New nude beach for Melbourne?
Today there was a sudden flurry in activity surrounding the (ongoing) push for a new clothing optional beach closer to the city. We’re not exactly sure why the sudden interest in what has been a long time (but often unmoving) interest in a “Clothing Optional” location that is more convenient in terms of public transport – as we all know, unless you have a car then the extraordinary lengths you need to take to get to a CO beach often turns people off the idea (not to mention the parking challenges if you do have a car, particularly at Sunnyside!).
An article appeared in the Herald Sun that has more details – Click here to read. There’s also a similar version on News.com.au – Click here
From the article:
[Water Minister Tim Holding said] “I think the slogan has always been if you’ve got it flaunt it and I am willing to recognise my limitations and I won’t be encouraging the spread of nudism in anyway across Victoria”.
An interesting view and everyone is certainly welcome their own, but it is clear that Mr Holding has never frequented a Clothing Optional beach, as he would very quickly identify the lack of supermodels trying to “flaunt” anything!! We hope that perhaps Mr Holding’s view of not encouraging nudism (which he is entitled to do) does not stretch to actively discouraging it!!
Sandringham MP Murray Thompson said he would oppose any proposal for a nude beach in Sandringham for safety and health reasons. He said families should be encouraged to cover up to lower the risk of skin cancer.
That’s the first time we’ve heard of that argument against a clothing optional beach – obviously nudists encourage a sun smart approach, and a visit to a nude beach will soon highlight that nudists and their use of umbrellas and sun shade (tents) are more sun smart than your average beach goer!! But we digress – the swimming attire of your average beach goer has less coverage than most underwear anyway… enough said!
But the main point we’d like to make here is that this discussion is not at all about “us and them” – the goal is always to provide Clothing Optional beaches to be used by anyone in any state of dress. The nudist community is the first to acknowledge that the beaches are for everyone to use and enjoy, and making them clothing option is simply a slight adjustment on how they are currently being used!! Suggesting that any beach should be “nude only” would be the same as trying to prevent beach users from wearing T-shirts and shorts and calling them over-dressed – it just doesn’t make sense.
It was interesting to note that (at the time of writing) the Herald Sun poll attached to the above article was showing just over 70% support for the idea of a clothing optional beach closer to the city (2419 Yes from 3433 votes). Many of the article comments recognise the reality of beach life today – swimming attire is so close to nude already, it’s not really a huge leap anyway.
