Surf for Kids Campaign

Surfing with Dolphins

2008-06-12T22:46:00.000-07:00

On the Queens birthday weekend David and I had the unique experience of surfing with a couple of dolphins at Barwon Heads (13th beach). They stayed in the same area the whole time playing with bits of sea weed chasing waves and generally just cruising in and around us.
They make lots of cute squeeky noise when they catch the waves - what an experience!

Movember effort?

2008-05-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

Thank God Movember only comes around once a year!

Surfing 2008

2008-05-15T23:53:00.000-07:00

So far in 2008 we've visited surf locations in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and various spots around Victoria. I say visited because we haven't always found surf - unfortunately (as all surfers know only too well) its 'hit and miss' when your traveling around the country looking for waves.

On top of all this we had a terrific 'Celebrity Surf Day' in February.
A great beach day was had by all who attended the 'Charity Surf Day' at Point Lonsdale Front Beach. Surf was in the one to two foot range with some fun conditions for the professional surfers and celebrities and also for the kids to learn in.

The group of 15 special kids from Geelong were treated to a presentation by Leigh Coutie and his team from the Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club, the club provided wonderful support by way of an environmental orientation to the children, provision of Life Guards and safety resources. This was followed by a fabulous two hour surf lesson with Mark Phipps and his Point Lonsdale Surf School team, a bbq lunch and then a tag team surf contest with celebrities including Olympic gold medal sprinter Cathy Freeman, 2005 World Champion Chelsea Hedges, WQS surfers Nick Muscroft and Jack Perry. Following this Chloe Messner from Quiksilver (The Quiksilver Foundation) presented children with a wonderful Quiksilver/Roxy gift pack.
On top of this, the Geelong Football Club even bought the premiership cup along for all to enjoy.
Everyone was a winner!

Picture - Tony with 2005 World Champion and CBTS Ambassador Chelsea Hedges and Geelong's 2007 Premiership Cup

Bali tour June/July 2007

2007-08-13T22:57:00.000-07:00

The Bali trip was a real mixed bag for us this time round, we didn't get much surf around Kuta but had some of the best waves of our lives at Uluwatu (check out the wonderful cave access to Ulu pic with Greg Smith and Steve Mckenna) We had rain on most days, two got sick and one of us was even assaulted and robbed!

The rest was all positive though with lots of laughs, fun and warmth - it was great to escape the Victorian winter for a while!

Whats next?
Our progress has slowed down a little recently with the success of our footy club - Geelong. Dispite this nice excuse, from here we will be surfing some local breaks before heading over to Phillip Island then down to the Cape Otway region before heading up to the Sunshine Coast - keep surfing and...... go cats!

How you can help

2007-04-04T22:58:00.000-07:00

People can make a 'tax deductable' donation to Cottage by the Sea or they can offer other ‘in kind’ support/sponsorship to help us out as we travel around the country e.g. accommodation, transport or equipment.

For more information email: tfeatherston@bigpond.com.au

2007-03-28T21:38:00.000-07:00

The boys, Cathy Freeman and David Neitz about to hit the surf

Campaign Launch - Celebrity Surf Day

2007-03-28T21:35:00.000-07:00

Cottage by the Sea Charity Surf DayPoint Lonsdale, Victoria (Wednesday 9th December, 2006).
Today Cottage by the Sea received over $21,000 in donations and a whole lot more kinship. A great beach day was had by all who attended The Charity Surf Day at Point Lonsdale Back Beach. Surf was in the two to three foot range with some great conditions for the professional surfers and celebrities and also for the kids to learn in.
The group of 21 underprivileged kids from all over Victoria were treated to a two hour surf lesson, lunch and then a tag team surf contest with celebrities including Olympic gold medal sprinter Cathy Freeman, Melbourne football captain David Neitz, Geelong Footballers Cameron Ling and Joel Corey, ex-world champion surfer Martin Potter and WQS surfers Nick Muscroft and Jack Perry and current Victorian Champion Jade Oglive. Everyone was a winner!
Cottage by the Sea General Manager Tony Fetherston was ecstatic, “A wonderful day for all involved, never before have we had so many ‘high profile’ celebrities bring so much joy to our kids at one time.”
Cathy Freeman stated “I’ve had a fantastic time and have been really inspired by the competitive spirit of the kids and celebrities. The people created the event and the sponsors of the event have done a fabulous job. After taking part today, I am very proud to be patron of Cottage by the Sea and very proud to be Australian!”
Point Lonsdale Surf School owner and coach Mark Phipps was a little sun burnt at the end of the day, but was blown away by the speed at which the 21 underprivileged kids between the ages of 8 and 12 learnt to surf. “We couldn’t get them out of the water and it gave me a smile on my face when I saw how much the kids were smiling and laughing.
During the year Cottage by the Sea hosts around 850 disadvantaged kids who have varying family difficulties, including emotional trauma sudden death of a parent, social and economic disadvantages and cultural or refugee difficulties. The Cottage provides a holiday for the children and while giving adult family members a break to sort out their own issues. They are reliant on donations to continue this work. Today donations were given by the Cottage by Woods Action Repairs, Coastalwatch and a member of the Point Lonsdale Boardriders Club.
There were many supporters of the event including the Ionization Marketing Agency, Point Lonsdale Surf School, Quiksilver, Coastalwatch, Point Lonsdale Boardriders Club, Coastal Stikas, Bellbrae Estate Longboard wines and Precision Printing. The day was webcast live on Coastalwatch.com via the Point Lonsdale camera.

Whats on when

2007-03-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

SURF FOR KIDS CAMPAIGN

Surfers Tony Featherston and David Smith - Proposed Surf Dates March - June 2007

State - Region Ref No - Break Name

South Australia - 13 1st Ramp-Long Beach/Robe 14 Surfers/Goolwa/26 Triggs/27 Southport

Queensland - Gold Coast 7 Greenmount/Snapper Rocks/D-Bar

Bali - Bali Coast/Kuta beach Airport Lefts/Airport Rights

Victoria - Gabo Island - Kilcunda/3 Wonthaggi / Williamsons/5 The Channel / Cape Patterson/3 Woolamai/Carparks/6 Sunderland Bay/7 Smiths Beach/8 Y.C.W./10 Kitty Miller Bay/14 Cat Bay. Mornington Peninsula - 1 The Point/Point Leo/3 Crunchy Point/Point Leo/4 1st Reef/Point Leo/4 The Hole/13th Beach/5 The Beacon/13th Beach/Breamlea/8 Insides/Outsides/Point Impossible/9 Fishos/Torquay/19 Winkipop/20 Bells Beach/38 Wye River/44 Smythes Creek/45 Harbour Wall/Apollo Bay/2 Johanna Beach/5 Princeton Peak/7 Harbour Point/Port

Note: Dates and venues subject to change without notice. To view full list of venues and dates for 2007, 2008 & 2009 refer to http://www.cottagebythesea.com.au/surf_for_kids/Surf for Kids Campaign - Surf Venues 100.pdf

Chelsea Hedges

2007-03-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

2005 World champion and currently the world number one female surfer, Chelsea Hedges has joined forces with Cottage by the Sea as an ambassador. We met Chelsea earlier this month talking about many things including our surf campaign and Cottage by the Sea, we finished up with a terrific surf session at Snapper Rocks. Having never surfed with a world champion before both David and l agreed that it was something pretty special! Here's a bit more about Chels.

CHELSEA ELIZABETH HEDGES (formerly Georgeson)

a.k.a: Chels
height: 5’6" (173 cm) - weight: 123 lbs (56 kilos)
age: 23 - d.o.b.: October 15, 1983
born: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
home: Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia
sponsors: Roxy wetsuits and clothing, Boost Mobile, Creatures of Leisure accessories, Hedges Designer Shapes surfboards
shaper: Jason Hedges
quiver: 5’10", 5’11", 6’1", 6’3", 6’5"
stance: Goofy foot
significant other status: Married to Jason Hedges
children: Meah - rottweiler puppy 6 months hehehe
hobbies: Music, tennis, movies and training
star sign: Libra - indecisive, mellow
karaoke classic: Probably a cheesy 80’s song…..Maddonna, Roxette or something!
favorite surfer(s): Andy Irons, Joel Parkinson (Parko), Kelly Slater, Lisa Andersen, Sofia Mulanovich and Rob Machado