With summer just around the corner and the surf life saving season officially kicking off next weekend - today we head to the South Port Surf Life Saving Club.

Richard (Olly) Olesinski has lived on the Fleurieu Peninsula for almost 35 years and has been involved with surf life saving on the Mid Coast since 1974.

You are the South Port Surf Life Saving Club’s president. Can you please tell us a little more about yourself and what inspired you to become a surf life saver.

This is my 5^th season as President of South Port. I have really enjoyed the challenges of being part of a big ‘community family’ of 600 members.

Surf Life Saving is a very intergenerational organisation catering for members from 6 years old and upwards! South Port, in particular, has numerous third and even fourth generation members volunteering their time.

Being over 70, I still have a competitive row with mates in a Master’s surf boat crew, and I’m not the eldest by any means!

South Port is probably one of the most unique surf clubs in the nation being situated on a sand spit with surf beach on our front door and Onkaparinga River at our back door!

We are different to other surf clubs where their members park their car close by and walk in. At South Port, members park hundreds of metres away, if you’re lucky, and then walk over the footbridge over the 'Onka’ and boardwalk to our clubrooms.

As a result, this has engendered a unique culture in our members which builds resilience and makes us a very close knit community group.

This has been a major attraction to my family where we all enjoy the natural position of the club, the surf beach and more importantly the great friendships developed since we joined in 1982.

Continuing on from your love of the ocean, I know you also have a love for keeping the environment clean. Can you tell us a little more?

South Port is the first surf club in Australia to have an Environmental Officer as part of the club’s management team.

Because of where we’re situated in a natural sand dune environment, it is essential that we look after the coastal and marine environment as this is our collective playground.

Highlight for the club was being a driving contributor, in partnership with City of Onkaparinga, to achieving Keep Australia Beautiful’s prestigious 2010 Australian Clean Beach Award which focused on the principles of sustainability.

The environment continues to be a major focus for the club’s operations, particularly for our Nipper (Junior) members.

On a more personal note, tell us a little about yourself and what you love to do in your spare time (presuming that your ‘spare time’ is spent at the surf club!):

The surf club does take a lot of my time, however I still enjoy working with KESAB as an environmental consultant delivering environmental toolbox training to students involved in the Doorways2Construation program. Numerous schools are situated on the Fleurieu Peninsula, so hopefully the marine environment won’t get affected by the building industry in the future!

My other interest is being a passionate supporter of the Port Adelaide Football Club!

Doing what you do for surf life saving I know you are very passionate about South Port and surrounds. Have you always lived and worked here? What is it that has made you proud to call this region home?

We have lived across the road from South Port for over 25 years so it’s an important part of our lives. From not only a community service perspective but importantly also socially. As with other surf clubs, the characters you meet are salt of the earth people who enjoy each other’s company and look to have a good time whilst volunteering their time to keep the beach safe for all.

With the surf club being within the midst of the Mid Coast Surfing Reserve, I feel proud to be part of something that has now been recognised as a substantial contributor to the heathy and well being of thousands of people who directly relate to the region that sits within the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Anything else you would like to share, like when the surf life saving season kicks off?

South Port’s season kicks off at 2pm on Saturday 9 October 2021 with a Come and Try Day particularly focusing on junior members of the community and their families.

For more information please refer to links below.

YOUR TOP TIPS for our awesome region.

Best place to....

• Grab a quick bite…Port Noarlunga Hotel
• Have a more serious feed…Harvest of India in Port Noarlunga
• Get a cuppa… Beck’s at Port Noarlunga
• Have a beer (or cold drink)…South Port SLSC – Oasis in the Dunes!
• Taste some wine (or just enjoy the winery atmosphere)... DogRidge Winery
• Go for a dip…South Port Beach!
• Explore nature…Urimbirra Wildlife Park

When I’m on the Fleurieu and/or KI, I…

• feel…relaxed and invigorated
• always make sure I visit… a winery in McLaren Vale
• stock up on… Shiraz!

Weirdest thing that’s happened to me here:

Winning the Sea and Vines Festival lottery consisting of a pallet of wine from the McLaren Vale region!

Best memory of being here:

Attending Sea and Vines Festivals and surf carnivals at South Port

Most colourful character I’ve run into:

Paul ‘Howsey’ Howse – Life Member and gem of South Port SLSC!

My best piece of advice for anyone heading to the region: 

Book in to stay in a hotel, motel or B’nB as you’ll need to once you’ve undertaken a wine tour of the McLaren Vale region!

Find out more about South Port SLSC:

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