The head of the lifesaving club rocked by last month’s fatal shark attack at Sorrento Beach says the tragedy intensifies the need for new clubrooms.
Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club president Rob Doherty was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Weekly on Sunday after presiding over an emotional beachside tribute to Greg O’Neill, who was taken by a shark on September 18.
Mr Doherty, a life member of the club and in his second stint as president, was left disappointed earlier this year when Joondalup council sent the clubroom redevelopment back to the drawing board, citing a big cost overrun.
“I’ve been here for 36 years,” he said. “My main passion has been the new building, the new development - which is an issue but anyway, we continue to work through that.”
Mr Doherty was asked how his passion for the project was to continue given the recent tragedy at the beach.
“It even enhances it,” he said. “We need better lifesaving facilities; operational, I should say.
“The operational facilities are just too small.
“The training room’s tiny. We’re teaching a lot of young SRC (surf rescue certificate) and bronze medallion holders, and we have to train them in the hall.
“We don’t have the adequate-size facility, which is what we need.”
He described Sunday’s public memorial for Mr O’Neill as “very special”.
“I think today was very special in the sense that it brought the community together again with what’s been such a tragic event,” he said.
“There’s been a lot of support for the surf club, but to actually have the whole community come together, it’s just been overwhelming.
“And the support for me personally, and the support the surf club has had from the wider community of Sorrento - it’s been amazing. Just fantastic.”
He said the club would stay in touch with the O’Neill family, the Sorrento Squids, whom Mr O’Neill swam with, and fellow Squid Neil Gibson, who was swimming with his friend when the shark attacked.
Mr Doherty was asked if there would be a permanent memorial to Mr O’Neill?
“That’s something that the family would probably need to take up with the City of Joondalup,” he said.
“There was talk of the Sorrento Squids wanting to do a plaque of some description but that would be between the group and the City of Joondalup, not directly with the club.
“But the club’s very close with Gibbo (Neil Gibson) and the Squids, so we will remain close to them and also the family if need be as we progress forward.”
Mr Doherty said the Squids visited Sorrento Beach two or three times a week.
“They’re not direct members of the club,” he said.
“Saturday morning they’re renowned for walking to the Marmion Angling Club, swimming back to the surf club and having a coffee as a group.”