In honour of National Reconciliation Week and Surfing NSW’s Indigenous Surfing Program (ISP), former Australian Junior Champion Fraser Dovell (Avalon) has donated a large array of wetsuits to Weave Youth and Community Services in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

The 2013 Australian Junior Champion donated six wetsuits to Weave’s Kool Kids Club program, who are instrumental in teaching Indigenous participants the health, enjoyment and wellbeing that come from surfing.

Club member and Kool Kids leader Melissa Leaudais was gracious for the act of generosity.”The kids are chuffed and moved by the generosity Fraser (pictured above) has shown. The wetsuits he has kindly donated to Weave’s Kool Kids Club will provide lots of warmth to the kids during our Aboriginal Surfing Program and the local winter boardrider competitions. The kids are so keen to surf that they brave the cold conditions some months in short-johns. I’m sure the wetties will be put to good use.”

“Surfing is having a positive impact on so many of our Kool Kids; this would not be possible without the support from Surfing NSW and local community members. Keep your eyes out for Weave’s Kool Kids ripping up the waves with the Southend Boardriders at Maroubra.”

Surfing NSW are looking forward to hosting the Indigenous Surfing Program (ISP) for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in 2015. The Surfing NSW ‘ISP’ aims to attract large numbers of young Indigenous communities to beaches throughout the state. Our program promotes health, enjoyment and wellbeing through the sport of surfing and ocean safety awareness, brining positive education to remote and location Indigenous communities.

Principle partners, NSW Government – Communities, Sport & Recreation and the Australian Government, continue to support and are aware of the benefits this program has on Indigenous health and activity. With participation increasing rapidly each year, Surfing NSW is excited about the continued growth and development of participants through the program.