Rotary Meet at JAN JUC SLSC 27th Feb

Monday 27 February 201 7 saw Torquay Rotarians gathering on the front patio area at Jan Juc Surf Club with drinks and nibbles. enjoying the fellowship and taking in the million-dollar beach views. For the second year in a row we had picked the weather.

Our host and chef for the evening, Jan Juc life member, Greg Touzel, had assembled a group of Jan Juc club volunteers, including Graeme and Sandy Kennedy. to set up the venue and prepare the food. Rotary President Lesley was amused to learn that Greg is widely known throughout the Torquay community by his lifesaving nickname of "Pig '.

We were then joined by a panel of Jan Juc young gun lifesavers and their mothers on our tables to share in the meal. After a hearty and tasty meal of steak, salad. potato and all the trimmngs or the vegetarian option, Pig introduced the first of his panel members Charlie Dent. Using a question answer format and prompted by Pig's probing we learned that young Charlie has already had a strong involvement in school and leadership activates, has been successful in surf lifesaving competitions, has already earned the title of Juc lifesaver of the month and has been appointed Patrol captain, responsible for beach safety on busy summer days on Jan Juc beach. Like most of the panelists Charlie started at a young age with the Jan Juc Rippers learning water and lifesaving skills from such experienced mentors as Greg Touzel. John Jacoby and Doug Bartlett.

Next Isabella Heather. an outstanding young boat rower explained how she planned to use her experiences in aquatics to fashion a career in leadership activities. professional life guarding and perhaps as a personal trainer.

Drew Green is a champion swimmer who has scored many achievements in open water swims and carnivals and is a member of the Victorian state team.

This was followed by a short break for desert

Greg then introduced David Inguanti who is mixing a successful academic career and university course with training and competition in canoeing and kayaking. David is a member of Barwon Sports Academy and a member of the Victorian State canoe team. After winning the Australian K2 and coming second in the Ki championships, he competed in the world championships in Germany. He also patrols and competes in carnivals for Jan Juc. After a stellar VCE score he has enrolled in a Bachelor of Engineering and Biomedical Science double degree at Monash University. 'This is aimed at a career in designing advanced technology and bio medical innovation such as a bionic eye or 4d lung imaging method. David is clearly a gifted scholar and gifted athlete who has developed his skills from the Nippers program on within Jan Juc surf club. He and his mother Masree were also great dinner guests at my table.

After the young guns. Pig introduced an old hand to lifesaving in Daryl Moss (Mossy) who outlined an amazing career in lifesaving leadership development and mentoring over a period of some 40 years which has earned him a life membership of Jan Juc surf club and the DHL Volunteer of the year award at the Surf Lifesaving National awards of Excellence 201 6 recognising his massive contribution through mentoring and fund raising programs at Jan Juc

Tea and coffee was served. By this time we were gob smacked at the amount of talent being nurtured within Jan Juc Surf Lifesaving Club among such fine Australian young adults. As we left the Jan Juc volunteers began packing up the room and the kitchen area. Thanks Greg Touzel and your team for another uplifting event at Jan Juc Surf Club.