Symal supporting Merewether Surf Life Saving Club

Safety is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s the driving purpose of Merewether Surf Life Saving Club. That shared commitment is why we’re proud to support the club as a major sponsor in 2026.

Newcastle is our regional base in New South Wales. Many grew up here. They work here during the week and spend their weekends on these beaches. Supporting the club is about backing the community that backs us.

Behind every rescue is hours of training. Behind every patrol tent is equipment designed for extreme conditions and built with a limited lifespan. Rescue boards, IRBs, first aid supplies, uniforms, facilities - it’s a serious operation.

Nick Newton, President of Merewether Surf Life Saving Club, has led the club for more than a decade and understands what’s required to keep it running.

“The support we get is critical. People don’t realise or understand how much it actually costs us to provide on the beach,” Nick says.

“The equipment is very expensive because it’s basically bespoke and it has a very finite life.”

Major sponsors play a vital role in keeping those operations strong. As Adrian Harte, Sponsorship Coordinator shared:

“The support from major sponsors like Symal is most important, not only to keep our people on the ground, but to keep them on the beach. That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to save lives and develop people and that’s what it’s all about.”

A partnership built on shared purpose.

In construction, there’s no room for shortcuts when it comes to safety. We invest heavily in training, systems and leadership so our people go home safely every day. That discipline and responsibility feel very familiar when you step into a surf lifesaving club.

For Ned Shanahan, Business Development Manager NSW, the alignment was obvious.

“Newcastle is our home base,” Ned says. “We’ve got a lot of long-term Novocastrians who work here, live here and have families here. It’s really important that we give back to the community where we’re based.”

The club shapes confident young people, develops leaders and strengthens the community year after year. That kind of grassroots investment has a ripple effect well beyond the shoreline.

Supporting Merewether Surf Life Saving Club is another way we help keep Newcastle safe, while standing alongside the people who protect, inspire and strengthen our community every day.