Boardriders protect our ocean

Phillip Island Boardriders Club is hosting a special event on February 7 in partnership with Patagonia, to advocate for the ocean.

Patagonia contacted Phillip Island Boardriders Club (PIBC) President Hannah Eisen to host the event, as part of a bigger series of events for advocacy for the ocean, spanning six locations across three states.

Join host Heath Joske and ocean loving friends for an evening of films and conversations about how people can work together to protect Australia's ocean for good.

"Australia was once a global champion of ocean conservation. In 2012 our network of marine protected areas covered over 3,000,000 square kilometres of ocean, right around the country," a Patagonia spokesperson said.

"But in 2018, the Australian Government downgraded the protection of these marine ecosystems by more than 1,000,000 square kilometres, opening up huge areas to offshore oil and gas and to destructive industrial trawling.

"This included an area in the Coral Sea three times the size of Victoria - the single greatest downgrade of a protected marine area anywhere in the world.

"It's time to change course. We're rallying our ocean community to call for full protection for 30 per cent of Australia's ocean by 2030."

Host Heath Joske is a Patagonia surfing ambassador, and instrumental leader during the Fight For the Bight campaign, the single biggest coastal environmental action in Australian history.
Heath is no stranger to a fight for protecting his well-loved ocean.

Coming from a family of shapers and surfers it's in the blood. Heath has made the sparse west coast of South Australia his home, building his own house, living simply with his young family, and surfing wild, empty waves.

Club Treasurer Jo O'Reilly Stubbs has worked with Patagonia's Lucy Decent to coordinate the night, which will be held on Wednesday, February 7 at 6pm at Phillip Island Boardriders Club, 76 Veterans Drive, Newhaven.

This event is free, family friendly and open to the public.

"Everyone is welcome," said Jo.

If you have any access or support requirements to be able to attend this event, please email contact@pibc.com.au to ensure they can make reasonable arrangements.

This event will take place on the lands of the Bunurong/Boonwurrung People of the Kulin Nation. Patagonia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this land and sea country. We pay our respect to their elders, past, present and future.

The event is free, but please RSVP: protectouroceanphillipisland.splashthat.com