Binningup Surf Life Saving Club’s Silver Salties program closes age gap and wins Community Program of the Year

Binningup Surf Life Saving Club has yet again proven that age is just a number after its Silver Salties program was awarded Community Program of the Year. The initiative, which is run across the nation, hopes to close the age gap in Surf Life Saving Club members and promote beach safety through physical, social and water-based activities. The club was presented the award at Surf Life Saving WA’s Awards of Excellence last Saturday. Binningup SLSC was the first to implement the program in WA, with the club drawing attention from Harvey and Australind residents, too. Vice-president Ruth Nandapi said the biggest benefits from the program had been the social element, as well as giving its participants the confidence to get back in the water. “We’re a small country club that’s only run by volunteers, so for us to launch a new program and have it so successful is a real credit to our volunteer base,” she said. “Our aim for this season coming forward is that we will hopefully see some of them become active members of our surf club and do either their surf rescue certificate or their bronze medallion.” Ms Nandapi said the program was creating opportunities for new pools of volunteers. “I think they’d probably like to see activities on more than one day a week, but whether we can actually resource that with our volunteers is yet to be established,” she said.