By Abbey Cannan
Noosa Malibu club president Glen Gower says he accepts Surfing Australia’s apology after the club was wrongly accused of breaching prize money equality.
The apology follows a series of articles in the Courier Mail, slamming the club with the headline ‘Surfing Australia threaten Noosa Malibu club with expulsion over pay parity furore’.
The story claimed the club broke Surfing Australia’s official rule book when they awarded Brazilian Augusto Olinto $718 for first place in the open division of the annual Noosa Logger competition, while the women’s winner Mason Schremmer was presented with $505.
Surfing Australia chief executive officer Chris Mater told the Courier Mail the unequal prize money was “categorically against Surfing Australia’s rules”.
“It’s pretty straightforward. We have a rule book that says clubs must offer equal prize money to men and women in events affiliated with Surfing Australia. We’ve asked the club to compensate the female winner and rectify the situation,” he said.
I read the article myself wondering why they would breach the rules, until I was informed that the ladies actually had the chance to enter and win all three divisions.
Noosa had run an open loggers event (open to men, women and juniors), women’s logger and an Open Old Mal (open to men, women and juniors).
Chris said that he regrets making any comments that may have caused confusion and created backlash against the club and Surfing Queensland.
“I would like to offer my sincere apology to Noosa Malibu Club, its members and wider community,” he said.
“I would also like to retract that I issued a ‘first and final warning’ and threatened to expel the club. The information I had at the time was wrong and I discovered that the club did not breach our rules.”
He reaffirmed Surfing Australia’s commitment to equal prize money for male and female competitors.
“Surfing Australia is committed to women’s surfing and supporting our female athletes. Two years ago, we updated our rule book to ingrain equal prize money and continue to strive towards a more inclusive women’s surf culture. Our national rulebook covers all Surfing Australia, Surfing States, Boardrider clubs and any affiliated promoters of surfing events.”
Noosa Malibu club president Glen Gower reiterated their own commitment to promoting women in the sport.
“Our club was thrown under the bus for a week with these stories, and Surfing Australia has apologised, which we will fully accept,” he said.
“We have more females surf in our events than any other event, bar the Noosa Festival, which is also owned by the club. We are a leader in equal rights for women and trying to promote women in surfing.”
Glen said they would absolutely be keeping the current event divisions in the future.
“There’s no disparity in the divisions,” he said.
“Women are able to enter the three open events. So they could potentially win all three events. Whereas if you’re a man or a junior you can only go in the two open events. That’s by way of us trying to promote women in sport because of the disparity in numbers, not so much in Noosa, but across Australia competing, so we’re trying to build those numbers up.
“We will continue to treat everyone on equal footing whilst promoting women and juniors in sport and we hope that every other club in Australia will continue down that path.”
The Courier Mail article stated that disappointed female competitors had approached the board of Noosa Malibu Club to make the prize money equal prior to the event; their concerns falling on deaf ears.
Longboarder Rose Locke, who came third in the open women’s division, told the news site she thought the accounting method was flawed.
“I don’t agree with the pro rata system. It’s not equality, I believe there should be equal prize money,” Rose said.
Glen said as the event organisers, both himself and his wife Darlene had not received any complaints.
“We had no one come to us. We had one lady ask about the prize money and she was told before the event, and she went ahead with entering,” he said.
“It’s not men versus women because there are no men’s events. It’s essentially just a false narrative trying to create that atmosphere.
“Gone are the days of the men dominant clubs, we love having the women and the kids in the club. They bring so much more to the club.”
