“Communities Need Clubs” Says Surf Life Saving NSW CEO

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce, who oversees 81,000 volunteers and 129 surf clubs, says their longstanding partnership with ClubsNSW and its member clubs is built on shared values.

In a new episode released today, he tells the ClubLIFE Podcast that registered clubs are “integral to society”.

“Communities need them, it’s as simple as that,” he says.

“When you see, particularly in our world with the emergencies, where do they flock to for comfort and support and refuge? They go to their local club.”

Steve says although he was introduced to the NSW club industry at a young age out of school, it wasn’t until he took on the role of Surf Life Saving NSW CEO that he fully appreciated their contribution.

“I’ve had an affinity for clubs for quite a while, I started my career… working on the doors around a lot of the clubs around Sydney,” he says.

“That was my first foray into clubs in that immediate sense. Since then, obviously with Surf, having that deeper dive into what clubs do, and ClubsNSW, really has given me a different perspective and a different appreciation of exactly what clubs do.”

It’s that appreciation, he says, that has led to the two organisations standing by each other in good times and bad.“When Surf Life Saving had its hiccup… we succumbed to a pretty large fraud in the organisation that really shook the organisation to its core, ClubsNSW were a partner at the time and clubs stood by Surf then,” he tells the ClubLIFE Podcast.

“Then, moving forward… the issues started coming in about gaming and pokies, we stood firmly with clubs, not because it was a reciprocation, but we really do see the value of what clubs do in the community. It’s not just a venue for drinking or anything like that, it’s a community hub, it’s a social hub.”

Steve says one of the highlights of his calendar each year is attending the Clubs & Community Awards Night, where people see first-hand the enormous contributions of NSW clubs.

“I’ve been to nearly every one of your Awards since I’ve been here as CEO… and I would always say to everyone, your chairs, your CEOs… I don’t think people really understand the value that clubs provide in the community until you sit there, and you hear the stories, and you think — you know what, they’re pretty bloody good!”

In a wide-ranging chat, Steve also discusses his focus on governance since taking on the CEO role, how he manages his work/life balance in such a demanding position, why he’s so passionate about supporting the mental health of those around him, and an unusual TV show that he refuses to miss an episode of.

Click on the link below to hear the full interview with Steve Pearce in the tenth episode of the ClubLIFE Podcast, which is also available via ClubLIFE.com.au, Apple, Spotify and wherever else you get your podcasts.

If you have a suggestion on who might make an interesting guest for a future ClubLIFE Podcast episode, get in touch with the team by emailing [email protected].