Disabled Surfers Association of Australia (DSAA) representatives hosted an introductory meeting at Warrnambool’s surf lifesaving club this week to gauge interest in launching a local branch.

DSAA honoury national adviser Jim Bradley said more than 20 people representing local residents and key stakeholders attended to hear from Ocean Grove branch president Mark Beshara and himself about establishing the 16th national disabled surfers branch in Warrnambool.

Mr Bradley said the positive response meant the branch had taken a “large leap towards becoming reality”.

“We’ll be back for the full public meeting in the second week of November, to be held in The Pavilion community room, to establish an interim committee to take the process to its final stage, including the first free train the helper course for intending volunteers,” he said. 

The organisation serves people of any disability keen to get into the water. “We don’t turn anyone away,” Mr Bradley said.

Participants in the program range in age from as young as two or three to their late 80s.

The organisation originally began about 30 years ago to help injured surfers back into the water, but grew after disabled people were keen to get involved.

“The original aim was to cater for surfers but at the first event people turned up in wheelchairs and said ‘can we have a go’ and it’s evolved from there,” Mr Bradley said.