Mohammed Saleh sits on the sand of Manly beach, watching the waves roll in as they did four-and-a-half years ago when his training as a surf lifesaver was completed. That time, he had returned to Sydney after setting up Palestine's first surf club back home in Gaza. He planned on reporting on its success upon his return but fate took him elsewhere instead - leaving behind the decimated junior lifesaving program known as Nippers at Gaza Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.
The 40-year-old human rights activist, Saleh, feels a mix of happiness and sadness while looking out over Manly beach's sandy expanse. He talks about the aspirations they had for their homeland - an echo of his past ambitions to create something similar in Gaza that was now lost amidst conflict.
Four friends from Nippers, including Saleh’s children Guevara and Adam, were killed since October 7th and more are feared dead. The harsh realities of their homeland's situation have been a stark contrast to the safe haven that Manly beach provides for him today.
Back in Gaza, safety was an elusive concept with daily life hanging by a thread due to relentless bombings and curfews. Yet, the Nippers program offered children like Saleh's kids much-needed respite - an opportunity for play, exercise, and learning water safety skills amidst constant surveillance from Israeli Defence Forces.
Despite setbacks due to Covid-19 and military tensions, the Gaza Beach Surf Lifesaving Club's pilot program was launched in July 2022, aiming to create a new chapter for surf lifesaving in Palestine. However, that future remains uncertain as plans for an Australian-style clubhouse were left unfinished and destroyed during the conflicts.
Saleh is determined to keep his family safe and preserve the legacy of their homeland's Nippers program. His brother Shamikh Khalil Badra vows to keep that dream alive, promising a rebirth for Gaza Beach Surf Lifesaving Club despite the hardships they face. For Saleh though, life in his new home at Manly beach is now all about survival and resilience while holding onto hope.
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