Proving you can take the man from the ocean, but not the ocean from the man, one of Sunshine Beach Surf Club’s first Nippers will return to patrol the beaches where he first learnt lifesaving skills almost 21 years ago.
Richard Francia joined the first ever Nippers program in 1994 at the age of 10 but after five years in the program he moved to the United Kingdom with his family when he was 15 years old.
But in the UK, a far cry from Queensland’s salty wind and sandy shores, Richard never forgot the allure of Sunshine Beach.
After having recently moved to Brisbane, Richard said he was excited to be close to the beach once again and will make his way back to Sunshine Beach Surf Club to patrol the same beaches he did 20 years ago.
Richard will re-take his bronze medallion and come to Sunshine Beach on the weekends to patrol and dreams of moving back permanently.
The first Nippers program was much more subdued than today’s efforts, with numbers restricted to only 40 participants due to safety concerns.
There are now up to 230 Nippers enrolled in the program each season with ages ranging from five to 14.
After operating for more than 20 years, the Sunshine Beach Surf Club Nipper program has helped hundreds of local children learn essential lifesaving skills, gain confidence and has also produced Australian champions.
