Nick meets Brock Bevan from Rockingham Penguins

[00:00:00] Speaker A: There we go. And I sort of thought I'd play that. Oh, good morning. It's Nick from Nick's Nuggets. I was not here yesterday. I'm back on air today so yeah, I thought I'd do that because it's coming up in the next few days is plenty of rain. We have special guests which flip through from time to time and this morning we have Brock Bevin. Now I'm going to sort of cheat a little bit. Brock, did I see a clip on Facebook where you're in a cafe talking about your group? Was there one? Did I see that or my imaginary. [00:00:39] Speaker B: No, you've definitely seen it mate. We're saying on maybe more one occasion. So yeah, done a lot of interviews in the. The cafe. [00:00:47] Speaker A: Yeah. And that. Yeah. Was it Lulu's? [00:00:50] Speaker B: Lulu's, that's correct, yeah. [00:00:51] Speaker A: There you go man. I got a memory. [00:00:52] Speaker B: Yeah but yeah, that was part of the documentary they did about the Rockman penguin, so. [00:00:57] Speaker A: Oh was it? Yeah, yeah. So Brock, there I am just getting straight into what we're going to talk about. So what, what are we about here, Brock? [00:01:06] Speaker B: Well the Rock camping is a early morning swim group. We jump off the jetty at 6 o' clock every morning. So yeah, that's basically what we do. [00:01:16] Speaker A: It was a newspaper article a day or two ago I. When you said how many members you had doing it because I'll tell you what some of the articles said. Oh the, the secret is take short breaths because it's cold. [00:01:32] Speaker B: It is cold. [00:01:33] Speaker A: I don't know what paper that was. In person now maybe. Yeah, personality. [00:01:39] Speaker B: We've been in Perth now. [00:01:40] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah so I don't know how old it was but yeah, that was. [00:01:46] Speaker B: A year and a half ago now. [00:01:47] Speaker A: Spice her and I just re. Just republished it I'd assume maybe. Yeah because I only saw it this week. [00:01:53] Speaker B: I've seen a lot of things be getting reposted a lot lately. So yeah, coming up about it. So the word's getting out. Yeah good. [00:01:59] Speaker A: So what sort of age groups do you get there? [00:02:04] Speaker B: Look, we, we have kids coming down that are seven months old in, in. In summertime, you know and then it goes up to. I think we've had an 84 year old jump in the water with us. So it's a massive diverse group, you know of all ages and yeah, so it's pretty impressive. [00:02:21] Speaker A: I did read that on this article that they. Yeah, I think it was said Brock and I'm just. What I read in the article that you try and cut your mind off from the coldness. [00:02:34] Speaker B: Yeah. The hardest bit about doing what we do is getting out of. In the morning, honestly, getting out of your warm bed to walk down the beach. Once you're up, it's. It's the mindset, you're into it. And yeah, once you hit that water, it's. Yeah, the body has the flight or flight mode, you know, like, you hit the water, you're in there for a minute, your body takes over, it says, I'm fine. And you get out of the water feeling like a million dollars. So. [00:02:57] Speaker A: So that's how long it takes your body to adjust. [00:03:00] Speaker B: You'd say, everyone's different. Yeah, mine takes about a minute to say, what are you doing? Get out. And after about a minute, your body just says, I'm okay, I'm all right, let's do this. And we stand there for about. We stand there for 10 minutes. So. [00:03:11] Speaker A: And like, do you. I'm just saying, you say they have 10 minutes, which is, you know, when you think about it, 10 minutes is a long time. Do. [00:03:18] Speaker B: What about you? [00:03:20] Speaker A: So do you. Do you do exercise or just chat or what happens here? [00:03:25] Speaker B: There's a lot of talking. There's a lot of talk going, mate. It's. Yeah, we're very social groups. A lot of. Lot of chat and have a lot of laughter in the morning. So first thing in the morning, you're down the beach job with the water, you're having a laugh, you're starting your day off right, just talking to people and. Yeah, yeah, if anything you got going on. Do you want to have a chat? Someone have a chat? It's just the mental health benefits are amazing. So. [00:03:47] Speaker A: Yeah, that's. That's interesting with all the. The talk and it's justifiable about mental health. How. How do you think it benefits people? [00:03:59] Speaker B: Well, the way I look at it, like, the way I started it, I jumped in the water, had so much going on after Covid, a lot of people had a lot of things going on, you know, So I decided one day I was going to go for a swim to make myself feel better. And. And I did. And so when I look at it, it didn't change anything that was going on in my life. It just helped me think about stuff more and plan my day and give you that. You know, it's hard to explain. It's just you have that euphoric feeling, I suppose. You get out of the water, you feel like a million dollars. You just feel on top of the world and you could do anything. So your body and Your mind gets in sync and you get on with your day. [00:04:36] Speaker A: In another life. I'm just asking if the euphoria for want to hear the word is similar. Back in the day, I used to running, but I would run every day. [00:04:47] Speaker B: Okay. [00:04:47] Speaker A: And it was absolutely. I really didn't want to do it. But the feeling after you've done the run 100 is you, you for it. You think, oh, yeah, I feel great. Is that a similar sort of feeling? [00:04:59] Speaker B: Yeah, 100, mate. The thing is, you know, the thought of going for that run, you know, the same as jumping in the ocean. Oh, what am I doing? [00:05:05] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. [00:05:06] Speaker B: And then you, you do it and you won the. You're driving home, it's just like, you know, got the music cranked up, you're singing along, you get off and go and have a good day at work, you know, or whatever you're doing. [00:05:15] Speaker A: And is it dark at that time. [00:05:18] Speaker B: In the morning at the moment? It is, yeah. So the sun's coming up just before 7 now. So we jump at 6. So it's dark. But we got lights on the jetty. So. And where we jump off, look, it's. We jump off, it's about two and a half meters deep and then you step to your right in towards the shore and it Within a meter and a half, it's like up to your waist, you know, it's, it's, it's a really good spot to do. It's like a pool. So it's not deep. It's really good. [00:05:43] Speaker A: And do you. Are the numbers increasing or. They pretty much stay the same or it comes and goes. [00:05:52] Speaker B: Summer, summertime, it's massive. Get caught. Yeah, we could get up to 100 people on a Saturday. Yeah, we've had over 100 Australia Day this year we had 180. Our best Australia Day was 275. So, yeah, the word gets out there and we have a big barbecue in the beach and one of the local gym sponsors that for us, Fit Stop. So they sponsor the. Put the barbecue on for the, you know, 200 people that come down. So it's good getting out in the community in that regard. But winter now we've got three groups. So we, we have a 5:30 group, we have a 6:00 clock group and an 8:00 clock group. [00:06:25] Speaker A: Oh, okay. [00:06:27] Speaker B: And the stalwarts are there now, so I mean, we might sign that. Last year we had probably seven or eight. This morning I looked and there was, you know, probably 15 of us. So the numbers are increasing every year. [00:06:40] Speaker A: Yeah, why do you. It's a fair question. Why do you think numbers are increasing? What do you think that is? I'm not. [00:06:51] Speaker B: The way our group's based, it's a very social group and it's on a lot of social platforms now. So the word's getting out there, by that way, you know, how, how friendly and how diverse we are. So I think a lot of people are coming down just for the camaraderie to start with and then realizing that they're actually enjoying the water. So, yeah, it's like I said, it's not for everybody, and I've always said that, but. [00:07:14] Speaker A: Oh, that's. But that's like whether we talk about running or this is that. That's the thing, isn't it? Like, you know something, I'm never going to do that, but other thing. Oh, gee, that sounds interesting. I'll give it a go. [00:07:25] Speaker B: Yeah, we've had a lot of people say that I'm not coming down there ever. And then they've come down for some reason and then they haven't left. [00:07:30] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:07:30] Speaker B: So they've just. They've had a set in their minds. No, that's not for me. But then all of a sudden they've done it and realized how good it was. [00:07:36] Speaker A: And I think that's what happens, isn't it, with these things? You have a preconceived idea like you. That's our money, sort of. You know, if you're going to a pool at your. Your local gym or wherever they have pools, and you think, oh, gee, that's cold. And then somebody said, just imagine jumping in the sea. You go, I couldn't do that. But I think, yeah, it's. [00:07:55] Speaker B: It's a mindset. It really is. [00:07:56] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:07:57] Speaker B: But once you get into it and do it, like you said, with your running, it's just once you, you get out and do it and do it and keep doing it, you get better at it and you enjoy it, I suppose. [00:08:04] Speaker A: So that's it. And the after benefits, I always found, you know. [00:08:08] Speaker B: Yep. [00:08:09] Speaker A: So do you, afterwards, do you. Do any of you go for a coffee? [00:08:12] Speaker B: Yeah, we all go for a coffee. So the group's got so big now. We're all different coffee shops and. [00:08:17] Speaker A: Oh, really? [00:08:18] Speaker B: I mean, so many friendships have been formed just because of this, you know. So we've had a lot of people who were quite lonely, didn't know any people, so they've used that as their excuse not to come down. They've come down, met some great friends, and now they've got lifelong friendships they've. [00:08:31] Speaker A: Built off it and then things that you don't think of, isn't it when you, you know, you start, I think, oh, it's going to be cold, blah blah, blah. But like you say, once you do it, you're going to chat to the person next to you generally. And that's right. And so the benefits are not only for your mind but also for your, your mental health. [00:08:48] Speaker B: 100% like it. Mental health is, is the big one. You know, it makes you feel better physically. But then the whole aspect of the, the Rockingham Penguins is getting together, having a chat, having a laugh. We go and do big social events together, you know and. Yeah, so it's good fun. [00:09:03] Speaker A: Yeah. So are you, are you the, the contact point? [00:09:10] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah, so I am, yep. We have a social crew that we've, that helps organize all the social events, so. [00:09:17] Speaker A: Oh really? [00:09:18] Speaker B: Yeah, we're getting, getting have a meeting every month and we plan our next kind of social events and, and, and get the money together for them. So we're all self funded. We don't get any money from anyone. So we make T shirts and stuff and sell them and any of the profit goes back into our social events. So. [00:09:39] Speaker A: Okay, so you gotta, I've noticed your, your windshield there. Rockingham Penguins. [00:09:44] Speaker B: Yeah. So yeah, so I just sell it to, I just make it on demand for the, for the Rockingham Penguins. [00:09:51] Speaker A: So is there a link between you and the Rockingham Penguins? Yeah, you know, like. [00:09:59] Speaker B: Oh, the, the actual penguins. [00:10:02] Speaker A: Well, basically, yeah. [00:10:03] Speaker B: Well that's the reason we called them the Rockingham Penguins because we wanted something iconic to the area. [00:10:08] Speaker A: Of course. [00:10:08] Speaker B: And we're sitting in the Lulu's Cafe and we're thinking what are we going to call ourselves? And a Garbo truck went past with a penguin on it, the Rockingham emblem. So he said that's it. Rockingham Penguins. So there you go. Pretty, pretty simple. [00:10:22] Speaker A: Oh, that's it. I mean sometimes the best things are simple, aren't they? So you jump every day? [00:10:28] Speaker B: Every day, yeah. If someone be there every day, yes. [00:10:31] Speaker A: And that's right. [00:10:32] Speaker B: 5:30, a 5:30 dip, a 6:00 dip and a 8:00 clock dip. On a Saturday we all come together and jump at 6. So we all try and bring everyone back together and get the big crew together, which is good. [00:10:44] Speaker A: Does, do you have. So that's every day of the week? [00:10:47] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:10:47] Speaker A: Do you have people who go every day? [00:10:49] Speaker B: Every day? Yeah, yeah, I, I usually go just. I was a bit crooked last Week, so I had a week off, so. But yeah, he's trying to get down every day, so it's great. [00:10:56] Speaker A: And health benefits apart from the mental health. Are the men mental? Sorry? The health benefits. Good. [00:11:02] Speaker B: Look, Brock, we've had quite a few people come down with different physical injuries, you know, sore back, lots of different things like, you know, like, and people, we have a lot of the crew just walk up and down the water, strengthen their legs and stuff like that. So look, there is a lot of physical benefits as well as mental benefits as well. [00:11:25] Speaker A: So you do it from the, the jetty near the, the cafe. Strip club. [00:11:31] Speaker B: Jetty? Yeah, Val street jetty. [00:11:33] Speaker A: Oh yeah. Yep. [00:11:34] Speaker B: The little one, yeah. [00:11:35] Speaker A: Is there many other people there? That's on the warning. [00:11:38] Speaker B: There's a few fishermen, yeah. A few colorful characters sometimes, but I'll. [00:11:43] Speaker A: Bet you there is. So if we want to, if people out there want to A, do it or B, they need to know a little bit more information. I mean, you told me when you're going to jump and that, but just generally. And you've told me how long. Generally if people say, oh look, I'm not too sure or I'm not exactly where it is or whatever, how do they go about furthering their inquiry? [00:12:09] Speaker B: They can jump onto Facebook and look at our Facebook page. We've got, okay, two and a half thousand people on there now, so. [00:12:15] Speaker A: Two and a half, yeah. [00:12:16] Speaker B: So it's pretty. That's a good way doing it. [00:12:20] Speaker A: And that would be Rockingham, Rockingham Penguins. That's all is your Facebook. [00:12:24] Speaker B: And we, we have all the socials, we've got the Tick Tock and we've got the Instagram and stuff like that. So yeah, look, if anyone was to send us a message on one of those, we'll get back down for sure. [00:12:34] Speaker A: Yeah, well, I mean I remember writing off to you and you did get back to me. So yeah, that's sort proof to me. I mean, but it's, it's a great thing. I don't see personally any downside to it, you know. [00:12:48] Speaker B: Well, there's not, you know, it's a free event. You can come down, it doesn't cost you a cent and there's not too much you can do these days where it's, it's free, you know, so how's that? [00:12:58] Speaker A: I mean, isn't that the truth? Like, and I'm not. You mentioned you were sponsored, which is great, you know, but you know, if you decide to join a gym, any gym, you know, you. I'm picking figures on the top of my head. But you're probably going to be up for 500 bucks a year. Oh, easy. Yeah, yeah, of course, you know, and they're great gyms, so I'm not, you know. But. But like you say, to actually be able to do something, there's no fees at all. [00:13:24] Speaker B: Just come down, come down. Just before the times I said, there's always someone there and someone always talk to you. A very friendly bunch of people say, yeah. [00:13:34] Speaker A: Oh, well, I might. Oh, no, I shouldn't make false promises, bro. [00:13:38] Speaker B: You wouldn't be first one, mate. [00:13:40] Speaker A: So thanks very much for sharing about rocking in penguins, what you do. And I think it's a great idea. I'm a bit too scared, to be honest with you. We don't go. Not. Not scared, actually. It's not the right word. It's scared. Apprehensive is fair enough. Scared. [00:13:57] Speaker B: You have every right to be, mate. [00:13:59] Speaker A: Yeah, I know, but I sort of think, oh, gee, I should try. Maybe I should try it once, shouldn't. [00:14:03] Speaker B: I try it in summertime, mate. It's probably a good time to start in summertime. It's a bit. Bit cold than that now, but summertime, you know, if you start in summer, you can build up through into the winter if you want to. [00:14:13] Speaker A: Does your body. Here we go. Just before your body does, adjust it. Well, if. [00:14:18] Speaker B: If you do it every day, your body doesn't. It realizes that. But if you start straight away in winter, you're not coming back. It's gold, but it's good. [00:14:27] Speaker A: All right, well, thanks again, Brock, and thanks for popping in and shoot about Rockingham penguins. And I hope people out there get down and dare I say, have a dip. [00:14:36] Speaker B: Thank you very much, Nick. [00:14:37] Speaker A: Cheers. Thank you.