Surfers Paradise SLSC celebrate Centenary Year with Japanese sister club

Surfers Paradise SLSC (QLD) marked its Centenary Year by hosting its Japanese sister club Kaike LSC, (Yonago). The two clubs have enjoyed a special history since 2003, with the relationship formally recognised with a Sister Club Agreement on 24th August 2004.

 The visit, which ran from 31st January to 5th February, was the Japanese club’s first since February 2020, when international lockdowns commenced due to COVID. 

Long Service Member of Surfers Paradise SLSC, Shane Laker advised “Surfers Paradise SLSC is one of a few Australian surf lifesaving clubs to benefit from an official Sister Club relationship with an overseas counterpart.

“Both clubs enjoy recognising and celebrating each other’s successes. It strengthens our partnership and fosters a sense of shared accomplishment.

“Surf Life Saving Australia has a long and rich history with the Japan Lifesaving Association. Through the interest and involvement of key personnel from both Associations, we were able to establish and formalise this relationship over 20 years ago in 2004. This alliance means that we can share knowledge, skills, and cultural experiences and more importantly, offer this opportunity to our members to visit their Sister Club in Japan.”

The visiting Kaike LSC team was made up of six members and three supporting members, including stalwart of the Sister Club relationship and regular exchange visitor, Chairman/President of Kaike LSC, Isao (Noji) Nojima; Toya Kuchita, whose father Tom, along with President Nojima, was instrumental in initiating the Sister Club relationship; and Yoko Fukuda, Director Kaike LSC. 

The Japanese visitors were greeted with a Welcome Party hosted by the Supporters Club and attended by members of the Senior and Nipper Management Committees. Members who had been involved in previous visits over the past 20 years also attended.

Club Presidents, Chris Haile and Isao Nojima, exchanged commemorative plaques and gifts to mark the occasion, both speaking about the importance of the international club relationship and how it has evolved over the past 20 years.

President of Kaike LSC, Isao (Noji) Nojima, said visiting Surfers Paradise SLSC and observing their world-class skills during patrols is incredibly inspiring and motivating and added “It has been such an honour to be Sister Club with them for the past 20 years, as we have been able to observe and participate in lifesaving activities together, despite us being a small club in the countryside of Japan.

 “The relationship benefits us, because aside from exchanging lifesaving skills, we exchange our cultures which has helped build a strong friendship. After years of visiting each other, the bond between us has become irreplaceable over time. 

“Our visits over the past 20 years are an excellent way to foster friendships between club members and promote both cities, Yonago and Gold Coast. After not being able to visit for almost five years due to COVID, it was great to see our old friends again and celebrate Surfers Paradise SLSC’s 100th anniversary.”

Laker said the relationship offers unique benefits to members of participating clubs, including travel opportunities, cultural exchange including learning about different cultures, surf lifesaving practices, and beach environments, skill development, networking, friendship and camaraderie, exposure to different beach conditions, and understanding different lifesaving approaches and challenges.

Image. Credit: Surf Life Saving Australia