Taking a dip with the Polar Bears

Their love of the ocean and nature brings them together, but it’s the friendships that power this special (and brave!) group of regular early risers.

The silhouettes of people begin to dot Port Beach during the dark, chilly morning.

It’s the Port Beach Polar Bear members who are preparing to jump into the crisp waters.

One of them is Jo Grace, who has been swimming with the club for two years.

“A friend of mine suggested I check out this club, as it was what I was doing in Albany with the Southern Salties,” she said.

“One morning when I was about to go for a swim, one of the members told me to return the next day to meet everyone, which I did.

“I was nominated by a member, submitted my nomination to join, then waited till my application was processed. Duty of care responsibility numbers are approximately at 200 people.”

Image: Port Beach Polar Bear member Jo Grace.

The club was founded in 1992 and they swim all year round.

Club members are from a variety of backgrounds, swimming abilities and ages.

The oldest is 90 years old and the youngest is 21 with a few second-generation members.

There are a couple of unofficial groups: an ‘A team’ who are generally more competitive, often participating in swimming competitions like the Rottnest Solo Channel Swim and the ‘B team’ who primarily swim for leisure to the Point and back.

A typical morning sees around 60 swimmers, with the first hitting the waters at 5am, although the club doesn’t open until 6am.

Jo normally swims four or five times a week, sometimes after a beach walk or jog.

The A team can swim between three to six kilometres, which includes a couple stops to do a head count and sometimes catch some nice waves.

In Jo’s other life she works as a medical receptionist for 11 local doctors and is familiar with the importance of keeping mentally and physically fit.

It helps her cope in a stressful yet rewarding environment, especially with COVID-19 challenges.

“Plunging into cold water activates the vagus nerve, which brings many health benefits including calmness throughout the body and a natural high,” she explains.

“It puts you in a good frame of mind to start the day and makes you feel the day isn’t just about work. Exercising first thing in the morning removes the chances of finding excuses during the day on why you can’t afterwards.”

The club also has its own kitchen, located in the annex of the Fremantle Surf Life Saving Club, where members relax after a cold shower with a coffee, tea and toast.

For Jo, she’s made many friends and loves hearing all the interesting stories, especially from older members who are eternally young at heart.

“We’re equals who share a laugh, stories, and our lives while supporting each other’s wellbeing, building up our confidence and encouraging each other,” she said.

Interested in joining? Chat with the members at Port Beach or visit the My Community Directory.