This year, the Anglesea SLSC celebrates 40 years of Nippers marking it’s inception in 1968/69..

During the 1950/60’s Victorian Surf Lifesaving Clubs conducted the “Herald Learn To Swim” campaigns over the summer holidays with Anglesea conducting ours at the Anglesea River or at the main beach.

When the Anglesea Nippers was formed, it was “Boys Only” with some 90 registrations in that first season, many of whom are still actively involved in the club including the current “Big Nipper” Peter Foster.

By 1975/76, over 100 boys were enrolled at Anglesea and they were joined that year by the “Anglesea Nipperettes” with 75 registrations in the first season with the girls ranging in ages from 5-12 years. Activities in those early days included organised games, general group participation and talks in water safety, and the fundamentals of rescue & resuscitation, sound familar ??. The Nipperette program was heavily supported by the Anglesea Women’s Auxiliary members of the ASLSC.

Anglesea was one of the first clubs in Victoria to implement a Nipper Program, following on from the Portsea SLSC junior program that it ran for a number of years from about 1952 and the Nipper programs the Point Lonsdale and & Torquay implemented from 1967.

It is worthy to note, that Anglesea Nippers have been selected in nearly every State Junior & Development teams since 1982 with many current members including current ASLSC committee members such as, Peter Foster, Shane Edmonds, David Marsh, Lachie Holbery-Morgan, Chris Porter, Abby Lewtas and Jo Bergin starting in the nipper program.

Anglesea’s first “Big Nipper” was Bruce Edmonds who was the ASLSC Nipper co-ordinator from 1968/69 through to 1980/81 and then became involved with SLSV JAB Programme for a number of years and that’s at lot of time with Nippers and it is testament to those early days and dedication that the current program now involves over 500 nippers each year.

More photos can be found in our photo gallery - 40 Years Of Nippers Photos

Many thanks to the following people for providing the photos :

• LSV Archives - Ray Marsh Collection
• Heather Anderson
• Carol Martin
• Jan Simpson
• Peter Foster
• Webster Family