HSPSLSC has always been quick to embrace social change in recent history in particular with female participation in surf lifesaving. Women were first permitted to become active lifesavers in August 1980 with the clubs first female bronze recipient gaining her bronze that same year. Stanny Rowers have followed in similar vein quickly accepting women into the boatie section in ensuing years forming an Open Women crew for the 96/97 season, and U23 Women crew in 2006/07, and now with the events of the 5th November 2016 at Mollymook we have an u19 Womens crew hitting the water and getting amongst it. All these crews have been formed and participated in the first season of creation for their respective divisions, a proud achievement for HSPSLSC and the local region of 2508.

The u19 Womens crew of Brittany Scutts, Bijou Fawcett, Courtney Gallagher and Alex Liss jumped into the history books of HSPSLSC coming 3rd overall on the day at the first round of the south coast boat series at Mollymook. The girls were greeted with friendly surf conditions with sets of 1ft in the morning, though as the tide began to fill in, the edge became quite difficult to handle as tends to be the case at Mollymook. The girls were joined by 2 other Stanny crews on the day with a newly formed u19 Mens crew competing and also last years u23 girls returning to give it another crack.

The boys, also at their first carnival, rowed well through the round robin and improved immensely with each race. Unfortunately they missed out on the final and their day finished after the round robin. Hamilton Reiley, Riley Foster, Lochleigh Thomas and Jayden Curkoski  have been hard at it for a couple of months now in preparation for the first carnival and hungry for more to show they can mix it in the u19 mens division.

The u23 women were one short for the day and were relying on a jnr girl backing up to fill in for each race. The girls rowed strongly and definitely held their own considering the disruption they have endured in the early part of the season. Injury and availability being the main disruptions. The girls finished a solid 4th on the day and will be looking to get some consistency in crew composition over the coming carnivals. Courtney Gallagher and Bijou Fawcett rotated the fill in position while Connie Wood, Sian Foster and Monique Lehane rounded out the rest of the crew

Well done to all crews, lets look to build on this start over the coming months through our training and hopefully we will reap the rewards come the end of the season.