Palm Beach SLSC (QLD) awarded AU$5,000 grant from DHL Express

• Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club (QLD) wins DHL Summer ‘We Are One’ grant for its sustainability program

• Grant runners-up include Bonbeach Surf Life Saving Club (VIC) and Cairns Surf Life Saving Club (QLD)

• The annual program provided Surf Life Saving Clubs the opportunity to win a grant to further support and develop an existing club initiative

DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider and Surf Life Saving Australia are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s DHL Summer ‘We Are One’ grant program. The program invited Australians to make a submission on behalf of their local Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) to recognise and support the contributions of initiatives in the areas of innovation, sustainability and community.

The 2020 grant winners are as follows:

• AU$5,000 (€3,086) Grant – Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club (QLD), submission by Leesa Monaghan. Awarded for the club’s sustainability program, which included measures to replace single use items like plastic bottles and coffee cups with reusable alternatives, installing water drinking stations, composting waste for the local community garden, and using environmentally friendly cleaning products.
• AU$2,000 (€1,234) Grant – Bonbeach Surf Life Saving Club (VIC), submission by Stephanie Reindel. Awarded for the club’s cultural diversity program, aiming to encourage youth of different cultural backgrounds to train for their Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC). In its third year, the club’s program trained 17 children aged between 13 and 17 years of age.
• AU$1,000 (€617) Grant – Cairns Surf Life Saving Club (QLD), submission by Zara Chauvin-Hartmann. Awarded for the club’s initiatives to support and encourage young women to participate in the surf lifesaving movement while developing leadership, community education, fundraising and networking skills.

Gary Edstein, CEO and Senior Vice President at DHL Express Oceania said, “Encompassing the areas of sustainability, innovation and community, initiatives submitted for this year’s grant program displayed the true extent of the positive impact Surf Life Saving Clubs are making beyond the beach. Among the more than 100 entries received from all across Australia, our grant winners stood out for their clarity of mission and we were pleased to see common themes of passion and a ‘can-do’ attitude. We were equally impressed by the level of organisation demonstrated and the efforts to engage club members across all ages and backgrounds. Thank you to all clubs for your work in supporting our communities and continuing to keep our beaches safe.”

Adam Weir, CEO at Surf Life Saving Australia commented, “DHL have been wonderful partners of Surf Life Saving for 16 years now and we are very grateful to have them as a part of our family. This program was a great initiative from DHL and opportunity for Surf Life Saving Clubs around Australia to access additional funds in recognition of their efforts towards innovation, sustainability and community. Thank you and congratulations to all clubs who entered for your great work across these areas.”

In previous years, the DHL grants have supported lifesaving initiatives at Black Head Surf Life Saving Club, helped improve facilities at Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club, and funded boating equipment at Cabarita Beach Surf Life Saving Club.

For more information on how you can stay safe at the beach, visit beachsafe.org.au.