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Club shores up local support
Western Suburbs Weekly
Thursday, October 1, 2026
ELIANA HULLETT
Swanbourne Nedlands Surf Life is expecting its biggest season yet despite a challenging start to the spring and local beach closures.
The club has experienced a 20 per cent growth in members over the past five years but is most excited about its promising pool of young swimmers.
The Swanny Nippers boasts eight busy age groups from under six to under 13. Participation has more than doubled since 2021, which club president Logan Ovenden-Clarke said was evident every Sunday morning at the beach.
“There’s plenty on offer for our Nipper and youth members, from developing water safety and lifesaving
skills through to competition, leadership and social activities,” he said. “We’re particularly proud of the number of our 15 to 18-year-old members who have taken on leadership roles.”
The club hosts several youth focused events throughout the season, and will compete in the WA
Endurance Championships on Saturday, October 10.
The popular Nipper Gold event will feature again for under 12 and under 13 Nippers, consisting of a
300m swim, 300m run, 450m board paddle and 250m run finish. Mr Ovenden-Clarke said programs
such as this were particularly important to inspire new generations of surf lifesavers.
The club — formed in 1932 — has clocked more than 4200 patrol hours to date. Its annual open day
was held two weeks ago and had more than 300 people attend.
“It was a great opportunity for existing members to reconnect after the winter hibernation, while new and interested members could come along, explore the facilities, ask questions and get a taste of what Swanny is all about,” Mr Ovenden-Clarke said. “Surf lifesaving traditionally has four pillars — lifesaving, education, development through Nippers and youth, and surf sports — but we reckon we have a fifth: social.”
The next bronze medallion course at Swanny starts on October 7 and lasts eight weeks.
