Ep 13 | Lucas & Matt - Surfing NSW | Government Funding & Shark Safety | Crossing the Tideline

<p>Lucas Townsend is the CEO of Surfing NSW and has been in the rooms where funding decisions are being made. A Northern Beaches local himself, he understands what communities have been living through and has been pushing for surfer representation at a government level through one of the most active periods of shark activity NSW has seen.</p><p></p><p>Matt Lawson is the man on the ground. He has spent years running shark awareness and education programs up and down the NSW coast and has been in communities in the aftermath of shark incidents to offer support and assistance. He has seen more of this than most.</p><p></p><p>Together they give a clear picture of what Surfing NSW actually does, which is a lot more than most people realise. Drone operator training, state government advocacy, safety innovation, community education and being present when things go wrong. Everyone who uses the NSW coastline is a beneficiary of their work in some way.</p><p></p><p>The shark awareness courses run by Proguarding, which feature in a separate episode, have been promoted and rolled out through Surfing NSW and are now a fixture at events across the state.</p><p></p><p>Two people who genuinely care about surfers, surfing and anyone entering the water. Worth hearing from both.</p>