Cloudy Bay Supergroms-sharing a love of oceans

As an adult, the act of surfing takes on a deeper, more profound meaning.  As our lives become more complicated, we need release from the pressures of our existence, we seek connection to something bigger than ourselves and surfing can and often does become an obsession.  In the ocean, no two waves can ever be the same, and every time we catch a wave, we find ourselves immersed in a powerful force of nature.

The ocean envelops us in its cool, liquid embrace and takes us on the ride of a lifetime until it dissipates at the shore, spitting us out to continue on our search for the perfect wave.  As a nature lover and keen adventurer, no other experience in the outdoors compares to the act of surfing for its total engulfment of all the senses, and its power to make us surrender, body and soul, to the rhythms of nature. For an ocean-loving parent, there is anticipation and anxiety as we wait to see if our offspring will take to the ocean with fear or excitement.  Will we be privileged enough to have the chance to pass on our own deep passion for the big blue?

What began as a solution to the lack of after-school activities on offer in our small, rural and relatively remote Island home turned into the largest sporting group on Bruny Island.  The slow pace of family-centric living is a big positive of Island Life, but there comes a time when most parents notice that their children seek something more than the daily routine of school and home. Whether this is borne out of modern societal pressure for kids to do more or be more is a question worth pondering, but maybe it is just a natural progression for kids to start to expand their worlds by looking beyond the family unit for stimulation, craving new experiences, friendships, mentors and learning! In a community with a small population, any extra-curricular activity has to cater for a huge range of ages and interests or else families have to make the long trip into the big smoke to give their kid the experiences others enjoy.  In response to this, around five years ago, three local mums who all share a love of the ocean and surfing, took matters into their own hands and decided to change things for local families in a very Bruny Island way.  

The legendary Cloudy Bay Supergroms was born- a group that would bring children and families together once a week after school to gather on one of Bruny’s stunning beaches to share a love of the ocean.  The focus would be on being active, healthy and connected to the natural world in a non-competitive, family centred way.  From the outset, Supergroms was not your average “drop your kid off” sporting activity; parents have always been required to stay and supervise their children and henceforth, what evolved was an eclectic, all ages, all abilities celebration of connection: connection to community and connection to place.

Blessed with a plethora of pristine, uncrowded beaches to choose from, the Supergroms pick their weekly location based on the weather forecast and encourage everyone to discover their own way to immerse themselves in the ocean environment; whether it be learning to surf, bodysurfing, playing beach cricket or simply building sandcastles

Along the way, the Supergroms have had Indigenous Elders join on surf camps to lead families in cultural activities and learning.  They have visited Inala to hear about the plight of precious shorebirds.  Surf Life Saving Tasmania have visited to provide sessions on ocean awareness and water safety. The Supergroms have organised annual beach cleanups and Northern Pacific Seastar Cleanups.  They branched out to create Bush Groms- offering a monthly family hike on one of Bruny’s many great walks. 

Bruny seems to be the perfect place for a group like this, where being immersed in nature is a part of everyday life and being surrounded by ocean means that saltwater runs in our blood. The Cloudy Bay Supergroms are consciously raising a bunch of kids with a deep connection to the incredible natural environments which they are lucky enough to call home.  They are raising resilient, self-reliant kids who understand the importance of community, family and nature.  Kids who are learning that nature can be the place where mental and physical health and wellbeing are nurtured, that within nature we can always find peace and tranquillity and for those who seek it, spirituality.  Nature can be a teacher, healer and friend.  Hopefully, they are learning that nature sustains life.

No doubt, the majority of the salty Supergroms will leave these shores for bigger places with different opportunities, they’ll try out city life somewhere on this crazy big planet, they’ll experience the ups and downs of life away from all that is familiar and home.  But I’m betting that the memories of the freedom, adventure and connections of a childhood spent deep in the salt water of this Island will lure those Supergroms back to Bruny ……at least I hope so!