Australia goes overboard - no nudity in the changing rooms!

Woman issued warning letter for going naked in surf club changing rooms

An Aussie surf club has sent a swimmer a letter because shes breached its no-nudity rule... in the change rooms.

Nada Pantle frequents the change rooms at the Terrigal Surf Lifesaving club on the NSW Central Coast and enjoys having a morning swim, then a quick shower, before heading to work.

To do this, she has to take off her swimmers before putting on her work outfit.

However, her routine has resulted in a warning letter from the surf lifesaving club.

The letter claims she breached the clubs nudity in the change rooms policy, which advises that no nudity is acceptable.

The letter outlines that the no nudity rule was made because of its Child Safe Policy.

The letter also reminded Pantle that there would be consequences if she continues to get naked in the change room.

I would like to remind you that it is your responsibility to follow the rules, to maintain a safe family surf club environment and should you continue to ignore the rules, you will be subject to disciplinary action, it read.

Pantle told ABC that the letter made her feel ashamed.

They didnt say what I did or who had made a complaint, but it sort of implied Id done something almost sexual, she explained.

However, Pantle also felt it was impractical to expect patrons not to get naked when in change rooms getting changed.

At some point, youve got to take your clothes off to get your other clothes on. Thats why we have change rooms. I almost feel like Ive been body shamed, she revealed.

The Terrigal Surf Lifesaving club boasts more than 900 members.

The Surf Lifesaving Australia Policy on change rooms states members should not shower or change at the same time as supervising groups of children.

It also states that members should not undress and avoid using a changing room with a child unless other people are present.

Source:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/woman-ssued-warning-letter-for-going-naked-in-surf-club-changing-rooms/ZZ7LEQJCR5CYFETSTAINQ23GGM/

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RE:Australia goes overboard - no nudity in the changing rooms!

It appears that Australians are more ignorant than Americans. Since being nude in a changing room is forbidden, perhaps she should try changing where she comes out of the water or just outside the change room door.

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RE:Australia goes overboard - no nudity in the changing rooms!

Woman issued warning letter for going naked in surf club changing roomsAn Aussie surf club has sent a swimmer a letter because shes breached its no-nudity rule... in the change rooms.Nada Pantle frequents the change rooms at the Terrigal Surf Lifesaving club on the NSW Central Coast and enjoys having a morning swim, then a quick shower, before heading to work.To do this, she has to take off her swimmers before putting on her work outfit.However, her routine has resulted in a warning letter from the surf lifesaving club.The letter claims she breached the clubs nudity in the change rooms policy, which advises that no nudity is acceptable.The letter outlines that the no nudity rule was made because of its Child Safe Policy.The letter also reminded Pantle that there would be consequences if she continues to get naked in the change room.I would like to remind you that it is your responsibility to follow the rules, to maintain a safe family surf club environment and should you continue to ignore the rules, you will be subject to disciplinary action, it read.Pantle told ABC that the letter made her feel ashamed.They didnt say what I did or who had made a complaint, but it sort of implied Id done something almost sexual, she explained.However, Pantle also felt it was impractical to expect patrons not to get naked when in change rooms getting changed.At some point, youve got to take your clothes off to get your other clothes on. Thats why we have change rooms. I almost feel like Ive been body shamed, she revealed.The Terrigal Surf Lifesaving club boasts more than 900 members.The Surf Lifesaving Australia Policy on change rooms states members should not shower or change at the same time as supervising groups of children.It also states that members should not undress and avoid using a changing room with a child unless other people are present.Source:https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/woman-ssued-warning-letter-for-going-naked-in-surf-club-changing-rooms/ZZ7LEQJCR5CYFETSTAINQ23GGM/
Not that extreme but the gym I used to go to had signs that nudity was not allowed in the sauna steam room or TV lounge inside the men's locker room.

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RE:Australia goes overboard - no nudity in the changing rooms!

It appears that Australians are more ignorant than Americans. Since being nude in a changing room is forbidden, perhaps she should try changing where she comes out of the water or just outside the change room door.

Sort of like when my my sons would complain that my swimsuit was too brief or my shorts too short I told them I could take it off.

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RE:Australia goes overboard - no nudity in the changing rooms!

nakedasskiwi wrote:
The letter outlines that the no nudity rule was made because of its Child Safe Policy.The Surf Lifesaving Australia Policy on change rooms states members should not shower or change at the same time as supervising groups of children.It also states that members should not undress and avoid using a changing room with a child unless other people are present.

If somebody could explain to me why a child should be endangered simply by seeing a naked body, I would be grateful.

As for that last quoted sentence, I would think that if a parent thinks that their child would be endangered somehow by being in the company of a naked person, then that parent should be responsible for chaperoning the child. It should not the responsibility of the other person to cover up or leave the scene.

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RE:Australia goes overboard - no nudity in the changing rooms!

The actual surf lifesaving association policy, as cited in the article, isn't so unreasonable:
Don't change while supervising a group of children. Indeed, divided attention and the power differential.
Don't be alone in a changing room with a kid. Indeed - f'r heaven's sake, that was the rule when I taught school: never close the door to a room when you and a student are the only people in it.

What that particular facility has done, though, goes way, way, beyond that policy.

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RE:Australia goes overboard - no nudity in the changing rooms!

This also was noticed by a major Sydney radio talk station who interviewed the lady who received the complaint.

https://www.2gb.com/terrigal-surf-life-saving-club-warns-against-nudity-in-public-change-rooms/

Sounds like the club management is out of control. Hopefully a little sunlight on the issue shall change things.

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RE:Australia goes overboard - no nudity in the changing rooms!

Whilst I struggle with the notion that no-nudity in a change room is essentially oxy-moronic I have no doubt that the measures have been implemented for good reason.

I have no doubt that if you dig deep enough that there will have been an assault at some time and the club and/or the movement have been sued heavily. Even if that's not the case its it's likely to be a measure taken after similar clubs (eg sporting clubs) have experienced similar.

So sad that nudity has an 'image problem' here and progressively we are losing the opportunity to be nude away from our homes here in Australia. The fact that we haven't fully embraced a 'Euro' mentality towards nudism allows it to continue to be sexualised and exploited by the most unsavoury in our society.

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RE:Australia goes overboard - no nudity in the changing rooms!

If somebody could explain to me why a child should be endangered simply by seeing a naked body, I would be grateful.As for that last quoted sentence, I would think that if a parent thinks that their child would be endangered somehow by being in the company of a naked person, then that parent should be responsible for chaperoning the child. It should not the responsibility of the other person to cover up or leave the scene.

I've been around for a few years and have noticed there's a core group of people in society who have this notion that a child will be scarred for life, traumatised beyond redemption should they see a naked adult body.
Note that seeing another child naked is acceptable - you never hear someone say "those children must not be naked in front of each other".
Whenever there's a complaint about an adult being naked at a public beach or river, the usual line that accompanies it is "think of the children" or "children should not have to witness that".
This inane prudishness is simply ridiculous. The hangups these adults have about nudity are deep seated and difficult to address.
If you look closely it is usually a woman that has such a problem, or makes those comments when the situation is a man who is naked.
The misandry is palpable.
A woman would not say anything if it was another woman who was naked in front of a child.
The reality is that no child has ever been harmed or traumatised by seeing a naked adult. Most kids don't give a damn, or just giggle and think it's funny.
The "idea" of harm or trauma only exists in the mind of the adult and is seriously misguided.

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RE:Australia goes overboard - no nudity in the changing rooms!

The "idea" of harm or trauma only exists in the mind of the adult and is seriously misguided.

I agree with this statement and will emphasize that the person harmed by seeing someone naked is the adult and more than likely a woman. I was once told that I could swim nude on a private beach owned by my wife's parents. My mother-in-law shrieked when I dropped my shorts, my father-in-law laughed.
My brother slept nude and did not get dressed immediately on rising. In the last months of his life, another brother and niece were caring for him and she had a problem with his nakedness.
My wife does not appreciate me being nude in front of our grandsons. They not only do not care, but they would like to be nude themselves.

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RE:Australia goes overboard - no nudity in the changing rooms!

The "idea" of harm or trauma only exists in the mind of the adult and is seriously misguided.I agree with this statement and will emphasize that the person harmed by seeing someone naked is the adult and more than likely a woman. I was once told that I could swim nude on a private beach owned by my wife's parents. My mother-in-law shrieked when I dropped my shorts, my father-in-law laughed.My brother slept nude and did not get dressed immediately on rising. In the last months of his life, another brother and niece were caring for him and she had a problem with his nakedness.My wife does not appreciate me being nude in front of our grandsons. They not only do not care, but they would like to be nude themselves.

You are quite right, it is usually a woman that will have the problem - as evidenced by the reaction of your mother in law compared to that of your father in law and the attitude of your wife with respect to your grandsons.
A man doesn't see nudity as an issue. Women seem to have the hangups about it.
I would urge you to ignore your wife and encourage your grandsons to be naked if they choose. Allow them the choice, if they wish to then that should be respected and encouraged. If they choose to get naked then ask them if they have any problem with you doing the same. Chances are they'll be fine with it, and that acknowledgement should be witnessed by your wife.

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