Carnival forms bonds

Surf lifesavers clubs and hundreds of members converged at Smiths Beach at the weekend for the South West Clubs’ inaugural mini carnival.

It is the first collaborative event since members held a forum in August with the aim of improving cohesion among the South West clubs.

Smiths Beach Surf Life Saving Club president Keith Warrick said the mini carnival intended to grow young members’ appetite for the sport and get them comfortable with the carnival experience.

“It was also, as an outcome from the South West club forum, designed as a means to help develop momentum around surf sports in the region,” Mr Warrick said.

While the carnival was not the complete experience in that time frames were limited, there was a focus on main events like the swimming race, board race, beach sprints and beach flags.

Almost 260 children took part in what Mr Warrick described as a “united community effort under the surf lifesaving umbrella”.

“The Smiths Beach club would like to thank both the Busselton and Margaret River parent volunteers for making the event the success it turned out to be,” Mr Warrick said.

“We look forward to repaying (them) this next season.”