Why Promo Stuff Supports Life Saving Victoria

I've always felt a connection with the water. So perhaps it's no surprise that one of the biggest changes in my life began at the beach, though not in a way I ever imagined.

Australia Day weekend, 2022

We'd taken the family to Portsea for a surf in the middle of a heatwave. The waves weren't great, but it was low tide, there were no rips, and everyone was relaxed in the water. After an hour or so of helping the younger boys catch waves, I grabbed a board myself.

As I paddled out, a bigger wave formed. I was slightly out of position, but I made the split-second decision to catch it. It kicked up, I went over the lip, and I knew instantly I was in trouble. I was driven head first into the sandbar.

When I surfaced, I couldn't lift my chin off my chest. A man who'd been helping his son nearby helped me wade to shore, and as soon as I was out of the water I sat down and passed out.

The patrol that looked after me

The next thing I knew, a Life Saving Victoria member was holding my head still. Sas, the patrol captain that morning, must have seen me struggling, because she seemed to be there the moment I reached the sand. From then on, the care I got from her and the rest of the patrol was nothing short of exceptional. For what felt like hours, someone held my head steady, first at the water's edge and then under a tent as the tide came in.

I was embarrassed by the fuss and wanted to get up and shake it off. They kindly reassured me it was no hassle, and that the safest thing was to wait for the ambulance.

Lying on a spinal board waiting for the air ambulance, my mind raced. Would I walk again? Had I lived the life I wanted to live? In the end one question cut through: when I recovered, would I go back to life as it was, or change it to reflect what I now knew mattered most?

Tests at the Alfred cleared me of permanent damage, and in time I made a full recovery. And I chose to change.

Why we support Life Saving Victoria

One of those changes was wanting to help organisations like Life Saving Victoria. When I started looking into it, I learned how many Australian charities are struggling as donations become harder to come by. Organisations we think of as part of the fabric of our communities rely on people giving time and money to keep going.

I also realised that doing good is contagious. Life Saving Victoria's members volunteer their own time so the rest of us can feel safe at the beach. Their example might spark someone else to volunteer, at the beach or anywhere else. That's the kind of ripple effect we want Promo Stuff to be part of.

These volunteers set an example by giving their time and expertise to the community. Others follow their lead, and in turn inspire more people to do good.

What our support looks like

Life Saving Victoria has been one of our charity partners since 2025. As a Social Traders certified social enterprise, we give at least half of our profits to our charity partners. We're a small business, so our contribution is modest for now, but it grows with every order.

To Sas and the patrol on duty that day: thank you.

Brad Picking, Managing Director, Promo Stuff