Mohammed Saleh sits on the sands of Manly beach and looks at the waves. The last time he was at the Sydney beach, four and a half years ago, he had completed his training as a surf lifesaver and was heading home to Gaza to set up Palestine’s first surf club.
He planned to return to Sydney to report on its success. Instead, he and his family have fled their war torn home, leaving the club and its decimated junior lifesaving program – known as Nippers – behind.
