Top accolade for surf club

A family ethos has been the backbone behind Denmark Surf Life Saving Club winning the WA club of the year award.

The south coast club was pitted against finalists from the metropolitan area including North Cottesloe, Fremantle, Sorrento and Trigg Island.

President Jane Kelsbie said the club prepared a detailed presentation for a panel of three judges to show what the Denmark club was made of.

“It was pretty nerve-racking having to present to a panel of three judges the morning of the awards and to be competing against bigger city clubs — but we gave it our best shot and we won,” she said.

“This achievement is amazing for our club and for all our members who make the club what it is — a great, family-friendly, inspiring and fun place to be where everyone is encouraged to have a go.”

The club has grown and recently welcomed 78 new members.

“We had a really amazing time this year and we thought ‘if we’re going to do it, then this is going to be our year’,” she said.

“Every member, our supporters and the Denmark community have the right to be feel very proud.

“We might be a small club, but we’re making big noises.”

The club also received $10,000, which will partly be spent on 60th anniversary celebrations in December.

The win puts the club in the running for Australian club of the year, which will be announced in Sydney in October