Three decades of friendship, community spirit and a shared love of surfing will be celebrated when the Saltwater Malibu Club marks its 30th anniversary with a special competition and community fun day at Saltwater Point on August 29.
Known for its welcoming atmosphere and motto of being “not too serious – just good vibes”, the club has grown from a small group of local surfers into one of the region’s most enduring and successful community sporting organisations.
Club member Chris Rowsell said reaching the 30-year milestone was a testament to the people who had supported the club throughout its history.
“Thirty years for one community club can only mean that it runs with strong leadership, a strong organising body, and willing and wanting participation within the community,” he said.
The club’s story began long before it was officially formed. Rowsell said a group of Manning Valley surfers regularly travelled together to competitions up and down the coast before deciding to establish their own club.
“Thirty years ago there was a group of surfers before the club was formed who would get together and compete as a group from the Manning Valley at comps up and down the coast,” he said.
“They realised they could call themselves a club and have friendly comps within the valley. And they did … HOOPLA.”
Since then, the club has continued to flourish, with membership numbers now stronger than ever.
“Over 30 years the club’s numbers have always remained high and, as at 2026, are at their highest,” Rowsell said.
The club’s success has also attracted growing support from local businesses, helping to improve facilities and equipment used to run competitions.
“More sponsors get involved, which means more infrastructure can be purchased to run comps easily and smoothly,” he said.
The anniversary event, dubbed The Big 3-0 Competition and Community Fun Day, will bring together current members, former members and surfing enthusiasts from across the region.
Club representative Samantha Trayhurn said the day would celebrate both the club’s rich history and its bright future.
“The Big 3-0 competition and community fun day is all about celebrating the history and legacy of our club,” she said.
“We’re inviting surfers from all over to come and show their talent on the iconic Saltwater wave.”
The competition will feature $1000 prize money in the open men’s and women’s divisions, alongside over-50s women’s, over-50s men’s and over-60s men’s categories, with a range of prizes on offer.
Beyond the competition, there will be plenty for spectators and families to enjoy.
“During the day we will have a BBQ up on the headland so spectators can come and hang out, plus a come and try session for anyone curious about riding a Mal,” Trayhurn said.
Celebrations will continue into the evening at Old Bar Tavern, where members past and present will gather for live music, presentations and plenty of reminiscing.
“We will have a big party with bands and a presentation where we will not only announce the winners, but also take a walk down memory lane with members new and old,” she said.
Rowsell said reconnecting with former members was one of the highlights of the anniversary celebrations, with hundreds of past surfers expected to have been involved with the club over the years.
“I personally am involved and working on getting all old members to come for the celebration,” he said.
“Old members could easily total over 300 surfers alone.”
For many locals, however, the club’s significance extends far beyond surfing.
“In small-town communities, it’s just not the surfer who is involved, but also the people in the surfer’s life – wives, husbands, kids and parents,” Rowsell said.
“All sponsors are mainly, if not all, in the Valley.”
The celebration also carries special significance because of its location. Saltwater is a place of deep cultural importance to local Aboriginal communities and has long been recognised as a gathering place.
“Saltwater is an Aboriginal place. A very special sacred area in local Aboriginal history,” Rowsell said.
“It was a meeting place for tribes from all different areas far and wide.”
For Rowsell, the enduring appeal of both the club and the location comes down to community connection.
“The number one thing is knowing that Saltwater will always be there, as it is,” he said.
“The people of the community will always have the club to meet new friends who have the same interests, which starts friendships in the community.”
Thirty years after a handful of local surfers decided to form a club, that spirit of friendship and belonging remains at the heart of Saltwater Malibu Club – and organisers are hoping The Big 3-0 will be the biggest gathering yet.
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