In the early hours of Monday, January 13, the Cronulla Christian Surfers trailer was stolen from the Kingsway Community Church on Resolution Drive, North Caringbah.
The Christian Surfers organisation was founded by International Director Brett Davis with a handful of other Shire teenagers in Cronulla in 1977, and now has missions in over 30 nations, comprising over 1,000 volunteers whose leaders aim is to spread the love of God through all levels of surfing,
This trailer was used to store everything to run the Christian Surfers Cronulla monthly surf contests and is a vehicle that helps them connect with families and young people among the surfing community.
Everything contained within the trailer has been generously donated over the years by people and businesses within the surfing and broader Shire community-and without this trailer they cannot run their contests.
The incident was caught on CCTV footage showing the offending car to be a light coloured, four-door sedan. It left the Kingsway Church car park, then headed north up Resolution Drive, north Caringbah. The trailer is a blue enclosed box trailer with side and rear doors, It's registration number is TB27YF.
Surfing Sutherland Shire President Andy Britton reached out to Cronulla MP Mark Speakman the acting minister for sport, on Christian Surfers behalf to request a special grant to help cover the cost of replacement.
Even in these tough times the NSW Govt was available to help and a $5000 grant was awarded and Andy Britton said he hoped the monies would go a long way in helping them re-establish their club and equipment.
MP Mark Speakman said he was glad he could secure a small grant.
"The Cronulla Christian Surfers, like other local surfing clubs, help promote healthy grassroots sport and community engagement."
James Forrest, the club president of Cronulla Christian Surfers, said they were thankful to Andy and Mark for valuing their club and its community contribution.
"We will put these funds toward rebuilding our equipment and our presence as a family club down on the beach, where people feel welcomed and equipped to progress their surfing.
"With the help of this donation, we will continue delivering a grassroots surfing competition for the local up and coming surfers of all ages and abilities. We are a family-oriented club that promotes healthy competition and support for the community in line with our faith" Mr Forrest said
Christian Surfers said they would welcome any of the NSW Government ministers and their staff that may wish to come down the beach and put on a rashie and head out for a heat anytime after the social distancing rules were relaxed.
At this time Council Lifeguards will continue to advise that social distancing must be practised.
They will ask the public to vacate beaches if the number at any given location exceeds 500.
