Well and truely back on deck for 3 weeks now. I really tried to take time away from the lappy and blackberry and enjoy a summer down the coast with the wife & kids. Just like those summer Christmas holidays I enjoyed as a kid down at Anglesea. Well it was all I hoped for. We had a brilliant house with ocean views towards Lorne, brilliant weather and some great surf to boot.

I got roped into playing coach to the under 8 Nippers squad at Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club- and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. My daughter proved a champ at the flags and beach sprint while son Gus toughed it out as a 5 year old in the under 7’s. It was simply awesome to see their nwater confidence grow over the summer. Both kids are surfing and body boarding. Gus has developed a great arm from hours of beach cricket with his cousins. We renewed and made many friendships. Many BBQ’s. A few late night parties and one tragic funeral for Tim Gates a Fairhaven SLSC legend who I had the pleasure of meeting through this years coaching role. His death was tragic and untimely and our deepest, warmest thoughts and support go out to his family

Tim will be sadly missed by the Fairhaven club and the SLS movement in general but we will all be back at Airey’s for next summer to carry on his spirit