Surfrider Welcome the Plastiki!

Surfrider Foundation Australia were proud to welcome and cheer on the arrival of The Plastiki at Darling Harbour this morning.

The Plastiki and crew have reached the end of their epic voyage which has taken them through the Pacific Ocean on an 8,000 nautical mile adventure lasting over 130 days! The team arrived midday today at Sydney’s Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour to an excited crowd of friends, family and supporters, including members of Surfrider Foundation Australia.

The Plastiki cabin has been home to 10 members of crew over the 4 month journey; Skipper Jo Royle, Co-Skipper David Thomson, Expedition leader David de Rothschild, Olav Heyerdahl, Graham Hill, Luca Babini, Matthew Grey, Max Jourdan, Singeli Agnew and Vern Moen. All of whom have witnessed the polluted waters of the Pacific, affirming their mission to share their experience with the watching world and most importantly highlight solutions to protect our oceans and beat waste.

For more information on the Plastiki check out theplastiki.com

Surfrider reiterrate the Plastiki’s message of Reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink use of single-use plastics in Australia.

‘LAID BACK PROTEST’

‘LAID BACK PROTEST’
Date:  Saturday, May 29, 2010
Time:  10:00am – 3:00pm
Location:  Lefthander’s Beach, Gracetown
Description
NO WELLHEAD on our SEABED
PROTEST ACTION on SATURDAY 29TH MAY 2010

PROTEST ACTION: 29 MAY 2010 – LEFTHANDER’S BEACH, GRACETOWN
Start 10am, Action 11.00am
Oil on our Beaches –Not Worth The Risk
When commenting on a rally organised this Saturday by the Surfrider Foundation Australia and Conservation Council of Western Australia, opposing the Federal Governments recent granting of permits to drill for oil and gas offshore in the Margaret River region of South West Western Australia, Surfrider member Steve Andrews commented “the world is looking on with horror as beaches, wild life and prosperity are trashed along hundreds of kilometers of the US coastline. One oil well could cause the biggest and most expensive environmental disaster in US history, why would we want to risk such an event here?”
Andrews went on to state “At some stage we need to ask ourselves whether the environmental, social and economic risks of such a catastrophe outweigh the economic benefits to a company’s shareholders”. He added “It’s particularly alarming that such an event has now occurred twice in the past 12 months, including off our own beautiful Western Australian Coastline”.
Andrews believes that thousands of local surfers and residents in the Margaret River area share his concern that the region has special recreational, natural and economic values. “Its one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, home to some of the planets best surf spots and tourist destinations”. He added “These values should be protected at all costs, and stopping exploitation of the sea bed off Margaret River for oil and gas is a good start”.
Andrews believes surfers and others will fight to the bitter end to see recent federal permits for oil and gas exploration revoked, and will carry their fight into the political arena and further to ensure the area gets “marine park status” to preserve it from future “catastrophic risks” posed by such activities.
Summing up the emotion of local organizers, Andrews stated “Any potential oil and gas spill offshore Margaret River would be catastrophic and would break the heart of the state of Western Australia, I encourage all concerned Western Australian’s to join us at the rally this weekend and let their concerns be heard”.
Details of the planned rally and contact details for more information can be found below or on the Surfrider Foundation Website www.surfrider.org.au <http://www.surfrider.org.au>

‘LAID BACK PROTEST’
Date: Saturday, May 29, 2010
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Location:  Lefthander’s Beach, Gracetown, WA

Media Contact: Steve Andrews – 0415 542 502

Save our Marine Life Rally, Margaret River

Reuter Park, Margaret River on Saturday May the 8^th 2010. 12pm
saveourmarinelife.org.au/email_minister/

Tasmania: Mays Point, sea star monitoring. Saturday April 24, 2010

Mays Point. Walk and Sea Star Monitoring
Saturday April 24, 2010
9:30 am

Jimmy on 0427 32 5182
james.t.dell@gmail.com

Margaret River, WA – Preserve the Break event success

Dear Surfrider Members, Supporters, Sponsors and Friends,

A big THANK YOU to all those who came along to support us at our film fundraiser ‘Preserve The Break’.

The money raised has greatly contributed to the cost of the sculpture which is situated at the top of the stairs at Main Break.

Special thanks to all our Surfrider volunteers who helped out on the night and our wonderful sponsors-Cape Mentelle, Beach Life, Tribbeck Media, Tim Bonython Productions, VAS Entertainment & Walking J Films.

We plan to make this an annual event so hopefully see you next year at Cape Mentelle’s beautiful venue for some more outdoor film’s.

One of our sponsors and dedicated Surfrider members ‘Steve from Tribbeck Media’ is holding an exhibition from the 9th – 23rd April at Samudra in Dunsborough “Singing the song…dreaming the dream…arnhem land.”

The images are beautiful and Steve translates the magic of Arnhem Land through his photography. Well worth a look. Make sure if you see Steve ask for the background on the images.

Thanks again,
Clare, Drew and Gene on behalf of the Surfrider Margaret River Branch

Gold Coast – Saturday May 1, 2010 – Board Swap – Currumbin Alley, Gold Coast, QLD

Have an old surfboard lying around? Well they say that one man’s trash is another’s treasure, so why not bring it along to the Surfrider Foundation GCT Board Swap at Currumbin Alley on May 1st?

You never know, you might walk away with your new (old) ‘magic board’!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (Surfboards)

Saturday, May 1, 2010, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Currumbin Alley, Gold Coast, QLD

Surfrider Gold Coast Tweed

Terry Fitzgerald speaks at next Surfrider Northern Beaches on May 5

Legendary Australian surfer and creator of Hot Buttered Terry Fitzgerald will give a talk about his career and life in surfing at the upcoming Surfrider Northern Beaches Branch meeting on Wednesday May 5 at 7pm at the North Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club.

Always the individual, Fitzgerald’s career started in the tumultuous 1970s. Surfing was making the radical transition from longboards to the modern era of high performance shortboards. And at the heart of it all was Terry Fitzgerald. He starred in the iconic surf movie Morning of the Earth. along with other giants of the era such as Michael Peterson, Gerry Lopez and Nat Young. Once dubbed The Sultan of Speed for his powerful and uncompromisingly radical style, Fitzgerald is still charging North Narrabeen on the best days. Come along, hear Terry & meet the Surfrider crew & find out how you can take action for your surfing environment & community.

Surfrider Foundation Australia’s Northern Beaches Branch actively fight for a cleaner coast and a more sustainable future for the Northern Beaches. A recent victory includes the distribution of sand from Manly City Council development sites to Collaroy Beach to replenish sand and assist with erosion,

Surfrider’s Northern Beaches Branch also participates in the National Marine Debris Initiative, beach cleanups that includes the counting of the collected rubbish and monitoring of the data to address the source of the debris with Initiative parner Tangaroa Blue.

At a recent event held in March at Fishermans Beach at Collaroy Basin otherwise known as ‘Brownwater’, 17 Surfrider volunteers collected 18.5kg of rubbish including 278 cigarette butts.

1 million seabirds and 100 000 marine mammals including turtles and 30 000 seals are killed by plastic marine litter every year around the world. Ciggarette Butts take 10 years to break down, Styrofoam Cup 50 years and Plastic Bags 100-400 years.

Surfrider Foundation is a not for profit organisation dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of Australia’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people.

What can people do to help?
Eight things you can do to protect your Beach
1 Pick up your rubbish, and others!
2 Recycle your plastics, or better yet, don’t use them.
3 Hold on to your cigarette butt! Or don’t smoke.
4 Pick up pet waste
5 Join a local Surfrider Branch and get involved,
6 Become a member of surfrider on their website (surfrider.org.au/membership)!
7 Become a part of the National Marine Debris Initiative and register to clean up your local beach at surfrider.org.au
8 Donate to Surfrider to help us keep our oceans pristine

www.surfridernb.realsurf.com or www.surfrider.org.au

Upcoming Northern Beaches Branch Events:
Wednesday May 5, 2010 – 7.00pm – Terry Fitzgerald @ North Narrabeen Surf Club (upstairs)
Saturday June 20, 2010 – International Surfing Day Beach cleanup
Saturday/Sunday 20-21st November, 2010 – Surfrider Foundation National Education Conference

MEDIA RELEASE: World first crossing of Bass Strait – Surfrider Fundraiser

 

MEDIA RELEASE
Bass Strait, Everest of the Sea

Eight surf ski paddlers to cross Bass Strait in world first.
Eight daring Melbourne paddlers are attempting a World First next week and crossing Bass Strait on racing surf skis.
Jarad Kohlar, 27, of Newport,  Emma Croser, 33, of Altona, Brendon Grail, 40, of Princes Hill and Richard Jennings, 44, of Hawthorn, are part of the team of eight.

The paddlers will depart northern Tasmania next Wednesday April 7, and cross the treacherous Banks Strait first, before island hopping all the way to Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, aiming for an arrival of Wednesday April 14, weather dependent.

The expedition, dubbed ‘Bass Strait, Everest of the Sea’, is a world first.  Expedition leader and Australian Adventure Racing champion Jarad Kohlar is one of several people who have crossed Bass Strait in a sea kayak, but no-one has ever attempted the crossing on a racing surf ski.

All eight paddlers have been training for months to prepare for the expedition, regularly hitting the beach at Sandridge in Melbourne before sun up.
“It has been a life-long dream of mine to paddle across Bass Strait on a racing surf ski.  By shedding all of the weight of a sea kayak, we’re able to paddle much quicker and with less energy, enabling us to spend a few hours each day picking up rubbish from the remote beaches we stop at along the way. ” said Kohlar.

Beach cleanups will also be undertaken by the group of eight paddlers each day during the expedition will contribute to Surfrider Foundation Australia’s National Marine Debris Initiative, which aims at empowering communities and individuals to participate in cleanups and monitors the rubbish they find through a National database.

Paddler and environmental scientist Richard Jennings said, “There’s lots of people who are not familiar with the spectacularly pristine islands dotted throughout Bass Strait, and I’m particularly interested to see if there is a link between the litter we discover on these remote island beaches and the litter that flows from Victorian storm water drains and rivers.”

The paddlers aim to raise $20,000 in Donations for Surfrider Foundation Australia. Surfrider Foundation is a not for profit organisation dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of Australia’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through CARE: Conservation, Activism, Research and Education.

Paddlers will face extreme conditions including ocean swells of 6 metres, as April generally attracts growing swells and cooler weather. A growing voice of online supporters will be sending them wishes through their online portal and blog updated throughout their journey at www.bassstraiteverestofthesea.com and Twitter.

Surfrider Foundation Australia & Peak Adventure partner for Bass Strait Everest of the Sea Expedition. Thank you to sponsors: Keen, 2XU, Outer Edge and expedition partner Sustainability Victoria.

Interview and photo opportunity:

Wednesday March 31, 2010 – 4.15pm
Sandridge Life Saving Club , 240 The Boulevard, Port Melbourne VIC (Melways 56 G3)

Flinders Street steps fish out-of-water kayak display:
Thursday April 1, 2010 – 8.30am
Cnr of Flinders Street and Swanson Street,  Melbourne City VIC
Attending: Bass Strait, Everest of the Sea paddlers and General Manager of Surfrider Foundation Australia, National

WWW.BASSSTRAITEVERESTOFTHESEA.COM
Kristy Theissling / General Manager / Surfrider Foundation Australia/ 0424 352 792 / kristy@surfrider.org.au

Jarad Kohlar / Expedition Leader/ Bass Strait / Everest of the Sea / 0409 786 237  / jarad@peakadventure.com

Beach Cleanup, Fishos, Northern Beaches, Sydney NSW. Saturday March 20, 3pm

International Surfrider Beach Clean Day
as part of Surfrider Foundation Australia and Tangaroa Blues National Marine Debris Initiative
Saturday, March 20th

Join Surfrider Northern Beaches & other surfers & community participants at Fisherman’s Beach, Collaroy Basin (between Collaroy and Long Reef Headland, near ‘Brownwater’). Clean-up starts at 3.00 (Bring shoes, gloves, water) and we will probably surf before/after and catch up afterwards. www.surfridernb.realsurf.com. RSVP: Eve clark_eve@hotmail.com or 0417076929

Save Bastion Point – Supreme Court Hearing – 16, 17 March 2010

Supreme Court Hearing – 16, 17 March 2010
The case of Friends of Mallacoota Inc. versus Minister for Planning, and Minister for Environment and Climate Change has been fixed for trial in the Supreme Court on 16 March 2010 for two days. Members of the Public are welcome to attend. See www.savebastionpoint.org for more infomation

Next Page »