Byron Shire Council has voted against granting two long term surf school operators temporary licences to operate.
The pair claim their original applications were rejected because of a flawed tendering process.
Byron Shire Council has voted against granting two long term surf school operators temporary licences to operate.
The pair claim their original applications were rejected because of a flawed tendering process.
I am disgusted with what I just heard on this report.I have known Steve Foreman for many years and my own grandchildren travelled from Newcastle to be taught to surf by Steve in Brunswick combining it with a great holiday in the region which also boosted the economy of the local trade. Surf coaching to Steve is not just a job or a business it is his life dedication to the sport. His desire to see kids in a healthy sport certainly goes a long way to address the growing obesity problems we see today in our young kids.Who knows one of these kids could be the Layne Beachly of tomorrow….Shame, Shame Shame on you council for your narrowminded and unfair attidues towards a local character who only wants the best for our young kids..Look at Burra Burra activities to see just a very small example of where Steve’s heart is and for goodness sake ….have a heart of your own…You should be ashamed of yourselves!!!
I couldn’t possibly add anything to give this issue any more weight than what Margaret Lockwood’s comments above except to say that the need for bureaucracy to control everything and have its hand in everything it can is almost always to the detriment of the enterprise concerned.
My son and many of his friends were coached by Steve. It was so reassuring to have someone we trusted and admired to guide and mentor our boys during those awkward teenage years not only in surfing but also in encouraging them to be good, honest people. What more could a parent ask for in a coach.
I can’t believe that such a good person who provides such a wonderful service for our community in a time when there is such a need for good mentors for our youth would be thwarted by red tape. Really this shouldn’t be allowed.
I’m President of Catherine Hill Bay Boardriders Club and have been continuously since 1979. Steve was a founding member of our Club in 1974 before moving to the Byron area about 2 years later and has been there ever since. His coaching experience has blossomed over the 3 decades since. He’s coached 2 World Champions in Pauline Menzer and Layne Beachley and is currently coaching WCT surfer Adam Melling of Byron Bay. These are only 3 of high profile surfers he’s taken under his wing. There are litterly hundreds of local Byron Shire surfers scattered over those 3 decades that have benefited from Steve’s coaching methods and experience since he left us here in the mid 70s. My son, now 35 was coached by Steve since he was born and was the NSW Open Champion in 2002. Our whole Boardriders Club of over 100 surfers has spent time over the years in the Byron area just to get coaching from Steve. This alone has got to boost the local economy. He’s on a level with Surfing Australia’s numero uno Martin Dunn, an absolute master coach, Level 3 and beyond. How Byron Council can even contemplate not renewing his Surf School Operators License simply defies belief. He’s a treasure that has done so much good in the area for so long, continues to do so and should be recognised as such by those in authority. ‘You don’t know what you’ve got ’till it’s gone’, and as Margaret Lockwood says, “Shame, shame, shame”
Thankyou everyone for the above comments.. I am very humbled by your kind words..
The amount of support I’ve had from people, here and overseas has been amazing. With numorous letters of support from high profile sports people, different sporting associations and community organisations, makes me realise what I have acheived.. This is what makes it all worrthwhile!!!..
Even If I am to be finished by buearocracy, the friends I’ve made along the way will always be my reward and this is what I will treasure forever!!
Thanks again
Steve