Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club

About

The Ocean Grove SLSC is a volunteer run organisation that patrols one of the safest and most popular beaches on the Victorian Coastline.

Story

Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club is situated on the main beach at Ocean Grove, Victoria. The township of Ocean Grove is on the southern side of the Bellarine Peninsular facing Bass Strait, is flanked by the Barwon River to the west, and is a very popular tourist resort with a permanent population of about 10,000. Due to its close proximity to the major cities of Geelong and Melbourne, and the tourist mecca of the Great Ocean Road, Ocean Grove's population swells on public holidays and summer.

Ocean Grove main beach experiences some of the largest summer crowds of all Victorian beaches and is part of a 10 kilometer stretch of sand from "The Rip" at Point Lonsdale to the Barwon River mouth at Barwon Heads. It is a relatively safe beach due to its gently slopping sand bottom producing an evenly graded surf break. Treacherous waters lay to the east and west of the main beach with the Barwon River mouth having seen numerous boating tragedies in the past. The beach is very popular with families and surfers, although better surf breaks at nearby 13th Beach usually attract the more serious surfers.

The surf club was formed in 1948 and apart from a brief disbandment in the early 50's, (visit the club's history), has maintained patrols on the beach every summer. In season 2010/11 the club had a membership of around 780 with approximately half of that number comprising junior or "nipper" members. The club's large junior ranks provide a strong foundation for its patrol and competition activities as well as giving the club a family orientation with an active social calendar.