Darren Longbottom will be able to watch his daughter's nippers presentation with ease when a new access lift is installed at Kiama Surf Life Saving Club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Longbottom, a long-time supporter of the club and the owner of two surf stores in the town, broke his neck while surfing in Indonesia seven years ago.
Since the accident, he has been unable to get to the club's upstairs area, which is home to the radio and patrol room, function centre and kitchen.
"Not without a team of blokes dragging me up there," Mr Longbottom told the Mercury.
"It'll be great to get up there again, I'm stoked with the announcement."
That announcement was a $34,790 grant to improve disability access at the club.
NSW Premier Mike Baird and Kiama MP Gareth Ward were on hand to deliver the news during a visit to the club on Thursday.
After turning a few heads on Surf Beach while he walked to the clubhouse, Mr Baird told a packed room inside he was well aware of the important role played by the club.
"I don't think you can get a better example of what's great about Australia than the surf lifesaving movement," Mr Baird said.
"It's about mateship ... that mateship is turned into looking after the community in a broad sort of need, but also specifically they are happy to put their lives on the line for others.
"That comes together in a very powerful package."
Kiama SLSC manager Patrick Sutton said the clubhouse was used by many community groups from across the Illawarra, including Probus, Lions and Rotary.
"It's just going to mean so much easier access for a lot of people that don't really have access to it now," Mr Sutton said.
"He [Mr Longbottom] has never been upstairs to see his daughter at his nippers presentation, he has never had the ability to get up there and look and see the beautiful views.
"As a club member, I think it's wonderful that he will be able to do that."