thanks to Maree and Ian Rundal, and lovely live music from Matilda and Amelia.

A huge thank you also goes to Andy Murrell, who did a brilliant job behind the bar keeping the drinks flowing throughout the night.

One of the biggest highlights was recognising the hard work, commitment and growth of our members. Congratulations to everyone who received training awards, and a massive well done to this year’s major award winners:
Junior Patrol Person: Michael Beckman and Chloe Colquhoun
Patrol Person: Nicola Withers
Junior Club Person: Liam Withers
Club Person: Shara Rose
Robin and Wade Hughes Award: Jaylan Tomlin
New Life Members: Greg Ward and Shara Rose

Thank you to everyone who joined us, helped make the night run smoothly, and celebrated the people who make our club what it is. A wonderful night, a wonderful season, and a club community well worth celebrating.

21/04/2026

Youth members aged 13+, this one’s for you.

PSLSC Youth Camp is happening on 9 to 10 May, and it’s set to be a fun, relaxed weekend at the club with beach time, optional activities, movies, good company, and a pot luck dinner.

Think IRB rides, snorkelling and swimming, beach flags, paddling, beach walks, and plenty of time to hang out.

Breakfast, snacks and dessert are covered. Just bring a plate for the pot luck dinner and add the details in the RSVP form.

Arrival is any time after 3:00pm Saturday, with departure around 11:00am Sunday. Times are flexible if you need to arrive later or head off earlier.

Members only. Ages 13+.

RSVP via the link: https://forms.gle/H739skRqDfpg1RxHA

20/04/2026

There’s a lot of history in this photo… and even more heart.

On Friday night at our Annual Dinner, we had 18 of our 32 Life Members together in the one room. That’s generations of dedication, commitment, and care for our club standing side by side. The kind of people who have given their time freely, stepped up when it mattered, and helped shape what our club is today.

Moments like this don’t happen often. And when they do, you can feel it. The stories, the shared memories, and the quiet understanding between people who have all played a part in building something bigger than themselves.

It was also a very special night as we officially welcomed two new Life Members, Shara Rose and Greg Ward.

To have your name added to that board is no small thing. It represents years of showing up, contributing, supporting others, and being part of the fabric of this club. Shara and Greg now join a group of people who have left a lasting mark, and it was a privilege to recognise them in front of so many who truly understand what that honour means.

Looking at this photo, it’s a powerful reminder that our club isn’t just about what happens today. It’s built on everything that’s come before, and carried forward by the people who continue to show up.

We’re incredibly proud.

More to come from our Annual Dinner, including a closer look at this season’s award winners.

16/04/2026

Reminder to all members | Our Annual Dinner is tomorrow night!

The countdown is on, and we’d love to see our members come together for a great night celebrating the season.

From Pre-Nippers to Life Members, it’s a chance to enjoy good food, live music, kids’ entertainment, and a room full of familiar faces as we wrap up another season at the club.

Adults $20 | Children under 13 $10 | Life Members free

If you’ve been meaning to book, now’s the time. We’d love to see you there.

Tickets: https://www.portlandslsc.com.au/product/25-26-season-annual-dinner/K6ZN6X5PU3XCRWW3BQSB22VP

25/03/2026

A special update: The Hooded Plovers now have 3 tiny chicks.

At this stage, they are only about the size of a cotton ball and so well camouflaged they can disappear into the sand in plain sight. If you spot the adult birds, the chicks will be close by, or tucked safely underneath them.

As we have mentioned many times before, the biggest thing these little ones need from all of us is space.

So just a reminder to please continue doing the things that help protect them most: keep dogs under effective control, walk near the waterline, use a spotter if driving on the beach, and avoid taking photos or drawing attention to the family’s location.

Ravens, Silver Gulls and Kelp Gulls all prey on hoodie chicks, and they are quick to notice where people stop, gather or focus their attention. The quieter and less noticeable these chicks remain, the better their chances.

With some rough weather ahead, the next few weeks will be especially important. It will be around 5 weeks before these 3 are ready to fly.

Once again, a big thank you to the locals who quietly do their bit, whether that is giving the birds space, helping share the message, or regularly keeping an eye on what is happening out there. That kind of care matters, and it is a big part of why these vulnerable little birds have a chance.

23/03/2026

Red Patrol — Final Patrol of the Season

This Sunday marks our final patrol of the season, and we would love to see a strong turnout for Red Patrol as we wrap up another fantastic summer on the beach.

For our patrol members, please arrive ready for a 2pm gathering as we come together one last time for the season. We will also be tidying up equipment and packing away in preparation for winter, followed by a BBQ to celebrate the end of patrol season. All details in the club March Newsletter.

For the community, this will be the last day our volunteer surf lifesavers are officially on patrol for the season. If you are heading to the beach, come down and say hello, watch our newest IRB crewies and driver put their skills to the test, and help us send the season off in style.

Wear something red if you can — let’s make this the biggest and best coloured patrol of the season.

20/03/2026

Save the Date: Our Annual Dinner is on Friday 17 April 2026 at Portland SLSC.

Join us for a great night of food, music, awards and celebration as we wrap up the season together.

Tickets coming soon via Stack Team App.