A NSW surf life saving club has taken the extraordinary step of cancelling its last nipper program of the season after a video was posted by a prominent local conspiracy theorist.
David Graham, known as ‘Guru’, called on his followers to storm Illawarra surf clubs over the weekend after taking issue with their inclusive Pride Rainbow Beaches initiative.
In a TikTok clip seen by news.com.au, Graham encouraged his followers to “hit our surf clubs this weekend” and wait until the “four and five-year-old nippers” are down at the beach.
“Then we go up and we see these people in the surf life saving facilities and ask them why they’re pushing this woke *s**t … why they’ve got their rainbow flags everywhere.”
Mr Graham made the video calling on “freedom fighters” to go to local clubs this weekend, after he and his partner Mel approached volunteers at the North Wollongong branch last Sunday.
According to the Illawarra Mercury, footage which has since been removed from Facebook captured Graham arguing with volunteer lifeguards over rainbow flags erected at the busy beach.
“You’re attacking the admin lady and that’s unfair,” a bystander told Mr Graham in the video, according to the local paper.
“I’m passionate about our children, and these flogs are just trying to f—in’ turn them into gay little kids,” Graham replied.
Thirroul Surf Life Saving Club wrote on Facebook they had made the “unfortunate decision to cancel nippers” on Sunday because of the action “which may affect clubs across the Illawarra related to this weekend’s support of Pride Week and inclusivity and diversity”.
“Whilst we in no way condone this type of behaviour, the safety of our volunteers and members is paramount,” they wrote.
Surf Life Saving NSW spokesman Donna Wishart told the Illawarra Mercury the organisation was notified of the social media videos earlier in this week and that police have been notified. No police action has been taken.
“Just as a precaution we have informed the police to ensure they are aware of any activities down at the beaches,” she said.
“We’re not particularly worried at this stage.
“Our volunteer lifesavers deal with a lot bigger issues than this and they are well placed to deal with anything that happens at a local level.
“Clubs have been encouraged to look out for strange behaviour.”
Graham responded to the cancellation on his podcast and defended his actions in a rambling speech.
“We have just got to stop these guys somehow or other,” he said.
“I’m not a conspiracy theorist and I will be challenging that because because everything I have said has come through.”
Bizarre, extreme views
Among many of Graham’s extreme and strange views voiced on his podcast and during public appearances are that McDonald’s burgers are made of “baby meat,” the Covid pandemic was fabricated and the government – which is supposedly robbing Australians of 75 per cent tax – should be “removed”.
Graham, a concreter from Wollongong, recently announced his intention to contest the upcoming NSW state election alongside former Australian Army Special Forces lieutenant colonel turned right-wing political hopeful Riccardo Bosi.
According to Graham’s Podcast Facebook page, his aim is to “stop the rot in our country and world and deliver the truth to the masses”.
He faced court in February this year for intimidation charges against radio broadcaster Ben Fordham and another 2GB staff member.
The charges relate to phone calls made to 2GB radio station and one allegedly threatening comment said to a member of Ben Fordham’s staff.
Magistrate Melissa Humphreys adjourned the matter until March 16 so Graham could seek legal advice.