Community Support

TORQUAY SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB

Following preliminary discussions held by a group of early surfers in the camping area at Torquay, during December 1945, a decision was made to form a surf club. The inaugural Meeting of interested parties from the local Shire, Foreshore Reserve, Improvement Society and campers, was held in the ‘Palace Hotel’ Torquay on the 4th January 1946. As a result of this meeting the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club was duly formed.
From an initial membership of twenty-nine (29) we now have almost 1000 current members.
Torquay Surf Lifesaving Club is at the forefront of lifesaving service. Torquay beach is one of the busiest beaches in Victoria.
In 2013/2014, almost 200 members patrolled our beach from the last weekend of November until the Easter period. Below are some figures from our volunteer patrols.
– Our patrollers volunteered 4,067 hours
– Perform 10 rescues
– Supervised over 180,000 beach goers during volunteer patrol times
– Completed 73 first aid cases
Torquay Surf Lifesaving Club is recognised nationally as a premier competition club with many gold medals and many finalists at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships over the past 50 years. Torquay can also proudly boast of many Olympians for both aquatic and non aquatic events.

JAN JUC SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB

In 1960, Torquay beach was becoming crowded on summer days and many people were walking around the point to the back beach, or Fossil Beach, as it was then called.The tricky conditions that prevailed caused many swimmers to get into difficulties.
Jan Juc, the Aboriginal name for the iron bark tree and the creek that flows onto the beach was chosen. Now the area has a club to be proud of and a safer beach to enjoy over the summer period. The first Annual General Meeting was held on the 24th August, 1963. The first official patrol roster was organised on the 1st May, 1964. We have come a long way since its inception, but the spirit and the camaraderie of the club remain the same. With little Government assistance, our club has grown with the hard work of its members and supporters in working bees, fundraising and organising special events.Ongoing battles with public liability overheads, environmental opposition to our expansion, occupational health and safety issues and funding puts a strain on our membership. Luckily, they have enough conscientious people willing to give up their time and expertise to develop and maintain tomorrows surf lifesavers to continue patrolling Jan Juc Beach, one of Victoria’s most dangerous beaches. Not only that, they provide a safe, healthy environment for young people to develop first aid, leadership and social skills while, at the same time, keeping traditions alive with our older members.

ANGLESEA SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB

Since 1952, Anglesea SLSC has been an active member of the local community, patrolling the beaches, providing sport and recreation, skill development and offering frontline first aid and emergency services.
ASLSC has over 1900 members, the largest amongst Victorian clubs.
ASLSC is at the forefront of lifesaving services, having established an innovative patrolling service, Anglesea Surf Rescue. Each summer club members perform between 10 and 30 rescues and over 400 preventative actions.
ASLSC runs Victoria’s largest Nipper (age 6 to 13) programs. This takes place in January with additional activities throughout the year. This program is complimented with specific development programs for our 14 to 17 year old members to assist their integration into the senior area of the Club.
ASLSC is also recognised at both the state and national level as a premier competition club with Gold Medals and numerous finalists at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships over the past 35 years and we have also performed well on the international stage with gold medals in a number of disciplines at the World Championships.
The Anglesea clubhouse overlooks the main beach and has one of the most spectacular views along the Surf Coast. As well as housing the clubs emergency equipment it also provides office and training facilities to members and, in the summer months, is a meeting place for members and guests. Over summer the Club Cafe in the Ray Marsh Room offers meals including Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner or for a coffee and light snacks. The bar is open for business during lunch and Dinner.
ASLSC appreciates the worth of its unique environment and as well as utilizing its facilities for club functions the club encourages local community groups to make use of the facility.

FAIRHAVEN SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB

Fairhaven is a beautiful surf beach located on the Great Ocean Road between Anglesea and Lorne. This magnificent stretch of sand and surf takes in Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven, Moggs Creek and Eastern View.
Fairhaven Surf Life saving Club has proudly provided a community service since 1957.
It all started at Fairhaven in November, 1957 when a public meeting at a church hall in Aireys Inlet made the community decision to form a local surf life saving club. This meeting was initiated by local identity Albert Suters who became the first club secretary. There was strong discussion about whether the club would be located at Aireys Inlet, near the mouth of the Painkalac Creek or at the more open beach site at Fairhaven. Fairhaven proponents won the day and the club began its service to the community located on the magnificent stretch of beach.
Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club is very proud of the community service that it provides and recognises the enormous contribution of many people throughout the years since 1957.
The club looks to continue its development and meet future challenges as it has in the past – with optimism, hard work, friendship and a united team approach.

TORQUAY HOCKEY CLUB

The Torquay Tornadoes Hockey Club was established in 2010. The club plays in the Geelong Hockey Association and hockey training is held at the Surf Coast Shire Precinct.
We started with an Under 13 team and we’re growing all the time. (Take a look at our gallery to see some photos of our Torquay hockey teams.) This year we have teams in the following categories Men’s Divison 1 and 2 (2 teams), Women’s Division 1 and 2, Under 17, Under 15, Under 13, Under 11 (2 teams) and Under 9.
As a participation sport, hockey is great fun and everyone can have a go, and the sport will help to improve your fitness and develop great hand-eye coordination.
The Torquay Tornadoes Hockey Club provides levels for beginners to pathways to elite performance. At an international level both the men’s and women’s Australian teams have won gold medals at the Olympics.
New players are always welcome to join our club in men’s, women’s and junior competitions.
Torquay Hockey Club coaches aim to develop a better understanding of tactics in our hockey players. Players will develop skills in an enjoyable, family-friendly environment tailored to their level of ability.

ANGLESEA CRICKET CLUB

Anglesea Cricket Club is located on the picturesque Great Ocean Road, surrounded by bushland and with panoramic views of the coastline. The clubrooms boast outstanding facilities.
Since relocating from the town foreshore in some thirty years ago the Club has developed from fielding one senior and one junior team, to four senior and five junior teams.
It is a very successful family cricket club both on and off the playing field.
The oval, cut into the bushy hillside, is a natural amphitheatre with excellent viewing aspects and a surface that is lush and even.
A plan to install pre-used water to both of the ovals on Ellimatta Reserve means that the Santa Ana couch surface remains first class throughout the driest of summer periods.
The Anglesea Cricket Club Inc. warmly welcomes players and their families to join us in cricket and fellowship.
A warm welcome is also extended to visitors to the area to enjoy our facilities.
The well-established clubrooms can provide refreshments and conviviality, all in the name of cricket!
Come and join us for an enjoyable cricket experience.

TORQUAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Torquay Historical Society was created in 2000 using a garage to house the first collections. In 2011 we moved into our current location at the Torquay Old Police Station (TOPS) where we share the facility with other organisations. We are a community organisation committed to collecting, researching and sharing an understanding of the history of Torquay and its closest neighbours.
With the support of volunteers the Torquay Historical Society provides a program of lectures and exhibitions when requested. We also provide open access to the collection each Sunday between 2 pm and 4 pm and welcome anyone to drop in; they would love to hear your stories.
The T&DHS collection is an important collection of books, manuscripts, records, memorabillia , images, periodicals, newsletters and registers that have been collected since our inception in 2000. The collection is geared to the targeted collection of Torquay history. We welcome donations of suitable items.
We are passionate about our town and preserving what we can of the past in the face of so much change.

OFFSPRING PROJECT

The story is simple really. We see woman and children who have been bought, sold, traded and stripped of the most basic of human rights. We see them abused and treated as a commodity, rather than a dignified human being; someone’s daughter, sister and friend. We see girls who need our help urgently.
So our story began when we saw this need and recognised our ability to do something.
Around the world people are being bought, sold and abused. We exist to tell you about it, empower you to stand against it and help restore the lives of those who have been hurt by it.
We see young women released from the bondage of Human Trafficking and welcomed into a safe, nurturing environment.
We see these young women instilled with hope for the future; equipped, educated and confident in their value as precious individuals.
We see people in prosperous nations, like Australia, being made aware of the horror and injustice brought about by Human Trafficking and inspired to be a part of the solution.

RIVERS GIFT

For the family of a SIDS victim, the unexplained nature of the death is beyond heartbreaking. The unanswered questions exacerbate and prolong the grief.
River’s Gift was established in November 2011 by two devastated, yet focused and determined parents who were searching for answers surrounding the death of their 4 month old son, River Jak Adam.
It has now evolved into a global movement, with thousands of supporters across the world and the formation of a dedicated research partnership that is committed to finding a cure.
River’s Gift has raised just over a quarter of a million dollars and pledges to raise a minimum of $250,000 per year going forward for SIDS research and awareness.
There are a number of ways you can get involved and help the crusade to SOS – Stamp Out SIDS.
You can make a direct donation, Run to SOS (Stamp Out SIDS), purchase something from the Shop to SOS section or even organise your own fundraising event.
However you choose to help, know that your support is deeply appreciated, especially from the tribe of little angels above who miss their mummies and daddies and whose families are determined to find answers – none more so than River’s parents, Karl & Alex.