Building a better lifesaving movement takes courage and open accounting, says Ed Farrell

Ed is a volunteer surf life saver with Coalcliff Surf club and is now in his 22nd season of patrolling. Ed is a 2nd generation surf life saver; his father was on the Westpac helicopter. Ed is a cyber security consultant and self confessed IT nerd; he has conducted over 1100 independent cyber security audit activities and incident responses. Ed has presented at over 80 events in Australia and abroad and lectures at the Australian Defence Force Academy. His service as a member of the Australian Army Reserve has included operational deployments and multinational exercises.

In this episode we cover:

1.Ed’s surf lifesaving background and club experience
2.Ed talks about his ‘day job’ and cyber security
3.Ed reviews club financial statements and analyses them - why?
4.What has Ed found looking at club accounts?
5.What are the lessons for ALL clubs with accounts and transparency?

Review Ed’s articles on surf club accounts, and see where every club can work to create greater transparency and build greater trust:

Part 1- an introduction & an analysis of Newport SLSC: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/financial-analysis-sydneys-surf-life-saving-clubs-part-edward-farrell-87awc/

Part 2- detailed analysis of Freshwater SLSC. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/financial-analysis-sydneys-surf-life-saving-clubs-part-edward-farrell-h8l7c/

Part 3- Errata, going a mile wide and an inch deep: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/financial-analysis-sydneys-surf-life-saving-clubs-part-edward-farrell-flfjc/

SUMMARY: How to build a better club, how to build a better surf life saving movement:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/building-better-lifesaving-movement-part-4-edward-farrell-dcouc/

Bondi Surf Life Saver Lauren Tischendorf first woman to swim solo around Lord Howe Island!

Lauren recently became the first woman to swim a solo, single session, 32km swim around Lord Howe Island where she faced sharks, strong currents, 25 knot winds and 2.5m swell. Lauren is an Athlete for The Minerva Network, a group that supports female athletes, and a member of various global swimming clubs and associations. Lauren grew up in South Africa, came to Australian in 1999, joined Bondi Bathers Surf Life Saving Club in 2024.

In this interview, we discuss:
1.What was it like growing up in South Africa?
2.Why swim around Lord Howe island?
3.How do you prepare? What are the mental and physical challenges?
4.You’ve made a film about the swim; tell us more!
5.What is the Minerva Network?
6.Who is your patrol named after? McDonald?
7.What do you think of shark nets?

If you want to contact Lauren about her film, here are the contact details:

Email: nextepicadventure01@gmail.com
Website: https://laurentischendorf.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextepicadventure_lt21/profilecard/?igsh=MWltaTFuanJ3a2Nraw==


Thank you for listening to this episode. thank you to our long term supporters City Ford Sydney; we appreciate your support of the Bondi Blue Water Challenge – this enables our club to raise money for the life saving service we provide the community; if you want to get involved, wether for our Nippers program if you have young kids, or you want to become a volunteer surf life saver, you can learn more at www.bondisurfclub.com

Over 300 lives were lost at Australian beaches last year– So please, swim at a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

The Bondi Patrol Podcast: Liz Webb, Club President

About Liz:

Liz was born in Griffith Country NSW. She has lived and worked in various regional places in the Murray Darling Basin (Wagga Wagga, Albury, Leeton) and then worked overseas. Liz moved to Sydney for work in 2001, moved to Bondi and completed her Bronze medallion in 2002.

Liz’s experience in the club is as an active patroller for many years, takin on the vice captain role for Meagher patrol back in the day. Liz has held various roles in Nippers – having been the Director of Nippers for the previous three years, and before that Deputy Director Nippers, and Age Manager for the Yellow Caps. She is now President of our Club

In this episode we discuss:

· Moving to Bondi and starting at the club in 2021 in an active patrolling role with Meagher Patrol.

· Scaling back while having children and while they were younger and then re-engaging with Nippers and taking on various roles as Age Manager, Deputy Nippers Director then Director of Nippers.

· Worked with the Nippers Committee during the COVID period – navigating our way through COVID and beach number restrictions to maintain the Nippers program within the rules and then the post COVID rebuild of the Bondi Nippers program with a different rhythm, more agile and more flexibility.

· Role and obligation of a Club President is to work with the Club Directors and members and help lead the club and ensure it remains relevant into the future. As the first Female President of Bondi Surf Life Savers Club, Liz discusses the significance of taking opportunities to normalise women in leadership role by getting in and just doing it.

· Life outside of club – Liz is the CEO of an environmental advisory and consultancy business of 300 people that do technical studies for major projects to obtain their environmental approval. Projects like Snowy 2.0, solar and wind farms, transmission lines, mines and infrastructure projects. Liz’s is a hydrogeologist – studying both science and engineering with a focus on water management.

The Bondi Patrol Podcast: Episode 22: Paula Masselos, Mayor of Waverley

Today, I’m delighted to welcome Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos to the podcast.

Paula is the Managing Director of Embrace Society which is a communications agency specializing in hard-to-reach audiences and in values based behavior change, community engagement, advertising and communications, and creative strategy and development. Paula is a highly experienced and award-winning communicator with a career spanning 35 years. She has held a number of senior positions including Director SBS Radio, numerous appointments to ministerial advisory bodies and sat on many boards. She was appointed to the Citizenship Test Review Panel to overhaul the Australian citizenship test. She was on the National Women’s Advisory Council and shaped multicultural TV broadcasting as a member of the Ethnic Television Review Panel.

In this podcast, we cover:

1. What does a Mayor do?

2. And what does the Council have responsibility for?

3. Favourite beach? (Apart from Bondi)

4. How does the Council view Bondi?

5. How does the Council view surf life saving?

6. The role of Shark nets

Thank you for listening to this episode. thank you to our long term supporters City Ford Sydney; we appreciate your support of the Bondi Blue Water Challenge – this enables our club to raise money for the life saving service we provide the community; you can learn all about Ford’s range of cars, vans and SUVs, including electric cars and SUVs at www.cityford.com.au

If you want to get involved, wether for our Nippers program if you have young kids, or you want to become a volunteer surf life saver, You can learn more at www.bondisurfclub.com

Finally, over 300 lives were lost at Australian beaches last year– So please, swim at a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

The Bondi Patrol Podcast: Episode 21: Lucy Macdonald (Allon)

In this episode we are delighted to welcome Lucy Macdonald (Allon) to the podcast

Lucy has been with the Bondi SBLSC for eight years with Besomo Patrol (aka 'Bes-t-omo' patrol). And like many people, Lucy started her involvement with the club earlier than that – when her kids were part of the Nippers program. In this episode we’ll talk about what motivated Lucy to become a volunteer surf life saver, the variety of roles and activities available, as well as the amazing things Lucy does outside of the club for her business.

1. Lucy grew up in UK and not near the sea, and she wasn’t a swimmer, and when she moved to Sydney, her kids went Nippers, and she saw what a great way surf lifesaving is to get fit, and stay fit!

2. Lucy discusses other activities and roles: Can Too, Water Safety, Dippers

3. Examples of challenging rescue: Narcolepsy/fit incident on the beach

4. Lucy discusses what she does outside of the club; her business with Luke Mangan, her love of great food, Awards Appetite for Excellence; Australia has great produce, and how she wants to tell that story!

5. Lucy’s message: surf lifesaving has something for everybody - Lucy encourages everyone to find their groove in the Bondi Surf Life Saving Club.

Thank you for listening to this episode. thank you to our long term supporters City Ford Sydney; we appreciate your support of the Bondi Blue Water Challenge – this enables our club to raise money for the life saving service we provide the community; you can learn all about Ford’s range of cars, vans and SUVs, including electric cars and SUVs at www.cityford.com.au

If you want to get involved, wether for our Nippers program if you have young kids, or you want to become a volunteer surf life saver, you can learn more at www.bondisurfclub.com

Finally, over 300 lives were lost at Australian beaches last year

So please, swim at a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

The Bondi Patrol Podcast: Episode 20: Michael Hallam, Patrol Captain, Nightingale Patrol

What does it take to become a Patrol Captain? It takes time and effort, but anyone can do it if you have the motivation and interest!

What is an unconscious rescue really like? Michael describes how the team rescued an unconscious surfer.

This podcast is supported by City Ford Sydney. Ford have supported the “Blue Water Challenge” for many years - we appreciate their ongoing support of surf lifesaving and the Bondi club. The City Ford Sydney Blue Water Challenge is an annual competition that raises money for our Club, and helps us to provide surf lifesaving services to people at Bondi; – to see what our friends at City Ford Sydney have to offer, visit www.cityford.com.au

Delighted to welcome Michael Hallam to the podcast; Michael is Patrol Captain for Nightingale Patrol.

Michael’s journey to Patrol Captain started with education, Silver Medallion, and helping to train the Bronze groups; Michael then became a Vice Captain.

Michael talks through being a Co-Captain so he could build up his experience, the value of Mentors, and how this helps to be a Patrol Captain.

1. Tell us why you joined Bondi Surf Life Saving Club?

2. You’re a Patrol Captain – what does it involve?

3. What training do you do to become a patrol captain?

4. Who is Nightingale named after?

5. Challenging rescues – the story of an unconscious rescue by Noah, and other examples

6. Your other life/work life: tell us what you do outside of surf life saving

7. Important issues/key messages: importance of teamwork, mentoring to become captain

Thank you for listening to this episode. thank you to our long-term supporters City Ford Sydney; we appreciate your support of the Bondi Blue Water Challenge – this enables our club to raise money for the lifesaving service we provide the community; you can learn all about Ford’s range of cars, vans and SUVs, including electric cars and SUVs at www.cityford.com.au

If you want to get involved, whether for our Nippers program if you have young kids, or you want to become a volunteer surf life saver, You can learn more at www.bondisurfclub.com

Finally, over 300 lives were lost at Australian beaches last year– So please, swim at a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

“It was the friendly people at Bondi who encouraged me to join and made me feel welcome,” says Amy.


Amy O’Brien arrived in Australia in 2022 from Ireland, where she was a full time surf life guard as well as water safety teacher for primary school children.
In this episode, Amy shares her journey from Ireland to Bondi, why she chose Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club, and the opportunities available for people interested in surf sports.

Amy competed in the European and World Championships with the Irish National Team and has made an easy transition to being a surf sport competitor at Bondi. Amy talks through her weekly training and diet, as well as the work she does as a teacher outside of the club.

SLSA has over 180 thousand members and over 300 Surf Life Saving clubs, this is the largest volunteer movement of its kind in the world. We exist to save lives, create great Australians and build better communities.

Sadly over 300 lives were lost at Australian beaches last year– So please, swim at a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

“Surf Life Saving gives you Leadership skills for life”

Grant joined Bondi Surf Club as a 13 year old in 1988 obtaining his Surf Rescue Certificate (the same time as Harries!), Grant has been heavily involved in many aspects of the club during his 35 years as a member.

Some of Grant’s achievements include:

● Four time Australian Champion

● the youngest ever Patrol Captain at 18

● winner of the Open Club Champion of the club and Lifesaver of the Year

● playing a lead role in the organisation of the Annual Legends lunch fundraiser that has raised over $250,000 for the club.

● involved in club junior development and is currently the age manager for the Under 8’s Nippers

Grant has been a Bondi Lifeguard and has had a career working professionally in sport including holding roles as Event Manager Swimming Australia, General Manager - Sport with Surf Life Saving Australia and CEO Equestrian Australia. He is currently the co-owner of a successful sports consultancy company Beyond the Break Consulting. Grant was awarded Life Membership on Bondi Surf Club in 2023.

In this episode we discuss how Grant worked his way through various roles at the Club, to become a Life Member. The importance of giving back, the importance of physical and mental health, Grant’s sadness at the passing of Louise Santos, who was made life member at the same time as Grant. Grant describes the importance of junior members to the club’s success.