Cold Community: The Albert St Gang
Words by Angus Piper
Mist rolls in over smooth seas at Turners Beach, Tasmania. The ocean is as flat as a pancake aside from knee slappers tickling you like reeds in a field. A small fire on the beach catches my eye with wetsuits drying around it. At least 20 people are out in the ‘surf’ if you could call it and I start to laugh. What on earth is going on here? So, Tasmanians are crazy after all?
My bare feet shivered on smooth stones, stubbing a toe more used to Sydney’s warm sand. I tentatively ask someone;
‘What is this?’
So many smiles for no waves and freezing temps.
‘This is the Albert St Gang!’
Human seals shivering laugh at the name.
I end up chatting to Nat (Natalie) Potter, one of the two original founders of the small community.
‘In the beginning it was all about bringing women, older women who think: ‘I can’t do that anymore’ but here’s the gear so come and have a play’.
I smile at the reference to childhood play, it seems the best moments make us kids again.
When asked about the idea Nat said:
‘My friend, Emily and I thought it would be really special, a lot of people don’t have the gear but would love to share that stoked feeling and have a crack’
‘It’s just about getting in the water, no pressure, just go in and have fun’.
The Albert St Gang has been running most Sundays for the past 6 years. In the beginning a women’s only community, but now with numbers growing it has opened for everyone and is spreading joy in the depths of a dark winter. On a winters Sunday with minimal surf there’s at least 20 people now.
It started to kick off when someone was selling a surf school and wanted to offload the gear to a good cause, Nat remarked at the ‘ridiculously low’ price and praised the kindness, hence allowing the Albert St Gang to be more inclusive and remain true to its core principles.
‘There’s not many free things in the world, and that’s made us more passionate about it’.
As I stood on the beach with Nat an elderly couple passed and said hi. They asked how the meet up had been, and Nat jested them for not joining. They laughed and remarked
‘If I could surf in my pyjamas, I’d be the first one here’.
Nat’s eyes sparkled with the light of spreading joy and I couldn’t help be impressed by this community.
‘Even when it’s small you chat out the back, come in and continue the chat around the fire with marshmallows.’
I walk down the beach; my feet now numb but a smile caked with salt on my face. Meaning is found in community, whether big or small it makes no difference. In a world that is increasingly characterised by walls, tribalism and fear of the other I find my soul strangely uplifted by this glimpse of community and generosity of spirit in the most unexpected places.
Let the Albert St Gang inspire us all.
