Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
Sport

Terrigal surf lifesaving club members shocked over 'no nudity' policy in change rooms

Ocean swimmers Wendy Farley (left) and Nada Pantle do not agree with their local surf club's nudity policy. (ABC Central Coast: Keira Proust)

A row has erupted at a surf lifesaving club on the New South Wales Central Coast over its policy regarding nudity in its showers and change rooms. 

Nada Pantle regularly uses the change rooms at the Terrigal Surf Lifesaving Club to shower after an early morning ocean swim and before she goes to work.

But she recently received a warning letter from the club claiming she had breached the club's nudity in change rooms policy.

"The board has advised members that nudity is not acceptable as per the Child Safe Policy," the letter stated.

"Should you continue to ignore the rules, you will be subject to disciplinary action, and/or … termination of your membership."

Nada Pantle was sent this letter from the surf club in February. (ABC Central Coast: Keira Proust)

Ms Pantle said she was extremely shocked and stressed after receiving the letter.

"They didn't say what I did or who had made a complaint, but it sort of implied I'd done something almost sexual," she said.

"At some point, you've got to take your clothes off to get your other clothes on. That's why we have change rooms."

"I almost feel like I've been body shamed."

Ms Pantle regularly swims in the ocean at Terrigal. (Supplied: Nada Pantle)

Terrigal SLSC is one of the busiest of the 15 clubs on the state's Central Coast, with 949 members, including 362 juniors.

The Surf Lifesaving Australia Policy on change rooms states members should "not shower or change at the same time as supervising groups of children."

It also states that members should "not undress and avoid using a changing room with a child unless there are other people present."

Terrigal SLSC spokesperson Julie Redfern has defended her club's policy.

"We've been getting complaints for many, many years around children being exposed to naked adults in our shower area," she said.

"I've even had my own son telling me more than 10 times how uncomfortable he feels."

There is now a sign at the surf club asking members to shower in their swimming costumes or change with a towel around them. (Supplied: Nada Pantle)

She said the club had decided on the policy to make children feel safer.

"We're just asking our swimmers to have a shower in their cossies and then get changed with a towel around them or in the toilet cubicle," she said.

Associate member Wendy Farley said she found the policy confusing.

"How can you have a shower and get changed in a change room without being nude?" she asked.

"I think that's a bad message for all women. To cover your nudity and be ashamed of it."

According to Central Coast Surf Lifesaving, Terrigal Surf Club is due for some renovations and part of this will address the suitability of change room facilities and showers.

The Terrigal Surf Lifesaving Club is planning to renovate the facilities. (ABC Central Coast: Keira Proust)

"At the moment [we] are in the process of doing a renovation that will include [the] installation of cubicles," Ms Redfern said.

Ms Pantle has since resigned from the club, but has this parting advice.

"Nothing beats parental responsibility and supervision in change rooms," she said.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.