ETHAN CLEMENTS is a 15-year-old writer from Fremantle – and a former Surf Life Saving Nipper. He’s uncomfortable about kids promoting a fossil-fuel company every time they dive in to learn how to save lives.

EVERY Sunday morning in Western Australia, just under 8500 children flood our beaches for our community-led surf-lifesaving program. 

It’s a tradition that has run on our shorelines for over 40 years. 

Decked out in their signature neon-yellow bathing suits, goggles in hand, and SPF 50 slipped, slopped and slapped head-to-toe. What if I told you this isn’t as innocent as it looks, and that it has already reached Fremantle.

The program formerly named ‘The Nippers’ has gone through a rebrand through a naming rights deal. 

• Ethan’s not the only one questioning Woodside’s sponsorship of Nippers – we found Greenpeace even has a petition up.

They are now known as the ‘Woodside Nippers’, after Woodside purchased their naming rights in 2019 under a multi-year partnership. 

Woodside is Australia’s largest independent oil and gas company and has faced criticism as a key contributor to Australia’s climate crisis, damaging native Aboriginal rock art, and ‘greenwashing’ its reputation.

In Australia, coastal-related injuries remain a growing concern, especially to parents, community members, and the added pressure on lifeguards. 

According to Surf Life Saving Australia’s 2025/26 Summer Coastal Drowning Report, there is approximately one coastal drowning death every two days during summer.

This reinforces the need for surf-lifesaving to be taught, especially for children. 

However, many parents are uncomfortable with Woodside’s contribution and they don’t have anywhere else to go. 

There is practically no other competition in WA, leaving them stranded with few alternatives.

Woodside’s sponsorship, which was announced in 2019, is valued at $5 million over the coming five years. 

These funds can be used for Woodside-branded uniforms, trailers and patrol equipment used along the oceanfront. 

The same oceanfront where just about 200 kg of plastic debris was shed into the ocean by Woodside in 2025. 

There is no doubt that this funding has helped the Nippers, but is it ethical to have this specific company continue to sponsor despite their ongoing track record towards the climate?

The branding of ‘Woodside’ on your child is not optional. 

No matter if you believe in Woodside’s partnership or not, tough luck. 

When you sign your child up, they automatically become an advertisement promoting the fossil fuel industry. 

No matter how far away you run from big-corporations, they will always catch up to you. 

‘No Woodside, No Play’.

Many local community groups, specifically ones based in Fremantle, have advocated for Woodside to get off of our children. 

Fremantle is directly affected by this cause, with our main surf club ‘Fremantle Surf Life Saving Club’.

What was once a signature bathing suit worn by children has now become a symbol of how controversial our fossil fuel industry here in Australia really is.

This raises the question: how has a grassroots program that has been built on community and local intervention fallen towards corporate influence? 

And, how soon until your community follows?