2009 Conference Program & Details

SURFRIDER FOUNDATION NATIONAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE 2009

Date & Time Saturday November 7, 2009.
9am – 1pm.
Venue Southern Cross University, Riverside Campus – Brett Street, Tweed Head, Gold Coast

Price$40.00 for SFA Members
$50.00 for Non-Members

Register here

CONFERENCE PROGRAM UPDATE

- Presentation from Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society on statistical analysis of rubbish collected on beaches, use of data and participation with Heidi Taylor.

- Humorous and educational Debate on Climate Change adjudicated by Wendy Harmer with six special guest debaters, including Tim Baker, see THE DEBATE for more details

- Case study presentation on the “Bring Back Kirra” campaign with Chris Butler and Wayne Dean. Includes education on sand management, campaign planning, and coalition building.

- Presentation on seabird rescue rehabilitation of Australasian Gannets, Australian Pelicans, Little Penguins, Rufous Night Herons and some of the Cormorant species with Melbourne Aquariam Bird Curator Tristen Bird.

- Presentation from Coastalwatch and CoastalCOMS on latest beach width and sand management, and information available to Chapters with Chris Tola.

Register your attendance at the 2009 Conference here

Accommodation Bookings in Coolangatta, Kirra and South Tweed are recommended.
Most of the events will be held at and between Southern Cross University, Riverside Campus – Brett Street, Tweed Heads and Kirra Beach, Kirra

Accommodation Recommendations
wotif.com
rebecca.tarrant@leisure.com
1800 222 426 Press 1 for reservations

Surfrider Foundation National Conference and AGM 2008

What a weekend! The 2008 Surfrider Foundation National Education Conference and AGM in Hobart was an outstanding success, with many interstate delegates vowing to return to Tasmania “real soon”.

The Friday pre-conference activity was a cray-fishing boat trip to the remote and beautiful Coastal Environment World Heritage area around South Cape (Australia’s most southerly surf location). Several local and interstate Surfrider members braved the cool water to sample the very nice Tassie 4′-6′ left handers on offer – with a snow capped mountain backdrop. Many thanks to skipper Dave Wyatt for making his boat (Velocity) available for the trip.

Surfing down southBack in Hobart that night around 220 local surfers crammed into the historic Theatre Royal Hotel (our wonderful conference venue) for a showing of some of renowned film maker Tim Bonython’s latest amazing footage (or as he called it, his ‘home movie’) of places like Ours, an unnamed WA offshore reef hell pit and of course Shipsterns Bluff. A big vote of thanks to Tim Bonython, long time good friend of Surfrider, who flew down from Sydney for the night to introduce the show.

The Education Conference got underway on Saturday morning with Matt Dell (Hobart Surfrider Branch President) giving an inspiring presentation on the 10 year initiative he has been running to clean up Tasmania’s remote wilderness beaches. Kristy Theissling from Coastalwatch then gave us some great insights on how to access latest website technologies to get the Surfrider message out there. Next, Chris Rees (Dept of Environment Tasmania) gave a thoughtful presentation on how government bureaucracies and community groups can collaborate to bring about positive environmental change. Andy Myers (ANU) then outlined cutting edge ways that marine researchers can manage and archive data through databases and networks. The morning session closed with former journalist and now Greens MP, Cassy O’Connor, explaining how to deal with the media when campaigning and providing some very useful political insights along the way.

The afternoon began with Rebecca Hubbard from Environment Tasmania outlining the importance of establishing marine reserves (which unfortunately currently only represent 1% of Tasmania’s coastline). Dr Stuart Godfrey (retired CSIRO scientist) and Peter Whish-Wilson then explained the critical importance and value of scientific research in a Surfrider campaign, using the long running Bell Bay pulp mill proposal campaign as an example. Gene Hardy from Surfrider Margaret River Branch (and SW Catchments Council WA) informed us about some innovative ways to increase awareness of the importance of looking after the coastal environment. Gene’s presentation included the premiere of a brilliant 16 mm film ‘Impact Zone’ (which should be available via the Surfrider Australia website soon). Dr Mark Hemer (CSIRO) then focused on climate change as he gave a presentation on trends in Australian wave patterns and impact on vulnerable coastal areas.

The afternoon concluded with a special presentation honouring the contribution that Stuart Ball, has made through his many years of wonderful work with Surfrider.

Sunday’s AGM saw something of a changing of the guard of the Surfrider Australia Board, with Chris Tola stepping down after many years of dedicated service and three new board members, Rex Campbell (Mornington Peninsular), Peter Whish- Wilson (Northern Tasmania) and Paul Maddock (Sydney Northern Beaches) being elected. We were also introduced to our new General Manager, Julia Chunn, who outlined her vision for Surfrider going forward. The rest of the day was filled with inspiring presentations from branch representatives from all around Australia outlining the great work that Surfrider is undertaking at the place where it really counts – the grass roots level.

A massive vote of thanks to conference organiser Peter Whish-Wilson and the Tassie Surfrider crew for their tireless efforts in staging such a memorable and worthwhile weekend.

Waves Of Change – Learning From Experience

The 17th Annual Surfrider Australia National Conference & Inaugural National Education Conference

Tazzie! November 7 – 9, 2008 we invited you to join us in Hobart  Tasmania to experience the famous Southern hospitality of our Tasmanian Surfrider crew, and witness some of Tasmania’s world acknowledged natural wilderness areas.

It was our first ever National Education Conference and the focus was on the environment in which we work and gaining tools to better foster excellence in administration and C.A.R.E.

Thank you for your attendance.