About the Club

Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club was formed in 1961 and is a member of Surf Life Saving Victoria. 

The club was formed as a result of two meetings, with the first being an interest meeting held at Tarwin Lower Memorial Hall.  On the 24th September 1961 the inaugural meeting was held at Tarwin Lower Hotel and Venus Bay SLSC was officially formed.

To date Venus Bay SLSC has had three club houses.  The original clubhouse was built 100 meters from beach-head at Surf Drive, Venus Bay, in 1962, with the assistance of a donation from the Van Cleef Foundation.  In 1970 a new clubhouse overlooking the beach at Surf Drive was opened.  This clubhouse remained until 1997 when a new clubhouse was erected as a result of funds raised by the club members and support from the Victorian Government 21st Century Lifesaving Fund. 

The new club house was built further back due to new regulations from Parks Victoria and predictions of sand dune erosion in future years.  The clubhouse is now situated at the top of Surf Drive and provides equipment storage and maintenance, first aid facilities, bunk house facilities, training area/function room (200 people seated), change rooms and showers, radio room, kitchen, kiosk, administration office and a radio room with communication links to Surf Life Saving Victoria and Police Marine Rescue.

Location

Venus Bay is located on Australia's coast approximately 160km South East of Melbourne, between Phillip Island and Wilson's Promontory.  The beach is nearly 24km long and has public access only toward the northern end at the Venus Bay settlement, where the surf club is located. Public access and parking are provided at the surf lifesaving club and four other points adjacent to the 5km long Venus Bay settlement.  The beach receives high south-west waves averaging 1.8m which, with the fine sand, produce a wide, low gradient beach, fronted by a 400m wide surf zone.  This consists of an inner bar cut by strong rips every 350m, then a deep trough, with an outer bar cut by rips every few hundred metres.  Due to its orientation, the beach is very prone to westerly winds that blow out the surf and intensify the currents.

Rescues

Successful rescues by reel and line were recorded in 1964/65, and 23 rescues took place in 1967/68.  A large number of rescues were recorded in 2001/2002 where a single patrol rescued 29 individuals in one day. There were 42 rescues recorded in 2007/2008 and 40 rescues in the season of 2008/2009.

First Bronze Medallion Squad

On the 1st of April 1962, Ian Sutherland, Brian Bridgewater, Ian Inglis, Louis Kirby and Basil DeBondt became the first bronze medallion holders for the club.  It wasn't until 19 years later that women were introduced to the club as patrolling members.  Wendy Duell (7/3/81) and Simonetta Danielis (21/3/81) were the first two female bronze medallion holders for Venus Bay.

Staying Safe at Venus Bay

Venus Bay is in the top 5 of the most dangerous beaches in Victoria.  Unfortunately due to the nature of the beach, the location of safe swimming spots varies.  Patrols can be set-up from up to 200m East or West of the ramp depending on the location of the rips.

The signs of rips are usually but not always indicated by the following:

- Discoloured brown water
- Foam extending beyond the break
- Waves breaking further out (both sides)
- Debris floating seaward -
A rippled appearance on the surface

The safest place to learn to surf would be closer to shore where the waves are smaller and not dumping on the sand bar. The safest time to be in the water is when the surf is 1-2ft, and after low tide and before high tide. When the tide starts going out this is when the rips increase in intensity.

It is recommended only swimming when the beach is patrolled:

Volunteer patrols operate weekends from last weekend in Novermber to Easter.
Saturdays: 1pm-5pm
Sundays and Public Holidays: 10am-5pm

Paid lifeguards operate weekdays from Boxing Day to Australia
Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
Saturday: 10am-1pm

A Venus Bay rip at low tide.