Point Leo is a family and community based organisation that proudly strives for excellence and enjoyment in life saving services and surf sports.
Point Leo Surf Life Saving Club SLSC Inc. is an entirely voluntary organisation which provides beach patrol and rescue services, first aid and lifesaving training at Point Leo Surf Beach and surrounds. Funding for Club activities comes from membership fees, donations and gifts/sponsorships from corporate benefactors. Point Leo SLSC is one of the premier Surf Life Saving Clubs in Victoria.
The Club patrols the Point Leo Surf Beach located between Hastings and Flinders on Western Port Bay. The beach is one of the closest surf beaches to Melbourne, only a 60-minute drive from the CBD.
Early in 1955, a number of “local identities” joined together to propose the formation of a surf life saving club. Dick Ellis, Alan Forster (then members of the Sorrento – Portsea Club), together with World Champion swimmer John Marshall, met with Ron McKillop (Honorary Secretary of the Foreshore Authority, now the Foreshore Committee) and with a deputation from Victorian State Centre.
The Foreshore Authority agreed to the formation of a club, and a public meeting was called for on April 1st, 1955. The meeting was held in the Progress Hall at Shoreham and attended by 65 people. At the meeting, which was chaired by Cr. E. Rundle, it was unanimously agreed to form the Point Leo Surf Life Saving Club. A draft constitution, drawn up by the co-founders was adopted, and the club’s first president, Geoff Raws, was appointed. Under his guidance and with the support of his fellow co-founders, the club grew rapidly.
From 1955 until 1960, members worked on a voluntary basis to build the original clubhouse. However, it was destroyed by fire in suspicious circumstances in 1974. With the proceeds of the insurance, ‘Willards’ – a former guesthouse – was purchased. This building served as a “temporary” clubhouse until 1990, it was then sold and the proceeds used to develop a new clubhouse complex “on the beach”.
The complex was substantially extended during the period 2000 – 2002, expansion costs being covered by club fund raising activities, sponsors donations and support from the Victorian State Government. The club now boasts a comprehensive facility including training areas, radio room/tower, patrol and first aid facilities, meeting areas, amenities, bunkrooms and storage for surf-craft, boats and rescue gear.
The club has in excess of 1400 members (including nearly 200 active members and 460 Nippers) and is based on a foundation of loyalty and family values, with many of the current active members being second and third generation members.
Since its inception, the club has also been strongly represented in all aspects of carnival competition. The club boasts a long list of Victorian and Australian Champions.
The club has produced many great lifesavers over the years and its members have been active at Life Saving Victoria. The Club patrols the Point Leo Surf Beach located between Hastings and Flinders on Western Port Bay. The beach is one of the closest surf beaches to Melbourne, only a 60-minute drive from the CBD. Since the inception of the club, there has not been one single drowning occur on the patrolled beach, a record that we strive to maintain.
Club recipients’ of Victoria’s most prestigious Surf Life Saving Award, the John Wishart Medal include: 1961 John Forsyth, 1962 Eddie Kidd, 1965 Geoff James, 1994 Brad Newton and 2020 Rhys Cole.