Our inaugural Inverloch trial day couldn’t have started off to a more perfect start with a glorious 25 degree
day. With the warm water rolling in forming perfect waves and a high tide which helped us make the beach
access for our surfers even better than the average on the beautiful Inverloch coastline.
The day ran really smoothly with the set up taking place quickly and volunteers arriving on time to start the
day with their briefing down on the beach.
We were expecting just over 20 surfing participants but as the day went on we had 56 surfers arrive and
register from mainly around the Bass Coast, although quite a few had also attended events in Pt Leo and
Ocean Grove.
We had the full support of the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club who gave us the use of their entire building
and set up for the day including the Beach ATV and trailer which made the Beach set up a breeze.
We had 140 volunteers show up and put their hand up for all different roles. They were all pumped to find
out what the day would entail and what exactly it was they would be doing. We had volunteers ages from
11 to 78 years old and all loving it as much as each other in the water lending a hand. And from most of
their comments later when the event came to a close they were ecstatic. And all the feedback on Facebook
has been really positive with lots of people asking when our next event will be as they will bring their
friends along next time.
We ran five lanes of surfers which gave each surfer enough time to really get to enjoy the surf, sun and lots
of cheering and clapping! We even had a few surfers get to have a second turn. We also found ourselves 6
red shirt volunteers and 3 Pink shirt volunteers for our next event.
We were able to set up a marquee at the end of the surf track which was easily accessible by wheelchair.
This marquee was fantastic as a viewing and waiting
shelter before the surfers were transferred into the Sandcruiser wheel chairs for access onto the beach and
into the lanes for their turn in the surf.
With the BBQ running flat out and plenty of fruit being served down on the beach we kept everyone with
smiles on their dials and not to mention the lollies! They seemed to be everywhere the kids were!
We had a few local celebrities turn up for the event and offer their help. We had the support of a local and
federal MP and we had a crew from the Bass Coast Board Riders club along with a crew of Swell Mamas.
Sally Messer came to try the waves with her crew arriving all wearing their Sally’s Army tee shirts.
Our new Inverloch tee’s did well in the Merchandise tent and we hope to see everyone wearing those
around the Bass Coast over the next year.
Thanks very much to all our volunteers for coming along to support our trial event and showing your
compassion and support to make some faces light up and we thank-you for all your cheering and clapping
on the day.
Also a BIG thank-you to the participants for making the trip to come and get a bit of sun and surf. And of
course to their carers and families for making the effort to come and see what it is all about. Without you
guys we wouldn’t have had such a magnificent day.
We also must send our BIG thanks to the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club for their unwavering support of
what we do and for giving us the use of their club for the day. They were very happy to see this event take
place and provided unlimited support to us.
We would like to thank the Inverloch Lions Club for their awesome support and help on the day with the
BBQ, catering and as car park attendants. Your help was very much appreciated!
WELL DONE AND THANK-YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME FROM FAR AND WIDE!!
We are now looking forward to the Pt Leo event happening on the 4th of March 11-3pm.
And last but not least we want to say a HUGE thanks to all the Mornington Penninsula team who helped us
immensely in getting the day up and running and for guiding us in the right direction every step of the way.
All their support has helped to get Inverloch on the DSA map.
From the Bass Coast Committee we say ‘thank-you’
With the support again of the Mornington Pennisula team we will be running two more events next year.
If you would like to know more about our events or would like to join our committee or just be kept in the
loop please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]
For updates on the next Bass Coast event and to see photo from the day please follow us on facebook
@DSAInverloch
about the DSA
The Disabled Surfers Association of Australia is a not for profit and recognised benevolent organisation (tax
deductable charity), it has been operating for over 25 years throughout Australia.