This article originally appeared in the Illawarra Flame, November 17th 2020
Scarborough Wombarra calls for new members
Your community club needs you! Scarborough Wombarra Surf Lifesaving Club has a strong Nippers program, but the club is desperate for adult patrolling members.
Fifteen years ago, Scarborough’s Ant Ritter joined his local life saving club. As a new father of a one-year-old boy, he thought some surf rescue skills might come in handy later. “Not growing up near the beach, I thought I should learn a few skills myself. It’s been great. Thankfully I haven’t had to rescue any of the three boys yet!”
“I say yet…” he adds, laughing.
Today, Ant is president of Scarborough Wombarra Surf Life Saving Club. And – far from needing rescuing – his two oldest sons have won top honours at Surf Life Saving Illawarra’s awards of excellence. In February, Ant’s eldest son, Sean, age 16, was named the Illawarra’s Youth Surf Lifesaver of the Year and his middle son, Eamon, 15, was awarded Junior Lifesaver of the Year.
“Last year nippers was in danger of being shut down and potentially moving to Coledale,” Ant says. “We didn’t have the numbers, or parents to help, or people who knew how to run it… “And Sean said, ‘I’ll run it.’ “So, at 15 last year, he ran Nippers. “I sat in the background, helping with admin. We had 60, 70 kids and he got them all there, in the groups and off they run and do their thing.
“I was really, really, proud; the club was proud of him.” Sean – who has been chosen as Bulli High School’s vice-captain for 2021 – is also a keen surf photographer.
Read the full article in the Illawarra Flame – Life Savers Needed! Scarborough Wombarra Calls for New Members