Introduction:

The nature of lifesaving as a sport (at senior levels) has changed significantly over the last 10 years and it is now being dominated by a diminishing and small number of clubs. As a result many clubs find it difficult to hold on to its competitors, field senior relay teams & retain high quality, committed coaches.

Those athletes/ club members, actively participating in the sport of lifesaving, who do not have relay teams:
1. Go solo and struggle on for a limited period of time.
2. Drop out of the sport.
3. Join one of the 3 or 4 dominant Victorian clubs.

Whilst the Mentone & Anglesea junior contingents is very strong, Mentone Lifesaving Club had a much smaller number of members competing in water events at senior carnivals in 2009.

To overcome the “senior” problem and to provide an exciting and very strong basis for future growth. The Anglesea and Mentone Lifesaving Clubs (senior members only) will form one joint senior competition team commencing season 2009/2010.

This joint initiative will offer more team mates, more coaches, great training facilities, exciting social opportunities, and the opportunity to compete at major interstate carnivals and a richer lifesaving experience for all Mentone and Anglesea members.

Training Bases:

The two clubs will provide senior competitors with three excellent training bases:

• Anglesea SLSC – SURF TRAINING BASE
• Mentone LSC – CITY TRAINING BASE
• Patterson River Canoe Club – SKI TRAINING BASE

The Anglesea/ Mentone partnership will:

• Immediately increase our ability to form senior relay teams for both Clubs
• Make Mentone more attractive to prospective Kingston / Bayside members.
• Help build our senior numbers for both clubs.
• Help both clubs’ hold on to its talented juniors.
• For Mentone provide national & state level role models for our juniors.
• Offer Mentone members more “surf” training & experience.
• Offer Mentone members “surf patrol” experience.
• Provide a stronger coaching team.
• For Mentone to provide access to the best beach coaching / training in Victoria, if not Australia.
• Provide stronger training squads for our coaches.
• Enhance both clubs’ Junior Programs by providing competition training bases in both Melbourne and Anglesea.
• Allow each club (Mentone & Anglesea ) to continue operating as two independent & individual entities.

For more information please contact the Anglesea SLSC Director of Competition.