In February 2007, with a bucket full of chopped up hose and some second hand boogie boards, ‘Orange Bush Nippers’ held a trial session at the local pool with about 12 children. By the end of the first season, over 60 kids had joined, and the club was well on its way!

With the support of local businesses proper boards were purchased, and a ‘Beach to Bush’ program was created with the support of NSW Surf Life Saving, targeting schools in the Orange region. 

Contact with Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club was made, and they offered their second-hand boards to the Orange crew for the older nippers to use. Orange Bush Nippers went to collect the boards during the 2008 Australia Day long weekend Development Camp, and have been attending ever since!

The relationship between Orange and Dee Why grew from strength to strength, with reciprocal visits and the annual Country Development Camps for Dee Why Nippers forging the bond. Today, 15 members of Orange Bush Nippers patrol alongside Dee Why members as volunteer Surf Life Savers.

 “I just love it! Initially it was about my kids and their development and seeing them achieve their goals and being a part of it has been a huge privilege. Like many of the patrolling members I had children come through the program then go in other directions, university, work and starting their own families. Many still come to Dee Why and patrol as life savers.There have been great friendships formed and there is always the next group of kids wanting to learn and be involved. To see these kids come through the program whether they start at 5 or 15 years old and go on to be confident enough to look after themselves and others in and around the water is very satisfying. To see them achieve their SRC and Bronze then volunteer to patrol alongside us as young adults is something else again”
~ John Collins, Founding Member