Karlie Brady

Journalist

For the first time in Port Douglas Surf Life Saving’s history, women will be taking the helm.

Irene Cats and Kerry Bower-Miles have been appointed President and Vice President respectively, the first females in either role to do so in the clubs 37-year history.

Ms Cats has been a part of the club since 2013 and has risen up the ranks, going from knowing zero about Surf Lifesaving, to training with the club, to coaching, to now becoming President.

Ms Cats said she felt inspired to run for the top job by former President, the late Steve Pollard.

“I felt inspired by how Steve ran the club and I thought I might be able to continue that and take on the challenge,” she said.

Originally from the Netherlands, Ms Cats moved to Port Douglas in 2010.

“I have always been a swimmer, but Surf Lifesaving is such an Australian thing that I never really knew what was involved.

“When I joined and had no idea about it, I just met a couple of members at the pool and they said, ‘oh you can swim why don’t you join in’.”

Now Ms Cats takes on the presidency of a club with 180 members and over 50 Nippers.

Assisting her in the Vice President role is Ms Bower-Miles, who has followed her children through the club.

“I joined in 2013 when my eldest child joined and spent a few years just being a parent then became a volunteer, then stepped into the Junior Activates Chairperson role four years ago and it has continued from there,” Ms Bower-Miles said.

The pair don’t just work hard organising the club, they have their own jobs on top. Ms Cats as a swim coach at her own SwimFit business, and Ms Bower-Miles as a Bookkeeper.

“We work hard, and we do this on top of it because we love it,” Ms Bower-Miles said.

And they are also keen surf sport competitors.

“It is an easy sport to be in and keeps you fit, you don’t have to be an Ironman or triathlete, it is a nice family environment, and everyone is welcoming and encouraging,” Ms Bower-Miles said.

The leading ladies reflect a growing number of women participating in the once male-dominated sport.

“Surf Lifesaving has been going since the early 1900s, but the whole female participation is still quite new,” Ms Cats said.

“The first female bronze medallion was only awarded back in the 80s. On the sports side, in the most famous race, the Coolangatta Gold Race, it has only been relatively recently that the females can race the same big race as the men, because they didn’t think we could do it. For ages, we couldn’t participate in the ski events because they didn’t think we could handle the 18ft ski.”

“So, it has all been very recent that females are finding their voice and their place in Surf Lifesaving.

“So, I think it is such a good flow on that this club is seeing such strong female participation,” Ms Cats said.

The pair are set for a big season ahead starting with the club’s Sign-on Day on May 9.

“At the end of July, we have a clinic here with Trevor Hendy, Courtney Hancock, and Ali Day, who are legends of the sport,” Ms Cats said.

“We also have the North Queensland Branch Championships here in Port Douglas in October

“This year is going to be about finding our feet, and we are always looking to grow the club.

“I would love to see more local kids involved in Nippers. We all love going to the beach in Port Douglas and the safest way to enjoy the beach and ocean is being part of Nippers.”

Ms Bower-Miles added, Nippers isn’t just about learning to be safe in the surf.

“It’s also about safety in general, so they are learning about how to be safe in the water, whether it be a beach, river, dam or home pool.

“It’s about knowing the dangers if they get into trouble or helping others if they get into trouble; they learn all those rescue techniques as well as first aid and CPR.

“We don’t just focus on the sports side, what we are doing is trying to grow lifesavers. So, they can grow up and patrol the beach,” Ms Bower-Miles said.