Building Bridport Surf Club
New Bridport Surf Life Saving Club President Justin Reeve is looking to take the club literally to the next level.
June 12, 2024
The Bridport Surf Life Saving Club has a new President who is looking to quite literally take the club to the next level.
Justin Reeve was voted into the role at the recent AGM, taking over form long-serving President Anita Howard.
“I was the VP last season, so it was a natural progression to step into the role after Anita, who had been in the role for seven years,” Mr Reeve said.
“I want to continue the hard work she has done to get the club to where it is and continue her legacy of what she has achieved.
“My vision moving forward is to make the club a more community and family-oriented club – we need to have closer ties with the organisations like the Bridport Football Cub and Bridport Lions Club to work together.
“I also want to raise the profile of the club in the North-East and build a culture within the club that inspires the younger members coming through to retain them as they move from teenage years into adulthood.”
Top of his agenda is to build stage two of the surf club’s facilities - a second storey on the clubhouse.
“We had an informal meeting with the Premier at a community get-together last week and one question he asked is ‘when is the next level going up’ and he has a keen interest in the club and he said he would like to see it completed in the next five to 10 years,” Mr Reeve said.
“The club probably is at a point where it needs to develop. The Premier said he could see the club being like at Noosa and we could better use the facility for community functions and have a better facility for members.
“Plans were put on the back burner because no one has concentrated on it, but the club is at point where we have to start working on it to get it rolling so we will establish a building committee to progress the development.”
Mr Reeve has a long history in the sport, which he says helps build life skills.
He started his journey at Boat Harbour as a seven-year old Nipper, going on to achieve his surf rescue certificate at 14, then Bronze Medallion at 15 before patrolling until the age of 23.
A former state champion, he competed at national titles and represented Boat Harbour at a world title event in Bondi.
“I got interested at a young age for the competition aspect and to keep fit over summer for football,” Mr Reeve said.
“It’s an invaluable service for the community and it is a nice feeling to give back.
“It’s a great organisation to be in and you meet so many people and form great lifelong friendships.”
The Launceston-based owner of Pirtek started travelling to Bridport each weekend for his children – Cooper, 13, Arli, 11 and Nate, 9 - to take part in Nippers and that led to him buying a shack in the town with wife, Shontelle.
He was named Senior Patrol member of the year at the 2024 AGM.
The club has 183 members – 65 active patrol members, 85-90 youth or nippers, as well as some social and gym members.
It now has the fourth biggest membership in the State behind power house clubs Clifton Beach, Carlton Park and Burnie.