Michele Bootes OAM

Michelle Bootes OAM was a parent at Nippers before she noticed a gap in the children it served. 

In 2000 she founded Special Nippers at the Pambula Surf Lifesaving Club, also known as the Same Wave program, for children with disabilities. 

She was awarded the medal of the Order of Australia for service to surf lifesaving in January 2024 for her work and connection to the cause.

"I decided I wanted to start a program for people with disabilities in the surf, because they were denied access to a movement that I was passionate about," she says.

"So, I started planning, and we started a program with five children with disabilities that wouldn't have normally been able to participate in Nippers."   

Mrs Bootes is also a training officer and assessor at the surf club, as well as a patrol vice-captain and a life member.  

She is currently a teacher at Lumen Christi Catholic College at Pambula Beach, and was previously a swimming teacher in the New South Wales Department of Education.

In 2020, she was awarded Citizen of the Year in the Bega Valley Shire.   

Mrs Bootes says she hopes the recognition can raise further awareness for her cause.  

"I'm hoping it will give exposure to our program, which allows people with disabilities to show their strengths and their abilities, and the fact that they enjoy the surf just as much as everyone else does,” she says.  

“It’s really good for the world to see, and also recognises the role that women play in surf lifesaving, which previously had been a male dominated area.

"The recognition affirms ... that the community does value what you are doing. Sometimes that road can be long and the challenges great, but recognition energises you to continue. It's a wonderful pat on the back."