SNUB A BAD LOOK

THIS is turning into Surf Life Saving Queensland’s annus horribilis.

Instead of blowing a lot of money through its marketing department to come up with a $310,000 trial of “Li-Fi’’, a 20kg box that provides internet coverage between the flags – and angering clubbies because they weren’t consulted, SLSQ should instead have been paying for advice on the protocol surrounding a couple of key events at the junior titles last weekend.

A decision to present individual competitors in the U15 boys ironman final to the crowd might have seemed a good idea, but failing to do the same for the girls infuriated competitors in the female final, along with their families, who saw it as a snub. The timing was poor, coming hot on the heels of International Women’s Day. Yesterday an under-fire SLSQ said it would do the same for the girls next year. Good idea, but too late.

It took the movement many decades, up until 1980 in fact, to accept women as active members. It seems a blokey culture still exists. A Gold Coast mother who supported the girls’ petition says people have been making her life hell as a result.

The latest furore comes as SLSQ has been dealing with allegations of a lifesaver drunk on duty, another driving SLSQ vehicles while unlicensed, sexual harassment and staff kickbacks. Instead of just trying to stamp out spotfires, SLSQ has to take a long, hard look at culture.