One of Victoria's largest lifesaving clubs, Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC), has officially opened the doors to its new modern, fit-for-purpose clubhouse.
The new state-of-the-art facility at Anglesea beach will better meet the needs of Anglesea SLSC's members and increase community safety for the thousands of beachgoers who flock to the popular surf coast beach each year.
Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville today officially opened the new building, which will ensure Anglesea SLSC lifesavers have the resources they need to keep beach visitors safe well into the future.
The Andrews Labor Government has invested $1.5 million towards the new Anglesea SLSC clubhouse, with features including new community meeting spaces, a function room, new administrative offices and first aid facilities, among other improvements.
With more than 1,500 members, Anglesea SLSC had outgrown its former clubhouse, built more than 60 years ago when the club had only 200 members and about a decade after the club was originally founded in 1952.
The new facility has been designed to ensure the club can support its large membership for many years to come, in accordance with Life Saving Victoria's Clubhouse of the Future guidelines.
Modern and functional lifesaving facilities are designed to stand the test of time, further engage the community and contribute to the more effective recruitment, retention and training of volunteers that could ultimately lead to a reduction in drownings.
Anglesea's beach is patrolled every summer by volunteers from the club and last season, lifesavers and lifeguards performed 1,493 preventive actions, treated 31 minor and two major first aid cases, and undertook two rescues.
The $5.5 million building was funded by the Victorian Government, the Federal Government, Surf Coast Shire and Anglesea SLSC.
As stated by Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville
"The opening of this clubhouse is a significant milestone for Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club, which is one of Victoria's largest. It will ensure its lifesavers have the tools and facilities they need to respond to incidents and keep people safe in the water for many years to come."
"The club's more than 1,500 members and the wider community they service are set to benefit from the new facility's generous community meeting spaces, function room, new administrative offices and first aid facilities."
As stated by Anglesea SLSC President, Tom Cullen
"Thanks to the many donors who contributed to this redevelopment which has given us new administration and training offices, enhanced first aid and ambulance access, and much more, but it's also given us space to grow into the future to better serve the Anglesea community and travelers alike."
