WindanSea Boardriders Community Clubhouse
Who are Windansea Boardriders?
The original WindanSea Surf club was first founded in 1962 in San Diego, California. The Caloundra chapter of the boardriders club has over 170 members. Over half of the club’s membership is juniors with women and girls representing more than 20% of total membership. We have a young membership base and actively encourage youth and females to be more active and this new club house will stimulate a range of activities for current and future members.
Windansea Boardriders run monthly surfing competitions throghout the year as well as a single fin competition annually. The club runs a surf fitness and surf training program aimed at developing our juniors. Many of the juniors are competing in regional, state and national competitions. The club supports various community groups and fundraisers with members regularly participating in community activities.
The club also Hosts the Annual Pa & Ma Bendall Memorial Surfing Contest which has seen surfers such as Gerry Lopez, Terry Fitzgerald, Richard Harvey, Michael Peterson, Peter Drouyn and Nat Young all compete in this event. Past Windansea members competing in the contest include Joel Parkinson, Serena Brooke, Wade Goodall and Reef Heazlewood, all from the Caloundra area. The event is not for profit and the club regularly makes donations to community charities from the proceeds.
What is the Windansea Community Clubhouse?
The clubhouse will be a shared community space, run by a committee of surfers and community members from diverse groups to provide a general meeting place. The groups include Windansea Boardriders, the Disabled Surfers Association, the Indigenous Surfers Chapter, Women on Water, The Moffateers and the Caloundra Malibu Club just to name a few. This is an opportunity for the surfing community of Caloundra to become custodians of their own space to advance the sport of surfing.
A dedicated clubhouse will also greatly expand the opportunities to advance the sport of surfing in Caloundra by offering a place to facilitate club meetings, presentations, events & competitions, run training workshops and activities, engage with local schools and hold community workshops. The clubhouse will support the teaching of surfing culture and history to a younger generation. It will promote physical activity, family activity, outdoor lifestyle and recreation as well as promote environmental awareness and care for the environment.
"Younger members, both current and future, will hold and have something, ‘in – hand’, to cherish. A place to learn and study, Judging, Coaching, Surf skills and Administrative courses. A place that allows, other like-minded organisations a footing. A place they too can feel at home. A place for the community. A place that historical knowledge can be handed down, displayed and most importantly a place to care for." Quote by Robert “Bushy” Mitchell. Past Club President & Life Member, SC Surfing President, Surfing Queensland President, Surfing Queensland CEO, Surfing Australia President and Chair, Billabong Events Manger, lifetime contributor to the sport of surfing, and proud WindanSea Boardriders member.
The Approved Clubhouse Development Application
In July 2019 after years of tireless work by our volunteers, Sunshine Coast Council Approved the Clubhouse Development Application. Late in 2019 a small group of people lodged an appeal in the planning and environment court opposing council’s decision to grant Windansea Boardriders approval. In 2020 the club, along with a team of dedicated volunteers, successfully defended the application in court and were again granted approval to build the clubhouse. More details on this can be found at the club website page - http://windanseaboardriders.com.au/windansea-boardriders-clubhouse/
The Fundraiser
The clubhouse committe is now preparing to build the clubhouse and we need your assistance. We are looking to raise funds to construct this community facility late this year. We have already secured partial funding and have many local community members and businesses willing to participate goods and services toward the construction. However we cannot build the clubhouse on good will alone, and so we call upon you to assist us with funding to create this wonderful space. It will create a great legacy for our community. A successful funding campaign will not only provide funds for the construction, but also provide funds to equip the facilty with the equipment and fitout required to make it an exemplar facility for the community. Please help make this 10 year vision become a reality by contributing to the fund.
