06/02/2026
Not written by us, but the message rings true. Thank you for sharing Killcare Surf Life Saving Club.
We look forward to celebrating Rainbow Beaches at Brunswick this Sunday, 8th Feb. 🌈🏖️
Apologies for a long post...
Next Saturday, February 14, Killcare will be joining surf life saving clubs right around Australia in celebrating Rainbow Beaches, a day where we celebrate inclusion and diversity in Surf Life Saving, particularly our LGBTQIA+ members and friends.
It's been said many times, the ocean doesn't discriminate and nor do we. If you're on board with our mission and want to help, we don't care who you love, what's in your togs, what colour you are or anything else that makes you, you. Come on in, and thanks.
Everyone is welcome at Killy, everyday, and next Saturday we look forward to highlighting that.
That said, I know this is unfortunately still controversial for some, which is why I am putting my name to this and inviting respectful conversation if you feel so inclined. But I hope what follows will answer some questions.
I look forward to the day when it doesn't matter. When no one bats an eye. When Rainbow Beaches maybe even isn't even a thing. But we're not there yet.
Some critics might lean to child protection and I can't say strongly enough that there is no organisation in Australia who takes that more seriously than Surf Life Saving does.
The facts are that there's no evidence to indicate that being LGBTQIA+ increases the risk of that person being a predator. There is however, reams of data that indicates they are more at risk of being abused, particularly in their youth.
Consider this; most parents probably assume their child is cis and heterosexual and on the whole, they will probably be right. But many aren't. Of the ones that aren't, between the ages of 16 and 27, LGBTQIA+ people are a staggering five times more likely to attempt su***de.
Besides all the benefits that being on patrol brings - community service, skills and confidence development, the list goes on and on - I can't think of a better way to protect young people than offering them a safe, welcoming environment where they are free to be who they are, with support and without judgement. We save lives, that's our job, to make sure everyone who comes to our beach on our watch goes home again. But it's not just pulling people out of the surf. If we can help arrest that appalling statistic at all, chalk that up as the ultimate preventative.
We're not looking to have any discussions with your kids about sexuality. Nothing could be further from our job. But just as we will loudly defend people of colour or different races from discrimination, just as we will stamp on any negativity to someone who might be economically disadvantaged, 'just a girl' or any number of other forms of discrimination, we will staunchly defend anyone who has homophobic slurs directed at them or is discriminated against because of their sexuality. We don't need to discuss sexuality to do that, that's discussing a central pillar of our vision - 'making great Australians' and part of that is accepting people for who they are.
I've heard concerns about 'indoctrination'. Hand on heart, I know we have proudly had them in our ranks in the past, but I don't know if any of our current cohort are LGBTQIA+. You know why? It does not matter. Statistically I have to assume we do, but it does not matter. I've known people in our club for years that I couldn't tell you what they do for a living, whether they go to church, or what kind, or not at all. It's not that I don't care or am not interested, I really do and am, just that it does not matter. And when it comes to who they love it's really none of my damn business. If you want to be out and proud at Killcare, we have your back. If you want to keep it to yourself, as long as you're happy that's cool too.
One thing I do know after too many laps around the sun is that they aren't looking for recruits or walking around with sign-up sheets. Just acceptance for who they are to the point that one day it becomes utterly unremarkable.
Why are we celebrating Rainbow Beaches? Because as a club, we need our LGBTQIA+ members and friends to know they are welcome. We need young people in our club to know that Killcare SLSC is a safe place to work through what must be a tough and confusing time. We need everyone to know that Killcare SLSC is tolerant, inclusive and diverse. Because that diversity makes us stronger.
Everyone has a role to play in executing our mission and remember that the lifesaver who put you on their board and brought you back to the beach might be LGBTQIA+. It won't matter then, as it doesn't matter now, but imagine that 'sliding door' where they didn't feel welcome and never got their bronze. We'd all be poorer for it.
Just as importantly, we proudly serve a community that includes wonderful LGBTQIA+ people and families. We serve them, we should reflect them and let them know that the club is for them as it is for everyone whether they want to pull on the red & yellow or just come to Sunday Sips for a drink.
Rainbow Beaches is just one plank of our diversity.
On March 8 we're looking forward to our 'Pink Patrol' where we celebrate our female members on International Women's Day. That was controversial once too; in fact it was only in 1980 that women were allowed to become accredited lifesavers and full members. We look back now and wonder where we'd be without them.
I look forward to the day when Rainbow Beaches is just as non-controversial.
Cheers
Craig Sheppard
President and Proud Ally.
Lifesavers with Pride Surf Life Saving Australia
