COMPILED BY GEORGINA BARKER
THE HISTORY OF
NORTH COTTESLOE SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB
Acknowledgement It is a challenge to document the life story of a family, which
Part two of this book was instigated in 2016 as plans to
Others have assisted with sorting and captioning photos,
has as its raison d’être the goal of saving lives, and this
celebrate the club’s centenary were put into action. Brian
researching, reviewing and proofing. They include Brian
has only been possible through the effort and drive of the
Sierakowski convened a centenary committee and it
Sierakowski, Richard Meadmore, Michael Beech, Rory
membership, young and old.
was decided that a 100-year history book, combining the
Argyle, Carol Day, Alli Gould, Julianne Simmons, Jacqui
original publication with the addition of the most recent 20
Cook, Liz Carson, Lou Roberts, Cliff Ford, Helen Ward, Cam
years, would be an appropriate way to mark this important
Dimsey, Gab Knowles, Dale Walsh and Cassandra Simpson.
Part one of this history book was completed in December 2003 and came about after the passing of club stalwart
milestone. A Lotterywest grant was secured and Georgina
Jerry Knowles. Then president Richard Meadmore saw the
Barker was appointed as the writer. Georgina set about
need to record the club’s history before it faded into the
conducting interviews and sessions with various members
depths of time. Supported by the North Cottesloe executive,
and groups within the club and researching club, State
Laurie Russell and Margot Ferguson provided the energy to
and national archives. The enormity of the project and
accurately gather the facts and build on the initial backbone
the pressure of trying to accurately capture history, as
drafted by historian Bryce Moore. Ed Jaggard, Merome Hall
well as reflect the diverse culture of the club, cannot be
and Margot Ferguson conducted many nights of interviews
underestimated. Georgina has done an outstanding job in
that are reflected through part one. Richard Pyvis assisted
pulling this together.
in compiling the notes, Ralph McManis drafted the design
Miles and Jane Ponsonby took on the daunting task of
for the book and club administrator Kelly Moss kept the
sifting through tens of thousands of photos. Cliff Ford sorted
manuscript intact, with proofing from Mandy Pyvis and John
through 100 years of competition results. Richard Lang and
Moncrieff. Part one has been replicated in this 100-year
Kelly Moss deciphered 100 years of board and committee
history; however, some small changes, corrections and
positions into the tables in the back of this book. Mike
additions have been made from the original publication.
Rigoll put together a visual history in the form of timelines.
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club Published by North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club, 2019 © Copyright North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club, 2019 All rights reserved. Design by Scott Print Printed in Australia by Scott Print ISBN No. 978-0-6485403-1-1 www.ncslsc.com
Thank you to all the past and present club members who shared their memories. Photos have come from many sources, but particular thanks to photographers Ange Butler (Coote), Stew Nicolson, Cliff Ford, Jane and Miles Ponsonby and Seven Photography. Thank you to photographer Bohdan Warchomij for the photo on the inside back cover. Special thanks to Ed Jaggard for writing the postscript and to the board of management and centenary committee for steering the project to completion. While there will always be differences in the ways people recall events, facts and emotions, we hope you enjoy reading our club’s story and reflecting on what a special and amazing place it has both in the community and in our hearts.
Contents Introduction Kelly Moss
2
PART 1
7
PART 2
Georgina Barker
149
Foreword Richard Meadmore
8
Foreword
Ian Clarke
150
Prologue Steve Wilson
9
Chapter 1 Physical and financial growth
151
Chapter 1 Along the coast
11
Chapter 2 New era of professionalism
175
Chapter 2 Swimmers, rowers and sprinters
19
Chapter 3 Club life, club people
201
Chapter 3 Kings of the world
37
Chapter 4 Women
239
Chapter 4 Enduring the tough times
61
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education
251
Chapter 5 Just do what we want
81
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers
285
Chapter 7 North Cottesloe in competition
313
Chapter 6 Out in front
103
Chapter 7 . . . And on top
121
Postscript Ed Jaggard
428
Photos, Timelines, Appendices
430
Introduction This book isn’t just a history of the North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club – it is a celebration of 100 years of colourful club life. I know everyone involved in the club will identify with many parts of the book and hopefully it will provide a sense of history and understanding of why North Cottesloe is one of the largest and most successful clubs in Australia. One hundred years is an impressive milestone for an organisation based on the ethos of volunteering and serving the community. In considering how best to recognise this, the club’s centenary steering committee undertook to celebrate across the whole 2018/19 season. Our purpose was to recognise the unique nature of the milestone and capture the sense of occasion by presenting a series of events that engaged a healthy cross section of both the membership and broader community. Festivities kicked off on 13 October with the Centenary Season Launch and Community Celebration. Despite a dismal weather forecast, the clouds parted and a crowd of around 1500 people turned out to join in the raft of activities. The opening ceremony was a mixture of laughter and sincerity as we listened to a number of guest speakers including Federal Member for Curtin Julie Bishop and SLSA President Graham Ford. In an amazing display of what surf life saving is all about, we witnessed an armada of surf skis, surf boats, jet skis and IRBs from various surf clubs glide up the coast from Cottesloe Beach, led by SLSWA’s Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter. Hundreds of people then took to the beach to spell out 100 in the sand.
2 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Activities carried on long into the afternoon with sand castle building, music, kids activities and a march past display. Inside the courtyard the bar was busy and everyone enjoyed an afternoon of music, camaraderie and mateship. This was topped off when a whale and her calf swam by just off the reef to wow the crowd. The centenary merchandise range was launched and all but sold out. Thank you to Mike Rigoll and Patrick Hazard for designing the magnificent centenary logo that has been featured throughout the season. The sand sculpture on top of the ski shed looked amazing and created a great deal of interest in the week leading up to the event. Jacob ‘Shakey’ Butler’s mural on the ski shed wall is a masterpiece that will last for many years. It was a fantastic way to start our centenary season and thanks must go to Niall Warren and the army of volunteers who helped with many different tasks for this huge event. In December we hosted the SLSWA Surf League event at North Cottesloe Beach. Clubs competed across all disciplines in a team format that is perfect for a beach of our size. Many spectators came to watch and the nippers took part in a surf clinic with ironman legend Phil Clayton. In the week before the event we also recreated the iconic SURF CARNIVAL banner taken in the 1920s to show how our beachfront has changed over the past 100 years. We then celebrated the amazing contribution women have made in surf life saving at the Women in Surf Celebration. Football coach Michelle Cowan shared her inspirational journey before a group of club members talked about how they came to be at the club and what it means to them.
Food, wine, music and lots of chatter continued long into the afternoon and it was a special day for everyone who attended. This history book is being launched at our final event for our centenary season, the Centenary Gala Ball on 4 May 2019 in the main ballroom at HBF Stadium. More than 500 club members are expected to gather and celebrate our achievements as a club and the thousands of remarkable people who have contributed over the past century. We hope that we delivered a series of events and activities that created a sense of pride and belonging within our membership and the community in recognising 100 years of service. Thanks must go to the centenary steering committee of Niall Warren, Michael Beech, Mary Petrie, Lea Ridderhof and Dean Humphrey for the countless hours they contributed to this project. Kelly Moss Chair, centenary steering committee March 2019
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 3
4 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
North Cottesloe’s oldest living life member Don ‘Gyp' Grenville (95) with one of the club’s youngest members Allegra Carbone (6), 2018.
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 5
6 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
PART 1
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 7
Foreword
T
his book tells the story of the development of the culture of an organisation – the North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club (Inc). This story is not a chapter and verse account of every event in the club’s history, it is an attempt at showing the reader how the club’s culture developed members like Graham Russell, how he, in turn, influenced Jerry Knowles and others, and how these members passed that culture through to another generation of club members. North Cottesloe survived Jerry’s death and in fact has prospered since, and the legacy of what he, Graham and numerous others gave us is a very special culture. It was realised that the North Cottesloe story had to be told, but in a different way. This is not a book about Jerry, Graham or any particular member, it is a story about a community and how it developed and influenced us all. Jerry’s death was the motivation to write the story. North Cottesloe has had a big impact on my life and I will be ever thankful for the time and influence of those who have been the fabric of the club’s being. Richard Meadmore President 1997-2000 December 2003
8 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Prologue
U
ntil recently North Cottesloe has never been a club renowned for preserving or treasuring its history. Nevertheless, over time attitudes often change,
and in this instance the premature death of long serving secretary and later president, Jerry Knowles (‘Jimbo’), was the catalyst for the club’s new-found determination to come to terms with its past. As the chapters of this history suggest, Jerry Knowles, was a legendary character whose home was the clubrooms. He and Aroha raised a family in North Street, North Cottesloe, but instead of ‘putting the cat out’ each night, Jerry finished his hyperactive day by driving down
days was an unusual event, as the club was never renowned
in the ski and why he said that it wasn’t a bung. I was told that
for this aspect of its existence.
the bung had to be made of cork. I said (amongst a few very
True to their form, the White Raiders turned up at the club about 15 minutes before the end of the patrol, about the time we normally started to take down all the gear to pack it away. The head raider informed me that we would be subject to a complete inspection including a mock rescue. Well, as you can imagine, the patrol were unimpressed. The head white raider was being a fair prick and was giving us the usual hard time that I’m sure only North Cottesloe were subject to.
choice words to the head raider) that the rules didn’t specify that it had to be made of any particular material – all it had to do was keep water out of the ski. No matter what I put to him, it just wasn’t a bung. I’m sure I could detect a degree of glee in the White Raiders as they left the club, I might add, followed by the whole patrol abusing and swearing at them as they scurried up the boat ramp at the side of the clubrooms to Marine Parade.
to the club to turn off the lights and lock up. Memories of
However, I was happy that, despite the obvious hard time
I went to the Great Jimbo’s home after the patrol to confess
him are embedded in the story of North Cottesloe and this
we were being put through, the patrol was performing well.
to him that my patrol had just managed to put the club out
example, written by club member Steve Wilson, portrays him
We even passed the signals test, which was generally our
of the State Championships, and that I was prepared for
at his combative best.
downfall. The mock rescue went well and as I remember
punishment of no less than two hundred lashes followed by
it, it was a bit more than the old swim out in a belt and pull
a painful death. Jimbo hit the roof, cross-examined me for
someone in and resuscitate them. My recollection of the
twenty minutes as to exactly what happened, cursed and
scenario was that two jumbo jets collided above the club
ranted about the White Raiders for another twenty minutes,
and we had to pull people out of the sea from packs of
then said to me: “Stevie, don’t worry, we’ll sort State Centre
patrol times. Being a club that was not renowned for drinking
sharks or something . . .
out, even if it means taking them to the highest court in the
good quality wine, or for that matter wine at all, there was a
Anyway, at the end of all this the White Raiders formed the
About a week before the State Championships in the late 1970s I was the patrol captain on roster one Saturday. The patrol requirements were that we had to have, among other things, a surf ski, paddle and BUNG on the beach during
shortage around the clubrooms of corks for use as bungs. The best I could do was to cut a chunk of foam off a foamie
huddle, as they did, and then the head raider came up to me
land.” The Great Jimbo looked a very happy man with the thought of a tussle with State Centre!
and gave me a breach notice which said that we had failed
On the Monday, Jimbo sent a stinging letter to State Centre
the inspection because we didn’t have a bung for the ski.
and advised that the club would be seeking an appeal to
Nothing else, like failed the rescue or stuffed up the verbal
the State Centre disputes committee. That was heard at the
questions – just we didn’t have a bung! I was really pissed
surf club on the next Thursday night and lasted for about
I checked that all was in order with the patrol for the prospect
off as that meant, in accordance with State Centre’s rules, a
four hours. I was the star witness and the Great Jimbo was in
of a raid by the inspectors from State Centre (alias ‘the White
suspension of the club from competing at the next carnival,
his best barrister form referring to the dictionary definitions
Raiders’) and it was, which was a bloody miracle. We even
which just happened to be the State Championships.
of the word “BUNG”. He lampooned the disputes committee
had the full patrol turn up which, as I recall back in those
I questioned the head raider about the foam bung that was
(who I recall consisted of reps from Cottesloe and City
surfboard, rub it into a cork-type shape on the clubroom walls and put it in the bung hole of the ski. A bloody masterpiece I thought.
Chapter 1 Along the Coast | 9
Beach, our sworn enemies). The result was that the committee formed the view that the foam bung was not a bung and the suspension from the State Championships stood.
form of authority and I remember on more than one occasion him saying: “Don’t worry about what they want, just do what we want and we’ll sort the rest out later”. That, it seems to me, is why North Cottesloe SLSC has the best clubrooms in WA, if not Australia – the Jimbo attitude of not letting anyone stop the club from doing what it wants, least of all State Centre!
That send Jimbo into a rage. He ranted and raved at the disputes committee about their ineptitude and promised them that he would have a writ on State Centre’s desk the next day. True to his word, he prepared a writ, a copy of which was forwarded to State Centre with a letter informing them that he would file the writ at the Supreme Court and seek an injunction restraining the State Centre from conducting the State Championships until the question of what was a bung was determined, or unless the matter was rationally sorted out and the suspension of North Cott from competing in the State Championships lifted.
Steve Wilson
As you can imagine this sent great rumbles through State Centre, as they would be made to look like idiots if something as petty as whether a bung was a bung if it was made of foam and not cork, ended up in the Supreme Court. As I recall, a few of the other clubs also got wind of what was happening to North Cott and gave us some support – something we didn’t seem to get too often back in those days. Well, a great flurry of letters from State Centre’s lawyers (no doubt costing a great deal of money) was exchanged with the club (whose lawyer cost us nothing) over this matter. Eventually, the Great Jimbo won out, the club competed in the State Championships and as I remember we were the premier club for the year – again. I don’t think the question of what a bung should consist of was ever sorted out after all the nonsense. I had the chance to watch the Great Jimbo at work in his profession over the week or so of this mess. It left a great impression upon me. He seemed to revel in adversity, particularly if it involved State Centre trying to push North Cott around. Jimbo displayed the same tenacity against any
10 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Jerry ‘Jimbo’ Knowles and Craig ‘Belly’ Bell at the Australia Day carnival in Albany, 1992.
North Cottesloe competitors (middle four) I MacDermott, Eric Bemrose, Ivan Youngberg and B Challis line up for the first surf race championship at North Cottesloe, 1925.
Chapter 1 Along the Coast | 11
1930 State R&R champions H McKenzie, A Sanderson, J Lanyon, W Guthrie, D Irvine and E Jaggard. 12 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
1
Chapter
ALONG THE COAST
F
rom the stacked containers, petrol tanks and cranes that mark the port of Fremantle, it is possible to drive north along the coast without losing sight of the ocean, for about ten kilometres, until the military intervention – the
Swanbourne rifle range – diverts you inland, to grudgingly follow the new superhighway, the sea disappearing from view until you reach City Beach. Just where you first hit the coast at Fremantle there is a restaurant that looks like a
movement, ostensibly based on a fear that beachgoers, mistaking the restaurant for a real surf club, would seek help there in emergencies. Perhaps they were also justifiably angry that the tradition and public image they had worked hard to build over eight decades was being appropriated in such a cavalier fashion in the service of crass commercialism. A couple of hundred metres further north is the real Fremantle Surf Life Saving Club. Its club building, far less imposing than the restaurant which stole its name, is crudely functional, like so many of these buildings, grown higgledypiggledy over the years, added to as funds permitted, with scant regard for architectural sensibilities. There are three more real surf clubs along this stretch of coastline, where the sea air can blow through your car window. A couple of kilometres further north from the Fremantle premises, is Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club – the Premier Club, as its historian dubbed it with the full approval of the administration. Cottesloe, as befits its haughty self-image, is
Looking for an entrance resembling that of the Cottesloe club, you are likely to find yourself in the restaurant, wondering what kind of surf club this is. In fact, the restaurant – and thereby hangs a tale, which will be told – is leased from the club, and represents a turning of the tables, so to speak. The canny North Cottesloe administrators, in a brazen stroke of genius, have appropriated commercialism in the service of their club’s continuing viability. The real entrance to the club is through a gate on the north side of the building, into a courtyard and through a set of glass doors. Its only when you get through these doors that you realise that you have found your way into perhaps the largest, and one of the most successful surf life saving clubs on the coast. Down a set of stairs, you find the innards of the building, carved into the sand hills, below street level. A well-equipped gymnasium, a boat shed with a number of sleek surf boats, and further on a ski shed containing dozens of immaculately maintained, colourful fibreglass surf skis. This
an impressive building in 1960s modernist style perched high atop Mudurup Rocks, just where the rocky coastline gives way to Cottesloe main beach, possibly the most popular sea bathing spot in the Perth metropolitan area. You can’t miss it. The Cottesloe beach is heavily developed from here on. Vast car parks, that the town council at one stage wanted to make visitors pay to use, grassed areas, playgrounds, kiosks, and the imposing Indiana Tea House. The concept of the name dates from the 1930s, but the new building has been built to 1990s tastes. Further north, there are more restaurants
surf club. Well, it was originally called the Surf Club Fish
and cafes.
Café, and occupies the site of a former surf life saving club.
It is possible to miss entirely the North Cottesloe Surf Life
Perched improbably on its roof above the huddled diners, is
Saving Club and drive straight on to the Swanbourne-
a full-size surf boat complete with several rowers straining
Nedlands club, nestled amongst the low dunes just near
on their oars. The people who built that restaurant were
where the road veers back inland. North Cottesloe is actually
fully in tune with the iconography of the surf lifesaver, and
a surf club that looks like a restaurant. The first thing you see
the importance of identifying their establishment with a
is the entrance to the popular Blue Duck restaurant, and you
great Australian tradition. In fact, when it was first opened,
have to look again to realise that, a few metres along the
there were howls of indignation from the surf life saving
wall is emblazoned ‘North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club’.
Laurence Gadsdon, inaugural secretary 1918-23, president 1931.
Chapter 1 Along the Coast | 13
North Cottesloe carnival, 1920s, photo taken from the Ocean Beach Hotel.
14 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
is the real club, and the restaurant at street level occupies only
All the surf life saving clubs along this stretch of coast have a
disobedience in 1902, when the doughty newspaper editor
a corner of the building. You forget it’s even there as you move
story to tell. A couple of them have already told their stories,
William Gocher bathed in the Manly surf at noon and got
about the cavernous interior of the North Cott clubrooms.
or more precisely, have engaged someone to tell their story.
away with it, changed all that forever. Gocher’s defiance
Swanbourne-Nedlands club celebrated its 50th birthday in
established the beach as a zone of freedom, vigorously
1982 by producing a modest booklet written by three of its
defended against encroachments of straight-laced authority,
members, Ed Jaggard, Ross Bosworth and Reg Trigg. Not to
a contested area in which many battles have been fought.
If you had parked your car, still free of charge for the time being, at the Cottesloe main beach and walked the seven hundred metres or so north along the sand, the view from the beach is entirely different. There is no mistaking the dominant position of the surf club – right there on the dunes, rising up towards the hidden street. The diners in the restaurant are perched up on half of the front balcony – there is no entry to the restaurant from the beach side, which is the building’s real front entrance.
be outdone, two years later the Cottesloe club engaged one of these authors, Ed Jaggard, academic and sporting historian, to research and write its history. Befitting its lofty self-image, the Cottesloe history was as lavish as that of SwanbourneNedlands was modest. Fremantle Club awaits its historian, or, more specifically, awaits the vision of a club administrator
In Australia, no one can own the beach, or keep people off it. Australian government, without exception, established very early the principle that the beach must remain a public place by declaring nearly all seafront reserved land, with unrestricted public access. Opponents of Cottesloe council’s plan to charge for parking denounced the move as
On summer weekends, the large doors at beach level are wide
concerned that the past should be documented and told. We
open, and the club seems to flow out over the sand towards
may not have to wait too long, but at present they have other
the surf, which takes on the character of a front yard, very
things on their mind down at the port.
always remain free for everyone.
But now, North Cottesloe has decided that its story should
Successive confrontations over the brevity of bathing
much open to the public. Surf boats and skis nestle in the sand, white buoys, bobbing out beyond the break, mark swimming courses, the patrol station is a vivid canvas windbreak and the red and yellow flags marking the safe bathing area flap in the breeze. Very soon you can identify some of the club’s over one thousand members by their sleek blue and white bathing
be told. Unlike those of North Cottesloe’s two neighbours, this story is the result of many people’s input. Firstly, told by an outsider, without a background in the surf life saving movement. Bryce Moore started from scratch and produced
an attempt to make people pay for access for what should
costumes, while titillating the public imagination, have seen the wowsers fighting rear-guard actions against the exposure of ever-larger areas of skin. Past the northern end of our stretch of coastline, a little north of the Swanbourne-
a long-forgotten look at the club’s history. Secondly,
Nedlands club is the beach with a dress code that expresses
Ed Jaggard’s talents were sought to write many of the
the ultimate outcome of this struggle – a nudist beach..
anecdotes. And finally, contributions by Margot Ferguson,
Paradoxically, just as the battle appears to have been won,
Laurie Russell, Merome Hall and Richard Pyvis ensured that
increasing concern over skin cancer has led the move to
all aspects of the club throughout the decades have been
cover up for protection. The ozone layer succeeded where
represented.
generations of moralists had failed.
All the books about surf life saving, indeed almost all
In Western Australia, the spectre of beachfront high-rise
the books about beach culture in Australia, place almost
development, which on Queensland’s Gold Coast places
to imbue their youngest members with a sense of history
the entire history of surf bathing in Australia into the 20th
the beach in deep shade from 3pm, on summer days, has
and tradition of surf life saving, with varying degrees of
Century. Some have reflected on how an activity which
galvanised public opposition. The sole high-rise building
success. Motivated by a love of the beach and the surf, the
today is so much a part of our culture, so much a source
on Perth’s coastline was the centre of frighteningly bitter
challenge and glamour of competition, and the keen sense
of recreation to such a large part of the population, could
battles, including an attempt to demolish the project with
of camaraderie, not to mention the club’s splendid facilities,
have been so neglected or ignored for the first century of
explosives. The redevelopment of the Leighton railway
interest in the club’s illustrious past is very likely not a high
Australia’s European settlement. Victorian dress codes and
yards is one recently contested area, and again the main
priority to most of the club’s members. Only as they grow older,
strict standards of public morality forbade surf bathing during
burden of the opposition is the preservation of free public
still belonging to and enjoying their club, will they begin to
daylight hours for much of the 19th Century, successfully
access. Ordinary Western Australians are as ready to go to
breathe in this history, and realise that it is their very own as well.
intimidating all but the most dedicated. A single act of civil
war for their beaches as for their forests. Development of any
costumes, emblazoned with the logo of one of the club’s many generous sponsors. They move in and out of the clubrooms, to and from the beach, boys and girls, men and women, paying careful heed to the sign enjoining them to rinse the sand from their feet before entering the clubrooms. It’s their turf, and they seem very much at home there. No doubt the senior members of North Cottesloe strive
Chapter 1 Along the Coast | 15
decades would readily join with the hundreds of thousands whose lives have been enriched by membership of the hundreds of clubs in proclaiming this. From its inception, the surf life saving movement has been a voluntary enterprise, dependent upon the freely donated time and effort of its members. Voluntary organisations have played and continue to play an important role in Australian society, not least by carrying out important functions that would otherwise be an unconscionable drain on the public purse. The economic value to society of voluntary organisations today has been estimated in the billions of dollars each year. There are a number of factors that motivate people to become involved in voluntary activity. They may be motivated by an opportunity to indulge in a hobby or recreational activity that requires group participation. There is always the simple pleasure of belonging to a group of like-minded people, sharing a common aspiration. Many see voluntary activity as an opportunity for meeting people, forming friendships and joining social networks. In the case of sporting clubs – a huge part of the voluntary sector in Australia – the challenge of competition along with the promise of healthy physical activity is a major lure for new members. There is also, in many cases, a simple desire to ‘do something useful’, to perform some kind of community
North Cottesloe junior carnival, 2002.
beachfront, including the establishment of restaurants in surf club buildings, has to be carried out with extreme care. The surf life saving movement was born in the exhilarating days after the removal of restrictions on surf bathing. The pioneers and promoters of surf bathing, while drinking deeply of their new-found freedom, very quickly saw that the sea can be a very treacherous playground. Many who rushed to the beach were ill-prepared as swimmers, and ignorant of the real dangers that awaited them. Frequent drownings, and the publicity accorded them, threatened to discourage
16 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
service, for purely altruistic reasons. Across the whole beachgoers. Local governments wanted people to come to their beaches and knew they would do so only if they could bathe in safety. Surf life saving clubs were established in response to these concerns. Beaches could become more popular only if they were made safer. The surf life saving movement has played a pivotal role in the rise of beach culture in Australia. Without its ubiquitous vigilance on the beach, along with its public education and training activities, surf bathing in Australia might have remained a pastime for the adventurous and strong, like mountain climbing. The tens of thousands of Australians rescued from the surf over the
range of voluntary organisations in Australia, from service groups such as volunteer bushfire brigades and the State Emergency Service to sporting clubs, some combination of these factors needs to be present to encourage people to take part, and to remain once they become involved. The continuing success of the surf life saving movement has, in no small measure, been based upon the search for just the right combination. The movement has had its ups and downs over the years. Its continuity has been assured by a careful balancing of these factors in the cause of remaining relevant in changing social conditions. Sometimes the movement’s
North Cottesloe girls with the clubrooms and shade shelter in the background, 1920s.
Chapter 1 Along the Coast | 17
conservative governing body has had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the modern age, by innovative young turks at club level. Any member of any club is likely to have one main reason for having joined in the first place, be it the chance of competition, the opportunity to be trained in surf swimming to an advanced level, the social network, the prestige of belonging to a highly-regarded social institution, and so on. But almost invariably, once they become involved, that initial impetus is not by itself enough to ensure their long-term participation. The surf club can offer enthusiastic members the opportunity for life-long participation. Graduating from competition and patrols to coaching, judging and administration, an extraordinary number of surf club members claim records going back many decades. In doing so they provide the continuity, which is another factor in the survival and health of the movement. As they acquire professional skills, their voluntary ethos expands to offering those skills freely in the service of the club, giving many clubs access to enviably high levels of legal, financial and administrative expertise.
18 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club, established in 1918, has participated in the history of the movement as a whole, sharing in its fortunes and misfortunes over the decades. But it also has a unique story – one firmly grounded in the sandy hinterland of its beachside home, and in the lives of the people who lived there and joined over the years. The 35 members who formed the club in its first year have grown in numbers to more than 1000, and the club’s annual turnover from three hundred pounds to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The club has dominated State and national competitions in some periods and been humiliated in others. But at every step of the way, the members, the club’s people, made it happen, or failed to make it happen, came home victorious or vanquished, grew in numbers or dwindled to a hard core of enthusiasts, toed the official line or bucked the system, had riotous, barely-legal fun, or endured long sunstruck days on beach patrol. This is the story of those people.
North Cottesloe surfs ahead, 1920s.
Chapter 2 Swimmers, rowers and sprinters | 19
North Cottesloe surf boat rowers including (middle three) Sandy Sanderson, Gus Graham and Ted Jaggard, late 1920s.
20 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
2
Chapter
repeated by Perth’s well-to-do many times in the future, as
and it was a long slog to the railway station for potential
urban development has crawled relentlessly north along the
commuters. The area attracted tradesmen, labourers and
Indian Ocean. It was then a new idea, to go and live by the
factory workers, included salesmen, boilermakers, dairymen,
sea, made possible by improved public transport and the
drapers, carpenters, bookbinders, tanners, clerks and even
spread of infrastructure, which would enable people to live
a cordial manufacturer, all of modest means, some of them
very distant from their workplaces.
renting investment properties built by the silvertails further
Some of the families who settled in Cottesloe in these early years would later provide the founding members of the Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club. The sea that attracted them to the area in the first place became their playground,
south. From the beginning, the people who settled this new area saw themselves as separate from the inhabitants of older established Cottesloe, and not only, it appears, by virtue of their disparate social standing.
and their sons and daughters took to the water with delight
An aerial photograph taken of Cottesloe in the mid-1920s
as the popularity of surf bathing grew after the turn of the
provides a possible clue to this sense of separation. A finger
century. As the only metropolitan ocean beach readily
of high scrubby dunes extends inland just north of Napier
accessible by public transport, Cottesloe was the first place
Street, with some tennis courts in a hollow dug out of the
in Western Australia to benefit from this Australia-wide trend.
seaward end. This area is public reserve land and was later
By the mid-1900s, summer weekends brought beachgoers,
levelled and developed as car parks and playing fields, with
in ever-increasing numbers, from as far away as Northam
the tennis courts moved away from the coast. Nonetheless
and York. The municipal council, recognising the attraction
as late as the early 1930s it formed a barrier of wilderness
of their sea beach, began to devote more energy and
between the developing northern area of Cottesloe and
resources to its maintenance and development. This was not
the older area, transected by just two roads, Broome Street,
a purely altruistic gesture: the income potential of granting
still a limestone track, and Eric Street. Small wonder local
licences for kiosks, bathing boxes, changing sheds and other
residents felt left out of things. And why bother trekking
concessions along the beachfront was not to be ignored, nor
all that way down to the main beach when there was an
was the opportunity to promote their town as a great place
excellent, much less crowded swimming beach right across
to live. And, as more facilities were provided, so the crowds
the road? So, they used their own beach, and there met up
grew. Settlement expanded northward from the pine tree
with intrepid swimmers seeking refuge from the crowds and
settled in the 1890s. Cottesloe’s initial growth was part of
shaded avenues that connected the railway with the sea. But
clamour of the main beach. At some stage, the area became
the phenomenal expansion of the Perth metropolitan area
still Cottesloe remained just Cottesloe.
known amongst some local wags as Siberia, reflecting
SWIMMERS, ROWERS AND SPRINTERS
T
here is no such suburb as North Cottesloe. On the maps, the Town of Cottesloe is a homogeneous municipality, with no subdivisions or extra postal districts and it has been so ever since the area first began to be
following the discovery of gold. The area became a separate road board in 1895 and was granted municipality status eight
North Cottesloe was created in the minds of residents,
its remoteness.
people of much humbler backgrounds than those who built
A North Cottesloe Progress Association came into being
the gracious residences along Forrest and John streets.
about the same time as the surf club. Obviously, local
The first Cottesloe houses were built by business and
North of Eric Street, the town in the 1900s was still largely
residents felt the council needed a bit of pushing, for the
professional men, attracted by the relatively cheap land
coastal scrub, with unmade roads and scattered houses,
bulk of the councillors, living in their comfortable homes in
in the corridor between the railway, which provided daily
with dairy farms and wood yards. Subdivision for residences
Broome, Forrest and John streets, felt no need to venture
transport to their city offices, and the sea, which they quickly
did not gather pace until after 1910. Land prices were
any further north than Napier Street. No other local residents’
recognised as a rich leisure resource. Their exodus from
substantially cheaper than those in the more developed
associations existed in Cottesloe. Sealed roads, footpaths,
the city to the seaside established a pattern that would be
area to the south, but infrastructure was still rudimentary,
changing sheds for the beach, improved street lighting, all
years later.
Chapter 2 Swimmers, rowers and sprinters | 21
But in 1918 there was no doubt whatsoever in the mind of the first secretary of the North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club, Laurence Gadsdon, as he wrote up the membership register in his neat, functional handwriting. Each founding member living north of Eric Street – and that was the vast majority of them – had his or her address religiously entered as ‘North Cottesloe’. Born in 1897 in Essex, England, Gadsdon, a stonemason and Gallipoli veteran, lived in Margaret Street, one street back from the ocean, and a stone’s throw from the northern boundary of Cottesloe. Built on land newly brought from the property speculator Tom Molloy, who had extensive property holdings in Cottesloe, it was one of two houses in the municipality owned by Mary Gertrude Gadsdon, presumably Laurence’s mother. Gadsdon was a tireless booster for the area in which he lived, and his participation in the establishment of the surf life saving club was only one manifestation of this. He was very likely the brains behind the North Cottesloe Residents’ Association, and in 1922 he was elected councillor for the North Ward. His involvement in local government continued throughout his working life, and he would eventually become Cottesloe’s longest-serving mayor. But all that was in the future in 1918, when 35 men and women got together to form Western Australia’s third surf life saving club – North Cottesloe Life Saving and Athletic Club – behind Cottesloe (1909) and City of Bunbury (1915).
Club champions including Doug Jeffrey (middle).
formed part of the energetic association’s shopping lists
over the years. The demographic mix is now much more
presented to the council by regular deputations.
even, with no particular area discernibly ‘working class’ than
Today Cottesloe is much more homogeneous, a fairly
any other. Few residents living north of Eric Street would
They had the example – and not always a positive one – of the Cottesloe club, thriving 700 metres down the coast; a shared love of the sea and the surf; and a keen sense of isolation from the main action. Anecdotes abound of
prosperous suburb with an even mix of housing styles across
today give their address as ‘North Cottesloe’. Even the railway
its 387 hectares, like most of the other older established
station that was added in later years to serve the burgeoning
suburbs of Perth. Many of the original dwellings in the
area was named ‘Grant Street’ rather than ‘North Cottesloe’.
north have been bulldozed and replaced with larger, more
The only reminders that there was ever any differentiation are
in such stories, the fact that they are told at all is evidence
salubrious homes, while others have been modernised and
the North Cottesloe Primary School, across the railway line in
of the sense of social difference that has been part of the
restored, as the municipality moved inexorably ‘up-market’
Eric Street, and the North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club.
ethos of the North Cottesloe club since its earliest days,
22 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
aspiring surf lifesavers from these northern regions being arrogantly shunned by the Cottesloe club, conscious of its aristocratic image. Whether or not there is any substance
according to folklore, a particularly conscientious secretary, intent on dealing with three decades of clutter, piled up most of club’s old records and set them alight. Stories like these make historians weep from sheer frustration. The membership book, and a minute book dating back to the late 1930s, possibly survived the conflagration only because they were still in use at the time. Without that membership book, any assertions about the club’s founding would be very speculative indeed. As it is, a typescript of uncertain authorship exists, dated at the
Member register, 1918.
and, told to the younger members until they assumed the
best guess in the late 1960s, which maintains that the club
proportions of legends, they have fuelled the intense rivalry
was founded in 1912.
that has persisted between the two clubs. Mischievous glee
Prior to the formal establishment of a club, the North
lights up the eyes of some of the older North Cottesloe
Cottesloe beach was patrolled by members of the 29th
people as they relate stories of Cottesloe being whipped in
Ocean Beach Group of Scouts. In about 1912, a group of
competition by North Cottesloe members who had originally
local residents decided to set up a rescue squad in their
been Cottesloe rejects. Even today, when the demographics of the two clubs is much closer together and, if anything, North Cottesloe club is even richer than Cottesloe, this rivalry persists, together with the conception of North Cottesloe as the ‘working-class’ club, as opposed to Cottesloe’s ‘upperclass’ background.
spare time. These youngsters, including John Juan, John Winterbottom, Barry Northam and George Tyler, fundraised to buy a reel enclosed in a glass case and informally established the North Cottesloe Life Saving and Athletic Club. This would have been an informal set-up with no structure of office bearers, and certainly no recognition from
The membership book, which Laurence Gadsdon began
the local council. The group collected all current information
back in 1918, is the only documentary evidence surviving
on rescue techniques and built themselves some canvas
of the North Cottesloe club’s earliest years. In the 1940s,
canoes and a kayak.
Supporting the evidence of 1918 as the club’s founding year is the club’s first appearance in the minutes of the Cottesloe Municipal Council. The 1918 minute book is actually missing, but the minutes for the year 1919 make reference to an agreement struck between the new club and the council in 1918, that the council would assist in the establishment of clubrooms by matching, pound-for-pound, any funds the club could raise to this end. There are no references at all to a North Cottesloe Life Saving Club in the council’s minutes before 1918, though there are many to the Cottesloe club. In the absence of any other evidence, except the anonymous typescript, which appears to be the only source of the 1912 date, we must accept 1918 as the official beginning of the club. In its first year, the North Cottesloe Life Saving and Athletics Club signed up 18 men and 17 women. Most of these were residents of the immediate area, though there were some from as far afield as Perth, and many of the female members who were not related to male members lived south of Eric Street. Perhaps they welcomed the formation of a club that would accept them as equals of male members. The Cottesloe club was not known for its friendliness to female members. Though North Cottesloe would continue to welcome female members in future years, its early years were those in which women came closest to forming half the total membership; male membership would increase in future years at a much faster rate than that of female membership. This was of course until the mid-1990s when women’s events – swimming, beach sprint relays, boat rowing and ski paddling – were progressively included in State and Australian championships and a large influx of female members began. North Cottesloe differed significantly from Cottesloe SLSC right from the beginning. The Cottesloe club was sponsored by the council, controlled by the local Police Sergeant J. Smith, largely influenced by the Royal Life Saving Society, and had a very restricted membership limited to men, and
Chapter 2 Swimmers, rowers and sprinters | 23
Carnival at Cottesloe, 1925. (photo courtesy of The Grove Library)
24 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
even then, those men of a ‘higher’ social standing. On the other hand, North Cottesloe was always a sportsperson’s club, funded solely by members’ families and fundraising, and not directly influenced by the Royal Life Saving Society. Furthermore, there were few restrictions on membership and participants were divided into the categories of gentlemen, ladies, junior boys and junior girls. North Cottesloe had a substantial number of female members, whilst Cottesloe had none. The original North Cottesloe Life Saving and Athletics Club was similar to a YMCA, offering swimming, surfing, hockey, soccer, tennis, table tennis and cricket. The club patrolled the area between Grant and Eric Streets, known to the locals as ‘North Cottesloe’ or ‘Siberia’. Quite a large number of the members who joined in the club’s first two years did so as part of family groups. Men brought in their wives, and five female members of the Gadsdon family, including two who gave their address as the family’s other house in Broome Street, joined in those years. It looks like an attempt to get the numbers up, hardly surprising given the still sparse population of the club’s catchment area. Those founding members were an energetic and very dedicated bunch. By January 1920, after holding the first club carnival on Boxing Day 1919, the secretary wrote to the council announcing that the club now had £300 in hand and was ready to take up the council on its offer of pound-for-pound support for the construction of clubrooms. This represented quite a credible fundraising effort, given the small number of members, and their limited means. There was a moment of panic in council, that they had unwittingly committed themselves to an openended funding deal, and the town clerk was sent to check the minutes of the 1918 meeting at which the deal had been first struck. To the councillors’ relief, it was discovered that the offer had a ceiling of £150. This amount had originally been allocated to the construction of bathing sheds on the beach, but Gadsdon had successfully argued for the amount to be allocated to the club, if they could raise a similar
State surf boat champions 1925-32 Gus Graham (sweep), R Irvine, A Sanderson, D Palmer and E Jaggard, in their boat ‘The Bryan’.
Chapter 2 Swimmers, rowers and sprinters | 25
amount. At the time of the original offer, it was estimated that
ahead by the meeting. But within a month the whole show
the clubrooms would cost £300.
had come to a grinding halt. The site favoured by the club for
The wheels of bureaucracy slowly turned, and finally, after submitting the plans for the clubrooms and a copy of their constitution and rules, a deputation from the club attended a special council meeting on 4 May 1920 to discuss their proposal. One of the major items of contention, arising from the club’s rules, was the number of members from outside the local area the club intended to enlist. When the club submitted that there would eventually be 150 local residents and 25 outsiders on their membership books, Councillor Hirst expressed concern that outsiders were already well catered for by the facilities on
its rooms was a 30-metre frontage to Swanbourne Terrace, now Marine Parade, opposite the end of Grant Street, about three hundred metres north of the site of the present clubrooms. On inspecting the status of the beachfront reserves, however, the council’s officers discovered that all the beachfront north of Eric Street was part of a four-chainwide road reserve, and hence closed to any kind of building. The decision, taken at the June council meeting, was apparently final, and the council considered itself unable to help the club, since no alternative sites were proposed.
the main beach, and moved that the club be closed for all but
Within a month the North Cottesloe Progress Association was
local residents. There was some spirited debate, after which
lobbying the council to allocate the £150 originally earmarked
Councillor Hearnden proposed a compromise, allowing the
for the life saving club premises to improvements on the North
club to grow to 100 local residents and just 10 outsiders. There
Cottesloe beach, as one of the items in a list which included
were already a number of non-locals on the club’s book. In the
the construction of footpaths and the fencing of quarries.
end, Hearnden’s motion was defeated, presumably allowing
The Progress Association was keeping close tabs on the
the club’s original proposal to stand.
council’s business.
There seemed to be a real concern on the council that
Such a definitive knock-back from the council might have
allowing the club to freely recruit members from outside
been too much for a less enterprising group of individuals,
the local area would draw swimmers away from the central
putting paid to the club’s aspirations. No surf life saving club
beach, where all the council’s lucrative concessions were
could function effectively without clubrooms very close to the
located. There does not seem to be any other case in the
beach it was chartered to patrol, and every other club hitherto
history of surf life saving where a local council actually
established had been able to secure a grant of beachfront
sought to limit the size of a club. One would have imagined
reserve for its building. Local government had always been
that the more active members there were, the more effective
fairly accommodating in these matters, and certainly the
a club would be in carrying out its charter. Could it be that
Cottesloe council had done its best to help the club.
the hidden hand of the Cottesloe club was at work here? It was well known that several councillors were involved in the senior club. The interests of Cottesloe would be well served by the newer club taking on the members it did not want, while not being able to grow to a size where it would threaten Cottesloe’s pre-eminent position.
Rather than throw away the work they had done so far in establishing the club, the committee decided on a bold move. In September 1920, three members, Tom Davey, Fred Pulleine and Charles Pitman, negotiated for the purchase of a vacant block of land fronting Swanbourne Terrace – now
stone change rooms had been constructed on the block, and the club was lobbying the council to build a ramp to the beach opposite the new building. Within a couple of years, the building was being extended and modified, the beginning of a process that would characterise its entire 50-year life.
Marine Parade. North Cottesloe would become the first and
No evidence survives as to whose idea it was to buy the
Despite the misgivings of some councillors, the North
only club in Australia to privately purchase and develop the
land and build on it, but it can be reasonably assumed that
Cottesloe clubrooms project was given the unanimous go-
land for its own clubrooms. Within months a pair of basic
the board purchasing the land on behalf of the club had a
26 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
hand in it. All were pioneering residents of the area – Fred
in the competitions. Such a mass
Pulleine, a bank clerk and the club treasurer at the time, and
departure could not have failed to affect
two other local businessmen. All would go on to serve long
the operations of the club. One can only
terms as active members and office-bearers. In acting on
speculate as to what might have been
behalf of the club in the purchase of the land, they showed
the cause. The most likely reason is that
a level of commitment far beyond any that might reasonably
some of the sporting teams that were
be required of club officials, as well as a great faith in the
members of the ‘Life Saving and Athletics
club’s future. It would be two more years before the club
Club’ were now in the position to operate
became an incorporated legal entity able to own the land in
independently. Other reasons could have
its own right, so in a very real and practical sense the three
been: that members could have been
were acting as guarantors, personally liable for the mortgage
required to align with new surf life saving
payments if the club should fail. On the other hand, what a
regulations and start training for their
great incentive to work hard to see that it did not!
bronze medallion; a strenuous recruiting drive by Cottesloe drawing away the best
The enterprise of the North Cottesloe officials did not go
swimmers; a mass disaffection with the
unnoticed down the coast. In 1928, the Cottesloe club,
direction the club was taking? Or maybe
facing the prospect of replacing its clubrooms, attempted
it was simply something as prosaic as
to emulate North Cottesloe and purchased a block of land
a purge of non-financial members. In
in John Street, next to the Cottesloe Hotel. This project
any case the decline in membership
unfortunately, would end in disaster, when the block had
of 1923/24 was the only aberration in
to be sold off at a loss during the Depression, simply to
the club’s first decade of otherwise
fend off bankruptcy. For Cottesloe, the prospect of owning
continuous growth. Numbers were back
their clubrooms freehold was a luxury freeing them from
up to pre-1924 levels after only a couple
dependence on the patronage of local government. For
more seasons.
North Cottesloe, however, it was a necessity – the future of
Though the local council’s attempt
the club depended on it.
to limit club membership to local
The club grew steadily during the first half-dozen years,
residents had not, in the end, been
the membership numbers trending generally upwards, but
successful, they need not have
showing no great influxes in any one year. One anomaly
bothered, for most of the membership
was a sudden plunge in membership in the 1923/24 season.
continued to be drawn from the
From a high of 136 in the previous season, membership
immediate hinterland, with a smattering
declined to 103, a drop of more than a quarter. In terms of
of members from south of Eric Street,
percentages, it was very likely the most dramatic single-year
and very few at all from outside
decline in the club’s history. Even more curiously, most of
Cottesloe. It was still a fairly out-of-
the decline was in active male members – more than 20
the-way place and few people had
departed that year. Active males were the very backbone of the club, those who carried out the patrols and participated
North Cottesloe surf carnival poster, December 1927.
motor vehicles. As the first community organisation to be established, and now
Chapter 2 Swimmers, rowers and sprinters | 27
were added over the ensuing
in getting a new surf life saving club up to speed, along
years, participating at various
with an enthusiastic membership and permanent premises,
levels in the metropolitan
was training and in 1918, that meant Sergeant John Smith,
amateur competitions.
Chief Instructor of the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) and a
It isn’t clear how these sporting teams fitted in to the structure of the club, or whether those who joined just to play a sport were considered to be ordinary members, but the club did make representations to the local council on behalf of its various
the father of surf life saving in Western Australia. Arriving in Perth from the goldfields towards the end of the 1890s, Smith very quickly developed an interest in swimming and water sports and had organised training and displays of life saving techniques at swimming sports along the Swan River. In 1909 he founded the Western Australian branch of the Royal Life Saving Society, and in the same year was instrumental in
sporting teams on matters such
establishing the Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club.
as the availability of playing
Though surf life saving in New South Wales, the cradle of
fields and training facilities. North
the movement and for many years its stronghold, had very
Cottesloe Surf Life Saving and
early on broken away from the largely still water oriented
Athletics Club was responding
RLSS and developed its own techniques and certification
to demands from local residents, and the management committee seemed to have no problem with the arrangement, but it must have had some deleterious effect upon the club’s primary focus. At one stage, only a minority of club members
Land grant for clubhouse site.
prodigiously dedicated police officer, who has been declared
procedures, the movement in the west remained for many years subject to the rules and protocols of the older organisation. This was primarily due to the tremendous influence and charisma of John Smith, who played a pivotal role in the establishment of Western Australia’s first three surf life saving clubs.
were actually listed as ‘swimmers’
Smith became a member of North Cottesloe in its second
in the membership register. Towards
season, and presumably his role was similar to that he had
the end of the 1920s, the sporting
played at Cottesloe – placing his broad expertise in both still
teams were gradually discontinued as
water and surf life saving at the disposal of the members, who
facilities and the population in that
would be trained under his guidance to a level of competency
area improved and the sporting teams were able to stand
necessary for the club to carry out its charter. While there is
having a visible presence in the form of the developing
on their own. In addition, the reorganisation of surf life saving
no record of what Smith actually did for the club in these early
clubrooms, the surf club naturally became a focus
in Western Australia from 1925 would require the club to
years, or whether he held any office, his contribution must have
for activity in an area otherwise bereft of recreational
focus its energies more specifically on its prime purpose.
been great, for it was recognised by his naming as the club’s
facilities. By 1922, the club had established a football
Club membership continued to increase steadily, despite
first life member. His success in training the North Cottesloe
team, presumably to provide winter sport for members,
the dropping of the sporting teams, standing at 154 by the
lifesavers was apparent by early 1925, when he accompanied
but people were being allowed to join just to play football.
end of the decade. In 1932, the club had amended its name
a group of them to City Beach to give a series of life saving and
Soccer teams, ladies’ hockey, and even cricket teams
to that of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club. A vital factor
resuscitation demonstrations before a huge crowd.
28 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
North Cottesloe women’s R&R team, late 1930s.
Chapter 2 Swimmers, rowers and sprinters | 29
1925 State surf race champions B Challis, J MacDermott, E Bemrose and I Youngberg.
1931 State R&R champions E Bemrose, J James, H McKenzie, A Mell, K Caporn and B Irvine.
These demonstrations led directly to the formal establishment
of the Western Australian Amateur Swimming Association,
in ocean beach conditions, rather than the RLSS bronze, as
of the City of Perth Surf Life Saving Club.
spoke against the move. That meeting formally established
previously. Though the RLSS had, through Inspector John
the Surf Life Saving Association of Western Australia, known
Smith, exerted some influence over the development of the
as State Centre, which still exists today as the umbrella body
movement, it was mainly Smith’s energy and personality that
in this State, having undergone only minor changes during its
had driven its early development. Surf life saving needed to
75-year history.
be placed on a firm footing to ensure its growth and survival
Like any father, the acknowledged progenitor of the surf life saving movement in Western Australia had inevitably to face the time when his offspring would seek to make its own way in life. At a meeting in November 1925, organised by Cottesloe’s
when Smith was no longer able to contribute. Jim Paton, of
Jim Paton, and attended by Laurie Gadsdon and Bill
This consolidation of surf life saving was an essential step in
Waterman of North Cottesloe, as well as by representatives of
the development of the movement. For a start, it established
the fledgling City of Perth club, the three metropolitan clubs
uniform standards of practice for participating clubs in terms
resolved to make a complete break with the Royal Life Saving
of training, life saving techniques and beach patrolling
Society, form their own State organisation, and affiliate with the
obligations, drawing heavily on the practices developed
New South Wales body, which in 1920 had begun styling itself
over the years in New South Wales. Members wishing to
as the Surf Life Saving Association (SLSA). Neither John Smith,
qualify as surf lifesavers would now be required to obtain
The second important consequence of the consolidation
present as RLSS representative, nor Carl Bader, President
the SLSA bronze medallion, awarded for specific proficiency
was the establishment, for the first time, of uniform standards
30 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Cottesloe, the principal architect of the new organisation, had found the RLSS rather unwilling to add to its responsibilities by becoming the umbrella organisation for surf life saving. Recognition of this was very likely the reason Smith did not oppose the move by the surf clubs.
More importantly, competition was
acted as the resuscitator, and a reelman. The race part of the
a highly-effective means of the
event began when the patient swam out to a buoy, which
development of the skills essential
he had to touch correctly and then raise his arm for the
to effective life saving – swimming,
beltman to enter the water. The beltman swam out, effected
running, physical strength, agility,
the rescue, and was then reeled into the shore, where the
quick reflexes and teamwork. All of
linesmen and resuscitator took over. Each stage of the event
the competitive events held in surf
was diligently observed by an army of earnest judges, and
life saving, even to the present day, in
teams were judged on their adherence to a very detailed set
some way relate to the skills required
of procedures, with points deducted for each breach, from
of lifesavers. Generally, surf life saving
a possible total of 80. It was possibly the most difficult and
events fall into three broad categories
demanding team event in surf life saving – small wonder
– swimming, beach running, and
that it was granted so much importance. Procedure for the
boat and craft racing. There is also
R&R was described in detail in the competition manual, for
the military-precision march past.
example this description of the procedure for placing the
All these events are meticulously
belt:
described, and the detailed rules laid
“To place the belt he shall grasp the canvas of the belt between the next strap and the D’s with his right hand (palm down), this time release the grip of the left arm, then turn left about and, opening the belt with both hands, shall take one pace forward with his left foot, go down on his right knee, and place the belt.”
out, in the Australian Surf Life Saving Competition Handbook, known as the bible and supreme authority for the movement. The establishment of the 1926 State junior R&R champions C Delemare, J James, W Nicholson, J Stubbs, E Dewar and J Dewar.
and rules of competition. Surf life saving’s development as a
State Centre brought the ‘blue book’ to Western Australia, standardising surf
competition across Australia.
competitive sport was an essential prerequisite for its primary
The prestige team event for many years was the rescue
existence as an important community service. By providing
and resuscitation, or R&R. So important was that R&R that
opportunities for competition, surf life saving was able to
the club which won the event at each year’s State carnival
offer something of a quid pro quo for the not inconsiderable commitment expected of bronze medallion holders. SLSA rules required club members to train in life saving technique, progressing, within a prescribed period, towards the award
was designated premier. The R&R event encapsulated all the essential elements of surf life saving, and was a multifaceted event, judged not merely on speed, but on discipline, position and teamwork. Judging commenced
And so it goes, for 27 pages, complete with illustrations of the correct procedures and even precise plan of marching directions.
as the teams marched into position for the start, as they
State championship carnivals began in Western Australia
prepared their equipment and drew lots for position. There
in 1926, initially with three participating clubs – Cottesloe,
were six members of an R&R team, and under the SLSA
North Cottesloe and City of Perth. They were joined in 1928
each season, watching over the beach their club had
rules introduced in 1925, members drew lots for position,
by the Scarboro club, and between them these four clubs
been established to protect. Participation in competition
ensuring that all members had a high level of proficiency in
– the ‘Big Four’, as one writer dubbed them – dominated
was dependent upon the satisfactory completion of the
each function. There was the person who was to be rescued,
surf competition until after the Second World War. In the
prescribed number of patrol hours.
called the patient, the beltman, three linesmen, one of whom
pre-war period, the senior R&R event was shared between
of the bronze medallion. Once so qualified, members were required to perform a certain number of patrol hours
Chapter 2 Swimmers, rowers and sprinters | 31
Mamie Williams, Nancy McKerracher, Minchen Highet and Pauline Bell between events at a carnival, 1920s.
North Cottesloe women’s march past team, 1930s.
RB ‘Bruce’ MacKenzie catching a wave.
Cottesloe and North Cottesloe, with the former taking
including president, and was awarded life membership in
the club. This meant that the boat Cottesloe had on order
out eight of the championships, and the latter seven.
1937. He signalled his potential in 1924 when he and his mate
from an eastern states builder would not now be required.
Significantly, the grand parade and march past, an event
Eric Bemrose entered the one-mile Swim Through Cottesloe
North Cottesloe took over the order, with the assistance of a
judged on spectacle, pomp and military spit and polish, was
and won.
£50 share in the proceeds of Cottesloe’s ‘killer shark’ display.
won in the first eight years by Cottesloe. Though other clubs would take the lead in subsequent years, North Cottesloe never won a march past event at a State championship, despite its frequent success in just about every other field of
However, if there was one field of competition in which North Cottesloe indisputably dominated in these early years, it was surf boat racing. North Cottesloe won every year for the first
A subsidy from the Cottesloe council rounded out the deal. Since the boat was still under construction, North Cottesloe’s committee shrewdly asked the builder to cut down on
seven years, before surrendering its dominance to Scarboro
the weight.
in 1933. And it would appear that this dominance of surf boat
As to the men who would crew the new boat, named The
competition was entirely due to the uncharacteristic altruism
Bryan, after the Mayor of Cottesloe Aidan Bryan, two of them
of North Cottesloe’s arch-rival. First of all, the ‘Premier’ club
were the subject of one of the earliest stories of Cottesloe’s
pointless waste of time and were quite happy to let the vain
helped North Cottesloe acquire its first surf boat, then it
loss being North Cottesloe’s gain. Two teenagers, Gus
Cottesloe toffs have the field to themselves.
unwittingly supplied the younger club with the ready-made
Graham and H.R. ‘Bob’ Irvine, spent a lot of time at Cottesloe
competition. Could it be possible that the rough and ready ’working class’ North Cottesloe held a healthy disdain for the kind of discipline required for a successful march past? Maybe, understandably, they saw the march past as a totally
Jack James epitomised those who made up the ranks of
nucleus of a champion crew.
main beach in the early 1920s. They had a small boat, named
North Cottesloe at the time. By 1919, at the age of seven,
Cottesloe already had its first surf boat on order when, in
the Bonito, which they used for fishing, and they would often
Jack was a regular beach goer, his family having moved to
November 1925 (the very month in which the State Centre
hawk their catch off the Cottesloe jetty on a busy summer’s
Marine Parade one year earlier. He was proud to receive his
was established on that club’s initiative), a horrific shark
day. They also discovered that they could use the little
square linen North Cottesloe badge, sewn onto his full-
attack on the Cottesloe main beach cost the life of a young
dingy to catch waves, and between them they developed a
length swimming trunks, as a junior member, and went on to
public servant. Subsequently, the retailing firm Boans Ltd,
technique for riding waves to the beach, controlling the boat
become one of the club’s champion swimmers in the 1920s
in recognition of the courage of Cottesloe members in
with the oars. Even before a surf boat existed in Western
and 30s, serving in many active and executive capacities,
responding to the emergency, offered to provide a boat for
Australia, Gus and Bob were in training.
32 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
In 1924 the two young men applied to join the Cottesloe
administrative support. In addition, with his friends Mike
Surf Life Saving Club, but were knocked back, as Irvine
Bemrose, Jack Rothwell, Ron Black, Stan and Arthur Pitman
suggested because the club did not consider it seemly to
and the Walsh brothers, he found the club provided a social
admit members who sold fish from the jetty and showed
focus in the 1920s for the relatively isolated North
off their shark catches to the public from a small tent on the
Cottesloe community.
beach (charging 3 pence per adult, 1 penny per child). So the men went up the coast and were welcomed by North Cottesloe and because of their experience messing about in boats, were obvious choices for the crew of The Bryan. Gus Graham’s feats as sweep during these glory years elevated him to legendary status, and as his crews clobbered Cottesloe year after year, he must have felt a very sweet taste of lasting revenge. Also included in the crew that won Western Australia’s first surf boat race on Easter Monday 1926 was E.K. ‘Ted’ Jaggard, in his first year with the club. In 1930 R.J. ‘Barney’ Peacock joined the group, as Gus Graham’s lads continued, literally, to sweep all before them. In the same year, 13-year-old Sam Law came to the club as a juvenile, though his forte would be swimming and R&R, rather than boats. These three, along with several others such as Sandy Sanderson, D. Palmer, J. MacDermott, B. Challis, Eric Bemrose and Ivan Youngberg who began their careers with the club about this time, were the first of the second generation of North Cottesloe members, who would
At that time, Bruce was involved in the 10-man competition in which 10 men from each club would compete in the R&R, boat race, alarm reel (belt race), beach sprint, surf dash and surf relay. Ballots were drawn, and if you were unlucky you competed in all 10 events – a very tiring day indeed. Bruce went on to become the club’s senior sweep and boat captain. Mr J. MacDermott, who joined from the Manly club in 1925 as instructor along with Basil Challis, the club captain, was instrumental in ensuring a large number of bronze medallions were awarded to members that year. Others who contributed to the club through administrative roles included John Rowbottom, William Beckett, Clarrie Briggs, William Smith and Bill Waterman. The North Cottesloe women were also actively competing at the time. There was a parallel inter-club competition for women, though the results of these events were never as religiously recorded as those of the men, and women’s carnivals, though judged by members of the Board of Examiners of State Centre, were denied official status.
proceed to build on the solid foundation laid by the likes
The North Cottesloe ladies were winning the prestigious
of Laurence Gadsdon and Charles Pitman. Indeed, Barney
events such as the R&R at the time. Women such as Irena
Peacock would marry Connie Pitman, daughter of Charles
Flegg, Minchen Highet, Nancy McKerracher, Doretta Gecke,
and a member of North Cottesloe’s first ladies’ R&R team.
Norma Morgan, Ivy Mell, Dorothy Kilpatrick, Nancy Orr and
Ted Jaggard would also meet his future wife, Joan Glauert,
Betty Graham were the prominent North Cottesloe women
through his involvement with the club. For these people, the
of the era.
club was indeed a way of life.
By 1932, in the depths of the great Depression, North
R.B. ‘Bruce’ MacKenzie, who became a life member in
Cottesloe had 172 members. The economic collapse
1958, was one of those club members who not only
does not appear to have had a drastic effect upon the
made an enormous contribution through his competitive
membership of the club, perhaps because, in those lean
achievements but also through the role he played in
years, the beach was more than ever a cheap leisure
Beach sprinter Mick Bemrose winning the beach relay for North Cottesloe, late 1930s.
Chapter 2 Swimmers, rowers and sprinters | 33
resource, and membership of the surf club provided an affordable diversion from the generally bleak outlook. It appears that the club, in common with many others at this time, exercised considerable leniency in the collection of fees, with obvious resultant effects upon the finances. Being a private landowner, the club was liable each year to pay rates on its clubrooms to the council, but each year the council would refund those rates from a special account set up to benefit community organisations. By 1930 the club could not even afford to pay the rates to begin with and was asking the council to excuse it from payment altogether. From 1929 the council also excused the club from having to pay a portion of its takings from its surf carnival, held each Boxing Day. For both Cottesloe and North Cottesloe there was financial assistance to help them equip and maintain their first-aid rooms. There was no unemployment benefit in those days, but sustenance payments were made to unemployed workers in return for work on various public work projects, usually administered and supervised by local councils. Often it would be back-breaking pick-and-shovel labour, but for North Cottesloe member H.N. Walker, sustenance work was not quite so onerous. For the summer of 1932, the council allowed him to work his sustenance payments as ambulance officer and beach patrol on weekday afternoons, working out of the North Cottesloe clubrooms. Few ‘susso workers’ had it so good.
1932 State beach relay champions Reg Disley, Jack Anderton, Archie Mell and W Lantzke.
sprinters Reg Disley, Mick Bemrose and Don Host between
Lamb (this last allegedly yet another Cottesloe reject) also
In 1933, North Cottesloe’s run of surf boat racing
them brought home the bacon for the club for seven years
appeared regularly on the winners’ list.
championships was finally broken by the upstart Scarboro
running from 1930 to 1940. These three sprinters, along
club, and North Cottesloe would never again until the late
with the likes of Jack Anderton, Archie Mell, Jack Howson
1990s exercise such dominance in this event. Still, the 1930s
and Sam Law, dominated the beach relay, winning the
brought the club its fair share of competition successes. The
State championships from 1930 to 1934 and from 1936 to
club playing their part, and those from North Cottesloe
see-saw battle with Cottesloe for supremacy in the R&R,
1941. Victory in the swimming events was almost evenly
were not backward in coming forward. Laurence Gadsdon
with regular North Cott competitors such as Don Irvine,
distributed between Cottesloe and North Cottesloe, with
served a term as State secretary between 1931 and 1934,
faded out from 1936 when North Cottesloe won its last title
Scarboro and City scarcely getting a look in. Names like
and two terms as State president, 1937 to 1943 and 1944 to
for five years. There were good showings from then on in
Lou Oberman dominated in the 30s, winning two junior and
1946. Gadsdon’s position in the community – he was mayor
the junior R&R, which augured well for future years. Beach
four senior State belt race titles. Swimmers McKenzie and
of Cottesloe by the time of his second presidency – tended
34 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
The success of the State Centre was vitally dependent upon the participation of skilled administrators from the
1939 State beach relay champions Sam Law, Don Host, Archie Mell and Mick Bemrose.
Chapter 2 Swimmers, rowers and sprinters | 35
T
oday few people have memories long enough to recall that well before the Vidlers, Morrisons and Hampshires seized the attention of the WA surf life saving world, the first outstanding swimmer was North Cottesloe’s Hugh Alexander ‘Pro’ McKenzie. Claremont was his home suburb (many of the club’s early members, particularly swimmers, came from there), but as a schoolboy he swam for Guildford Grammar School, before making a name for himself at Claremont Baths where for 10 years he was a member of the local swimming club’s unbeaten Flying Squadron relay team. McKenzie was one of Australia’s fastest sprinters, a State record holder over 100 yards, and won a succession of still water titles up to 1933.
at his peak, was also a highly-successful rower, twice representing WA in the King’s Cup in the early 1930s. Later, in World War II, he served in the navy. There is a story of him returning to Fremantle towards the end of the war and becoming impatient with the time it was taking to organise transport from his ship in Gage Roads. So, he dived overboard and proceeded to effortlessly swim to shore, eventually arriving at his favourite beach an hour or so later.
In the surf for North Cottesloe his record was equally good, for between 1928 and 1933 he won three State belt race titles, finished second twice, added two champion surfer (surf race) titles and was a member of three State champion R&R teams. By any standard he was an excellent all-round swimmer, happy in any conditions, and he obviously played a major part in North Cottesloe’s early dominance of swimming events. Contemporaries describe him as a smiling, easy-going character who, like one or two others in the club, enjoyed a party and was very popular with women. They also recall that occasionally before races he would smear the inside of his mouth with Vaseline and deliberately swallow some as well, believing it would improve his performance. The man who one newspaper described as having an ‘iron constitution’, and who in the surf was unbeatable
36 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
to magnify his achievements in some eyes. When he was awarded a knighthood in 1960, the valedictory article in The West Australian described him as the ‘founder of surf life saving in WA’. Though his contribution was important, it could hardly be characterised in those terms. Ted Jaggard made the leap in 1930, serving a term as State superintendent, a position he resumed in 1937 for a further 12 years. It’s hard to imagine where he got the time, for Jaggard was almost totally devoted to North Cott spending long hours maintaining the clubrooms, holding, at various times, just about every position on the board of management, and spending every summer weekend on the beach, training bronze squads and competition teams. In a very short time, Jaggard had risen through the ranks to a position of considerable responsibility and respect within the club, with a reputation as a doer, rather than a talker. He chose his words carefully, and made everyone count, but was renowned for his sense of humour, as well is his coolness in situations of stress. North Cottesloe would come to depend upon people like Ted, and the people he trained. By the end of its surf club’s first 20 years, North Cottesloe was no longer Siberia. Residential development had proceeded apace, rapidly filling in the scrubby spaces. The surf club had a large timber-framed clubhouse, with recreation hall and office upstairs and change rooms and gear storage downstairs. Like every club along the coast, it was perennially strapped for cash, and operating on a precarious overdraft, but at no time was its future anything but assured.
Pro McKenzie, multiple State champion, 1920s and 30s.
3
3
1952 Australian R&R champions Ron Hinchliffe, Ken Caporn, Bill Kidner, Graham Russell, Laurie Russell and John Meadmore.
Chapter 3 Kings of the world | 37
Club members with pennants and trophies, 1939/40.
38 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
3
Chapter
KINGS OF THE WORLD
I
n the 1930s there were still very few kids in Perth who had the privilege of growing up within walking distance of the ocean. Despite the exponential growth of the gold rush years, Perth was still a small place, growing slowly out from the old established population centres, along railway lines and major roads. Most of the population was still dependent on public transport for what mobility there was, and in those poverty-stricken times the first call on money for fares was to get to work, if you had it. If you were unemployed, there was precious little to spend on anything but the necessities, which generally did not include leisure. Where you lived, in those days, was determined by proximity to your place of employment more than anything else. If you got to the beach at all, it was by dint of careful planning
and scrimping. You made a day of it, travelling by train in the morning to Cottesloe or South Beach, returning late in the afternoon to the stored heat of the suburbs. How lucky, then, were the kids of Cottesloe, for whom the beach was at most a few streets away. If you lived close enough, you could hear the ocean, and how could anyone resist it, on those bone dry, crystal-clear summer mornings, with the sun already burning the sky as you ate your breakfast? Cottesloe kids raced through their weekend household tasks, or cunningly evaded them, before heading for the beach. It cost nothing to get there, admission was free, and you could stay as long as you liked. Tommy Stewart’s family were forced off their farm in the late 1920s by the economic collapse, and gravitated to North Cottesloe, living in a rented house behind the Ocean Beach Hotel. Tommy’s father had real trouble finding work in the impoverished city and was dependent upon sustenance for long periods. They’ll tell us now that the worst of the Depression was over by 1934, but for some families the whole decade was one of unrelenting struggle. Children were, perhaps, unaware of the privations that worried their parents, not conscious of their existence as being deprived. They knew little else, after all, and they always found a way to have fun, even in the most difficult times. Though their parents were not great beachgoers, Tommy and his brothers naturally gravitated towards the beach, and it became the centre of their social life. They spent whole weekends on the beach, plunging into the surf, learning to swim and catch waves almost instinctively. All the friendships they had were formed on the beach, and for many of them, the association with the ocean would be lifelong. Of course, no one would spend much time at the beach near the foot of Eric Street without noticing the men and women, the boys and girls in those distinctive matching bathing costumes, emblazoned across the chest – decent bathing costumes still covered the whole torso for both sexes – with
the winged life buoy, the insignia of the North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club. No one knows how the insignia came into being, or who designed it, but it is visible in the earliest known photographs of the North Cottesloe members, and is still very much in use today. No one would dare tamper with that tradition, no matter how quaint it might appear today, reminiscent more of air pilots’ wings than the mark of an earthbound lifesaver. Every summer weekend, the North Cottesloe lifesavers were there on the beach, diligently carrying out their duties, partly out of a sense of civic duty and pride, but not a little in trepidation of the attentions of the State Centre inspectors, who were likely to be hiding in the sand hills making sure that duty was done. Some of them, it was rumoured, were vindictive Cottesloe officials, watching for any breach of patrol regulations that would give them the chance to rub a North Cottesloe champion out of the next competition. You might dislodge your cap while taking off your T-shirt, bringing the inspector charging down from the sandhills to cite you for a breach of dress regulations. On the other hand, if your cap was tied on correctly in the first place, it would not be dislodged. You never knew when they would descend on you and ‘breach’ you, for not being in the right place at the right time. So the story went anyway. Very likely the examiners loomed larger than life for the young lifesavers, and if the truth were known, their bark was probably much worse than their bite. But over the years such accounts assume the proportions of folklore and might be a useful way of keeping the younger or more hot-headed lifesavers on their toes and up to the mark. But there’s no disputing the fact that the work these unpaid volunteers did on the beach, week after week, was highly effective, whatever the motivation might have been. Each year, the club annual reports religiously recorded statistics of the rescues effected, divided up into those using the reel, those which were unassisted and those which used the boat. The statistics don’t reveal the true nature of the enterprise
Chapter 3 Kings of the world | 39
Shark alarms were regular occurrences. The horror of the Ettelson tragedy at Cottesloe in 1925 cast a long and lingering shadow. Sharks probably always cruised the waters off our beaches, the vast majority of them, as science has since shown, singularly uninterested in the strange vertebrates that swam in the shallows, and probably today there are as many of them as there ever were. But who was to know that in the 1930s? Surf lifesavers in observation towers scanned the waters continuously for signs of the fearsome creatures, ready to sound the siren at any sighting, no matter how distant, and to take to the boat to drive the sharks away from the potential feast. At South Beach, the local authority even went to the trouble of constructing a shark proof fence, and the lonely pylon off the Cottesloe main beach is a relic of an aborted attempt to establish something similar. As the memory of that terrible November day in 1925 faded, swimmers and surf lifesavers became more complacent. The South Beach shark proof fence disintegrated and was not replaced and the Cottesloe fence was never completed. Shark watches by surf lifesavers continued, but weekend aerial shark patrols, instituted in the 1960s, were eventually discontinued. Even a 1997 close encounter between a shark and a group of North Cottesloe ski paddlers could not entirely remove this sense of complacency. As one of the paddlers pointed out, they all knew there were sharks out there, but they also knew the probability of being attacked The Stewart brothers Andy, Tom, Alec and Bill in front of the clubhouse.
by one was remote. There was far more chance of being
of life saving. North Cottesloe Beach is one of the safest in the
gusty December day in 1937 earned it a special commendation
killed in a car accident on the way to the beach. They were
metropolitan area, in terms of the frequency of treacherous
from the management committee. Two seasons later, in
right about that, but however remote the possibility, it is
conditions. This can easily lull lifesavers into a false sense of
1939/40, the total tally of rescues in 348 patrol hours was 22.
still there.
security. On some days conditions can suddenly change for
Eternal vigilance is the only sure measure against tragedy, and
Then, at 6:30am on 6 November 2000, 75 years to the month
the worse, and before lifesavers know it they are paddling out
perhaps the draconian ministrations of the inspectors were
after the death of Simon Ettelson at Cottesloe Beach, North
past the break to bring back a swimmer being swept out by an
intended to forcefully drive home this point. It is a proud boast
Cottesloe member Ken Crew was attacked by a 4.5-metre
undertow. Half the season’s rescues might happen on a single
of North Cottesloe, and many other clubs besides, that in its
white pointer shark, 30 metres from the shore, and within
day, and if a lifesaver has been rostered on to a patrol that day,
long history not a single life has been lost on the beach while
200 metres of the North Cottesloe clubrooms. Another
it’s down to them. Blue Patrol’s effort of five rescues in a single
their lifesavers have been on patrol.
swimmer, Dirk Avery, was also injured by the shark as he fled
40 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
the water. Swanbourne-Nedlands ski paddlers John Verity, Alex Harrison and Gerry Whyatt risked life and limb as they cleared swimmers from the water and attempted to rescue fatally-injured Ken Crew, who died on the beach a short time later. Ken was a popular club member, and his death sent shock waves of grief through the club. In an instant the old fear, the horror of the unknown, was rekindled. Panic swept metropolitan beaches, which were closed for several days after the incident, as reports came through of the shark’s continued presence. Inevitably, chilling echoes of the 1925 attack were invoked, not least being the proximity – only a few hundred metres away. One significant difference, though, was that there was no immediate punitive expedition to kill the shark. Now a protected species, the shark was only to be killed if it continued to pose a risk to beachgoers. It was seen, possibly, on a number of occasions, but not captured. Ken Crew was the third victim of a shark attack in Australia that year, though his death was perhaps more keenly felt since it happened at our popular metropolitan beach. The other two deaths happened, within weeks of each other, on isolated surf beaches on Australia’s southern coast. It was a timely reminder that the sea, no matter how well patrolled, is still an alien environment for humans, with no fences and no borders, and it begins at the high-water mark. In the 1930s, Tom Stewart and his friends could feel safe on the beach under the constant gaze of the North Cottesloe patrols, but the aspect of surf life saving that was most visible to them was the competition. They experienced the infectious excitement of the regular intra-club beach events
Club members on the steps of the clubhouse, late 1930s.
and the occasional carnivals, with the colourful military
Competitions, particularly the State championship carnivals,
to the front and squatted in the sand. They got to know
pomp and the fierce rivalry of boat races, beach sprints and
which were held at North Cottesloe on regular rotation,
the team members, many of whom were their friends and
the all-important R&R. North Cottesloe was their team, and
attracted large crowds of spectators. Photographs show
neighbours. They recognised them from seeing them on
they barracked as hard as any football fan urging on a league
the crowds, dressed mostly in street clothing rather than
the beach every weekend, for even the most illustrious and
team. If the action was at Cottesloe main beach, it was only
bathing suits, pressed up against rope barriers and crowding
decorated champions were still required to fulfil their annual
a short stroll away, effectively doubling the opportunities.
clubhouse roofs to catch a glimpse. Kids pushed their way
quota of beach patrols, much as they often took exception at
Chapter 3 Kings of the world | 41
in the navy during the war, Bill went to North Cottesloe and remained there, forging an illustrious career that took him to the upper echelons of the movement. Tom Stewart had no trouble getting into North Cottesloe in 1937. The first time, in September of that year, the club had established a separate juvenile division, with an annual subscription of one shilling and six pence, to encourage young members. Many who joined the club at that time give as one of the reasons ‘everyone seemed to be joining’, what today we would call peer group pressure. Tom’s elder brother Andy was already a member, and his two younger brothers Bill and Alec would follow him. By 1941 there were four Stewart boys in the club. Andy would get his day of glory earlier than most. In the 1941 State championship carnival, the all-important senior R&R team was short a member when Lou Oberman pulled out on the day of the competition. Oberman was a prodigious swimmer, who had won the surf belt race title three years North Cottesloe marchers in ‘butcher’ bathers during a march past competition at Cottesloe Beach, 1945.
running, on one occasion when the sea was so rough he was the only competitor to make it out to the buoy. Andy, still a
this duty, to the endless irritation of club patrol captains. No
juvenile, a sub-junior up to age 16, a junior up to 18, and from
junior, was promoted into the senior team at the last minute.
patrols, no competition – there were no exceptions.
then on, a senior. It’s pretty much the same today, though
He had a huge pair of shoes to fill, made even more daunting
the names of some of the categories have changed, and an
when he drew the patient swim in the morning and belt
under-12 grade, endearingly dubbed ‘nippers’, has
swim in the afternoon. North Cottesloe won both the senior
As time went by, as their bodies grew towards adulthood, nourished by plenty of swimming and a healthy if frugal
been added.
and junior titles that year and Andy was in both teams.
their heroes. It was a natural progression from simply
Not all the kids had a trouble-free introduction to club life.
His younger brother Tom, however, distinguished himself
mucking about in the surf, and a way of channelling their
Bill Kidner, aged about nine in the mid-1930s, signed up
enthusiasm into an activity that had almost universal
with the Cottesloe club, but lasted just 12 months. Having
acceptance amongst their elders. It would be a niggardly
saved money from a paper round for the second year’s
and censorious parent indeed who objected to their child
membership fee, he handed the money over to the treasurer,
joining a surf life saving club. For their part, the clubs
but got no receipt at the time, and was confronted again
welcomed children into their ranks; they were the future
a few weeks later to pay his dues. The churlish treasurer
of the movement. There was no lower age limit, but a
refused to believe the boy had already paid, and Bill was
degree of confidence in the water was a generally accepted
awarded a clip over the ear when he tried to argue his
Another name that looms large at this time is Reg
prerequisite, and most North Cottesloe kids had that by the
case. Tearfully, he departed the club forever. Another anti-
Meadmore, who established himself as a very popular
time they hit double figures. At age 14, you were called a
Cottesloe anecdote, and another champion lost. After a stint
member at the club. The eldest of three brothers who were
lifestyle, the kids began to entertain notions of emulating
42 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
with long tours of duty as club captain, in addition to competitive success as State champion in a number of events. He eventually became treasurer and was an active member of the club until his death in January 2000. He was awarded life membership in 1996 and was keenly involved in the club’s aggressive expansion in the early 90s, with all its commensurate issues.
Bluey Galagher, Sam Law and Reg Meadmore, late 1940s.
Another outstanding competitor was Geoff Parker, who had joined the club with his cousins Frank and Lyn Oliver in 1932. He won the State junior belt from 1934 to 1936, senior belt in 1938, and was a member of many successful R&R teams. It is the characters who make up any club, and North Cottesloe certainly had its share during its lifetime. Lifelong friendships were also made, such as that between Ken Porteous and Laurie Russell. Whilst Laurie joined the club in the early 40s, Ken joined the club in 1933, gaining his bronze two years later, and epitomised those who gave so much to the club. He was a keen competitor in surf Graham Russell, Bill Kidner, Bruce MacKenzie (sitting), Kevin Langlands and Ken Caporn, 1946/47.
boats, surf races, beach sprints and flags, was a club junior champion beach sprinter in 1934/35, and in addition to
stalwarts in the club during the 1930s to 60s, he earned
brothers were keen and successful competitors, Reg filling
holding many offices in the club, gaining life membership in
the title of ‘beer officer’ as a result of his taste for organising
that number-three seat in the boat crew that won the
1971, also served on the Surf Life Saving Association’s board
and participating in parties. After the war, Sam Law had a
State championship in 1936. Reg became a life member in
of examiners. He would devote much of his life to the club,
two-gallon wooden beer keg made by Dave Dohnt which
1949 and a life member of State Centre in 1956. Younger
in charge of juveniles, timekeeping and handicapping every
was filled at the OBH before events. A beer book signed by
brother Bill swam as a sub-junior under the watchful eyes of
Sunday morning. Along with Laurie he was involved in club
club members recorded who had taken and filled the keg,
Barney Peacock, went on to win State junior belt and R&R
maintenance and building programs, and with wife Rhona,
when, and for what function, and a quick look at the ‘book’
titles, served as patrol officer, chief instructor, ambulance
formed part of the strong fabric that is North Cottesloe.
provided an audit trail of members’ social activities. Reg was
officer and captain, receiving life membership in 1959. And
In 1939, with war looming and with it the prospect of losing
always quick to check to see which member was holding
the youngest brother John, also a good swimmer, was a
many senior members to the armed forces, the club
a party and then invite himself along. All three Meadmore
member of the 1952 R&R team that won the Australian title.
launched a vigorous recruiting drive. The chief instructor,
Chapter 3 Kings of the world | 43
Charlie Williams, was also a coach for the Nedlands Junior
Sam had joined as a juvenile at the invitation of Arthur
was more in the nature of experienced older brother and
Football Club, and at the end of each season it was his
Newby, and before the war had partnered with Dick Jeffrey,
father figures. Transgressions were frequently dealt with by
practice to ask his players how they intended to spend their
Geoff Parker, Bill Bone, Timmy White and Trevor Palmer
stern words on the spot, or a summary clip over the ear in
summer and offer them the chance to join ‘his’ surf club.
in winning two R&R State championships. Sam played a
extreme cases, and nothing more made of the issue.
They responded in droves, swelling the club’s junior ranks
significant role in fundraising by organising dances, gambling
and keeping the instructors extremely busy as they were
nights, fashion parades, public appeals, beach concerts
fast-tracked through their training. In the 1939/40 season, 29
and chook raffles. At the turn of the century, Sam was still
North Cottesloe members were awarded bronze medallions,
swimming to Grant Street and back every day.
the biggest number in a single season for any club up to that time, and a record that would stand for many years to come. In the same year, the club lost 27 members to military service, so the record effort did little more than maintain the strength for the difficult years ahead. But it also laid the foundations for some remarkable achievements in the immediate post-war years. These days, when scores of bronzes might be awarded in a single season, the number 29 might seem fairly slight, but in 1939 it was no mean feat. The examination for the bronze was a gruelling exercise, involving an oral quiz based on
Dick Jeffrey was a quiet, confident member of the club, who made a great contribution to the club both before and after the war. He was captain of the club in 1935 and 1936 and, together with his two brothers, was part of the winning R&R team of 1936. He had his service to the club interrupted at his peak when he went and joined the RAAF during WWII. Dick was one of the lucky ones to return from the war and he became club treasurer for many years. Laurence Gadsdon was still associated with the club, a life member by now, but his local government commitments
Only once during these years does the behaviour of juveniles rate a mention in the minutes of the management committee. In January 1942, sub-juniors Martin and Russell were the subject of a complaint about ’cheekiness’, and warned that they would be suspended from the club if they did not improve their attitude. Two months later the committee was happy to report that the pair had indeed lifted their game. Graham Russell’s change in attitude was permanent and foreshadowed a career with the club that spanned more than five decades. The not so young Joey Martin, who seems to have been out of his element, subsequently drifted away to Swanbourne-Nedlands SLSC. No harm done, on either side.
and his involvement with State Centre precluded him from
Graham Russell and his brother Laurie are rightfully
proficiency, practical examinations of resuscitation technique,
holding any office. He would still, when called upon, put the
mentioned many times in this history. Both outstanding
and rescue and resuscitation drills. Candidates were
club’s case to the Cottesloe council, as in 1936, when the
athletes, they followed their mates and joined the club in
examined in groups of six, formed into R&R teams for the
club was negotiating with the council for funds to construct
1938 and 1941 respectively. They competed in beach sprints,
exercise, which was repeated a number of times so that each
a boat shed opposite the clubrooms. To the younger
surf races, and the R&R, combined winning six State R&R
team member could be tested in each position – patient,
members, Gadsdon was a distant figure, only present on
titles, and one Australian R&R gold, one silver and two
beltman, lineman, resuscitator and reel operator. Though it
special occasions like carnivals.
bronze medals. They both also represented the State six
was not as tough an exercise as a competition event, each
For the most part, the inner workings of the club were
the contents of the sacred Blue Book, tests for swimming
candidate was expected to know the drill instinctively, for there was every likelihood that one day there would be a real patient at the end of that line.
invisible to the North Cottesloe juveniles and the main contact they had with the hierarchy was through their instructors, who commanded respect and demanded
times. Their contribution touched almost every aspect of club life. Laurie spent 11 years as chief instructor, 10 years as registrar/assistant secretary and then continued to remain active in club life. Graham similarly made an outstanding
The task of ’putting the young blokes through their bronze’
unquestioning obedience from their young charges. Military
contribution to the club, as chief instructor for five years,
fell to the club’s voluntary instructors, who had themselves
discipline was enforced, along with it a keen sense of fair
then assuming the key leadership position of president in
come up through the ranks. By the end of the 1930s, people
play and not a little tolerance of youthful high spirits. The
1963, a role he dutifully executed for 20 years. To say the
like Ted Jaggard, Barney Peacock, Reg Meadmore and Sam
instructors, after all, were not long out of their own junior
Russell brothers have made a contribution to the club is
Law – now past champion competitors – were beginning
days and very aware of the fact that the youngsters shared
an understatement – their stewardship has guided the
to take on positions of responsibility in the club and playing
their love of the beach and were submitting voluntarily to the
club through crisis and success, and epitomises those
their part in training the youngsters.
strictures of club life. The attitude of juniors to their mentors
characteristics that are most admirable about surf life saving.
44 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
1941 State junior R&R champions N Campbell, I Pyvis, W Young, R Rankine-Wilson, T Stewart and K Kessell. Chapter 3 Kings of the world | 45
is not known, but they must have been persuaded to turn a judicious blind eye, if the alternative was to shut down the clubrooms. As the building and maintenance costs continually drained the club’s treasury, notions of razing the whole lot to the ground and building a new one became increasingly attractive. As early as 1944, an architect was engaged to design a new building for the site. By April 1946, possibly influenced by postwar euphoria, president Keith McKinley unveiled plans for a magnificent new three-storey club building, at a proposed cost of £20,000, to include male and female change rooms, lockers, hot and cold showers, Turkish baths, a massage room, kiosk, administration and caretaker’s quarters, ballroom, sunbathing enclosure and a bar. It was little more than a grandiose pipe dream, for even if the club could find that kind of money, restrictions on the supply of building materials and Off to a surf carnival in the back of Mick Edwards’ truck, 1940s.
continuing wartime austerity made the idea at best a distant prospect. Had the club been able to carry out this plan, it
The North Cottesloe management committee had much
meant constant maintenance and regular busy bees were
weightier matters to deal with in 1942 than the behaviour
organised, again often involving the core of committed
of youngsters, and was quite glad not to be burdened with
members. Ted Jaggard spent most of his winter weekends
such problems on a regular basis. Running a surf life saving
doing various chores around the clubrooms, along with
As well as being the focus of club activity, the clubrooms
club was a constant financial and administrative headache
whoever else could be dragooned into helping. An ongoing
were also a major source of income, both through the social
and quite a considerable impost for unpaid office holders.
problem, which would take nearly two decades to solve,
events the club itself organised and through hiring the
Like most voluntary organisations, there was a core of active
was the sewering of the building. A rather alarming report
upstairs hall area to other groups. In the late 1930s, dances
and committed members who devoted a disproportionate
in the club’s 1939/40 annual report stated that ‘the waste
were being held at least once a month throughout the
amount of their effort to keep the club going. They shared
water from the men’s showers was flowing into a stream
year and were a major event on the rather meagre social
amongst themselves the positions on the management
across Marine Parade, while the water from the ladies’
calendar of the North Cottesloe hinterland. The piano in the
committee and each year the general meeting became
and juveniles’ showers disappears somewhere under the
hall was augmented by a three-piece band and admission
building and must eventually have a weakening effect upon
of one shilling was charged. No alcohol was served, officially
the foundations’. A contemporary photograph indeed shows
at least. Joe Poynton, local larrikin who liked the odd drop,
water flowing across the road from the front of the building.
was a frequent attendee, but was mostly discouraged from
Nonetheless, it would be the 1950s before the problem
causing trouble by the presence at the door of the more than
was finally dealt with. As always, the obstacle was finance
able clubmen. Takings fluctuated quite considerably. Usually
The clubrooms featured prominently in the minutes.
– the club simply did not have the money to carry out the
a few pounds were raised at each event and one event in
Constant, year-round use of the timber-framed building
necessary work. The attitude of the council health inspectors
November 1938 raised only 13 shillings and six pence.
a process of members putting themselves forward for positions of responsibility. There were few actual elections, since there were more than enough positions for those prepared to put their hands up. In many years the general meeting finished with some positions unfilled.
46 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
would have ended up the most splendid surf club on the coast. It didn’t cost anything to dream.
Raffles, beach collections and admission charges to carnivals were other major sources of income along with annual membership subscriptions. Apart from occasional local council assistance and equipment grants from State Centre, all the club’s income had to come from the local community. A special appeal for a new surf boat was in full swing in 1939, but at the outbreak of war the management committee resolved to invest the £156 so far raised in war saving bonds. Given the gravity of the situation, apart from the fact that most of the men eligible to crew the new boat would soon be in the forces, the new boat seemed an unnecessary indulgence. As the crisis deepened, the committee resolved in May 1941 to form a board of trustees to run the club should a state of emergency be declared. A year later, with the threat from the Japanese very close, the trustees took over, suspending normal operations until November when the elected management committee took control again. Aside from this minor hiccup, it was pretty much business
Val Pritchard, Fran Lillingston, Pat Beamish, Olive Constable and Yvonne Smedley, early 1950s.
as usual for North Cottesloe during most of the war years. Patrol hours were kept up, thanks to the newly-qualified juniors and, with the exception of 1941/42 – which may have been due to the state of emergency – annual bronze awards remained at fairly respectable levels. Twenty-two were awarded in 1943/44, and 23 in 1944/45. The annual tally of rescues continued approximately at pre-war levels,
weekends during the war. Though the women in the club
joining the club as well. Fran Lillingston followed her elder
were not eligible for the SLSA Bronze Medallion, and were
sisters Lesley and Rhoda into the club and in 1943 was joined
normally not permitted to take part in patrols, women had
by younger sister Beryl. Pat Beamish followed her sister
been welcomed as full members at North Cottesloe since the
Frances in 1944. All were swimmers and competed in the
club’s foundation.
‘parallel’ carnivals. They had their own State championships,
indicating that beach usage by the general public had not
In 1936, noting the decline in female membership, the
been unduly affected by the war.
management committee undertook to attempt to attract more
Some of the slack in patrol and rescue was taken up, unofficially, by the club’s female members, in an expansion of the customary auxiliary role within the club. Muriel Donald, Betty Bythell, Minchen Highet, Rita Woods, Irene Grenville, Shirley Jefferson, Frances Beamish, Lillian Hewson, Joy Davis and Marge Broadhurst were some of
women. Ted Jaggard was prevailed upon to train the women’s R&R team. By 1939, there were 33 women members out of a total of 144. North Cottesloe women had the opportunity to train in all the same competition areas as the men, except surf boat racing, which would remain for many years an exclusively male preserve.
with names like Peggy Williamson, Margaret Turvey, Rae Wright, Nanno McKeown, Joan Ellis, Pat Hudson and Val Murgatroyd regularly competing in the R&R, individual surf dash, surf teams race, running race, relay and march past. It was at this time, after the war, that the women dominated the prestigious R&R event. The senior female R&R team won State R&R titles many times over the years. In their ladies’ auxiliary reports the girls had glowing comments to make about the coaches, who over the years included Sam Law, Bill Kidner,
the ladies who trained for rescue work at North Cottesloe,
These women continued the tradition of competing in their
Laurie Russell and later Lyn Girdlestone. Tup Wilkinson also
preparing to take the men’s places during the summer
own surf carnivals and in the early 1940s their sisters were
trained the ladies in the march past.
Chapter 3 Kings of the world | 47
It is possible that club officials saw the presence of women in the club as a stabilising and humanising influence, quite apart
D
from the obvious role in fundraising and organising social
uring the war Gladys Hogarth, who met her husband at the club, was a Red Cross trained first-aid officer at the club. Gladys was present on the beach one day when she saw a very pregnant Pat Kidner (nee Beamish) assist a woman on the beach. The woman had dived into the water and had scalped herself. Pat, seeing the woman’s distress and realising the seriousness of the situation, as her scalp was peeled back under her bathing cap, went to the woman’s aid, and took her up to the first-aid room while Gladys called for an ambulance.
events. Nearly all of the club’s social calendar, which included picnics, bus trips and river cruises as well as the monthly dances, were open to both sexes, as well as to members’ families. The club had never wanted to be an exclusive male domain, or to put up an impenetrable barrier between itself and the community, by placing too many strictures upon eligibility or limiting its activities to those within its charter. While officially the club might have been set up with the solemn purpose of protecting the beach-going public, and members were kept mindful of this primary purpose, it was not a religious order and ordinary members used social activity as an important part of the club experience. In other words, there had to be opportunities to have fun. There were obviously rules to be adhered to but they could always be stretched and bent at club level. Fun was certainly uppermost in the minds of two young teenage girls, Pat Beamish and Fran Lillingston. Both came
muscular, tanned lifeguard is an enduring motif in popular
from keen beach-going families and were accomplished swimmers by the time they joined. Fran lived in Shenton
mythology. There was even a popular song ’Please Don’t
Park and used to ride her bike to the club (which meant she
Talk to the Lifeguard’, in which the female singer bemoans
spent the day there as it was too far to ride home for lunch)
the sign forbidding her to strike up a relationship with a
and was a member of the Nedlands Swimming Club, while
handsome lifeguard. There is a firm basis for this motif in
Pat, a local girl, had been coming to the beach with her
reality. Surf lifesavers were and are very attractive men. The
elder brother and sister – both North Cottesloe members – since the age of 12. Confident, vivacious and outgoing, Pat
Some of the North Cottesloe members who served during World War II.
and Fran fitted immediately into club life and became firm lifelong friends. They trained for the R&R team and took part with their fellow members in R&R, march past and beach relays. They happily piled into the back of Mick Edwards’ truck with the other club members to travel to carnivals. Surf club was their life. Neither was too worried about not being able to qualify for the bronze medallion or not being rostered for patrols. It simply meant that they could have all the fun without any of
48 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
training and outdoor lifestyle certainly equipped them with the classic Adonis physique, but beyond that, the sense of responsibility and civic duty that was both impressed upon
the responsibility. That’s not to say, however, that they had no
them consistently and drove their continued participation in
rescue knowledge. They undertook rescue training, gaining
voluntary activities. They were expected to be courteous and
certificates from SLSA in resuscitation.
responsible in their dealings with the public while on patrol.
In addition, before long, they were providing morning and afternoon teas to the men on patrol, but even that seeming drudge had its own rewards. The image of the flirtatious, pretty beach girl attracted to the
The behaviour of club members was often discussed by the management committee, which, though it did not object to the young men having fun, frowned on any conduct likely to bring the club into disrepute. These measures had a longterm effect upon the character of clubmen. They were what
North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club Roll of Honour (1939 – 1945) The North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club Roll of Honour pays tribute to 14 former members of the club who died in defence of their country in the course of World War II. Their names are enshrined on the club’s marble memorial plaque and ‘we will remember them’. William David Appleyard Flying officer William David Appleyard (415716), born 1922, son of Albert John and Jessie Margaret Appleyard of Claremont, enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and trained as a pilot. William was sent to Great Britain where he was posted to 49 Squadron Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command, based at Finkerston, Lincolnshire, equipped with Lancaster heavy bombers. On the night of 18 July 1944, 253 Lancaster bombers and 10 mosquito pathfinders were engaged in an operation to bomb the Revigny rail junctions in northern France. Twenty-four Lancasters were shot down by German night fighters including Appleyard’s aircraft ND 684 with the loss of all crew. William Appleyard is buried in the churchyard at Granges-sur-Aube, France. It is probable that ND 684 was shot down by German fighter ace Renhard Kollack, who survived the war. William Appleyard was 22 when he died.
Leslie Walter Bown Flying officer Leslie (Lee) Bown (406094), born 1920, son of Roy and Rose Bown of Cottesloe, enlisted in the RAAF and trained as aircrew. Lee was sent to Great Britain and posted to 460 Squadron RAAF, RAF Bomber Command. 460 Squadron achieved its reputation as one of Bomber
Command’s foremost squadrons at enormous cost – 188 aircraft lost and more than 1000 airmen killed. On 28 April 1944, Lee Bown’s Lancaster attacked targets in the Normandy area of France (part of the build-up for the Normandy landings on D-Day) and was shot down, probably by anti-aircraft fire from the ground, and the crew killed. Lee Bown is buried in the Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France. Lee Bown was 24 when he died.
Colin Blair Campbell Warrant officer Colin Campbell (406431), born 1921, son of Colin Blair and Kate Campbell of Perth, enlisted in the RAAF and trained as aircrew. Colin was sent to Great Britain and posted to 455 Squadron RAAF, RAF Bomber Command. In August 1943, 455 Squadron was equipped with Handley Page Hampden bombers, based at Leuchars, near Edinburgh, commanded by wing commander Robert (Bob) Holmes, also from Perth, Western Australia, and engaged in anti-shipping and anti-submarine operations in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. On 15 August 1943, Colin Campbell’s aircraft was shot down and the crew killed. Colin Campbell’s name is enshrined on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, UK, with the names of more than
20,000 aircrew lost in operations and who have no known grave. Colin Campbell was 22 when he died.
Leonard Ernest Cavanagh Flight sergeant Leonard Cavanagh (415377), born 1923, son of James Thomas and Alma Irene Cavanagh of Swanbourne, enlisted in the RAAF in 1941 and trained as aircrew. Leonard was sent to Great Britain and posted to 158 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, which was equipped with Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers. Leonard Cavanagh’s Halifax was shot down over Belgium on 23 June 1943, just a few days after his 20th birthday, and the crew killed. He is buried in the war cemetery at Schoonselhof, Belgium.
Neville William Duffield Warrant officer Neville Duffield (427617), born 1923, son of William Arthur and Beryl Dorothea Duffield of Nedlands, enlisted in the RAAF and trained as a pilot. His last posting was to No 5 Operational Training Unit Williamtown, NSW. On 28 June 1945, Neville Duffield was piloting a de Havilland DH98 mosquito bomber in a bombing exercise off the NSW coast when it spun during a climbing turn and crashed into the sea. The crew were killed and the wreckage never found. Neville
Chapter 3 Kings of the world | 49
William Ivor Holly
Duffield was 22 years old. His name is enshrined on the Sydney memorial as one of the many men lost in the Pacific area with no known grave.
William Hendrie Ford Flying officer William (Bill) Ford (401429), born 1918, son of Joseph William and Susan Wilhelmina Ford of Prospect, South Australia, enlisted in the RAAF, trained as a pilot and was posted to 452 Squadron RAAF. On 27 February 1943, Bill Ford was flying a spitfire fighter on a ferry flight from Strauss Airfield in the Northern Territory to Wyndham in company with five other spitfires and a 13 Squadron Hudson bomber equipped for instrument flying (which the spitfires were not). Instructed to fly as close as possible to the Hudson so as to maintain contact in the anticipated heavy cloud, Bill Ford lost contact and his plane crashed, killing him. He was 24 years old. Bill Ford is buried in the Adelaide River War Cemetery, Northern Territory.
50 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Lance corporal William (Bill) Holly (wx12024), born 1920, son of Abiah and Maryanne Holly of Cottesloe, enlisted in the 2/2nd Independent Company (Commando) of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and was sent to Timor in early 1942 as part of the Sparrow Force. Bill Holly was among the first to land on Portuguese Timor, served as a commando throughout the Timor campaign, and was among the last to leave the island in December 1942. Bill Holly was mentioned in dispatches for his gallantry, courage and initiative shown during the campaign. The 2/2nd Company then moved to New Guinea where it was deployed in several areas during 1943 and 1944. On 27 August 1943, Bill Holly was killed in action against Japanese forces in the Lae area. He is buried in the Lae War Cemetery beneath a cross bearing an inscription from his parents: “He died as he lived, a man.” Before enlisting in the Australian Army, Bill Holy had been a successful competitor for North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club, winning the junior surf race, beach sprint and beach relay at the 1937 State championships and the junior beach relay in 1938.
Alan William Jeffrey Private Alan Jeffrey (wx21483) born 1909, son of William and Daisy Jeffrey of Claremont, enlisted in the 2/23rd Battalion of the AIF in April 1942. The 2/23rd was part of the Australian 9th Division in North Africa (1941 to 1942), among other things engaged in the defence of
the Alamein railway line from 1 to 27 July, 1942 and in the battle of El Alamein 23 October to 4 November 1942. Given his enlistment date Alan Jeffrey probably served in these engagements. He certainly served in New Guinea from September 1943 and later in Borneo and Malaya. Alan Jeffrey was killed in action against Japanese forces in the fighting around Tarakan, West Borneo, on 4 June 1945 and is buried in the Labuan War Cemetery in Sabah, Malaysia. Alan Jeffrey was 36 years old when he died. He had been a member of North Cottesloe’s State champion senior R&R team in 1936 and was one of four brothers who won various State titles for the club in the 1930s.
Hugh Alexander McKenzie Temporary lieutenant Hugh ‘Pro’ McKenzie, born 1907, enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy Volunteer Reserve and served with HMS Copra (a Royal Navy shore base), assigned to combined operations (operating landing craft) in the south-west Pacific. Pro died in 1949 from disease contracted during war operations in what is now East Indonesia. Pro had been an extremely successful still water and surf athlete, winning full colours for swimming at Guildford Grammar School and then 12 State surf titles for North Cottesloe between 1927 and 1931 including belt, surf race and R&R. In the early 1930s he rowed for Western Australia in two King’s Cup races for interstate eights. He was awarded life membership of North Cottesloe in 1932.
Thomas Alan Rutherford Flight sergeant Alan Rutherford (406626), born 1922 in Brampton, England, migrated with his parents and brother Bernard Rinian Roy Rutherford to Australia in the 1920s. In February 1941 in Perth, Alan Rutherford enlisted in the RAAF, aged 18, trained as a pilot and was sent to Great Britain where he was posted to RAF 54 Operational Training Unit (night fighters) based at RAF Church Fenton in North Yorkshire. On 14 August 1942, Alan Rutherford was flying a Bristol Blenheim light bomber, adapted as a night fighter, on a battle mission. The aircraft suffered a partial engine failure during night take off which caused it to strike trees beyond the end of the runway, resulting in the failure of the other engine and the loss of the plane with all three crew members. Tragically Alan’s elder brother Bernard, who had also enlisted in the RAAF and been posted to a RAF unit in Britain, had been killed in a training accident involving two airspeed oxford airplanes on 19 May 1942. Alan Rutherford was 19 years old when he died.
Louis Frederick Samson Flight sergeant Louis Frederick Samson (415186), born in Fremantle 1921, son of Horace Frederick and May Emily Samson (members of the extended Samson family that established a liquor/merchandise business in Fremantle in 1829 and is still owned by the family). Louis Samson enlisted in the RAAF and after training was sent to Great Britain and posted to 77 Squadron RAF Bomber Command based at Elvington and equipped with Halifax heavy bombers. On 9 April 1943, Samson’s Halifax II JB 847 was engaged in a mission over France and was shot down near St Quentin and all crew killed. Louis Samson
is buried in the Creil Communal Cemetery, 44km north of Paris, with 55 other commonwealth airmen. He was 21 when he died.
Alexander Gwyther Sanderson Captain Gwyther (Sandy) Sanderson (nx7567), born 1908, son of major Alexander Sanderson MC DSO (who commanded the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company in the Great War). Sandy enlisted in the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, which was raised in Sydney in 1939, and as part of the Australian 6th Division was engaged in Libya (including the capture and early garrisoning of Tobruk) and later in Syria, Greece and Crete. Whilst most of the 2/1st were either killed or captured in Crete, Sandy either escaped or was elsewhere at the time. In any event he was part of the reformed battalion sent to New Guinea in the latter half of 1942. In New Guinea as part of the 25th Brigade, the 2/1st was heavily engaged in recovering control of the Kokoda track including the decisive battles of Eora Creek and Oivi-Gorari. On 23 October 1942, Captain Sanderson, armed with a Mauser automatic pistol (a trophy from the Greece campaign), led three platoons against an entrenched Japanese position above Eora Creek. Other brigade forces were to attack across the creek. Two of the platoons lost their way and failed to reach the attack point. Sanderson attacked anyway with just 17 men. Captain Sanderson, age 34, was killed by Japanese machine gun fire and only four of his men survived that engagement. He was mentioned in despatches and is buried in the Bomana War Cemetery near Port Moresby. Sandy had been one of several club members awarded bronze medallions when they were first issued in 1925. Sandy was a
member of the North Cottesloe senior boat crew which won five State championships from 1925 to 1929. He was also a member of the club’s winning R&R team at the State championships in 1928 and 1929.
Leslie Roy Sherwood Flight sergeant Leslie Roy Sherwood (406493), born in Maylands 1920, son of Frederick Roy and Frances Ellen Sherwood, enlisted in the RAAF. After training he was sent to Great Britain and posted to RAF 5 Operational Training Unit, formed in 1940 to train fighter pilots and part of No. 12 Group Fighter Command RAF Aston Down in Gloucestershire. Roy Sherwood was killed flying in battle on 27 October 1942 and his name is enshrined on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey with the names of more than 20,000 aircrew lost in operations and who have no known grave. Roy Sherwood was 23 when he died.
Charles Alfred Williams Flight lieutenant Charles Williams (16322), born 1913, son of Charles and Emma Williams of Nedlands, enlisted in the RAAF and was posted to 42 Squadron RAAF. Equipped with Catalina flying boats, 42 Squadron engaged in reconnaissance/escort and mine laying operations to the north of Australia. Charles Wiliams’ aircraft was shot down flying in battle off Celebes in the Dutch East indies (Indonesia) on 14 October 1944. Charles Williams was 31 when he died, leaving wife Evelyn Maud Williams of Nedlands. His name is enshrined on the Ambon Memorial, Indonesia.
Chapter 3 Kings of the world | 51
their elders and betters might have described as ’fine young
Fourteen of these men died in defence of their
men’. Not only were they idolised by young women, they
country. Ten were Royal Australian Air Force
had a public image as the type of young man you would not
aircrew of whom seven had been posted to
mind your teenage daughter associating with.
Royal Air Force Bomber Command in the United
While many young women must have found the North
Kingdom and were killed in action over occupied
Cottesloe men attractive, these were still times when any
France or Germany. Three were 2nd Australian
woman who was too ’forward’ with males would be looked
Infantry Forces and were killed in action in New
at askance by polite society. Tongues would soon be set
Guinea or West Borneo. And one was a Royal
wagging by any young woman who spent too much time
Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve who died not
hanging around the surf lifesavers’ patrol shelter. For Pat and
in action but from disease contracted during war
Fran it was very different. As club members themselves and
operations in what is now East Indonesia.
volunteer helpers, they had a legitimate reason to be there,
In addition, there were five North Cottesloe
and talk to the patrol. Talk they did, and they got to know the
women who served in WWII. Many records don’t
boys quite well. Fran later married Graham Russell and Pat Beamish became Mrs Bill Kidner. Marriages between club
include the women because although they
members were quite common.
were members of the club, they didn’t hold a bronze medallion. It wasn’t until 1980 that women
Women were also prominent in the fundamental roles of surf
were allowed to do their bronze medallion and
life saving, most notably during war time and also during the
become active surf lifesavers. A newspaper
early 1950s. Nancy Plaisted was one of those who provided
article titled ‘Sons of the Empire’ should surely
backbone support to fundraisers, in addition to competition.
have been titled ‘Sons and Daughters of
Inter-club competition and State championship events
the Empire’ but at least it was one place the
were suspended between 1942 and 1945, but after their
women were recognised alongside their male
reinstatement in 1946, wins for North Cottesloe were few and
counterparts. Other female club members like
far between. In the first three years of post-war competition,
Gladys Hogarth served with the Red Cross. The
North Cottesloe won five State titles but notably, most of them
club records are not precise or clear and there
were in the junior ranks. These included none at all in 1946, three junior State titles in 1947 including R&R, surf teams and beach relay, and a win by Ron Hinchliffe in the junior belt race in
may be other women who served with the forces their clubs after the war. Indeed, many did not even make
whose names are not recorded.
1948, and by Alan Rich in the junior beach sprint the same year.
it home.
Despite the good recruitment of juniors during the war years,
Sixty-two of North Cottesloe’s men served in World War
club membership still declined overall and was slow to recover,
II. This number doesn’t include William ‘Bill’ Kidner, who
particularly amongst the senior active members, the all-
also served in WWII but did not join North Cottesloe and
military service placed club membership well down the list of
important category from which most of the competitors would
obtain his bronze until 1946, the year after the war ended.
priorities. There was little the club could do about this, apart
be drawn. North Cottesloe was not unusual in this regard.
But whether the club’s men who served are counted as 62
from offering encouragement, but in the end their members
Throughout the surf life saving movement, large numbers of
or 63, it was a large proportion of the club’s membership,
were still volunteers and there is no way you can force
members who had enlisted for war service did not return to
which in season 1939/40 was 143 and in 1945/46 was 160.
volunteers to do things they just don’t want to do.
52 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
For those North Cottesloe members who returned home after the war, it was not simply a matter of picking up where they had left off. The stress of rebuilding lives interrupted by prolonged
North Cottesloe men who served in World War II Agnew, K. G. Appleyard, W. D. Beetson, G. P. Bell, A. G. Bemrose, H. P. Binning, G. C. Bone, W. H. Bown, L. Browne, G. K. Campbell, C. B. Campbell, N. J. Cavanagh, L. E. Doherty, D. P. Duffield, N. W. Ford, W. Gordon, A. J.
Greig, J. W. Grenville, D. E. Hales, S. G. Hewitt, A. E. Hinchliffe, R. H. Holly, W. I. Holmes, J. W. B. Holmes, N. B. Howson, J. F. Irvine, D. B. Jeffrey, A. Jeffrey, R. Kent, J. W. Kessell, K. E. Landon, N. A. Law, S.
Lewis, J. C. MacKenzie, R. B. McDonald, R. D. McKenzie, H. A. McKnight, E. F. V. Meadmore, J. L. Meadmore, R. T. Meadmore, W. H. Morris, L. V. Nelson, B. M. Norman, K. R. Norman, W. G. Peacock, R. J. Rankine-Wilson, R. W. Robey, F. S. Robson, B.
Samson, L. Sanderson, A. G. Sherwood, L. R. Sinclair, C. R. Smith, L. Smyth, R. N. Solomon, P. Stewart, A. Stewart, J. Stewart, T. Thompson, E. S. Walters, A. P. Watt, R. D. Williams, C.
North Cottesloe women who served in World War II Bancroft, F. I. Beamish, F. M. Broadhurst, M. N. Lillingston, R. P. Newson, L.
Don ‘Gyp’ Grenville, Sam Law, Andy and Tom Stewart were among those who did return to the club after the war. Gyp remembers that not many returned and for those who did, things were different. This was largely because they had been through many experiences and were considerably older. There were now more younger guys in the club, which created a bit of a gap. Also, after being in the services for a long time it was sometimes hard to mix with others who hadn’t shared similar experiences. Gyp and the others who did return, shared the bond of war and would sometimes find themselves nursing that bond over a few drinks in the boatshed. Gyp had been one of Charlie Williams’ recruits from the Nedlands Junior Football Club. He remembers Charlie as a wonderful bloke, a wonderful coach, but sadly Charlie was killed during the war. Gyp was a club member for only a few years before going away to war. On his return Gyp continued to contribute a huge amount to the club until the mid-70s, but it is those pre-war years that remain the fondest in his memory. The club was his life. By 1947/48 there were only 31 senior active members at North Cottesloe and juvenile numbers had dwindled away to almost zero. There was no question of any competitor specialising in single events in those days. Though some would shine in individual events, all had to be available for team events. It was not unusual to be called from the finish line of the beach relay or surf swim straight into the crew for a boat race or an R&R team. Sometimes the start of an event was delayed awaiting a participant competing in another event. Needless to say, carnival days were tiring affairs for the North Cottesloe competitors. Max Carter, who joined in 1947, was one such member. As well as being involved in the administration side of the club, attending rostered patrols and R&R training, he also took on beach sprinting, swimming and boat rowing. Even at the age of 39 he was still competing in the beach relay team which ran third at the States. The hectic work and persistence of these lean years was laying valuable groundwork for future success. Under the
Chapter 3 Kings of the world | 53
Despite another strong showing, North Cottesloe was pipped at the post in 1950 by its traditional rival Cottesloe. There
M
ick Nielsen, like his mate Ken Caporn, joined North Cottesloe during World War II when he was a cadet, and very quickly ran into trouble. Twice before 1946 he was suspended, each time misbehaving in the Eric Street lookout tower, annoying members of the public (whom he knew) below. The committee took a dim view of this, but Nielsen escaped yet another confrontation when the wartime secretary Tom Johnstone (a bachelor) found him and a woman together on the boat shed floor. Whatever they were doing, ‘old Tom’ didn’t notice, for in the process of searching for an anchor he stepped over the couple, at the same time greeting Mick in his broad Scots accent. The outcome could have been much worse. Mates when they joined, Caporn and Nielsen remained so throughout their club career, most summer afternoons swimming north from the reef to Grant Street then back. With the fatal shark attack in his consciousness, Mick also remembers how Caporn (who was much, much bigger), always demanded that Mick swim on the seaward side – up and back. No shark was going to get close to Ken Caporn . . . ever.
wasn’t much in it, and the North Cottesloe men were fired up to do better next year. They were driven to train even harder by the news that arrived later in the year. In 1951, for the first time, the national championships – dubbed the Australian Jubilee Surf Championships because of the 50th anniversary of federation – were to be held in Perth. Before the war the event had always been held in New South Wales, the birthplace of the movement, but since the war Queensland had hosted it twice. It must have seemed a little audacious for distant Western Australia to be throwing its hat into the ring for the 1951 titles, but why not? For some time, Western Australia’s surf men had been travelling across the continent, whenever their clubs could afford it, to compete against the best in the land, and acquitting themselves well on many occasions. So it was about time they enjoyed the
stern and effective tutelage of coach Sam Law – straight
first since 1936. During the war the condition of the club’s
chance of a home-town advantage. With the promise of
back into the thick of things after war service in the air force
boat deteriorated. It was so heavy that it was left overturned
jubilee celebration funding to support the event, the SLSA
– the skills of that R&R team were being steadily developed
on the beach and someone had come along and put an
could find no good argument against Western Australia’s bid.
and refined, slowly but surely building a formidable winning
axe through it. It was decided to launch immediately into
There was a better chance than ever that the coveted senior
machine. Bill Kidner, returning from war service in the navy
a strenuous fundraising campaign to augment the money
R&R title – then held by Queensland’s Burleigh Heads club
wasted no time in joining North Cottesloe, gaining his bronze
already raised before the war. Within a year an order had
– could be brought to the west for the first time. New South
and later earning the captaincy of the R&R team. Some of
been placed and the club was soon the proud owner of the
the junior members, who had joined immediately before and
locally-built North Cottesloe. With Ken Caporn sweeping and
during the war, were now graduating to senior ranks. The
Bill Stewart, Allan Dale, Jack Luke and Alan Forsyth at the
North Cottesloe won the State title easily that year, giving the
1947 win in the junior R&R was a foretaste of things to come
oars, the North Cottesloe brought the club consecutive wins
club the right to represent Western Australia in the national
as the youngsters moved into the new competition. Graham
in 1949 and 1950, kindling dreams of regaining the long-lost
championship carnival, to be held at Scarborough Beach
Russell, now definitely imbued with the right attitude, was
dominance in boat racing. It was not to be, however, for the
on Saturday, 24 March. In the team were Bill Kidner, Ron
success of the boat crews was limited over the decade of
Hinchliffe (captain), Dave Dohnt, George Williamson, Graham
the 50s. There was more competition now, from the ever-
and Laurie Russell and Terry Merchant (reserve). On the
growing number of clubs along the coast, and boat design
day, Bill Kidner and Dave Dohnt drew the critical swimming
joined in the team by his younger brother Laurie. League footballers Ron Hinchliffe and Ken Caporn, along with John Meadmore, Graham Cock, Dave Dohnt, George Williamson and Terry Merchant were some of the others who trained in the team during these years.
was improving all the time. Often the winner was the club with the newest, lightest and fastest boat. But even if the
The drought broke for North Cottesloe in 1949, with wins
North Cottesloe boat crews had enjoyed continued success,
in both senior and junior R&R and the senior boat race. The
it would very quickly have been eclipsed by what was about
surf boat win was particularly sweet, since it was the club’s
to happen in the R&R.
54 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Wales was equally keen that the title should return to its rightful place on one of their beaches.
positions. The team to beat was the New South Wales titleholder Dee Why. Dee Why had successfully worked its way through both branch and State championship levels in New South Wales and was the popular favourite.
The sea and weather conditions were near-perfect, and
speed, quickly lost the advantage the swimming leg had
North Cottesloe was competing on a beach it knew, and had
given them. They waited anxiously as the points were tallied
won on before, in front of a fiercely-partisan crowd. Dave
after the event – all the judges had to submit cards for the
Dohnt, who drew beltman, was one of the best swimmers
part of the event they were adjudicating – then erupted into
on the team and there were lots of points hanging on the
jubilation as it was announced that North Cottesloe had won
swimming leg. Sam Law had coached his team meticulously,
the national R&R championship by a whacking margin of
making sure that every part of the drill was drummed into
2.06 points. History had been made. Fittingly, in the first year
them. With good conditions and attention to detail, an
the national championships were held in Western Australia,
unfavourable draw would not disadvantage North Cottesloe.
a Western Australian team had become premier. It was
Scoring for the R&R worked by attrition. Each team began the event with 80 points, and points were deducted by judges
North Cottesloe’s finest hour. The competition doldrums that followed the war years were definitively over.
for mistakes made in the drilling section, which began with
In the midst of their wild celebrations, the North Cottesloe
the marching in and positioning of reels. In the swimming
camp hardly noticed Ossie Yeomans, the judge who had
legs, the first patient to reach the buoy raised his arm to
been positioned on a boat out by the buoys to observe the
signal the beltman to enter the water. The belt swim was
swimming legs, coming ashore. Ted Jaggard, now a senior
crucial. The first team to reach the patient loses no points
official with the State Centre, watched with interest though
and starts the clock ticking, so each subsequent team
not concern. Yeomans had some shattering news for the
loses points according to how far it was behind the leader. A
already abject Dee Why team – the patient swimmer had
powerful, fast belt swimmer could win the event for his team.
touched the buoy on the side, rather than on the top, and
The belt and line trailing out the 100 metres from the beach
this was a clear breach of the rules. Dee Why, therefore,
represented a considerable weight for the beltman, made
was disqualified.
Pat Kidner (in the air), Pat McKnight and Nonie Horgan on the front page of The Western Mail, 1952.
even heavier if there was a heavy sea running.
While they might have commiserated with their opponents,
biggest reasons why you never argue with the umpire is that
Adjudicating an R&R event required a small army of judges,
Bill Kidner and his teammates were not in the least worried.
it is a pointless exercise. Most sports have the finality and
closely observing each team’s every move, meticulously
Rules were rules and when you get to this level in the
inviolability of umpire’s decisions enshrined in their codes.
deducting points and fractions of a point for breaches of
competition, you can be sure that they’ll come down
The International Football Association FIFA, for instance, has
procedure, which could be as trivial as being out of step
on you like a ton of bricks. They had just put in a dream
ruled that even if the video replay shows, say, an undetected
on emerging from the surf carrying the patient. And when
performance to win by a country mile, and their position as
offside player while a goal is scored, the referee’s decision at
there’s a national championship riding on it, there is simply
national premier was unassailable. Or so they thought. They
the moment of discourse stands forever. But on Scarborough
no room for slip-ups, as one judge on that March day in 1951
probably weren’t even aware that Dee Why had lodged a
Beach late in the afternoon on 24 March 1951, the carnival
would soon discover.
protest against its disqualification, but even if the protest was
referee, New South Welshman Vic Besomo, was about to
upheld, how could it possibly affect them?
throw all that in the bin.
be expected, Dee Why, who had drawn much more
It’s an unwritten law of sportsmanship, more honoured in
The argument raged for several hours, with Ossie Yeomans
favourable positions, beat them in the swimming legs. But
the breach these days one might suspect, that you never
insisting that he had seen a clear breach of the rules and the
Sam Law’s training then paid off, with the North Cottesloe
argue with the umpire. Millions of us have seen the television
Dee Why patient insisting that Yeomans had been mistaken.
team excelling in the drill part of the event, scarcely putting
images or football players remonstrating with a leadenly
Dee Why was clearly not going to accept defeat quietly. One
a foot wrong, while Dee Why, placing the emphasis on
impassive referee over some decision or other. One of the
might, at this point, ponder why they pushed their case so
North Cottesloe powered out of the blocks but, as might
Chapter 3 Kings of the world | 55
vehemently. Surely, if Besomo upheld the protest, Dee Why would still only be runner-up. But Besomo did more, much much more. Going well beyond simply upholding Dee Why’s protest, he took the staggering decision to declare the result of that day’s event null and void and ordered it to be re-run, two days later on the Monday holiday. Ted Jaggard could scarcely believe his ears, and one can only wonder at what he was feeling inside as he stood at the door of the Ocean Beach Hotel with the unsavoury task of telling his champions, already inside celebrating riotously, that they were not the winners after all and they would have to do it all again. Vic Besomo’s extraordinary decision has never been adequately explained in terms other than fairly transparent home State partisanship. Even if there were serious doubts about Yeomans’ observations – and he insisted on this day that he was right – simply upholding the protest and restoring Dee Why to second position would have been sufficient amelioration. It is certain that the decision of that infamous day brought the sport into considerable disrepute, particularly amongst Western Australians who almost unanimously saw it as a partisan result, designed to return the title to New South Wales. If there ever was any good argument for making the umpire’s decision final, this was it. To North Cottesloe, it was a triumph of blinkered officialdom over fair play, something that would rankle for years and colour the club’s attitude to officials forever. Seething with rage, North Cottesloe called a special
Multiple State champion senior beach relay team Max Carter, Alan Rich, Tom Stewart and Laurie Russell, 1951.
management committee meeting the next day, deciding
detailed explanation of Besomo’s action.
unanimously to send a strongly-worded letter of protest to
In contrast to the mild conditions of the Saturday, Monday
the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia, declaring that the North Cottesloe team was entering the arena under protest. Sam Law, however, pleaded with the committee to withdraw the letter, indicating that his team would not enter
26 March was overcast and blustery. The draw did not favour North Cottesloe, but this time their excellence in the drill section was insufficient to make up for the losses in the
had previously been creamed, if that was any compensation. New South Wales had its treasured title back, but each member of the North Cottesloe team on the beach that Monday afternoon made a solemn vow that it would not stay there long. There was always next year.
the arena under protest. Anxious to give the team every
swimming legs, exacerbated by the heavy conditions. Dee
Nothing succeeds like success, it seems, and in these years
possible chance – they had done it once, and they could
Why, as they had been expected to do two days earlier,
that saw the revival of its competition fortunes, business
do it again – the committee agreed to withdraw the letter,
defeated the Western Australian champions, but only by
as a whole was booming at North Cottesloe, insofar as it
but write to the national body after the event requesting a
0.22 points, a much lower margin than that by which they
can when dealing with such an organisation. After a couple
56 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Club members, late 1940s.
Chapter 3 Kings of the world | 57
Surf club girls, 1953.
58 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
years of decline after the war, membership began to rise steadily, reaching 228 by the year of the jubilee carnival, and the annual tally of bronze candidates was ensuring a good supply of new blood for the future. Financially the club’s fortunes were on the rise once again, in no small measure due to a very creative fundraising measure proposed by Sam Law. These days, fashion parades are a common occurrence, and are frequently held for charitable purposes, boosting the funds of worthy causes while providing a marketing opportunity for clothing manufacturers. In the early 1950s they were a new idea, and untested in Perth, but gaining ground overseas. By keeping tabs on what was working elsewhere, North Cottesloe was able to be the first to adopt a new fundraising idea. Fashion house John Lawley Ltd was approached to lend dresses for the occasion and the club’s women members were conscripted as eager volunteer mannequins. Among them, of course, was Pat Beamish more than willing to model expensive apparel for the cause. Pat, strikingly beautiful, had been North Cottesloe’s entrant in the surf skill quest three years previously, and ran second in the final. The judges did not, apparently, believe she was tanned enough – an interesting decision, to say the least. Once again, there was no shortage of talent at North Cottesloe. The newspapers of the time said it all, with the pages often showcasing images of the happy, fit North Cottesloe girls on their beach. Val Murgatroyd, Margaret Turvey, Peggy Williamson, Pat McKnight, Fay McClements, Rae Wright, Nano McKeown, Adele Pope, Pat Wilson, Valda Young, Pat Hudson, Nonie Horgan and Joan Ellis all joined in – for many this was their first modelling experience. The first fashion parade, or mannequin show as it was called, was held on 17 January 1951 at Overton Lodge – the former residence of Claude de Bernales, recently purchased by the Cottesloe council as a civic centre. Three thousand spectators attended, responding to the considerable media publicity surrounding it, and more than £350 was raised on
the night – an outstanding success, and a guarantee that the parade would become an annual event. While not exactly brimming over, the club’s coffers were filling quite nicely. It would not be the last time that taking a risk on a new innovation would be the club’s salvation. As the big night of the 1951 Mannequin Parade drew nearer, organiser Sam Law encountered a few problems. He was concerned that the club girls negotiating the catwalk at night might fall and so attempted to arrange insurance cover for them, but his efforts were in vain. He couldn’t find a company willing to cover the risk. The State Insurance Office had declined to insure girls under the same conditions as lifesavers on duty because, as women, they could not be registered as lifesavers. This was a disappointment, but no one could have foreseen the result. Amongst those frequenting the OBH were a couple of journos for The Daily News and when they heard Sam bewailing the lack of insurance, they sent a photographer down and the result was that on the actual day of the show, the front page of The Daily News had a picture of three bare and extremely sexy legs, from toe to hip with the caption “these legs are not covered”. It was a real public relations coup and the result was that the attendance was boosted beyond the club’s wildest dreams, with more than 3000 attending and hundreds more stranded at bus stops as the buses were full and not many people had cars. Noni Horgan, Margaret Turvey and Pat Beamish, all club competitors, were the front-page girls and draw-card mannequins for the night. The club certainly had good reason to feel bitter and dejected about the savage blow at the jubilee carnival, but there is no indication anywhere that such feelings were allowed to impinge on the newfound confidence. The R&R team stayed together, apart from John Meadmore replacing George Williamson and Ken Caporn replacing Dave Dohnt. Sam Law kept up a ruthless training routine throughout the
winter. It paid off and once again North Cottesloe won the State title and the right to compete in that year’s national championships at Wollongong. A flurry of fundraising followed, with the entire community getting behind the team. For the first time, there was enough money to fly the team across to the carnival. Previous teams had travelled by rail, the cheaper option at the time. The change allowed a few days in Sydney, training at Bondi, before heading south. If there was a secret to North Cottesloe’s dominance of R&R in these years, it was attention to detail. As coach, Sam Law had reached the conclusion that the event could be won by diligent adherence to the procedures set out in meticulous detail in the Blue Book. It was all there – all you had to do was get it right. So, while strong and fast swimmers were always needed in a team – and every club made sure its best swimmers were in the R&R – there was a distinct edge to be had if the other aspects of the event were given at least equal importance. Every step, every hand movement carried precious points. Law had his team members memorise every step and then drilled them relentlessly, paying close attention to the split-second coordination of every movement. Every member was expected to know every team position backwards, until it became second nature. Law had lines marked on the ground outside the clubroom to practice marching and reel handling, and to ensure that each team member assumed the precise position required in each stage. Nothing whatsoever was left to chance, no sense at all of ’she’ll be right on the day’. The aim was an absolutely faultless performance. Spectators at carnivals in these years often remarked on the effortless grace with which North Cottesloe performed in the R&R. As far as his training methods were concerned, Sam Law was years ahead of time. Quiet confidence could best describe the attitude of the team as they marched out into the arena on 15 March 1952. As always, there was some very formidable opposition. Dee Why, however, was nowhere to be seen, having been
Chapter 3 Kings of the world | 59
eliminated at the State championships. Apart from the home team, Wollongong, the favourites were Manly and Kirra. As the teams were assembling before the final, an eager photographer for a local paper moved along the ranks, snapping pictures and taking the team members’ names. He arrived at the North Cottesloe team, asked where they were from, and seemed rather bemused to hear the words ’Western Australia’. Such an outside chance was not worth wasting film on, so he moved onto the next team. North Cottesloe’s confidence grew in the draw, which could not have been better if it had been rigged. John Meadmore, slightly built but a strong swimmer, drew the patient position, Ron Hinchliffe, former WA junior surf belt champion, drew the belt swim, and Graham Russell, by now recognised as the finest exponent of R&R drill in WA, drew the vital first linesman and resuscitator position. It was a dream draw. This time there was no controversy, no disqualifications, no protest, and no re-run. This time it was just North Cottesloe 72.60, Burleigh Heads 2.14, North Wollongong 70.44. Oh, but revenge was sweet! As the North Cottesloe supporters cheered their victory, the press photographer, suddenly realising he had no snap of the winning team, came rushing up breathlessly seeking a photo opportunity. The team members took sadistic pleasure in denying him, leaving one poor photographer with the job of explaining to his editor why he missed the winners. It must also be said that the North Cottesloe team displayed an abysmal sense of history, for that photograph, taken on the beach on that great day, would almost certainly have found a place on this page, if it existed.
60 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
But the warm feeling of victory is incomparable. Even when the team could find no restaurant or hotel with sufficient space for them to celebrate their victory, and ended up with fish and chips in the park followed by a few beers in the boat shed, it is unlikely the broad smiles would be wiped off their faces. There would be celebrations aplenty when they got back, including a big bash laid on by Bill McManus at the Ocean Beach Hotel, for many years a loyal supporter of the club. But whilst the photograph may have been missed, the walls of the OBH, were not – they have worn for decades the efforts of cartoonist Paul Rigby who created marvellous caricatures of the members of that memorable R&R team, along with scenes of beach life at North Cottesloe in the OBH in those days. A photograph of the victorious returning team on the gangway of an aircraft at Perth airport, proudly displaying their prize, the premiership pennant, is probably the first example of an image that would become an icon of Western Australian sporting history – the west showing the rest how it’s done, a local team beating the best in the nation. A similar photograph exists of the victorious Western Australian Cricket Team returning with the Sheffield Shield, and later the West Coast Eagles bringing home their first AFL premiership pennant. Many WA sporting teams would be photographed at the airport returning with the goods in the ensuing years, but North Cottesloe was first. It was indeed, as the secretary wrote in that year’s annual report, “the greatest year since [the club’s] foundation”.
4
4
Champion competitors, surf ski paddler Jack Trail and swimmer Peter Driscoll, 1970.
Chapter 4 Enduring the tough times | 61
Management committee, 1950/51.
62 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
4
Chapter
ENDURING THE TOUGH TIMES
P
erhaps the president Barney Peacock was just being excessively pessimistic in 1953 when he concluded his club report: “The performance of the club as a whole has been very disappointing.” Perhaps he had been dragged back to reality
after the previous year’s euphoria. The club’s fortunes had always see-sawed, as had those of every club along the coast.
unusual. There were problems with the clubrooms but then
stripes. For the most part, it was long hours out in the hot sun,
again this was nothing new either, though each year in which
or in the lookout tower, after lugging all the gear across the
little or nothing was done would compound the difficulties.
road to the beach, then, at 5pm, lugging it all back again in
In other words, in the general scheme of things, it was pretty
good order and condition. Small wonder that patrols needed
much business as usual.
little excuse to goof off.
Take the problems with patrols, for instance. The club had
Voluntary work of any kind must have its own rewards. For the
always had difficulties fulfilling its obligations in this area,
North Cottesloe champions, the rewards came in premiership
largely due to the dearth of active senior members, and
pennants. The club always attracted the very best swimmers,
the years up to and including 1952 were no exception.
who wanted to develop their talents beyond saving lives.
Management committee minutes frequently drew attention to this or members not turning up for a rostered patrol, or to
For the vast majority of active surf club members, across
such malfeasance as the patrol on duty taking the boat out for
all clubs, the rescue training and the patrols are the main
training or cracking waves. It is very likely that actual breaches
reasons they join in the first place. To them, surf life saving is a
were even more widespread than the committee was aware
community service and a recreational activity, not necessarily
of, with those on patrol taking chances on not being detected.
a sport. Just as there are Australian champion surf lifesavers
In 1953, the year in which Barney Peacock found it necessary
who have never effected a rescue in their entire careers, so
to make pointed reference to patrol breaches in his annual
there are ordinary surf club members who have participated
report, there had been no more mentions of such problems at
in most heroic and dangerous of rescues and have never
committee meetings than in previous years. Naturally, details
competed, and would probably be soundly thrashed if they
are a bit vague, and it is not possible to provide actual figures
tried. North Cottesloe was no less dedicated to the ideals of
for the number of members disciplined for missing patrols,
surf life saving than any other club. Competition has always
but in almost every year for which minutes are available,
been an important part of the culture of North Cottesloe,
there is at some point a threat of suspension made against
but participation in patrols is still an essential prerequisite
those who have not completed the prescribed number of
for eligibility for competition. In a way the lifesavers of North
patrol hours. Interviews revealed that patrols were frequently
Cottesloe made a greater commitment than those of other
understrength, with those who turned up covering for the
clubs, since their eternal vigilance only rarely escalated to
absentees. Some almost seemed proud to be able to train for
quick action. If the seniors did cop the occasional penalty for
competition during patrol hours, especially the boat crews.
a missed patrol, or tended to fool around a bit more than was
Often it was the only occasion on which the whole crew could
tolerable, at the end of the day they could still boast that not
be assembled together at the one time.
a single life has ever been lost while North Cottesloe was on
To be fair, patrolling a beach as safe as North Cottesloe can
patrol. Club officials and State Centre examiners would strive
be a very boring exercise. Weeks could go by without any
forever to keep them on their toes, and patrol members would
rescues, and in some seasons the total number of rescues
continue to devise strategies to circumvent authority, while
the club in that year. Looked at comparatively, the club was in
barely reached double figures. Only on rare days – perhaps
presidents would draw attention in their annual reports to the
nowhere near as dire straits as it had been in the immediate
once or twice in a season – when a sudden north-westerly
parlous state of patrol records, right up to the present day.
post-war years, and the decline in membership of 1953,
change could create a rip which would sweep unwary
There would be better years than 1953, and also some
though unmistakable, was by no means catastrophic, nor
swimmers out to sea, would the patrols really earn their
worse ones.
Although the R&R team had been defeated by Cottesloe in the State championships, six titles were still brought back to
Chapter 4 Enduring the tough times | 63
Very likely the management
not just as a competitor but as a successful junior R&R and
committee members of the
march past coach, and to the State Centre, as treasurer and
early 1950s felt themselves
vice-president. Molyneux’s retirement in 1964 marked the
overworked and under supported
beginning of a steady decline in the level of involvement of
by the ordinary membership,
North Cottesloe members in the Western Australian surf life
and perhaps it is not at all
saving hierarchy and it would be 50 years before another
inappropriate to point this out
North Cottesloe member served as State president. There
to the membership, if only to
were many reasons for this, some of which will be explored
encourage and cajole younger
later, but by the early 1960s there were many other clubs
members to become involved in
contributing experienced members to the State council and
committee work. But throughout
the board of examiners, so North Cottesloe’s absence was
the 1950s North Cottesloe had
possibly not as deleterious as it might have been. By this
a large core of active members,
time, too, North Cottesloe’s committee had quite a lot on
composed of a healthy mixture
their plate.
of veterans, with long histories with the club, and newcomers, learning the ropes in preparation for taking control in the later years. Prominent amongst the veterans was the tireless Ted Jaggard Surf carnival program, North Cottesloe Beach, 1952.
never absent from the committee despite his heavy involvement with State Centre.
Reg Meadmore, of the 1936 winning surf boat crew, was active in a number of committee positions throughout the 1950s and also served as a boat judge for State Centre. Son Richard was introduced to the surf life saving movement as a seven-year-old in 1960, dressed in official white and put to work as a runner, conveying boat race results from the judges to the announcer at carnivals. Amongst the younger committee members of the 1950s were most of the champion 1952 R&R team. Laurie and Graham
It is in the very nature of any voluntary organisation that there
Barney Peacock was another of the veterans on the 1950s
will always be some members much more dedicated to
committee, now drawing to the end of a record eight-year
the cause than others. A hard core of energetic members
presidency. In 1955 he would relinquish the presidency to
will, year after year, take all positions on the management
Don Host, and three years later would be elected president
committee and end up doing most of the work. An effective
of State Centre, its second North Cottesloe incumbent. His
voluntary organisation is one that will set up structures
immediate successor as State president was yet another
allowing members to make a contribution commensurate
North Cottesloe veteran, Don Molyneux, a member since
There were two kinds of positions on the committee. Firstly,
with their level of interest. A large majority will want to be
1935. Molyneux was a boat rower by inclination – he had
there were those like club captain, boat captain, patrol
nothing more than ordinary members – paying their dues,
been in the crew that won North Cottesloe’s last pre-war
officer, gear officer and so on, who had the responsibility
fulfilling their agreed duties and enjoying the benefits
state title in 1936 – and an accountant by trade, which
for one or another facet of the ‘on-the-ground’ operations
of membership, without wanting to take any part in the
naturally made him an obvious choice for the role of
of the club, either in rescue and patrolling or competition.
formation of policy or the management of the club. Barney
treasurer at both club and state level. He had also served
Through one or another of these positions, the members
Peacock, lamenting all the uncollected annual reports for
on the board of examiners. By the time of his presidency,
who had come up through the ranks then made their way
1952 should perhaps not have despaired.
he had contributed many years of service both to his club,
onto the management committee. Once there, if they
64 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Russell, Bill Kidner and Terry Merchant all held committee positions by the end of 1952. Some of them had been involved in the committee even before the national championship win. Bill Kidner went on to do his bit on the board of examiners, judging R&R competitions for many years.
had special skills or enough interest and had learned the
then disappear, perhaps moving on to other things, perhaps
its own program. There were frequent items in the minutes
ropes, they could move sideways into one or another of the
feeling the pressure of adult life – work and family – or
over these years dealing with the beach radio, allocating
administrative positions – secretary, president, treasurer,
perhaps just deciding that committee work was not for them
budgets for new records or extra loudspeakers. Kevin, who
publicity officer, social secretary and so on – whose
and preferring to remain just ordinary members.
was succeeded by John McNaught, served a short term as
responsibilities were more in the area of management. Dave Johnston and Cleave Coleman were just two club members who held management positions for years, whilst the likes of sprinter Don Grenville held both club captain and treasurer positions over the years.
Consider Kevin Conroy. A bank worker like Sam Law, Kevin came into the club in the late 1940s, like scores of other young people, did his bronze and acquitted himself reasonably well as a beach sprinter, winning a junior club championship in 1950. He does not appear to have
The latter positions arguably were the most demanding
progressed any further in competition and failed to win any
given that they involved coming up with the wherewithal
State championships, though it is certain he competed for his
for those with the more practical responsibilities to get on
club in carnivals. He came onto the committee not long after
with the job, plotting the future direction of the club and
that and is remembered as one of the club’s most effective
managing the club’s relationship with State Centre. Often
publicity officers. He was good at making sure the club got
a single committee member combined roles in either
media coverage, providing news releases and competition
category, such as vice-president and gear officer, but it was
results to the press and radio stations. Kevin had a passion
only after some experience in the administrative positions
for radio and as part of his duties, he ran the North Cottesloe
that one could progress to positions of influence within the
beach ‘radio’ station – a system of loudspeakers strung along
State organisation. State Centre had a similar division of
the beach and controlled from a little room in the lookout
labour amongst its office bearers, and it was in a functional,
club secretary, before drifting away as the responsibilities of family and work caught up with him. He maintained his interest in radio and was a volunteer presenter on Perth’s first public FM station 6UVS, from the station’s foundation in 1974 until his death in 1992. The North Cottesloe beach radio gradually fell into disuse as the expense of maintaining the system became a burden and the transistor radio enabled beachgoers to choose their own entertainment. Later, the surviving records were used as frisbees on the beach by skylarking juniors, among them the younger Richard Meadmore, and commercial radio supplied hand-held radios with which surf reports were called in to station headquarters. Never ones to miss an opportunity, the surf at North Cottesloe was regularly declared by the patrol of the day to be significantly larger than reality.
tower above the boat shed, plastered with “scantily-clad”
That North Cottesloe survived the difficult years of the
pin-up girls, sweater girls and film stars. The telephone
1950s was down to the efforts of the many people who
connected the studio with the lookout tower and the
gave their time, as much of it as they felt they could. In light
ambulance room below. In the days before it was possible
of this, is it possible to answer the question as to who was
to take a transistor to the beach, the mixture of music and
actually running, or driving the club at any particular time?
Along with the prominent, long-standing names, those
information broadcast over the beach radio was welcomed
Is it useful to even pose the question? It is undeniable that
who went on to play a major role in the development of
by most beachgoers. Every summer weekend for more
there are certain individuals whose ideas and energy had
North Cottesloe, many other names, too many for even a
than eight years Kevin, assisted by Tony Smith and rostered
a lasting influence on the history of the club, and others
group of interviewees to recall, of those who served on the
volunteers, would man the radio, broadcasting music,
whose sheer long service, while they may not have moved
committee for only a few seasons, often not progressing
news and sporting results to the large captive audience
any mountains, provided vital stability and continuity. Names
beyond a minor functional position. Not everyone is blessed
up and down the beach, at times with female support
crop up repeatedly in interviews referring to this period, apart
with the level of enthusiasm necessary to make a lifelong
from the “attractive and honey-voiced” Gerry Bahan, who
from those already mentioned – names like Jack James, Don
commitment to any cause, but these members played a role
ran a 45-minute session ‘Daydreams with Gerry’. He even
Host, Ron Fussell and Ron Rankine-Wilson. There is a dearth,
when they were needed, often possibly against their own
turned the service to the benefit of the club, by soliciting
however, of specific information as to the achievements of
better judgement, when they were cajoled into committee
paid advertising from local businesses. Most of the music
some of these people. Sure, all of the competition wins are
positions. Names like Bill Moffat, N. Herbert, B. Calder and
programs were taken from the radio and relayed through
dutifully recorded, but this alone would not qualify anyone
Kevin Langlands appeared in the minutes alongside the
the club’s loudspeakers, but from 10:30am to 2:30pm each
for the rigorous duties of committee work. Perhaps they are
Peacocks, Russells and Jaggards, for a few seasons, and
Sunday from November to April the club would conduct
only remembered because the interviewees knew them
rather than an administrative role – as State superintendent (formerly chief examiner) – that Ted Jaggard made his greatest contribution. Such a hands-on role perhaps suited the practical down-to-earth Ted much more.
Chapter 4 Enduring the tough times | 65
E
veryone in WA surf life saving knows that North Cott is different from other clubs – distinctive, idiosyncratic and almost always critical of, or arguing with, SLSWA. When asked why, different generations of members offer different answers. For example, those spanning the 40s to the 60s argue that their club was smaller than many, certainly neighbouring Cottesloe. Consequently, there was more camaraderie and a greater preparedness to share the load. Remember in those days members seemed to be constantly working on the old timber and iron clubrooms, whether it was simple maintenance or additions of some kind. Everyone made a contribution, just as they did on patrols and at carnivals, where versatility was the rule rather than the exception. So, at various times Ken Caporn swept and rowed surf boats, was a member of several State champion R&R teams and paddled a double ski with Ron Rankine-Wilson. And there were others too who excelled at several disciplines. If versatile, very talented sportsmen was one North Cott hallmark (how many played league football in the WAFL?), another was tremendous encouragement to new recruits. Greg Milner remembers the way older members shared their surf knowledge with newcomers, not only making them feel part of the club, but helping them realise their competitive potential – the reason why in his first year (1957) Milner won a senior belt race title. Admittedly he was helped by Don Morrison’s bad luck, but the detailed tactical advice about how to swim his race is something Milner has never forgotten.
Greg Milner, 1957 State surf belt champion.
66 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
well due to their long service, or because they had a strong personal influence on the person concerned. Recently returned from the war, Sam Law undoubtedly had a lasting influence upon the club, both as a coach and as an administrator, and is quite rightly remembered for this. At a special executive meeting in 1945, for instance, Jack Morton, who had ‘held the fort’ as president through the war years whilst the younger blokes were away, publicly deplored the state of the training in the club, the lack of sufficient candidates to make up bronze teams, and the lack of leaders and instructors. As chief instructor and club captain, Sam Law must have felt chagrined at the attempt to impugn his long service in this capacity and responded to the president’s allegations. After hearing Morton’s response, Sam resigned his position and left the meeting. The minutes provide only a terse outline of what took place, but there certainly must have been some raised voices and strong language. There must have also been some very intensive conciliation afterwards, for Sam Law was back as a regular attendee at committee meetings within weeks. His major achievement for the club – coaching the national R&R premiership team – was still ahead of him, as were his most fruitful years as an imaginative and expert administrator. If he had left the club at that point – and he could have been readily forgiven for doing so – its future would have been very different. On the other hand, Morton’s brief successor as president, Keith McKinley, is remembered by few. He was not a lifesaver and had gained his committee position as a result of his energetic fundraising effort on the club’s behalf. It was he who had proposed the grandiose schemes for the new clubrooms, which never eventuated, and in retrospect never could have under the circumstances of the time. But had he successfully realised his plan, he would now have the stature of patron saint and saviour of North Cottesloe. The club’s buildings have always played an important part in its fortunes, which seemed to ebb and flow according
to how dilapidated the clubrooms became. McKinley was
settle to the rigorous training regime necessary to get to the
able to grasp this and had a vision for the club, which was
top. Some members spoke of Dave as unrealised potential.
unfortunately never realised. Others would later have visions
He had the skills to go far, but lacked the commitment. After
which would be realised. But to realise those visions would
winning club championships in 1954 and 1955, he and fellow
require many strong, willing hands and clever minds.
club members Herb Williams, Ernie and Wally De Marchi
Memory is a very selective process and we don’t always recall people who were fleetingly involved in our lives and then moved on. Laurie Russell, compiling the competition
hopped on their motorbikes and rode to Sydney to seek work. His name is still occasionally raised among club oldtimers, in the ’whatever happened to…’ sessions.
records that appear at the back of this book, found this much
Some former members maintained contact with the club
to his exasperation. Showing 10 photographs to veteran
by other means. Andy Stewart, one of the four Stewart boys
members, attempting to identify unknown members, he
who had joined North Cottesloe, had contracted tuberculosis
found everyone remembered the competitors who went on
during his war service and spent 10 months in hospital in
to have long careers with the club or to excel in State and
Columbo before being discharged as medically unfit. He
national competition, but few could name those who, while
returned to his old club but was unable to compete anymore
they might have played a crucial part in the particular victory,
so he moved on to the committee, where he served several
spent only a short time with the club before moving on.
years as handicapper for swimming events and two years
There were very many such members, as there would be in
as secretary, before moving away from the Cottesloe area.
any club, but their presence has left few memories. For this reason, surf life saving histories tend to follow the old ’great men’ view of history and ignore the fact that surf clubs are, after all, agglomerations of ordinary individuals following their interest. Dave Dohnt was a champion swimmer at North Cottesloe in the early 1950s, beginning with a win in the club junior swimming points competition in 1949. He was a member of the ill-fated winning R&R team in the 1951 national championship, perhaps a lynchpin in the victory in the first run, with his powerful belt swim keeping North Cottesloe in the running. Anyone watching him at the time would have given him a bright future in competition, and he might have joined the other members of the team as they took on the
Before leaving, however, Andy and a number of his mates helped found an institution that would keep many former North Cottesloe members in contact with one another for another four decades. In April 1946, at Sam Law’s house in Margaret Street, the first meeting took place of the A Club, composed mostly of present and former North Cottesloe members and local residents who had served in the armed forces. At this first meeting, the members resolved to hold a reunion function every Anzac Day. In time the A Club swelled to more than 40 members, including many with an ongoing association with the surf club. Some Cottesloe members were even welcomed.
running of the club in the later years. But it was not to be.
Usually, ex-servicemen celebrated Anzac Day in the
Apart from serving a single year (1954) as club captain, Dave
company of the men they had served alongside, often in
remained an ordinary member, still swimming powerfully
functions organised by unit associations. The bond formed
and winning club championships, but also appearing in the
during the war was what brought them back each year,
minutes accused of patrol laxity and some years being un-
seeking the company of men they rarely saw on other
financial. He was by all accounts a bit of a larrikin, unwilling to
occasions. The A Club’s common bond, however, went back
T
he 1950s successor to the legendary Pro McKenzie was Dave Dohnt, another Claremont boy who combined outstanding swimming ability with a tanned, handsome appearance, irresistible to many women. Bring together a group of his contemporaries and ‘Dave Dohnt stories’ will always surface sooner or later, more than a few libellous. One common thread running through them is Dohnt’s reputation, one sign of this being the succession of beautiful women who would arrive at the clubrooms on the weekend asking: “Is David here?” His mates enjoyed this for two reasons – no one in the club ever called him ‘David’, and the subject of their enquiries was more often than not somewhere on the beach with yet another woman. He was a very fine swimmer, in fact Don Morrison says he was one of his most formidable belt race rivals in the early 1950s, but only when Dave had made a serious effort to train. Unfortunately, these bursts of athletic enthusiasm never lasted long, before his flamboyant lifestyle resurfaced. The story of him leaving the Ocean Beach Hotel one Saturday night with a five-gallon keg balanced before him on the petrol tank of his Harley Davidson says it all. He revved it up, charged off the curb into Eric Street, with exhaust roaring, described a huge arc on the road, back through the cheering onlookers on the footpath, and then Dohnt, Harley and keg smashed into the pub wall. Then there was that night at the embassy, when several women came up to him…
Chapter 4 Enduring the tough times | 67
The R&R team, with occasional changes, managed to keep together for a time, winning three more State titles from 1955 to 1957 and a further two thirds and a fourth at the Aussies under the tutelage of Graham Russell. In addition, the sport of surf life saving itself was beginning a process of gradual change that would eventually transform it into the slick, quasi-professional competition we see today. The 1950s would be the zenith of the dominance of R&R, and from the 1960s onwards, the event would suffer a gradual decline, to be supplanted ultimately by the ironman as the premier surf life saving event. The horrendously meticulous adjudication process for the R&R made it a very time-consuming event to stage, and the arcane intricacy of its performance made it singularly unattractive as a spectator sport. Faster moving and more spectacular team events such as the taplin relay – comprising several swimming, ski and running legs – and surf boat racing were more popular with the crowd. Skis and boards – at that time of fairly heavy plywood 1959 State surf boat champions Ken Caporn, Ernie De Marchi, Ray Gillies, Ron Fussell and Ray Fussell.
long before the war, to a shared involvement in surf life
annual Anzac Day gathering continued until the mid-1990s,
saving. Perhaps its very existence is a symbol of the enduring
when the thinning ranks led to their discontinuance.
influence of the surf life saving experience, even amongst
construction – had been around for some time and were already being used as rescue aids by some clubs, though they had never been officially approved as rescue equipment. As early as 1950, the North Cottesloe management committee had expressed concern about the
North Cottesloe experienced a fairly ordinary competition
dangers of skis to swimmers and resolved to restrict the use
performance during the mid to late 1950s. This was due to
to the northern end of the beach, away from the flagged
The A Club outgrew members’ homes and began to hold its
a number of factors, not least of which was its diminishing
area. Soon, club members were beginning to purchase
annual functions at the Ocean Beach Hotel, whose publican
membership base. In 1956, total membership fell to 115, just
and use boards and skis. Because of their weight, and the
Bill McManus became the club’s patron. For many years they
over half the level of 1951. There were only 29 juvenile and
scarcity of motor vehicles, they sought to store their boards
travelled further afield, to picnics and barbecues in the hills,
cadet members in 1956 and the numbers would languish
at the club and by 1957 they were taking up so much space
or on a farming property owned by one member. Later they
at about that level for the next 10 years. It is a perennial
that the committee had to introduce a registration system
came back to the OBH. In 1985, the A Club was busted by
problem with sporting clubs of all kinds, and one which
to make sure that only boards and skis used by members in
the gaming squad for holding an illegal two-up game at the
has only recently begun to be addressed with any kind
club events were kept in the building.
OBH. Dobbed in by a disgruntled interloper who had been
of diligence, that success, once achieved, can only be
In 1952, the first surf ski race was included as a State
refused admission – the A Club parties were by invitation
maintained with the introduction of new players at the junior
championship event. The winner in that, and the following
only – Reg Meadmore was collared as the game organiser,
end of the competition. Once champions move on, or get too
year, was Ron Rankine-Wilson of North Cottesloe. Rankine-
and others present were later summonsed. The press, of
old, or lose interest, there must be more ready to take their
Wilson was a very strong swimmer, a state team member
course, had a field day, and charges were later dropped. The
place, and this was just not happening at North Cottesloe.
in the 1940s, and had trained for the R&R team. He might
those who do not pursue the activity in later life.
68 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Alan Charleston, Ron Day, Michael MacDermott, Peter Driscoll, Bill Anderton, Paul Freize and Jerry knowles, 1965.
Chapter 4 Enduring the tough times | 69
I
If there are dozens of Dave Dohnt stories, there are almost as many told about Sam Law, R&R instructor and coach. Of course, the stories have a different flavour to them. As with all outstanding coaches in any sport, one of Sam’s trademarks was thoroughness and his preparedness to cover every angle. An incorrect buoy touch by patient or beltman in the swims meant disqualification. No North Cottesloe swimmers were ever disqualified because at training Sam would position himself in the water alongside a buoy, then have team members swim up to it, throw one arm over and raise the other vertically – as per the Blue Book. On top of the old boat shed on the west side of Marine Parade he painted the different wheeling arcs for the team as they marched into the arena. Members could then practise this individually, and there were many other drills he organised. When Tony Rigoll transferred to North Cottesloe from North Beach, he obviously hadn’t grown up with Sam Law, but when he joined the R&R squad he quickly grew to respect him. Here was a coach who was a leader, planned meticulously, had a natural charisma and demanded perfection. In fact, when Alan Kennedy, one of surf life saving’s legendary instructor/coaches, arrived in Perth to live, bringing with him a lifetime’s experience in several eastern states clubs, the comparison between them was totally in Sam Law’s favour. In some ways then it was hardly surprising that North Cottesloe won the national senior R&R title (the ‘holy grail’ of surf life saving in those days) in 1952.
70 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
have been a valuable addition to that team, but he found
configuration Fussell’s team had become used to. Finally
surf skis more attractive. He went on to win two more State
pinning down a boat for a practice on the harbour a couple
titles in the event in 1959 and 1960, as well as State titles in
of days later, Ron then had to make the final arrangements to
the double ski those same years with young member Alex
get his crew to Newcastle and to accommodate them there.
(Sandy) McCall. A couple of years later Rankine-Wilson came out of retirement to partner Jack Trial in the double surf ski.
Meanwhile, two more team members, who arrived by air on the Friday, also found themselves with no one meeting them
In the cadet and junior ranks, swimmer Phil Best kept North
at the airport and took a taxi to Bondi only to be told that the
Cottesloe proud with wins in the belt race (1954 and 1955),
rest of the team had already left. They found their own way
surf race, surf team in 1954 and as part of the winning R&R
to Newcastle. It was a small miracle that the North Cottesloe
team in 1956.
team ended up in the same place at the same time, and still
Success was much thinner on the ground for North Cottesloe’s boat crews and dedicated boaties such as Ray Gillies during this decade. City of Perth, previously a rank outsider in the boat area, dominated the 1950s, winning
Fussell and teammate Norm Tyrell had not found a place to sleep the night. Eventually they were billeted with members of the Cooks Hill surf club, even though no one had told them the North Cottesloe team was coming.
six times, while North Cottesloe managed three titles and
The interstate carnival was to be held on Saturday and the
Scarboro one. In 1957, North Cottesloe took delivery of a
Australian championships on the Sunday and Fussell hoped
brand-new plywood surf boat, Miss Coca-Cola, built by Bill
his crew could compete in both. One vital ingredient missing,
Barnett of Sydney. The ply boats were lighter, stronger and
however, was a boat. Several attempts to borrow one proved
faster than the old carvel-construction boats and the club
useless, as some teams had not yet arrived, and others had
looked forward to new success. Ron Fussell became boat
decided not to risk their boats in the treacherous conditions
captain and sweep and in 1959 took his crew of John Bell,
prevailing that day. North Cottesloe did not row on
Ray Fussell, Ernie De Marchi and Ken Caporn to victory at the
the Saturday.
State titles in Geraldton.
Next morning, the Wollongong club came to the rescue
The following year, Ron took his crew to have a crack at the
with official permission for North Cottesloe to use their boat
Australian championships at Merewether in New South Wales.
for the heat, reciprocating a similar courtesy shown to them
His report of the journey, presented to the management
when the Australian championships had last been held in
committee on his return, provides a fascinating insight into
Perth. North Cottesloe ran second in its heat and Ron was
what it was like ’going east’ for surf competition in those days.
given to understand that this placing would qualify them
After a five-day train journey from Perth, the team arrived
for the repechage heat later in the day. He was livid when
in Sydney on Wednesday morning to find nobody there to
officials informed him that the repechage heat had been
meet them, though Ron had made arrangement in advance.
scrubbed. No one had told his crew that they might not
They spent their first night at the Bondi surf club, sleeping on
be held. Ron confronted several officials to no avail, being
stretchers in the casualty room. Next day Ron found that the
accused by one of fabricating the story to give his team a
club with which he had thought he had made arrangements
second chance. North Cottesloe’s attempt at the national
for the loan of boats for training knew nothing about any such
title was dead in the water. To travel all that way, endure all
arrangements, and in any case their boats were not in the
those hardships and inconveniences to compete only in one
The matter came to a head at a special meeting two weeks later, at which various committee members took turns to level criticism at Fussell and his boat crew. President Tom Law (Sam’s brother) began by reiterating concerns at the lack of interest in club affairs on the part of the rowers, particularly in relation to the maintenance of the boats. Ted Jaggard, Jack James and Bill Kidner all had their say, but probably most forthright amongst the speakers was the new club captain of three months standing, Jerry Knowles. Knowles had joined several years previously as a Scotch College student, winning junior club swimming championships in 1958 and senior club championships in 1959 and 1960. He was now in his first year as articled clerk for a large city law firm, later becoming probably the first lawyer member of North Cottesloe. As a member of the R&R team, he very likely felt some antagonism towards the ‘boaties’, though he was by no means alone in this. While referring to problems with space in the clubrooms for maintaining boats, Knowles joined the vote against the Yallingup trip, going so far as to demand that Fussell be replaced by Barry Newton, then club secretary, as boat captain. He concluded his remarks by saying that “Ron Fussell (sic) has not given the club anything to enthuse over, so far, this season”.
Christening the North Cottesloe surf boat ‘B.P. Progress’ with SLSA (WA) president Mr B Peacock and Mrs Peacock.
single heat was a bitter disappointment. The dejected team returned to Sydney, still with a few days to wait for the train home. Again, shuffled from pillar to post in search of adequate accommodation, they must have been mighty glad to get on the train the following Thursday. Ron Fussell swept his crew to victory again in the 1961 State championship, but two years later he was under attack from his own club. Each year, for three years running, Ron had
taken the boat and crew to Yallingup for “intensive training”, usually during the November long weekend. In 1963, however, the management committee questioned the wisdom and benefit of such an exercise. At a meeting in October, John Bell, the boat vice-captain and assistant club secretary, raised questions as to the attitude of some of the boat rowers. “They are more interested in going to Yallingup and are not interested in patrols, carnivals, and are not interested in the club’s welfare,” he declared.
Late in the meeting, John Bell, a member of the boat crew, while supporting the move against the Yallingup trip, took the opportunity to take a swipe at State Centre: “The association’s starter had ‘murdered’ boat racing before they even got off the beach. The selection of a boat crew for the Australian championships has been chaotic, as North Cottesloe had won two of the three trial races, and then they decide to hold an extra race to make the final choice.” The enmity towards surf life saving officialdom was never far below the surface at North Cottesloe, even when internal matters were being discussed. Jerry Knowles’ uncompromising attitude towards Ron Fussell on that occasion won him few friends amongst the boaties, but it signalled that he was going to be a very tough cookie.
Chapter 4 Enduring the tough times | 71
At the following meeting he announced that he would start suspending members for patrol breaches, following Bill Kidner’s warning that action against the club was being threatened. At the next meeting, Knowles moved that applications for transfers by R. Fussell, D. Bell and R. Knight be approved. Fussell moved to Floreat, where, within months he was once again in it up to his neck. Determined to get to Yallingup, he took his crew down on the Easter weekend, in defiance of the State Centre directives. As a result, Floreat was placed on probationary affiliation for 12 months – effectively rubbing the club out of competition – and Fussell himself was suspended for 12 months. One of the ironies of this saga is that on retirement, the one club boat ‘Miss Gloucester Park’ (and ‘Miss Rotary’ from Scarboro) were purchased by a group of club friends living in the Margaret River area, and regularly plied the southern ocean surf, uninhibited by club politics. Fussell‘s departure from the scene was a severe blow to North Cottesloe. The boat section all but fell apart. John Bell managed to pull together a junior crew but ended up in hospital for six weeks with retina detachment. The boys went to see him and asked if he minded Bruce Hutchinson sweeping them. John, of course, was happy the crew could continue rowing – especially because they were the only boat crew left at North Cottesloe. The crew got going again but down the track Bruce left the club, seemingly the result of a personality clash. It was another blow for North Cottesloe. As it turned out, North Cottesloe’s 1961 title was the last the club would win in surf boats for more than three decades. Not until the late 1980s would North Cottesloe again begin to make an impact in boats. Meanwhile, Bruce Hutchinson joined Trigg Island Surf Club and ended up sweeping the club’s open crew to gold at the Australian titles in 1984 and was a member of the Australian team in 1985. The experience of Ron Fussell’s crew on that 1960 trip – the Jerry Knowles, Ron Day, Peter Kidman, Michael MacDermott and I Peacock, early 1960s.
72 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
rather haphazard travel and accommodation arrangements
– was fairly typical of eastern states visits in those days. Flying the 1952 premiership team to the national championships was a first for the club, but one that would not be repeated on a regular basis for many years. Train would remain the cheaper option for most teams. In the face of the abysmal lack of organisation, the team members were the beneficiaries of a real camaraderie among the surf life saving fraternity. Most club members opened up their own homes to visitors without hesitation, and clubs lent their boats and gear, just as North Cottesloe had done for interstate and country teams. On one occasion, in the late 1950s, Bill Kidner even spent several days coaching a visiting Tasmanian team to acclimatise them to local conditions. In some cases, clubs built up special relationships through reciprocal visits, such as that between North Cottesloe and Wollongong. A similar relationship, spanning decades, existed between North Cottesloe and the Bunbury club. Bunbury club member Mike Flower remembers many enjoyable trips to Perth to carnivals in the early 1960s, and the Bunbury team was always invited back to North Cottesloe after the competition, either tossing down in the clubrooms or being accommodated in the home of one member or another. When Mike moved to Perth for work in 1967, his natural choice of club was North Cottesloe. North Cottesloe also made many visits, en masse, to Bunbury, sometimes hiring a bus for the occasion. Such trips away were frequently the occasion for larrikin behaviour and hijinks by participating members. Sometimes this rebounded upon the club, as when a Bunbury trip in the 1950s resulted in a big damage bill from the railways. Inevitably, large groups of young people travelling together are going to engage in some mischievous behaviour, and the senior members accompanying such groups were hard put to keep such hijinks under control without having to resort to punitive measures. Having fun is an important part of the surf life saving experience for many club members of all ages. Ron Fussell and his crew, despite their lack of
E
xperienced surfers of any description (board riders, body surfers, boogie boarders, even boaties) instinctively recognise a perfectly shaped wave, especially when there is almost no breeze and the face is glassy smooth. When Ron Rankine-Wilson saw a succession of them gracefully keeling over and breaking at Trigg Point in 1948, he couldn’t believe his luck. But why was he there, what’s the story? For years North Cottesloe club members who owned skis (heavy, canvas-covered craft) had paddled them along the coast when the surf was flat, trolling for tailor or herring. Like a few of his ski paddling predecessors Ron was happy to spend several hours combining paddling and fishing, but only so long as he was catching something. When he wasn’t, he occasionally tied his ski onto the roof of his newly-bought Morris 8, and travelled to other beaches. So one day in 1948, after hearing about the feast of fish caught by fishermen at the then remote Trigg Island, he decided to head north. Today, as Perth’s coastal suburban sprawl is approaching Quinns Rocks, it is difficult to recall how the drive northward from Swanbourne was almost entirely through bushland and low coastal scrub. Houses were a rarity, the road was narrow, and from Scarborough travellers headed inland to somewhere near today’s site of St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School in Karrinyup, before finally curving back to the beach. Trigg was then so isolated that there were only a few roughly-made fishing shacks clinging to the dunes, and no one swam at the best surfing beach because it was unknown.
Anyway, after braving the road, Ron unloaded his ski, hit the water and began trolling. Sure enough tailor were there – a fisherman’s paradise. However, as he paused to unhook yet another fish he happened to see a breaking wave with the shape and size that makes you stop and stare. Hardly believing his luck – first fish, now this – he paddled closer to what is now the Point and realised this was what he and others dreamt about. No one else in the water and a succession of swells, so “bugger fishing” Ron said to himself. Today he recalls how on that occasion and several others later in the summer he thought he was in second heaven. The following year he decided to share the secret with Alan Rich, Ken Caporn and one or two others who happily joined him on the surfing safaris to Trigg. Whenever they could they grabbed the opportunity between patrols and carnivals to turn their backs on North Cott’s wavelets, and try their skills in real, almost Sydney-type surf. Naturally word spread. The following summer several Cottesloe members joined in the fun, then came Rod Baker and others from Scarborough, and before long Trigg Point was no longer a secret. It was time for Ron to take his ski and fishing line elsewhere, but he becomes very nostalgic when he remembers that glorious, surf-filled summer of 1948 when he had the Point to himself, effortlessly riding wave after long-breaking wave.
Chapter 4 Enduring the tough times | 73
success at Merewether, spent some great times enjoying the hospitality of their hosts, and no doubt got up to their fair share of exuberant pranksterism. Trips away were also an important part of the team building exercise, helping develop the bonds of friendship and trust that contribute to the performance not only of individual teams, but of the club as a whole. Even as far back as 1941, North Cott was having to explain to the local Bunbury constabulary how the State junior R&R team happened to have a cow in the second-floor room of their hotel. This was just one such ’character building’ incident that Ian Pyvis, a member of the team, recalls. Sending competition teams away to carnivals was always a large claim on the resources of the club, and fundraising events for tours were always enthusiastically promoted and supported. At what point, though, does having fun, and exuberant high spirits, pass over into unpleasant, anti-social or even criminal behaviour, threatening to bring the club or movement as a whole into disrepute? There were occasional complaints about the conduct of club members, which the committee took very seriously. In December 1955, adverse reports of the behaviour of team members of various clubs prompted the committee to place restrictions on the sale of items bearing club colours or name. The nature of the bad behaviour was not specified, but obviously the committee felt that it could not risk having identifiable club members disporting themselves badly in public. Members would now need the approval of the committee before purchasing club blazers or pockets. The public image of the movement as a respectable and disciplined group of public-spirited individuals was, to senior officials, as important as its role in patrolling the beaches. Both of these fed into the widespread public acceptance of the movement, as well as its position as an icon of Australian civilisation, and at the end of the day the clubs depended on the goodwill of the public for their very survival. Everywhere, one saw images of surf life saving characterised by discipline and military precision.
74 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
1960 State R&R champions (back row) Jacky Kenney, Libby Driscoll, Sharon Smith, Judy Peacock and (front) Mary Antony and Joy Kernaghan.
but even his nemesis Jerry Knowles, a committed clubman if ever there was one, regarded some of the rules and
A
n infamous contretemps at the 1964 State championship carnival further fuelled North Cottesloe’s hostility towards officialdom and did little to improve already strained relationships with the Cottesloe club. Kevin Riley, State superintendent and therefore chief judge on the day, instructed Cottesloe’s R&R coach Geoff Brown to act as a judge for the R&R final. Why he did this is inexplicable, except in terms of sheer bloody-mindedness, since the result was likely to be a photo finish between Cottesloe and North Cottesloe. Graham Russell, the North Cottesloe marshal, had specifically asked Riley not to appoint Geoff Brown as judge, especially as there were other qualified judges on the beach at the time. Still, Riley was unmoved. Short of resigning from the board of examiners, there was no way Brown could refuse Riley’s order. As it happened, North Cottesloe was thrashed. Geoff Brown found himself in a very unpleasant predicament. The North Cottesloe resuscitator stuffed up big time by not sealing the lips of the patient. The resuscitation method in use at the time was completely ineffective unless the lips were sealed. It was an error that would have been unconscionable to the 1952 champion team. Accordingly, Brown had little choice but to dock North Cottesloe two points – a huge, and in this case decisive penalty. Of course, the North Cottesloe team was livid, believing that Brown had shown partisanship. Team members Mike McDermott and Ron Day had strong words with Kevin Riley, which resulted in both of them being called before a disciplinary committee. They escaped penalty, and North Cottesloe eventually accepted that they had been beaten fair and square, but the club’s distrust of State Centre was deepened.
regulations as ridiculous. He participated in the R&R team only because it was the premier event, and the success in the team would bring rewards like participation on State teams and trips to national carnivals. The reaction against regimentation and discipline had both passive and dynamic aspects. In the first place young people were simply not joining the movement, but added to this, there were now factors drawing people out of the movement. The rise of surfboard riding as a popular sport gained dramatic pace during the 1950s and carried with it an image of surf sports diametrically different to that embodied in the surf life saving movement. Board riding was an expression of freedom and abandonment of inhibition. Rather than responding to the dangers of the raging ocean, board riders relished it and used it for recreation. Their ideal was a direct communion between individual and ocean, unmediated by the organisation. Board riding had, of course, begun within the surf life saving movement, which was the most likely place where the techniques could be learned, along with the general surf know-how essential to any surf sport. Many surf club
The outward image of order for the most part concealed the
But while senior officials jealously guarded the respectable
members owned boards, riding waves during their spare
strong larrikin streak that was inevitably present. That most
good name of surf life saving, changing attitudes amongst
time. Like the early surf skis, hollow plywood Malibu
of the members had come to surf life saving through a love
younger people were posing a stronger challenge, with
boards were heavy and large, requiring storage space near
of the beach meant that they would only accept so much
serious consequences for the movement. Put simply,
the beach, which was offered by the clubs. For a while, it
fewer and fewer young people were interested in getting
seemed that board riding would take its place comfortably
involved in a movement based upon regimentation and
within the surf life saving movement, alongside ski paddling,
strict discipline. Relaxation of social mores and attitudes was
the other significant post-war development. The promoters
shifting emphasis away from the individual as subordinate
of the first surf movie Gidget (1960) certainly sought to use
to the group. It was getting harder to persuade young
the surf life saving movement in their promotional effort.
people that discipline was good for them. Even many who
Bill Kidner was deputised to act as a one-man colour party,
experience of military life created a lifelong distaste for
did become involved in the movement saw some of the
along with representatives of other clubs, at the opening
following orders and marching around. Among these were
’traditions’ as a waste of time, and bucked the system at
of the movie, and ‘Miss Gidget’ beauty competitions were
the members who didn’t re-join their clubs after the war.
every opportunity. Ron Fussell was a good example of this,
promoted through the clubs, which could use them as
military discipline. Some would accept less than others. For some of the members who had served in the forces, adherence to discipline and the unquestioning following of orders came much more naturally than to the younger members. Then again, there were also many for whom the
Chapter 4 Enduring the tough times | 75
76 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
fundraising events. The last of these was dismissed by the North Cottesloe committee as a ’total flop’. When the magnificent surf at Yallingup and Margaret River was discovered in the early 1950s, some of the first people to travel down and savour it were members of Cottesloe and North Cottesloe clubs. The great surf was not publicised at first, except by word-of-mouth, through the surf clubs. As the word spread more club members began to take the trip down, pooling transport for weekend visits, travelling over rough unmade roads and risking the ire of farmers, over whose land they would have to pass to reach the beach. Many North Cottesloe members became regular visitors, including Ron Fussell, who wanted to take his boat crews down every year, and Jerry Knowles. At Easter 1962, Jerry Knowles participated in a dramatic and tragic rescue in mountainous seas at Yallingup. Two lifesavers, Cliff Hills and Jeff Dalziel, paddled their boards into the surf to rescue a young man who had gotten into difficulties. Though they managed to get him to shore, Dalziel was swept off a reef by a giant wave. Cottesloe member Kerry Davies made it out to Dalziel, but couldn’t hold him, and soon both were in difficulties. Knowles managed to lay hold of Davies, who was exhausted, but was unable to rescue Dalziel. Subsequent attempts to reach Dalziel failed. The rescue understandably traumatised all involved, but it did demonstrate the value of good surf training, and lead to improved surf rescue facilities at the beach. But there was something fundamentally antagonistic between the growing sport of board riding and the surf life saving movement, between the ‘surfies’ and the ‘clubbies’. It seemed that the more you got into board riding, the less you wanted to be part of a club. Many clubmen, attracted to Yallingup during this period, drifted away from the movement and dedicated their lives to riding waves. Exacerbating the problem was the fact that the clubs, charged with patrolling the beaches, also found themselves
with the task of regulating the use of boards, which could be a danger to swimmers. There were only occasional problems at North Cottesloe, with its generally rather gentle swell, but at places like Scarborough and Trigg, where board riders sought out the big waves, there were ugly scenes as surf club patrol members tried to keep boards away from swimming areas. Clubbies quickly came to be seen by surfies as officious control freaks and spoilsports, and the wedge was driven in further. Early attempts were made to incorporate surfboard riding competitions into surf life saving carnivals, but the competition never really took off, because the sport was already moving in a different direction. The most serious proponents of competition board riding were being lured by sponsorship and prize money and high-profile events. This rising professionalism was detested by surf life saving at the time. Moreover, board riding is an international sport, unlike surf life saving, which remains distinctively Australian. Successful surfers now travel the world as free-booting individuals, competing for lucrative purses and international celebrity beyond the wildest imaginations of even the most illustrious surf lifesaver. The 1960s was a time of crisis for the surf life saving clubs all over Australia, with declining memberships and a shrinking financial base. The movement was hard put to retain its relevance and appeal to younger people. By 1966, North Cottesloe was down to a total membership of 125, with only 36 cadet and juvenile members. Amongst those members, to be sure, were some very talented individuals, and the club was still making its mark in competition. Jack Trail was winning State surf ski championships every year from 1962 when he won the double with Ron RankineWilson. He dominated the singles and the doubles for the decade, winning the doubles with Len Bennett, Terry Colby, Larry Pullen, David Russell and then in the 1970s with Simon Martin. In 1970 he became the first North Cottesloe member to win an individual Australian title. By
Chapter 4 Enduring the tough times | 77
O
n the club office bearers’ board the names Kidman and Day appear. Listed as club captain at various times in the 1960s, Kidman (‘Spud’) and Day (‘Dayo’), according to many, ran the club during some particularly troubled years. Membership was lower than usual, the Fussell era in surf boats had ended and almost all those who had made the club a competition powerhouse in the years after World War II were drifting away. Kidman and Day’s difficult task was to span the generations, nurturing a new group of members on the beach who could carry the club into a new era. Kidman grew up in Torrens Street (only a stone’s throw away from the beach) where his family’s neighbour was long-time member Jack Hunter, instructor of many bronze teams in the early 1940s. Day’s background was completely different. Unlike Kidman, who was a very good surf swimmer, Day came via East Fremantle, water polo, and an outstanding still-water swimming career in which he was unlucky not to be selected for the 1960 Rome Olympics. Together ‘Spud’ and’ Dayo’ (who were flatmates for several years) rebuilt the club around its swimming and R&R strength, with the former finding an original way to increase membership by tirelessly recruiting them from Perth’s private schools. Moreover, he chased sponsorship too, managing to persuade Wentworth Motors and other businesses to become club supporters. At carnivals the club was so successful in resurrecting itself that for three summers in the 1960s, at all carnivals, it was never defeated in the aggregate point score. The still fiercely contested senior R&R title was won again in 1965, 1966 and 1970 – Day, Alan Charleston, Peter Driscoll, Jerry Knowles, Bill Anderton, Michael MacDermott and Graham Russell’s son Bill being some of the team members.
Yet, side by side with these successes emerged an intense bitterness towards State Centre – well, at this time not so much the administrators as the members of the board of examiners who carried out the occasional patrol inspections. During this era former members swear they were rostered for patrols at least every fortnight. Not surprisingly, efficiency dropped (it was never high), absenteeism was a problem, and the raids therefore occasionally resulted in breaches of the by-laws. Possibly this may have been accepted, but old members claim there was a strong element of vindictiveness about the raids. North Cottesloe, competitively successful, could be ‘rubbed out’ of carnivals for patrol breaches – and it was. In particular, several Cottesloe club board members seemed to take a malicious delight in timing their raids so the detection of a breach was a near certainty. Watching from behind posts, or lying hidden behind tough marram grass in the sand dunes, they pounced as soon as they could detect a problem, making patrols a nightmare. No wonder this had become part of the club’s folklore and foundation for the contemptuous ‘them and us’ attitude towards State Centre. Steve Wilson’s tribute to ‘The Great Jimbo’ says it all.
now Jack was manufacturing his own faster, lighter and more manoeuvrable skis in fibreglass – a skill he had picked up on one of his many trips to the eastern states for competitions. But this technological edge only allowed Trail to stay on top when combined with a vigorous training regime. Usually in the company of young teammate Simon Martin – later Australian ironman champion – Jack would transfer his surf ski to the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, from where he would paddle up the river, around the heads, and back up the coast to the clubrooms. There were wins in the senior R&R in 1965 and 1966, under the tutelage of Graham Russell, and a beach sprint title for Lyn Girdlestone in 1965. Taken as a whole, North Cottesloe did no worse than any other club during the 1960s, and in some areas did very well indeed. In 1960 the ladies’ surf club was reformed. Women’s involvement in competition had lapsed after 1953 partly due to the restrictions imposed by the WA Surf Life Saving Association and partly due to the women becoming more involved in fundraising and starting their families. In 1962 competition got off to an excellent start. The president of the club was Mrs Rhona Porteous, secretary/treasurer Sandra Gilbert, club captain Barbara Gilbert and vice-captain Judy Peacock. The women continued their competition success with the North Cottesloe ladies taking out the State champion women’s club title in 1963. They had dominated the surf race in 1962 but in 1963 they regained the allimportant R&R competition, won in 1960, and again became the champion women’s surf club of WA. They continued to dominate this event until 1966. The North Cottesloe Ladies’ Auxillary held a lunch for the ladies’ club immediately after winning the State championship. Lyn Girdlestone, the ladies’ R&R instructor was thanked for the “courteous and gentlemanly way in which he trained the girls and did everything in his power to make the North Cott ladies’ club one of the best”.
78 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
The ladies’ club was extremely active and had a weekly health and fitness class in the clubrooms comprising physical and rhythm exercise. They also held first-aid classes for juveniles aged 10 to 14 as part of the recruiting drive to attract and increase membership of the ladies’ club. The course included physiology, flags, signalling and mouth-tomouth resuscitation. And there was no shortage of North Cott women who participated in the 1960s, including Patricia Nicholas (daughter of club handicapper Trevor, and wife Minchen – herself a former Australian diving champion – and brother of Bruce, a State swimming and surf champion). Pat, at the tender age of 14, was the State women’s surf champion of 1962 and was held as an example of the enthusiasm to be found in the women’s clubs. This was especially the case when in 1963 she competed in three events at a Swanbourne carnival just one month after having her appendix out. Gail Caldwell, a former State champion butterfly swimmer, fast developed into one of the State’s best women surf swimmers, competing in the belt race. She joined North Cott in 1963. Karen Hungerford was also winning in the swimming events at this time. Pat Reddin and Anne Creswell were great sprinters and with Pam Reddin and Judy Peacock formed the beach relay team. Barbara and Sandra Gilbert, Elizabeth Driscoll (whose brother Peter, a former State champion, remains active today), Judy Peacock (daughter of Barney, and whose younger sister Lea was winning juvenile titles at the time for North Cottesloe), accompanied by Jan Law, Ann Basset, Sue Hewitt, Sue Hendley, Geraldine Hill, Maxine Stocks, Sharon Smith, Jacky Kenny, Mary Antony, Joy Kernaghan, Jill Peacock, Lorraine Burke, Shirley Porteous, Patricia Hewitt, Sue Reddin, Pat Kelly and Coralie James filled the notebooks of newspaper reporters during the early to mid-1960s.
Chapter 4 Enduring the tough times | 79
Competition was serious with more than 200 competitors
One such episode which epitomises the spirit of competitors
competing in the 11 events at the women’s State carnivals.
in those times is that of Ron Day in a February 1963 carnival
The WA Women’s Surf Association was formed with North
at Swanbourne-Nedlands. He was up against two formidable
Cottesloe’s Pat Kidner as the first president. In 1963 the WA
competitors of the time in a surf race event and on his
Women’s Surf Association asked the referees and judges of
return to shore refused to leave the three-foot-deep water,
its carnivals to judge to the standard of the men’s surf life
notwithstanding appeals from spectators to take place in
saving clubs. They wanted to raise the standard of efficiency
the top bunch. It was only when they noticed one of the
and performance in the clubs to that of the men’s level with
officials swimming over from the official boat that the crowd
no leniency. This meant disqualification for infringements.
realised he was waiting for his bathers. Hampered by the
The North Cott Ladies’ Auxiliary was similarly active at the time. The Ladies’ Auxiliary organised ’American teas’, jumble sales and the like, all in order to fundraise for the club’s building fund. The president Mrs Kidner, secretary Mrs Birch and treasurer Billy Molyneux, some of the names appearing regularly on the notes from those days – as one glances
old-fashioned, full-length, R&R bathers he was wearing, he had wrenched them off and thrown them to the official boat that was escorting the senior surf race competitors during the race. As he returned to shore in a good position, he had no alternative than to watch the field swim past as modesty ruled the day – one wonders what would happen in similar
across the surnames of men and women who appear in the
circumstances today.
records, we cannot help but see brothers and sisters, sons
It’s a bit beyond the scope of this book to work out why
and daughters, fathers and mothers regularly popping up,
some surf clubs failed and why others prospered, but in the
and in many ways, it is no wonder the club has survived
case of North Cottesloe, a good deal of the credit for survival
through thick and thin, with such strong family fabric woven through the years.
during this time must be slated home to the determination and tenacity of its committed core of members. With just
It would be wrong to say that North Cottesloe’s success was
enough support from the ordinary membership, and the
achieved in the face of the club’s parlous condition, because
constant promise of better times ahead, North Cottesloe
all the clubs along the coast, and indeed around Australia,
would emerge from the troubling decade on a high note.
were facing similar problems. Some would disappear, some
In 1964, the year following Jerry Knowles’ succession to the
would be amalgamated with other clubs. The tiny Hungry
captaincy, Graham Russell, with over a decade of committee
Hollow club, south of Bunbury, originally launched as a
experience under his belt already, was elected president.
breakaway from the main Bunbury club, foundered after only
Graham was just married and was out planting new lawn at
a few years. Port and Leighton clubs, only a few hundred
his house in Kathleen Street when Ernie McKnight drove past
metres apart down at Fremantle, eventually amalgamated,
and advised him that he should come over to the club for
and North Beach, after struggling through the 60s, was
a beer. Graham said: “No, I’ll be in too much trouble.” Ernie
finally wound up in the early 70s. Mullaloo, then on the city’s
said: “Well you’ve been elected as the president at the AGM
northern fringes, was founded in 1964, and struggled for the
so you’d better come down to the club.” Little did Graham
whole decade, but hung on to become a powerhouse club
know that he was to be elected club president for the next
and movement. It was touch and go for all clubs. Read any
20 years. Graham knew what he had to do to bring the club
surf club history and the story of the 1960s is the same. But
out of the doldrums and he had some good and dedicated
the period was not without its humorous moments.
people around him to rely on.
80 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
5
5
Jerry Knowles and Graham Russell in front of the clubhouse.
Chapter 5 Just do what we want | 81
North Cottesloe clubhouse, completed in 1925.
82 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
5
Chapter
JUST DO WHAT WE WANT
T
he first North Cottesloe clubrooms were built at Pulpit Rocks at the bottom of Grant Street and were made of jarrah offcuts donated to the club by the Claremont Millars Timber and Trading Co. These clubrooms consisted of male and female change rooms and did not have a roof, much to the delight (or disgust) of passers-by on the road above. In 1921, club members George Pulleine, Charles Pitman and Thomas Davey purchased land on the eastern side of Swanbourne Terrace (now 166 Marine Parade) on behalf of the North Cottesloe club. Two stone change rooms were then built on the site which was to become the home of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club until 1967.
Over the next three years the members, under the supervision of builders Percy Yates, built a two-storey wood and iron-roof clubrooms. The clubrooms included a hall with dance floor, two offices, a kitchen, change rooms and storage space. This was a far-sighted move by the members (as usual). The mortgage to purchase their land was paid off by 1928, without Cottesloe council assistance. 1925 saw the start of North Cottesloe’s traditionally wild parties. The new clubrooms became the major social attraction in Cottesloe. Dances were held every Saturday night in summer and once a month in winter. Highlights of the evenings included boxing and wrestling matches and crazy motorcycle competitions. The clubrooms were also used for mobile picture shows every second Friday and for summertime three-penny concerts featuring local personalities. However, by the 1940s, a new North Cottesloe clubhouse was on the agenda, at various levels of priority or realism. Everyone knew that the old wooden structure, which had grown haphazardly over the decades, would certainly not last forever, a belief more than adequately borne out by the burgeoning annual maintenance bills. That these bills were not much higher was entirely due to the hundreds of hours of voluntary labour and the huge amounts of donated material that went each year into keeping the building serviceable. By the end of the 1950s, it was almost an article of faith around the club that a new building was necessary. North Cottesloe was certainly not alone in this. All the other clubs on the coast had buildings that needed replacing. The ravages of sea air and the wear and tear of constant use had taken their toll. Buildings tended to be ramshackle, dark and uncomfortable, dating from the 1930s or earlier. This was another factor in the crisis facing the movement as a whole during the 1960s – in terms of their physical appearance, surf clubs were simply not very attractive places. When Cottesloe opened its glitzy new building, high on Mudurup Rocks, in
1961, it heralded a new lease of life of the club, and became the object of envy by other clubs. North Cottesloe certainly was not going to be left behind. When club president Keith McKinley first revealed his plans for a magnificent new North Cottesloe clubhouse in April 1946, he sought approval from the management committee to be relieved of his other committee duties until the next annual general meeting, to concentrate on raising money for a new building. A subcommittee was appointed, consisting of W. Callahan, Harry Walsh and Tom Johnstone, to assist him in his efforts. It was the first of a number of such building committees to be formed over the ensuing 15 years, each established on an optimistic note, each foundering on the hard rocks of reality. There is no evidence that the 1946 building subcommittee ever reported back to the management committee. Once they began their deliberations and realised the enormity of the task before them and the scale of the obstacles in their way, their enthusiasm quickly faded. In the immediate post-war period there was an extreme housing shortage, as a result of residential building having been suspended for the duration of hostilities. Building materials were in short supply and strictly rationed. Moreover, the extended wartime austerity – few people had much ready cash, and nonessential business activity was at a low ebb – would shorten considerably the list of potential donors. Small wonder that the 1946 building committee just decided to fade away quietly. From then on, keeping the existing building functional was the name of the game, with occasional contracted renovations and painting jobs and frequent members’ busy bees. In 1949 the hall floor needed replacing, and after obtaining a couple of quotes which proved beyond the club’s resources, the management committee appealed to any members with experience in the building industry to come forward. Response was gratifying; the hall was re-floored at a
Chapter 5 Just do what we want | 83
fraction of the quoted price, and a pattern was established of doing as much of the work as possible using club volunteers. A few months later the same group of willing tradesmen, led by John Meadmore, renovated the ladies’ dressing rooms. Worryingly, a significant amount of the maintenance to the clubrooms was made necessary by acts of vandalism, sometimes by club members. In March 1949, larrikinism and vandalism on the premises became so bad that a new set of rules was promulgated and a vigilance committee appointed. The minutes do not dwell on this problem, for obvious reasons, beyond drawing attention to its frequency and seriousness, but on at least one occasion individual members were called to account for damage to the clubrooms, resulting from social functions, on pain of expulsion. The members were not named, but it appears that the damage – in this case broken windows – was made good. Some of the damage and wear was the consequence of the necessity of using the hall as a major revenue source. It was still the largest venue in the immediate vicinity and much in demand by sporting clubs and other groups for social functions. In 1951 the rate of hire was set at three pounds per night, with an extra charge of one pound per hour after midnight. Cleaning was supposed to be the responsibility of the hirers, but more often than not club members who turned up for patrols the next morning were faced with the fetid remains of the previous night’s revelries, and out would
Club members, early 1920s. One face in the crowd is William David Moore (centre, with hand up to his face).
Three months later, the darts club sent North Cottesloe a donation of £10, which seem to do the trick, for within a few
come the mops and scrubbing brushes.
months the darts club was once again hiring the hall. The
One of the worst offenders in this respect was the Ocean
never again was a darts club banned.
Beach Hotel Darts Club, which used the hall once a month
complaints continued, intermittently, over the years, though
for many years and was the subject of frequent complaints.
North Cottesloe’s own functions wrought their share of
By mid-1951 North Cottesloe had had enough and banned
damage on the hall, not least as a result of the prodigious
the darts club from using its hall, citing not only the mess
amounts of beer consumed inside. Every second week, it
and damage, but also the rather loose definition of the club’s
seemed, there was a keg on for some reason or another.
membership list, which seemed to allow large numbers of
In 1953, the management committee moved that if North
blow-ins at what were supposed to be private functions.
Cottesloe won the premiership again, there would be a
84 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
big celebration in the hall, and Sam Law was authorised to order 100 gallons of beer. North Cottesloe didn’t win, but it is not likely that that stopped them from spearing the kegs, if only to drown their wounded pride. On another occasion, an amusing series of resolutions appears in the minutes. A motion was put to order a 10-gallon keg for a post-carnival celebration. Immediately the motion was amended to ordering an 18-gallon keg. The motion, as amended, was then put and carried. Sore heads frequently abounded amongst patrol members the day after these affairs.
Of course, the fact that North Cottesloe owned its own clubrooms freehold meant that it could actually do things like that. Other clubs, using premises owned by councils, were forbidden to consume intoxicating beverages in their clubrooms, without special liquor licenses or permits, and were frequently forced to adjourn to the sandhills – which was not necessarily a serious curb on drinking, just an enjoinment towards greater circumspection. It would be interesting to know if these other clubs experienced lower levels of vandalism as a result of not being able to hit the turps in the clubrooms. There was another lengthy debate on vandalism to the clubrooms at North Cottesloe’s annual general meeting in 1954, but no details are given as to who might have been the guilty parties. It was very embarrassing for the management committee to have to admit that their own members were trashing the clubrooms. Various measures were adopted over the years to protect the premises, including engaging paid caretakers on a couple of occasions, but again the expense involved was a crucial factor. Access by ordinary members to the upstairs hall during the off-season was also restricted at times – a sanction which, judging from the number of complaints received, was honoured more in the breach. Whatever the sanctions and regulations applied to prevent vandalism, they did not extend to curtailing the club social activities. Frequent socials were very important for morale and club solidarity, and it seems clear that most committee members would rather put up with a bit of mess and occasional damage than to turn the clubrooms into an
Andy Stewart, Don ‘Gyp’ Grenville and Len Cavanagh at the clubhouse, 1940.
useful for post-carnival parties, usually held on Sunday
Smith was added at the annual general meeting in 1954. The
nights when the pubs were shut tight. Western Australia’s
committee does not appear to have fared much better than
censorious liquor licensing laws would work again for the
its predecessor in terms of progress towards clubrooms,
benefit of the club in later years.
and was eventually transformed into a general building
butcher shop, where kegs could be stored in the cool room,
In September 1953, the new clubrooms committee was
committee, charged with maintaining and repairing the
and sausages and steaks for barbecues could be procured
revived, consisting of long-serving members Tom Johnstone,
existing building. By 1958, the committee, now composed of
on an honour system, paid for later. This arrangement was
Don Molyneux, Bill Meadmore and Bruce McKenzie. Ernie
Don Host, Tom Johnstone, Dick Jeffrey and Barney Peacock,
impenetrable fortress. Besides, they enjoyed the socials themselves. So frequent were the club’s socials, that at one stage four trusted members, including vice-president Lyn Girdlestone, held keys to Cyril Hanson’s Marmion Street
Chapter 5 Just do what we want | 85
was planning major renovations to the old building. Jack James and Don Host approached the Lotteries Commission, seeking a grant of £4000 for the work. The commission offered £1000. With the proposed renovation estimated to cost a minimum of £2100, the committee decided to bite the bullet and go ahead, seeking a loan of another £1500 from the National Bank. No one saw the rebuilding project as anything more than a stopgap measure. With the arrival of the new decade came a general realisation amongst the committee that the latest renovation of the clubhouse would be the last – the next major project must be to push the whole lot over and rebuild. There was no question at first that the new clubrooms would be built on the same site. The valuable beachfront land was the club’s major fixed asset and, as such, valuable security for financing the new building. So, when an approach came from one Lindsay Rosenthal in October 1962 to purchase the club’s land, the committee confidently rejected it, though Rosenthal, by payment of one shilling, managed to secure an option of first refusal should the club change its mind. The Marine Parade block was much too small for the building the club felt it needed, though this was not initially seen as a problem. The northern boundary of the block was still crown land, A class reserve 1203, for public open space. As early as 1958 the management committee had been exploring with the Cottesloe council the possibility of obtaining a substantial slice of the reserve for club
Club members survey plumbing problems, 1940s.
The committee seemed fairly confident that a portion of the
carefully-worded letters and haggling, the club was finally
reserve could be secured, at least doubling the existing land
advised in January 1964 that there was no way the government
holdings. The Cottesloe club had experienced little difficulty
was going to let it have a substantial slice of reserve 1203. It was
this reserve, to be vested in the local council and leased
in having its new clubrooms’ site excised from the beach
back to the drawing board. Or was it really?
to the club. It appeared to be a simple matter. Laurence
recreation reserve, which gave the North Cottesloe committee
There had been, for some time, a sizeable body of opinion
Gadsdon, North Cottesloe founder, was the long-standing
cause to believe that the Government would always treat
within the club that the best location for the clubrooms was
Mayor of Cottesloe, and Ross Hutchinson MLA, Minister for
sympathetically requests from surf life saving clubs. On this
on the western side of Marine Parade. Graham Russell and
Works and Member for Cottesloe, had just agreed to act as
occasion, however, government planning policy expressed
Jerry Knowles were prominent in holding this position. It
club patron. North Cottesloe had some powerful friends.
another agenda entirely. After a year of repeated approaches,
seemed until now that the redevelopment of the site was
extensions. It appears that the council had indicated it would support the action. Jack James now formally proposed that the club seek to extend landholdings with an excision from
86 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
the path of least resistance, but once that option had been closed off, those supporting a beachside clubhouse wasted no time at all in getting to work. At the same meeting that received the refusal letter for the land grant, a resolution was passed to send a deputation to the council seeking a site on the western side of Marine Parade. This is the option that the council had effectively closed off nearly 50 years before, maintaining that the beachside land was part of an inalienable road reserve.
What The Daily News report highlighted was a factor that some of the coastal municipalities were only just beginning to realise, that beaches were fragile environments that needed constant care and maintenance if they were to be accessed by the public.
As it turned out, the decision to approach the council was a timely one. As Graham Russell found out once he approached the town clerk, the council was at that very time planning a major redevelopment of the North Cottesloe beachfront, incorporating new public facilities and improved access, to cost a total of £40,000. It would be an easy matter for the new surf club to be included in these plans, if, as was becoming clear, the road reserve was not as sacrosanct as first thought.
As part of his approach to the council, Russell requested that his club receive at least the same consideration that Cottesloe had received in the construction of its new clubrooms, a request that the council could scarcely deny. Cottesloe had received a grant of leasehold on the crown reserve, a straight out monetary grant, and a loan towards construction on very favourable terms. By November 1964, Russell was able to report to his committee that the aim had been achieved. Yet another building subcommittee – Jack James, Tom Law, Barney Peacock and Jack Lanyon – had been appointed, this time to give serious thought to
needed constant care and maintenance if they were to
fundraising measures, and an architect was set to work to
be accessed by the public. Thousands of feet travelling
produce a plan.
unrestricted over dunes eventually destroyed the vegetation, allowing winds to blow thick sand drifts over beachside roadways. At the Cottesloe main beach, large amounts of money had been spent on embankments and retaining walls, to completely transform the beachscape into a hard-wearing, user-friendly public facility. Later, more
The council had little difficulty in persuading the Lands Department to excise an area from the Marine Parade road reserve vested in the council, to be leased to the surf club at a peppercorn annual rental. It seems the plan to eventually enlarge Marine Parade to a wide dual carriageway promenade had been permanently shelved years before,
The council may well have been stung into action on North
sensitive and aesthetic restoration programs in other areas
Cottesloe as a result of a damning report on the beach that
would focus on reviving dune vegetation and channelling
had appeared in The Daily News some months before. The
pedestrian traffic through designated paths. But this kind
report, part of a series surveying metropolitan surf beaches,
of approach was still well in the future in 1964, when the
The total cost of the new clubrooms would eventually come
drew attention to the decaying state of the public facilities
Cottesloe Town Council released its development plan for
to nearly $50,000, made up, in part, of a loan of $20,000
and erosion of access paths. Accompanied by photographs
North Cottesloe Beach.
from the Cottesloe council, a $9000 direct grant from the
showing the unroofed women’s change rooms half buried in sand, and the beach shelters literally falling to pieces, the report painted a picture of decades of neglect of the area, contrasting it sharply with the large amount of resources being poured into the main beach, a few hundred metres south. The writer declared North Cottesloe to be one of the most run-down beaches in the metropolitan area, using language like ’shameful’ and ’embarrassing’. No new work had taken place at the beach for at least a decade.
The plan involved the construction of new public change rooms, retaining walls and paved access paths to the beach, improved kerbside parking facilities on Marine Parade and a new kiosk, on the west side of Marine Parade. Graham Russell, having taken over as club president in July 1964, saw the opportunity for North Cottesloe Surf Club to have its new premises included in the redevelopment plan. He took personal responsibility for the project, arranging face-to-face meetings with the town clerk and the engineer responsible
because of the instability of the coastal dunes, and the danger of erosion and subsidence.
council and the Tourist Development Authority and another $8000 from the Lotteries Commission. To round it out, the council insisted that North Cottesloe sell its existing premises and put the proceeds towards the construction of the new building. It was an arrangement that would put an end to North Cottesloe’s unique position as the only surf life saving club to own its own land and premise freehold, but this distinction, in the final analysis, was worth little to the club. There was no point being sentimental about it.
What The Daily News report highlighted was a factor that
for the project. He was in the nick of time, as it turned out,
Everyone, by this time, was well and truly behind the project
some of the coastal municipalities were only just beginning
for the council was on the point of finalising the plans and
of relocating across the road. Apart from the new clubrooms,
to realise, that beaches were fragile environments that
commencing construction.
with modern amenities to draw in new members, a position
Chapter 5 Just do what we want | 87
close to the beach had definite advantages in terms of the club’s physical profile, identifying more strongly with the beach its members were meant to patrol. Of course there are practical considerations as well – consolidating all the equipment, including boats, in a single location meant less work for patrols and easier organisation of carnivals. There were also other definite advantages in not being right next door to residential properties. In 1963, as the deliberations over the new premises were just getting under way in earnest, North Cottesloe accepted an offer from the Peppermint Lounge, of Hay Street, Perth, to use the hall to run dances every Saturday night for six months. The proprietor of the club attended a committee meeting to address concerns about any ’rough elements’ attending the dances. The lounge took its name from a club in New York, founded in 1961, which had been the birthplace of the dance craze the Twist. By 1963, however, even in the relative backwater of Perth, the stomp had taken over. The new, loud and vibrant rock music of the early 1960s, though tame by today’s standards, was still regarded with suspicion and contempt in conservative Perth at the time. Since those who owned and controlled most of the large venues, such as civic halls and ballrooms, saw rock music
Shade houses with change rooms in the distance, North Cottesloe Beach, 1945.
passed into musical history. Large numbers of teenagers of
hand to strengthen the dance floor. This was one area where,
the early 1960s remember the surf club for that reason more
perhaps, some concerns about rock music were justified.
than any other. In a 1999 radio broadcast the then leader of the Federal Opposition, Kim Beazley, reminisced about
as inevitably disruptive and violent and would not have a
seeing Johnny Young and the Strangers for the first time
bar of it, there was a real shortage of venues for dances.
at North Cottesloe. Other clubs, seeing North Cottesloe’s
Enterprising impresarios turned to the surf clubs, which had
success, rushed to follow suit, meeting a growing demand
large halls available for hire, and tended to be controlled by
that traditional venue owners were ignoring. Nightclubs
people younger and less conservative than the usual venue
were few and far between and generally had a rather seedy
owners. Most of all, the surf clubs needed more money.
reputation, while pubs for the most part did not yet perceive
The Peppermint Lounge stomps were very well run and
the provision of entertainment as part of their role.
Then there was the noise. Less than a month after the first dance, the committee was tabling a letter from the club’s next-door neighbour, Mrs Harris, complaining about the horrendous volume of music. Bill Kidner had been to her house during the dance and agreed that the noise level was ’shocking’. There was, however, nothing that could be done, or at least nothing the committee wanted to do. The police were very happy about the way the dances were being run, they stopped precisely at midnight, as the contract with the
immensely popular. Huge crowds danced to bands such
Stomps were not without their problems, however. Another
Peppermint Lounge specified, and the crowd was generally
as Johnny Young and the Strangers, who got their first big
committee member drew Graham Russell’s attention to a
well-behaved. Jerry Knowles suggested that Mrs Harris
break, their first big crowds, at the North Cottesloe stomps.
particularly dangerous situation. In the change rooms below
could possibly take legal action to shut down the dances,
The Beat’n’Tracks, a top Perth band at the time, was a regular
the hall, during one of the dances, they watched the wooden
but until that time, they should be allowed to continue. Mrs
performer, with club member Paul Freize on bass guitar.
floor distended by several inches at a time, as the crowd in the
Harris must have been mighty glad when she found out that
The surf club stomps ran for nearly 10 years and have
hall jumped in time to the music. Work was very quickly put in
the surf club was going to move.
88 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Of course, she wasn’t above a bit of skulduggery of her
possible connivance on the part of the Government to
North Cottesloe’s brick-and-concrete, low-profile building
own. Lindsay Rosenthal anxiously wrote to the club in 1964
benefit some unidentified developer, who stood to benefit
– it was designed so that most of it would be below street
when he found out Mrs Harris had told a prospective buyer
from the increased size. Repeated assurances from the
level, built into the cliff face – was officially opened in July
of her property that the surf club building was about to be
minister that the scheme was for no other purpose than to
1967, and the effect on the club was almost immediate. In
auctioned. It turns out that Mrs Harris was only trying to
provide a financial benefit to the surf club did not convince
the year after the opening of the clubrooms, membership
boost the price of her own property by embellishing the truth
them. Finally, the act was passed on party lines.
increased by just over 50 per cent from 124 to 189, the
a little bit, suggesting that the North Cottesloe stomps were about to be discontinued. Rosenthal’s mind was put at rest, and he was reassured that his shilling had not been spent in vain. In the end, however, it was not Mr Rosenthal who purchased the surf club property, which was surprising given
Graham might possibly have been vindicated in his allegations had a proposal by another club benefactor got off the ground. A young architect by the name of Len Buckeridge wrote to the club with a radical suggestion.
highest level in 15 years. Most of the increase was at the cadet and juvenile levels, which augured well for the future. The new clubrooms probably saved the club’s bacon, because the revitalisation they brought the club allowed it to swim against the tide in the general decline that
the proprietorial interest he had held in it, and his frequent
Rather than sell the land, the club could enjoy an ongoing
letters to the North Cottesloe management committee. The
financial benefit by redeveloping it as a hostel, both for its
Membership had gradually been creeping up since the early
property was finally bought by a lawyer for the grand price
own purposes and for public use. No doubt Buckeridge saw
1960s but was still nowhere near the high point of the early
of £16,000.
a role in the proposal for himself, but it was a straight-out
1950s. Without the sudden influx of new members in the
commercial proposition. He intimated that there would be
years between 1967 and 1970, that slow increase may very
no difficulty in finding the finance both to redevelop the site,
well have turned into a decline. However, the foresight of
and to make up the shortfall in the cost of the clubroom that
Jerry Knowles prevented this as Jerry carried out his plan of
would result if the site was not sold. In the event, however,
going to the surrounding private schools and campaigning to
the town council decided that it would not allow the project.
students to join the club.
Rosenthal’s failure to exercise his option might have been a result of a clever bit of wheeling and dealing by the North Cottesloe committee to increase the sale price of the clubroom land, a move which led to possibly the only time that North Cottesloe has been the subject of parliamentary debate. Jerry Knowles discovered that the block was 11 feet too narrow to be zoned as a flat site, which would increase its value considerably. With the intercession of the local Member and club patron Ross Hutchinson, an 11-foot strip of neighbouring reserve 1203 was procured to increase the frontage. While the Lands Department had not been
Although the site was zoned for flat development, the proposed building did not qualify, and was dubbed by the council as a sub-standard flat development. It was a nice try and its failure did not in any way discourage Buckeridge from going on to become a success in the building industry, a success he would share in later years, as a major sponsor,
characterised the movement Australia-wide at this time.
Along with the new clubrooms came an unprecedented stability amongst the club’s senior office bearers. Graham Russell would hold the presidency for a still unsurpassed 20 years, until 1983. He would preside over some of the club’s most difficult years, as well as some of the most successful, and he is widely credited with having laid the groundwork
prepared to part with a large slice of the reserve, there
with North Cottesloe as a surf club.
seemed to be no problem with a narrow sliver, which would
Interestingly, in the end the old clubroom site was developed
1990s. Like many of his predecessors, he recognised the
confer considerable financial benefit on the club at little cost
as a single residence, rather than a block of flats, presumably
importance of a serviceable building to the fortunes of the
to the Government.
it was sold at the premium price. Beach residential land has
for that meteoric rise of the club in the late-1980s and
club and perhaps worked harder than anyone else to make the new building a reality. During the term of his presidency
Since reserve 1203 was an A Class reserve, its boundary
always been a hotly-contested area, and Herb Graham’s
could only be altered by an act of parliament. When the
concerns expressed in Parliament illustrate the extent to
Minister for Lands, W. Bovell, introduced the necessary
which projects, which might attract little or no attention
legislation in November 1967, he obviously thought it would
in other areas, become public issues on the beachfront.
be a mere formality. The deputy leader of the Opposition
While valued at huge sums, public pressure and a myriad
The young lawyer Jerry Knowles, having served as club
Herb Graham, however, was suspicious of the Government’s
of competing interests place limitations upon what kind of
captain for five years, assumed the role of secretary in 1968,
motives, and made some very pointed comments about
development can take place on the beachfront.
and held it, except for a break of one year, for the next 13
and beyond, he strove continually to improve and preserve the building. When he finally retired from club duties, many years later, he was still holding the position of building officer.
Chapter 5 Just do what we want | 89
years. By way of comparison, in the 15 years before he
need to be serious about competition and single-mindedly
assumed office, no fewer than 12 different incumbents had
dedicated to the club. The captain is responsible for
held the role, some of them for just a few months, others for
coordinating the competition and surf skills training effort of
discontinuous terms, filling in when no one else could be
the club – recruiting teams, organising coaching and general
found for the job. Secretary is probably the most onerous
encouragement and morale boosting. Rightly or wrongly –
position on the surf club committee, requiring much day-to-
usually wrongly, for success has many prerequisites – the
day ’hands-on’ drudgery and attention to minute detail. Some
club captain, more than any other official, either basks in
of the secretaries of the 1950s seemed distinctly ill-at-ease,
the glory of success in competition or wears the blame
motivated more by the desire to be seen doing the right
for failure. Usually assisted by a patrol officer, the captain
thing than by any genuine commitment or aptitude. Not that
also oversees the patrol roster, and the effectiveness of the
this motivation is to be denigrated. Indeed, the dedication
patrols is often a function of how willing the captain is to kick
shown in taking a position for which one is ill-suited, to fill
butt. In March 1960, North Cottesloe had been suspended
an important gap, is possibly all the more commendable.
from competition for the remainder of the season for patrol
Nevertheless, it is likely that the club suffered from the lack
inefficiency. Luckily on that occasion there was not much of
of administrative continuity.
the season left, but it was a timely reminder that the club’s
Jack Trail, at the beginning of his long winning streak as a
competition success was intimately linked to its patrol duties.
surf ski paddler, served two years as secretary in 1964 and
The club captain is the committee official with the closest
1965 – the first secretary in more than a decade to serve
association with ordinary members, at all levels. Often, for
more than a single term. Coming at the time when all the
junior members, the captain was the most visible club official
wheeling and dealing was going on around the building of
on the beach. Presidents and secretaries usually had ceased
the new clubrooms, it cannot have been an easy two years,
active participation in competition and patrols once they
but Jack was keen to do his bit for the club. He never held a
assumed high office.
higher office for North Cottesloe and gradually withdrew from committee work to concentrate on competing. Jack was on his way to become a rare breed of North Cottesloe clubman – one who is remembered primarily for his achievements as a competitor rather than for his administrative role. Some outstanding competitors went on to hold the highest offices, whilst some expert administrators were at best indifferent competitors. It takes all types to run a surf club.
Richard Meadmore, son of Reg Meadmore, came into the club as a junior member during the captaincy of Jerry Knowles. It was still a very small club, but with a good R&R team, now being coached by Graham Russell, an indifferent boat crew, since Ron Fussell had departed a few years before, and some very good ski paddlers. It was possible to get to know all the members, since there were so few of them, and especially if you were the son of a club stalwart
Jerry Knowles’ five years as club captain was itself something
of many years standing who had been involved in surf life
of a record up until then. Though not as short lived as the
saving before you were born. Being the youngest in the club
careers of secretaries, most captains served for only a year
was a bit of a baptism of fire. You were made to know in no
or two before moving on. It is not the sort of role you can
uncertain terms that you were the lowest of the low. These
hold for a long career, since it relies on being closely in tune
were the days before affirmative action to curb bullying
with the competitive and patrolling side of the club. There
and victimisation at school and in sporting groups. One was
is no need to be a champion to be club captain, but you
simply expected to put up with it, and in turn you could visit
90 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
the brutality on those who came after you. It was even said to be character building, although one could argue that some of the characters who were built by such treatment were decidedly unsavoury. In Jerry Knowles, the young Richard, like so many others, found an immediate mentor and protector. Jerry moderated the effect of the victimisation and made the new boys very welcome. This kind of direct contact made all the difference to the young members, and possibly helped keep them in the club. There was also a gradual increase in the ranks of junior members during the five years Knowles was captain, after a slight decline in the preceding years. Perhaps the personality of the captain, and the stability he brought to the office, played a part in this. Half a dozen other kids from North Cottesloe Primary School joined around the same time as Richard Meadmore. At least one of them went on to make a lifelong commitment to the club, as a direct result of Knowles’ presence. By the time he was elected secretary, Jerry Knowles had already been intimately involved in the deliberations on the building of the new clubhouse. He had participated in negotiations with the Lotteries Commission and the local council, written letters and dealt with legal matters. As the first lawyer to become a member, the club made good use of Knowles’ legal training, not that Knowles ever begrudged one minute of his time – he was totally committed to the club, and his enthusiasm carried on into his 13-year tenure as secretary. The minutiae of the secretary’s role did not faze him at all and as he consolidated himself in his legal practice, he began to bring surf club work into the office. Much of North Cottesloe business, it is said, was transacted in the offices of Parker and Parker, using that firm’s facilities and staff. Parker and Parker’s contribution in kind to North Cottesloe over the years, whether the senior partners were aware of it or not, amounted to a considerable sponsorship package.
Bill Stewart, Tom Stewart, John Meadmore and Bill Kidner training in front of the original ambulance room/boat shed/lookout.
Chapter 5 Just do what we want | 91
much-needed income – the associate fees, although higher than the ordinary membership, still do not even approach the fees charged by commercial health clubs. This has to be balanced against the club’s prime responsibility, the safeguarding of lives on surf beaches. This is the reason they have their prime locations on the beach, at peppercorn rentals to the public purse, not to establish exclusive social clubs for the rich. North Cottesloe officials, in particular, are extremely sensitive to the need to maintain this balance and on several occasions over the years, it has been necessary to limit the number of associate members. At one stage in the late 1970s, a campaign was launched to encourage associate members to train for their bronze medallion. Quite a number responded, and four of the 11 bronzes gained in 1979 went to associates. With the new clubrooms open and membership on the rise, it was probably a good time to be secretary of North Cottesloe. A new surf boat, paid for by a donation from Tom Wardle, Lord Mayor of Perth, was delivered at the end of the 1968/69 season. Under the tutelage of Lyn Girdlestone, In 1967/68 new clubrooms were constructed on the beach side of Marine Parade.
patrols had been stimulated, though 16 members had been suspended for breaches. Thirty rescues were carried out
Whatever the partners at Parker and Parker thought of the
of the club’s facilities, but did not have to hold the bronze
during the season – quite a high number for North Cottesloe.
firm being used as the part-time surf club office, they could
medallion or carry out patrol duties.
Twenty-five bronze medallions were awarded during the
not have any doubt about Jerry’s commitment to North Cottesloe. Rory Argyle had been a childhood friend of Jerry’s and coached him in the University of WA Rowing Club. He despaired at ever being able to drag the younger man away from the surf club for long enough to excel at still water rowing. Finally, when they ended up in the same law firm, it was Jerry who convinced Rory that paddling a surf ski was
With the increasing emphasis in affluent societies on health and physical fitness, it is not surprising that people would look to surf life saving clubs as pathways to a healthy lifestyle, not least because of their salubrious locations on the beachfront. The more the clubs improve their facilities, the more attractive they become to social associate
season, the highest number for nearly 30 years. The extra space at the new clubrooms, effective recruitment drives, along with the new distance from residential neighbours likely to complain, stimulated a revival in the social life of the club. Regular dances were being held once again, often using the services of the band The Empty Set, which included club members Geoff James and Richard Pyvis in its
a great way to keep it. Rory became an associate member
members. In a suburb like Cottesloe, moving rapidly
and has remained so ever since. He was an early example
upmarket from the 1960s onwards, there is no shortage of
of the kind of member that would become an increasingly
money to pay for associate membership, circumventing
showed the club was right at the top of the movement, both
important part of the club in the ensuing years. Associate
usual, often arduous rite of passage into the surf life saving
competitively and socially, which indicated just how hard
members, who usually joined as adults, paid higher fees
movement. It is tempting for surf clubs located in such
key members worked at success. Carnivals saw members
than active members, and were thereby entitled to make use
areas to promote associate membership as a source of
competing in every event possible, exhausting themselves,
92 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
ranks. The club’s membership at the time, although small, was a remarkably talented group. A glance at the results
A
t around 11am on Saturday 11 March 1978, North Cottesloe beach became the crash landing site for VH MPS. Jack Alliss, Richard Meadmore, Steve Artelaris and Adrian Ridderhof were swimming in the Eric Street pool before Jack was to be married later that day. Adrian remembers it as a beautiful calm day. Jack remembers it as a windy day.
Soon after, the plane washed up on shore. The North Cottesloe members roped it off as there were plenty of interested spectators, including a couple of less intelligent lads smoking cigarettes as they peered
into the wreckage, with fuel running everywhere. Many years later when Jack’s marriage failed he said the crash might have been a sign.
They both remember the plane – a loud dual-wing plane flying from the north, towing an advertising banner. Struggling with the load, the pilot ditched the banner and lead weight about 50 metres off-shore from Grant Street. The plane continued but sounded very sick and as it passed North Cottesloe the engine cut out. The pilot tried to restart the engine a couple of times but the plane was descending rapidly. He lined up to land on the firm sand near the water’s edge between Eric Street and Napier Street but there were people jogging and they couldn’t hear the plane coming down without the engine running. The pilot changed direction and put the plane down at the back of the reef. The fixed wheels hit the water surface first and the plane flipped over. The pilot jumped out immediately. Adrian, Jack and co had been running towards the plane as it was coming down. As the plane crashed, Jack ran to the public phone to ring 000 for an ambulance. Some other club members ran down with a reel in case the pilot needed assistance. As it turned out the pilot suffered only minor injuries, including a large gash on his forehead.
Chapter 5 Just do what we want | 93
and then participating in fundraisers on carnival evenings to secure the all-important building loan repayment funds. Social innovations such as the ‘admit one double’ T-shirts that were the ticket into the club’s New Year’s dances; cricket on the beach during patrols as a method of keeping interest levels up; giant white footprints painted onto roadways and the blades of the surf boat oars; and beach football contests with Cottesloe and other clubs were all part of the spirit of club membership, and helped to retain athletes who would otherwise have been drawn off into competing activities, not the least of which was surfboard riding. It seems as if the task of maintaining the club’s newfound prosperity and confidence was absorbing all the energies of the management committee, for the years of the Russell/Knowles ascendancy were marked by the almost total withdrawal of North Cottesloe officials from participation in the higher levels of surf life saving. The last president to come from North Cottesloe, Don Molyneux, had ended his term in 1964. Jerry Extensions to the southern end of the clubhouse in 1978 added 50ft on both levels, essentially doubling the size of the building.
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any West Australians recall photographs of model Jane Priest kissing Prince Charles in the surf one morning at North Cottesloe. The untold story of that royal visit unfolded on a Sunday night – in fact the Sunday night after the State titles, always an occasion of riotous celebration at the club. The Governor, Sir Douglas Kendrew, and Lady Kendrew were regular swimmers at the beach, so after a very hot day they decided to take the royal guests back to North Cottesloe for an evening swim – contacting the club beforehand to check whether or not it was okay to use the change rooms. By the time the vice-regal party arrived, members’ thirsts
were being quenched by the usual free-flowing beer and the yelling crowd was in full voice. Anyway, as unobtrusively as they could, the visitors quickly left their gear and dived into the surf. Meanwhile, behind their backs in the change rooms and with much hilarity, Messrs Ridderhof, Meadmore and Wilson in turn proceeded to try on the ‘royal dressing gown’ and the ‘royal slippers’. When the swimmers returned, they were invited to have a drink (North Cottesloe always being very hospitable), which they proceeded to do – in fact, more than several beers. Jerry Knowles watched warily as Charles enjoyed himself, laughing with everyone else when club stalwart Tup
Wilkinson, whilst in earnest conversation with the Prince of Wales, fell off his chair, glass in hand. So generous were the hosts that, by the time he left, the Prince was in danger of joining Tup, his ‘short swim’ having lasted almost three hours. It must have been truly memorable for two days later an autographed photo of Charles was delivered to the club as a ‘thank you’ gesture.
Knowles, in his third year as club captain, 1965, replaced Jack Trail as North Cottesloe’s delegate to State Centre and Graham Russell served a brief stint on the State management committee in the early 1980s. Great things were expected of him, given his illustrious record with North Cottesloe, but he never aspired to anything higher. His primary loyalty was always to his club. In a year or two of the completion of the new clubrooms the North Cottesloe management committee was discussing extensions to the building, responding to a combination of an underestimation of the impact of the new building on membership numbers and a desire to pre-empt future demand. Certainly, it appears that the building may have been a little inadequate, since membership numbers did not continue to rise at the same dramatic rate as they had done in the first couple of years. Indeed, by the mid-1970s numbers had levelled off and were actually beginning to decline. By 1977, the club was down to 128 members, not many more than 10 years earlier, and only five bronzes awarded. Concern about this was expressed at meetings, and various
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ewly inducted life member and renowned ski paddler, Jack Trail, has always been totally focused and dedicated, and never more than when dominating his event between 1963 and 1973 – 10 State single ski titles. An innovator and ceaseless experimenter, Jack always strove for perfection. If he was short of aluminium for his rudders, he scrounged material from any available source. The work on his craft and paddles continued whenever he travelled to the nationals, because Jack knew that even the smallest modification to his gear might give him the winning edge. Which is why on one trip, when seven or eight North Cott competitors, including Jerry Knowles, were sharing a room, Trail decided he needed to shave his fibreglass paddles, a task likely to take several hours. So he settled down on the nearest bed (who cared who slept in it?) and began scraping away, piles of fibreglass shavings spreading outwards
around him on the blankets. Eventually he finished, didn’t bother to remove the shavings before covering them, and adjourned to his own bed for the night. Unfortunately, he didn’t sleep well. Throughout the early morning hours, he and the others in the room were disturbed by Jerry Knowles’ groaning, scratching and exclaiming in very colourful language that his entire body was itching – in fact, he wondered what diseases had these symptoms? By morning Jerry was in a very dark mood (lack of sleep, body covered in red welts where he had been scratching himself) and his mate Jack was unusually quiet, praying that Jerry wouldn’t realise who had destroyed his night. He didn’t, fortunately for Jack.
options for boosting membership were discussed. It was actually found that, on balance, the personal approach worked best. Recruitment campaigns in schools worked to a certain extent, initially attracting new members, but the retention rate amongst such members was lower than it was amongst those gained through members asking around amongst their family and friends. This is perhaps to be expected in a voluntary organisation, since the presence of the close friends and family is a powerful factor in keeping people involved. Where people could carry their friends with them into the organisation it was more likely to become part of their lives. There is nothing unusual about that, and North Cottesloe certainly put in a great amount of effort into getting members to bring along their friends and family, but was this going to be enough? The club had attracted Mike Flower from Bunbury and Alex McKenzie from Leighton in this way, but more was
needed. The world was changing and getting larger for most young people. When earlier generations had come into the club it was the natural choice if you lived in the local area. There was little else around to compete for your time and it was likely that you would know at least some of the people already in the club. Nearly all the surf clubs were firmly rooted in their local communities, and drew most of their members from within walking distance – to an extent, they had a captive market. By the 1970s, young people had greater mobility and more options for out-of-school activities. So even though family and friends were still big factors, the surf clubs now had more competition, both in their local area and further afield. One of the ways of meeting that competition was to make sure that the facilities the club could provide for its members
were at least on par with, if not superior to, those offered by other surf clubs and other sporting organisations. It would no longer be enough to simply provide change rooms and training. This important point was grasped by Graham Russell and his committee very early and has underpinned the success of the club, in terms of membership numbers, patrol performance and competition results, ever since. This is why, so soon after the completion of the new clubrooms, they were already thinking about extending them. To pay for the extensions to the building, the North Cottesloe committee resorted to a tried and true method – using the club hall as a revenue-generating resource. For several years during the 1970s, public dances were held at the club every Sunday evening, attracting quite large crowds at their peak.
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the club was demanding of them. After a series of violent incidents outside the clubhouse, involving members of a notorious motorcycle gang, and mounting complaints from nearby residents, the dances were discontinued. No one in the club was particularly upset to see them end, and by this time they had their money anyway.
Damage from Cyclone Alby, 1978.
Top Perth rock band Fatty Lumpkin – loud, fast and heavy, with a driving bluesy rhythm – was a regular performer. If close neighbour Mrs Harris had problems with Johnny Young and The Strangers 10 years before, she would have had apoplexy listening to Fatty Lumpkin’s enormous sound system. Another generation of rock fans would grow up remembering North Cottesloe Surf Club. Indeed, during the research for this book, people who had no interest at all in surf life saving remembered the club for the ear-shattering dances they used to put on in the 1970s. Once again, the club had the underdeveloped musical culture of Perth on its side. Things had loosened up since the early 1960s. There were now more nightclubs, and many pubs were beginning to open up vast lounges dedicated to live music and dancing. But the licensing laws were still behind the times. Sunday trading had only recently been introduced and then only for restricted session times, in the late morning and late afternoon. North Cottesloe, as a
96 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
non-profit organisation, was able to obtain special function liquor licences for its dances, which ran into the evening. The surf club was very likely one of the few places in the city one could go to for entertainment on a Sunday night, and fans flocked to it. Admission charges and bar takings from the dances generated considerable income for the club and paid twothirds of the $60,000 costs of the club extensions, which were opened in 1978, effectively doubling the size of the building. But the dances also imposed quite a burden upon active members, who were rostered for volunteer duty either behind the bar or as bouncers. When things turned ugly, as they sometimes did, the bar had to be closed, while the members dealt with the unruly element. It could be dangerous and it was certainly heavy, and often dirty, work, especially cleaning up afterwards. It was an extreme test of the dedication of club members and some fell by the wayside during this time, unable to make the commitment
Just as the plans for the clubroom extensions were nearing completion, in April 1978, North Cottesloe members, for a few anxious hours, were almost convinced that they were about to lose the lot. The hurricane-force winds of Cyclone Alby whipped up huge seas, which carried away the beach, washing away the path in front of the boatshed and threatening the building’s foundations. Teams of volunteers piled up sandbags to fend off the encroaching seas. The storm subsided before any real damage was done. The building and equipment were saved. Cottesloe Surf Club fared much worse in the storm. Its boatshed, closer to the waterline than North Cottesloe’s, was smashed to pieces and the boats wrecked. Cyclone Alby was a dramatic example of the damage the ocean can do, but, much more insidiously, the sea can also destroy a building from the inside, slowly and relentlessly, and often before the owner is even aware of it. In the year after the completion of the clubroom extensions, membership almost doubled, from 132 to 260. Most of the increase, however, was in the numbers of associate members, which grew by a hundred. Graham Russell expressed concern about this development in his annual report of that year. Although associates helped to fill the coffers and ensured that the club facilities were well utilised, their presence did nothing for the patrol and competition efforts of the club. At this stage, associate subscriptions were only $30 per year, which, given the club’s newly enhanced facilities, was very good value indeed. A few years later the committee voted a huge increase in associate fees, which thinned out the ranks dramatically, and restored something of a balance between active and associate members.
Cottesloe club, but they had not seemed too interested in new members, so he walked the few hundred metres up the beach to North Cottesloe, which he thought at first was Scarboro, the only other WA club he had heard of. North Cottesloe welcomed him with open arms, and there he has remained ever since. The story repeats itself.
Both surf clubs in the Cottesloe municipality, although their buildings are located on leased reserve land, actually own the buildings themselves, unlike surf clubs in some other localities, where the local council owns the building and leases it to the surf club. Though this factor places greater pressure upon the clubs to raise their own funds for building and maintenance, it also provides considerably more latitude
Having succeeded North Cottesloe’s longest-serving secretary, Colin Chalmers went on to succeed its longest serving president. In 1983 Graham Russell stepped down after 20 years in the job. It was by no means the end of his career with North Cottesloe – he would continue to serve on the committee until 1999. Colin Chalmers’ meteoric rise in the club can be explained by nothing more sinister than a shortage, at the time, of experienced officials. This is, perhaps, the downside of having senior officials serving extremely long-terms. While it brings stability, and reflects both the competence of the officials and the confidence placed in them by the club, it does create a power vacuum for the future. Very likely, when both Graham Russell and Jerry Knowles wished to relinquish their positions, they found that there was no one with sufficient experience or confidence to succeed them. Colin Chalmers’ arrival was therefore fortuitous.
to the clubs to use their buildings in the way they see fit. It has been up to the clubs themselves to plan and fund their building and renovations, though the council has on occasions obliged with loans and grants. After the cessation of the Sunday night dances, North Cottesloe was for a time without a regular source of income to maintain its building. Consideration was given to starting the dances up again, but there was little support. Members had had enough of the onerous duties entailed in the running of the events, and in any case by the early 1980s there was no guarantee that they would be as successful as they had been previously. Licensing laws were beginning to be liberalised, there were more live music venues to choose from and public taste was beginning to move away from the large, crowded dance floor. North Cottesloe’s fundraising initiatives, starting with Sam Law’s fashion parades in the late 1940s, had been successful because they had met a demand that was not being satisfied in the commercial field. Using club volunteers and making use of privileges not available to other organisations, the club had filled its coffers and then moved on to other projects when the crowd caught up. Now, in the 1980s, to meet the burgeoning costs of keeping the building up to scratch, a new idea was needed. In 1981 Jerry Knowles ended his 13-year career as secretary and handed the reins on to Colin Chalmers. Chalmers had been in the club less than a year, having arrived from the eastern states in August 1980. At 37 years old, he had a wealth of experience in surf clubs in Victoria and New South Wales, as a surf boat rower and committee member. When he first arrived in Perth, he had sought to join the
Adrian Ridderhof at one of the many busy bees.
For the next 10 years, Colin Chalmers would not be far from the action. After two years as president, he was succeeded by John Miller, only to step immediately back into the role of secretary. John Miller served only one season as president. He is the kind of person whose contribution to the club is very likely to be underestimated by those who have only the bare records to rely on. He gave much time to the club in various capacities, including that of gear officer and chief instructor, making a consistent commitment, even if he moved no mountains. His father had owned a ‘surf shooter’ business operating at the Eric Street pool, also providing spray tans and umbrella hires, and so it was only natural ‘Johnno’ and younger brother Graham would drift into the club early in their lives.
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John competed in various events as a junior but discovered his real love was the boat arena. John started rowing at the age of 15 and his involvement continued for more than 20 years and included finishing fourth in the reserve grade crew at the Australian championships at Trigg in 1979. One of his memorable contributions was to cast the bronze rowlocks, in very high demand (and cost) in the mid-60s, for the then struggling boat section. Like many, Johnno remains in the club today and serves as a competition official in the surf boat arena. His successor as president, the ex-Bunbury member Mike Flower, served for five years before, once again, Colin Chalmers took the helm. Colin Chalmers’ second term as secretary was marked by some very intensive soul-searching about the future of the club. The 80s had been a period of stagnation for the North Cottesloe club, in many areas. Membership remained fairly static. New members came in, but just as many old members drifted away. Even Richard Meadmore, frustrated at the club’s lack of success in the boats, went to row for City of Perth for a few seasons, hoping to build his skills and technique in a champion crew. Other members, feeling the pinch of family and work commitments, withdrew from active participation. As always, a dedicated core of members kept things together. To try and get things moving again, a new round of extensions to the clubhouse was planned, at the cost of $75,000. A female change room and extended gym area was planned. What was worse, a building survey discovered that the whole clubhouse building was suffering from ‘concrete cancer’, a structural problem resulting from salt sea air corroding the pre-stressing rods in the concrete beams, and weakening the whole structure. It is a perennial problem with buildings close to the sea, and treatment is costly and timeconsuming. In many cases, where the problem has been allowed to progress too far the only solution is to demolish and rebuild the affected structure. The North Cottesloe committee set about raising the
98 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
A major redevelopment of the clubhouse, including extensions, was completed in 1991.
money for the extensions and structural repairs. This was an arduous task at the best of times. The appeal was reasonably successful, but what was needed was an ongoing income source to maintain and extend the building, and a new idea to stimulate imagination. The club hall, as always, was looked to as a source of income, but now it didn’t even come close to meeting the
need. It was unlikely that, given the proliferation of excellent large music venues and the liberalisation of liquor licensing laws, the dances would be as well patronised as they had been in the past. The hall was still being rented out for private functions, but often the damage and cleaning bill consumed any profits from such ventures. The dance class used the hall for a couple of sessions each week, but there was
was fraught with hazards, not the least being potential public objections to the loss of amenity and destruction of beachside environment. But, what about a building that was already there, underused and not owned by the local council? Jamie Nairn made a bold proposal to the North Cottesloe management committee. He would lease half of the space presently occupied by the surf club, fronting onto Marine Parade, and, at his own expense, convert it to a restaurant, to be called The Blue Duck. A lucrative annual rent would provide an income stream for the surf club, and the presence of the restaurant would attract more people to the beach, among them many potential surf club members. It was an offer North Cottesloe could not refuse and, of course, the club didn’t. A special general meeting of the surf club in 1988 approved the plan almost unanimously. Approval had to be sought from the council, and once again there was little difficulty in convincing them of the merits of the project. The council was owed quite a bit of money by the surf club and it knew that, if North Cottesloe could be provided with a good source of income, not only would the repayment of the present loan be guaranteed, but the club would be less likely to come running to the council for loans and handouts in the future. In September 1988, the council wrote to the surf club advising that the proposal had been approved, subject to some minor conditions the club thought would be mere formalities. An agreement was reached with Nairn and work commenced on the development.
New ramp being built, 1995. (photo courtesy of The Grove Library)
occasional friction caused by members being denied access. It was estimated that the annual income from the hall amounted to little more than $12,000. There had to be a way to do better. The solution was handed to the club, in a manner of speaking, on a plate. Jamie Nairn, a restaurateur, had a restaurant in Claremont called Le Canard (the duck). He saw a market developing for a new kind of up-market seafront food
establishment. The Surf Club Fish Café down on the Fremantle beachfront was doing a roaring trade, catering to beachgoers for whom the kiosk selling snack foods was no longer enough. The problem was, there were very few available locations for new restaurants. The beach was public reserve land and all the buildings on it were publicly owned and not for sale. The land might possibly be leased, but putting up new buildings
Then in early 1989, the Department of Land Administration informed the club that the proposed development was contrary to the purpose of the reserve upon which it was situated. When the club moved across the road in 1968, it had been given leasehold over recreation reserve 28199, excised from the Marine Parade road reserve. Under the Government’s narrow interpretation of the law, no recreation reserve could be used for commercial purposes.
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Renovations in the mid-1990s included a new concrete ramp down to the beach, a new ski/board shed at the southern end of the clubrooms, an extended gym and new courtyard, office, kitchen, storeroom and balcony.
100 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
A three-way war of words broke out between DOLA, the council and the surf club, which generated an avalanche of paper over the ensuing months. Jerry Knowles was right in the thick of it, pushing the interests of his club. His tenacious and combative nature came right to the fore, and was possibly the club’s major weapon in the fight. The club could not afford to lose this. Apart from the important addition to its annual turnover, the club by now had a commitment to Jamie Nairn, who had already spent a large amount of money on the development. The Government’s true agenda surfaced when an offer was made to the surf club to grant a special lease over the land, which would enable the restaurant to operate. The rental asked was nominal to begin with, but there were provisions to allow the Government to increase it progressively to full commercial levels. In line with its policy of maximising financial performance of its assets, the Government was
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any members of the public who have never been involved in surf life saving don’t understand how what appears to be a disciplined, highly-organised movement, in fact has another side to it. Sure, there are patrols, the training, the mastery of rescue equipment, the desire to voluntarily help others. And, of course, there is the competition. But speak to any group of North Cottesloe members (and the response would be no different elsewhere) and they will tell you many of their most memorable moments came from being involved in some kind of larrikin behaviour – those riotous times when no one thought about the consequences of their actions, they simply let rip. Can you imagine the scene, Bill Kidner (Big Bill in those days) barely able to stand at the end of a hard night’s celebrating at the Torquay nationals in 1956, being calmly picked up and slung over his shoulder by R&R team mate Tony Rigoll (another BIG bloke), then being carried down the steps out of the pub? Russell and Graham Fellows (the ’feral’ brothers) who joined in the early 1980s, did their patrol almost every weekend, so they say, but occasionally at night busied themselves by following Terry Colby’s lead and painting large feet on the footpath between Cottesloe and North Cottesloe, with the feet positioned outside the front bar of each pub, toes pointing longingly into the beery interior. How many rules did they and others ignore on the Easter Denmark trips, or the country carnivals at Geraldton or Bunbury? These provided moments everyone recalls, especially in more recent years when the ritual has been cross-dressing for parties, using clothing from anywhere, including ‘Good Sammy’ bins. The public is entitled to be a little bewildered when, for example, a tall, muscular North Cottesloe bloke in a very feminine negligee tells a staring cray fisherman to “go take a look at yourself” after an exchange of abuse between the two! Do what you want, then worry about what happens afterwards, applied to every aspect of club life, and has done for years.
keen to grab its share in any income that might be generated from public lands. This threw a scare into the Cottesloe council, which feared that a precedent might be set for the Government to muscle in on the income received from beachfront concessions. In response to the Government’s offer, a long letter from Mike Flower detailed the club’s objections. The letter argued that the club was not receiving financial windfall from the deal, but merely making enough to allow it to maintain its premises. Unlike many other clubs along the coast, North Cottesloe was entirely responsible for developing and maintaining its own premises. The example was given of the Scarboro club, which had received a government grant of $375,000 to build “what are amongst the most luxurious surf club premises in Australia. It paid no rent to the local council, and the premises were maintained free of charge by the council.” Eventually, the club’s persistence, not to mention it’s very cogent legal arguments, wore down the Government, which
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hallenges had faced the club in the early 70s, shortly after its construction. Storage space was always at a premium, and an interior wall was partially removed to make space for surf reel storage. Graham Russell was one of the first to notice that the remaining wall had started to deflect, and with the advice of young member Steve Wade (a civil engineering student at the time), decided the time for serious action was at hand. Steel supporting jacks were quickly installed, the wall and sand replaced, the front car park excavated and a retaining wall sunk into the ground in front of the club. It transpired that ocean-bound forces were playing havoc with the interior retaining wall and, if left unchecked, could have collapsed the club building. As usual, most of the
work was performed by club members on weekend busy bees – digging, carting, bricklaying, carting and backfilling – to complete the job, with much valued assistance in kind by Hinchliffe Bros. Similar efforts were called for in the creation of the courtyard to the north of the club site (most appropriately named in memory of Jerry Knowles, who regularly redesigned space, a focal point for barbecues, parties and Sunday afternoon kegs), which inevitably resulted in a massive earthmoving project for the relatively thin membership of the time. It is testimony to the tremendous spirit of the membership that the task was always carried out with a minimum of fuss and with great camaraderie.
by this time was copping some fairly bad publicity, being seen as trying to screw money out of a struggling non-profit organisation. Finally, after nearly two years of haggling, agreement was reached for the lease of the land to North Cottesloe Surf Club for ‘surf club and related purposes’, and to allow the club to sublet the premises as it saw fit. Rent payable to the Government was fixed at a proportion of that which the club received. Just like the opening of the new building more than 20 years previously, the establishment of The Blue Duck marked a turning point in the fortunes of the club, and stands as further evidence of the link between the club’s corporate well-being and the condition of its building. The security offered by the income from the lease has allowed North Cottesloe to develop and maintain, at only small cost to ratepayers and taxpayers, a first-class beachfront facility. The future was looking bright in a lot of other ways as well.
Results of winter storms in mid 1990s, not long after the new ramp was built.
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1970 Australian single ski champion Jack Trail. Chapter 6 Out in front | 103
Departing for a Denmark carnival on New Year’s Day 1972, complete with the surf boat on the roof, with Don Drabble (in bus window), Richard Pyvis and Vicki Woods.
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6
Chapter
OUT IN FRONT
T
resuscitation competitions, and photographs of such
Apart from the decline in public taste for disciplined
competitions routinely featured linesmen meticulously
precision drill events like the R&R, its decline also paralleled
paying out the rope, or the rescue team carrying the patient
a change in the very nature of the business of saving lives
from the water in the formation.
in the surf. With the advent of surf skis and then lightweight
Jump ahead 40 years and buy a packet of Kellogg’s NutriGrain from the supermarket. On the back of the packet are modern images of surf life saving. There is not a march past team or surf reel in sight, and no one is even standing still, let alone to attention. Surf boats battle thundering seas, surf skis rocket before surging waves, outboard powered inflatable rubber duckies roar into the swell, while muscular runners dash for a photo finish. The focus is on action, endurance, speed and physical exertion, rather than discipline, precision or ceremony. There is still colour – much more of it, if
to attention on the beach at Cottesloe. Right at the front of the formation, as it happens, it is North Cottesloe. The march past, with its precision military formations, colourful banners, and team uniforms, and deadly serious pomp and circumstance, was, for many years, the most publicly visible image of surf life saving for those who never went near
task of rescue less arduous for a swimmer. (Although, true to form, North Cottesloe couldn’t see the need for noisy IRBs on its very safe beach, and was the last club in Australia to embrace that technology). The emphasis was on speed, working smart and making use of new technology, rather than teamwork or brute force.
saving was the ironman, an individual event involving several
the competitors. On the front of the box, a logo declares the
legs of swimming, ski paddling and board paddling, separated
sweet, crunchy breakfast cereal to be ‘ironman food’. Today’s surf life saving image is obviously still a very potent one, and
by running – something like a surf triathlon. It is said to be one of the most physically demanding events in any sport, requiring a high standard of physical fitness, a considerable
its products.
range of skills, and a rigorous training regime. The ironman
The transformation of surf life saving as a sport, however,
interest through the attention it focused on a single individual.
began decades before the cereal companies began pouring
Although requiring skills from a number of different areas of
money into it, and arguably was an essential prerequisite
surf life saving, the ironman was very much an event requiring
for the commercial interest of later years. One of the most
specialisation and focus on the part of its participants. An
obvious changes, alluded to earlier, was the decline of
ironman contender could possibly also take part in surf ski or
rescue and resuscitation as the premier competition event
taplin relay events, which utilised some of the same skills, but
in surf life saving. North Cottesloe won its last R&R in 1966,
the standard of competition was such that someone training
under the tutelage of Graham Russell, then in his third year
for the event could not possibly participate in the meticulous
as president, and still coaching the team. By 1979, in his
training required for an R&R team, since every member of such
president’s report at the annual general meeting, Graham
a team, under the rules, had to be proficient in every position.
The Western Mail used a colour image of the march past on
successful tradition in R&R was, despite its strength in other
of ceremony were also major components of rescue and
and motorised inflatable rescue boats (IRB) also made the
sponsor, emblazoned upon the specially-made costumes of
was lamenting the fact that his club, with such a strong and
images of surf teams in its pages. Precision and a sense
in difficulty. The advent of the torpedo tube, rescue boards
The event which replaced R&R as the major attraction in surf life
the beach.
at least one of its Christmas annuals, along with frequent
no longer the most effective method of retrieving a swimmer
anything – but the most visible colour is the logo of the
Kellogg’s has paid well for the privilege of using it to promote he 1963 Perth telephone directory was one of the very earliest additions to feature a colour photograph on its cover, in lieu of the traditional text. The cover for that year features a number of surf life saving march past teams, standing
boards, it gradually became clear that the belt and reel was
areas, unable to field a team in that year’s R&R State title event.
event rose to prominence in the 1960s, attracting considerable
Jerry Knowles, who was a member of the R&R team that won the State title for North Cottesloe in 1966, turned his attention to the ironman competition and carried off the State title in 1969. He had never had any special dedication to the R&R and only competed because it was the premier event,
Chapter 6 Out in front | 105
with the possibility of selection to State teams and chances
with Claremont Football
at the national title. Though more physically demanding,
Club and was the last North
ironman offered the chance to achieve these things without
Cottesloe competitor to
needing a team.
play league football for Claremont and be in a
A number of factors contributed towards the rise of the
Surf Life Saving WA State
ironman as the premier event of surf life saving. In the first
Team in the same year.
place, the rise of individualism throughout sports generally
Michael represented WA
focused the attention of the public upon the sporting hero
from 1962 to 1971, except
rather than the club or team. Even in team sports, this was
for 1965 and 1966 when
the dawn of the age when individuals with marketable skills
the football club made him
could begin to make an impact, and enjoy a reputation that
choose between football
superseded team loyalty. In beach sports in particular, the
and surf. In 1968, Michael
rise of the professional board riding circuit posed a challenge
became the first North
to surf life saving to develop an event that was equally
Cottesloe competitor to be
spectacular and fast moving. More and more, spectators
selected on an Australian
wanted action, excitement and a fast finish. Finally, there is
representative team and
the obvious factor of cost and allocation of resources. Brutal
was the only WA member
though it might seem, a club could now cover itself with glory
of the 13-man Australian
through the success of a single individual, without having the task of training up a team. North Cott was to make this transition from team R&R glory to individual ironman glory.
team to compete in South Richard Gill to dominate the beach relay and beach sprint in
Africa. With apartheid in full force, it’s an experience that
the mid-60s. A strong runner, Lyn won the WA beach sprint
remains strong in Michael’s memory. Before travelling, the
North Cottesloe in the 1960s and 1970s was still a very
championship in the 1964/65 season, gold medals in the
team spent a week in Sydney receiving instruction on how
small club, even compared with other clubs at the time,
sprint relay teams, and was awarded life membership of the
to respond diplomatically about apartheid. It was instruction
notwithstanding its move to the new clubhouse in 1967. But
club in 1984. Barry Newton, who was secretary in season
the competitors inevitably put to use at the functions they
its performance in competition was out of all proportion to
1963/64, won two State beach relay titles with Lyn, as well
attended during their 10 weeks in South Africa.
its size. Peter Kidman, in his term as captain, led the club
as several State silver and bronze medals in the beach sprint
to a string of successes that was truly remarkable given
and relay. Barry also won gold in the beach sprint at the
its small active membership. A look at the list of State
Patron’s Interstate Surf Carnival at Scarborough Beach in
champions at the back of the book reveals the club’s highs
1962, held alongside the Empire Games.
in the competition arena. Some members’ names appear
Peter Driscoll was an outstanding junior and competed in R&R, ski and swimming events. As a cadet, junior and senior he won State championship gold throughout the 1960s and early 70s. This included wins in the belt race, surf race, surf
Michael MacDermott was a strong all-round competitor in
teams, R&R, and taplin relay. Overall, he won two cadet, one
the 1960s and early 70s, winning gold medals at the State
junior and eight senior State gold medals, competing in teams
titles in junior and senior surf teams, senior R&R, surfboard
with Bruce Nicholas, Michael MacDermott, Jerry Knowles,
The club was well represented by Lyn Girdlestone during
and taplin relay. He won 18 state gold medals, including six
Peter Kidman, Barry Newton, Jack Trail and Ron Rankine-
these times. In addition to the many roles he played in the
board race titles in eight years and six consecutive taplin
Wilson. Paul Skinner was another outstanding swimmer, and
club, from coach to administrator, he teamed up with Max
relay medals. He also won bronze and silver at the Australian
personality, of that time. And there were others, including Tony
Carter, Barry Newton, Clive Berringer, Bill Anderton and
titles in the senior R&R. Michael was also a league footballer
King, Ron Day, Richard Erskine, Trevor Naylor, Pat King and
in a number of events over a long period of time, while for various reasons other members shined for a shorter period.
106 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Lenny Bennett, who contributed (and continue to be seen at
tremendously to the club both in the management and
the club) to form the fabric of North Cottesloe.
beach committees, helping set the scene for the club’s competition success.
About the only area in which North Cottesloe did not enjoy success in the 60s and 70s was surf boat racing. After the
In 1965 a boost to numbers came. The club was down to 13
departure of Ron Fussell, the succession was broken, and
senior members, and (in particular Jerry, who was captain at
there was no skilled coaching to bring a boat crew up to
the time) embarked on a ‘cadet recruiting drive, attracting
State championship level. Even then, however, there were
66 boys into the club. This had such an impact on the local
some close calls and a new generation of boaties, amongst
community that a church minister complained to president
them the useful larrikin Richard Meadmore, who had begun
Graham Russell that his Sunday school classes had been
boat racing when he was 15, showing the kind of tenacity
decimated. Later in the 60s, many of those cadets who had joined from Claremont Swimming Club, North Cottesloe
that would eventually bring success. Boats are expensive
Primary School, Swanbourne and Hollywood high schools
and the club relied heavily on sponsors to meet those costs.
and Christ Church Grammar School, carried on the winning
BP and Coke were two regular supporters, and another was
tradition of North Cottesloe.
Tom Wardell, the Lord Mayor of Perth and proprietor of ‘Tom the Cheap Grocers’. He supplemented the club’s $1400
Bill Russell, Graham and Johnno Miller, Ian Longson, Ken
commitment to sponsor a new surf boat, christened by Fran
Preston, Ian Hanger, Steve Artelaris, Jack Alliss, Richard
Russell. The ‘Graham Russell’ served the club for the next
Meadmore, Adrian Ridderhof, Peter ‘Noddy’ Rickard, Merve
15 years before being sold to raise funds for sorely-needed
and Bruce ‘ABJ’ Jenkins, Russell Kidner, Dave Russell, Milton
equipment – quite a contrast to the 1990s when the club
Robinson, Geoff Nicholson, Geoff James, Richard Pyvis, Rob
purchased a new surf boat every couple of years!
Jewkes, Max Billyeald, Steve Wade, Ian Ingle, Rod ‘Rocket’ and Jeff Coleman, Ross and Eddy Coyle, John Ovens, Bob
Don ‘Gyp’ Grenville was typical of those who contributed
Weir and David Geddes (who reappeared with his own
so much to North Cottesloe. He was a sprinter and flagger,
youngsters long after serving as club captain for three years
club captain in 1955/56, and treasurer from 1972 through to 1975. Don had joined the club in 1939 and along with the
David Russell and Peter Driscoll racing in the surf marathon, 1979.
and chief instructor for two) are but a few whose names
beach sprint, also competed in the beach hurdles, until
Other previous competitors and non-competitors who
it was discontinued in 1941, and ‘musical flags’, in which
the late 60s and early 70s.
continued to contribute through administrative roles over
competitors would lie in their start position on the sand as
the years included Jack Morton, Tom Johnstone, Dave
music played, dashing for the flag when the music stopped.
Johnson, Barney Peacock, Cleave Coleman, Don Host and
Don remembers travelling by bus to carnivals in the pre-war
Dick Jeffrey. Each of these members served lengthy periods
years and everyone wearing straw hats (one shilling) that
in office from the late 30s to the early 60s, and set the scene
had been painted in club colours. After serving in the war,
for those who followed, including Graham Russell and Jerry
Gyp returned to North Cottesloe and the club remained
Knowles, joined in the 80s and 90s by Colin Chalmers,
a huge part of his life until he was transferred to Darwin in
Mike Flower, Richard Meadmore, Julianne Simmons, Craig
1975 for three months, which turned into five years, and
Bell, John Miller and Tom Stewart, to name but a few. As
then to Sydney. He considered it “a wonderful honour” to be
can be seen in the schedule of office bearers listed at the
The talent also included Warren Morris (whose dad used to
awarded life membership in 1963.
back of this book, there were many more who contributed
patrol the club swim on a Sunday morning on his old wooden
regularly appear in the record books, across all disciplines, in
Lyn Girdlestone, Peter Driscoll, Graham and Laurie Russell and Jerry Knowles were involved in training kids of all ages, with Laurie bringing the squad of John Moncrieff, Don Drabble, Kel Pallot (whose younger brothers Gus and Steve were also active in the club), Richard and Simon Martin, John Storrie, Bob Kennedy and Peter Davis (and brothers Mark and Kim – who was an outstanding ‘coolite’ rider) to State junior R&R gold and to bronze in the nationals.
Chapter 6 Out in front | 107
ski, the paddles tied on with a piece of line in case he fell
In hindsight, the late 60s and 70s were a significant turning
reported by one of the club’s neighbours). A tradition in
off), Bob Kennedy and Sandy Knox regularly cleaning up
point for the club. Membership dropped to critical levels,
New Year’s Eve dances began then, the entrance ticket a
surf races, belt, surf team and R&R competitions, successful
notwithstanding the new premises (perhaps the energy
T-shirt emblazoned with ‘admit one double’ (and for the next
beach sprinters John Love and Denis Jones, along with
associated with the move drained critical human resources
decade with ‘don’t muff it, come to North Cott’, ‘drink til you’re
swimmer Scott MacKinnon. Dave ‘Spud’ Williams, who went
of what was needed once the move was completed?).
extinct’, ‘drink til you sink’ and so on), and champagne and
on to 12-metre yachting fame, joined from his native Rhodesia
Many an organisation would have folded at such a time,
chicken served at dawn for those still standing. Sunday night
and was a strong craft competitor. Another was Laurie’s son
and it is testimony to the strength of the core membership,
fundraisers saw Fatty Lumpkin as the anchor band. After the
David Russell, who joined as a nipper. In his first year as a
Jerry Knowles and Graham Russell in particular, that it not
Sunday ’session’ closed at 7.30pm, North Cott would start up
junior he rowed boats and then switched to single skis. He
only survived but flourished into today’s North Cottesloe.
at 8pm. Juniors Nick Taylor and Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander
won Australian silver on the double ski with Jack Trail in 1970
Outstanding individuals provided the headline achievements
would collect the one-dollar entry fee. Someone was always
and was Jack’s doubles partner for three years, winning three
against a backdrop of nature’s fury. Finances were a critical
rostered to be in charge and about $4000 a night would be
State golds in the double ski, medals in the State taplin, and
problem – the bronze boat rowlocks were cast by Johnno
made as everyone swarmed in from the OBH, the Swanny,
Miller at work, there being no funds available to purchase
the Albion and the Cott, the event running until the inevitable
any, and broken oars were re-spliced, never thrown
crowds, violence and changes in the licensing laws killed it off.
Australian bronze in the taplin and ski relay. When the surf marathon was inaugurated in 1972/73, combining disciplines of running, swimming, board paddling, ski paddling and rowing on a 20km course along the coast, North Cottesloe led the way. The 1977/78 marathon again saw North Cottesloe run out winners. In this race Richard
The hall was then vacant for the next 10 years.
In hindsight, the late 60s and 70s were a significant turning point for the club. Membership dropped to critical levels
Martin, supported by David Cairns, set the pace in the run
Beach cricket was one of the many club traditions captured by Paul Rigby in his cartoons featuring the North Cottesloe Beach Cricket Association (NCBCA) series for The West Australian (and still on display at the OBH), and was a regular feature, occasionally played in the hall (and once in the nude) and was
from Port to Leighton (Richard later regaining the lead in the
a great way to shorten the long patrol. The members played
run from Swanbourne to City Beach), his brother Simon with
beach football in winter with regular fixtures against Cottesloe
Danny O’Connell clearing out in a small pack in the swim
away. The new building was almost washed away during
back to Leighton, Jerry Knowles narrowly led an Indian file
one particularly nasty winter, which lifted the newly-laid
of City of Perth and Scarboro skis into Cottesloe, handing
pavement from in front of the club, destroyed the boat ramp,
over to Stan Davies on the Malibu board to Swanbourne.
and exposed the long-buried ladies’ change rooms at Eric
The club also installed its first caretaker at this time, Mal
The (final) boat leg to Scarborough saw Peter Doyle, Johnno
Street (almost the same intensity as Cyclone Alby which
Stott, whose duties included cooking, cleaning and of course
washed Cottesloe’s boat shed away and destroyed Floreat’s
security, which entailed living on the club premises. He was
clubhouse), and saw yet another busy bee with members
succeeded by Nick Taylor, John Wallace, Steve Wilson, Craig
armed with shovels, wheelbarrows, chainsaws and pure
Bell and Andrew Pope in 1988/89, as the last caretaker.
energy, on winter weekends, repairing the damage – this was
Many of the members who carried the club through the
typical of the camaraderie that was the club in those times.
70s and 80s joined around these days, and included Chris
Miller, Mark Davis, Steve Artelaris and Richard Meadmore on sweep hold onto the lead in a thrilling finish. Ironically, given the struggling membership at the time, the club fielded a second team, which also acquitted itself very well that day. North Cottesloe had great successes in the 70s, but then
and City Beach clubs – they were rough matches, ‘all-court’ rules, and inevitably ended up around a keg in the courtyard.
Walter, Victor Raeburn, Steve Wilson and John Storrie (later
performances ’dropped off’. It was not until 1987 when the
Older members recall these events with very fond memories
race had been reconfigured as the Observation City relay
(time is a great healer!), as they do the social events of
that North Cottesloe would again assert its superiority,
the day (even down to the air rifle contest held next to the
celebrating in typical style at the OBH with proprietor Murray
old clubhouse, and in the new courtyard, resulting in the
Touring, another long-standing tradition, continued. To get
Quinlivan regularly filling the winner’s cup with beer.
law turning up one bleak winter’s day to stop a ‘shoot out’
to the national titles in northern NSW at Kingscliff in the
108 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
tragically killed in a car accident) who had joined from Bicton Swimming Club, plus Alex McKenzie.
North Cottesloe’s contingent at the 1978 Australian championships, Kingscliff, NSW. Chapter 6 Out in front | 109
car on the unsealed section short of Ceduna halfway across the Nullarbor Plain, having blown their tyres attempting to get airborne on the ramps that straddled the numerous stock grids on the road. The period was certainly not without its element of high spirits, and in many ways this element of club life was the glue that held the relatively fragile club together. The rivalry with the Cottesloe club prompted a coup for North Cottesloe – in the early hours of the morning on the eve of the Cottesloe carnival the Cottesloe pylon was painted in North Cott colours by a squad led by Don Drabble, Kel ‘Parrot’ Pallot and John ‘Mogoo’ Moncrieff, much to the chagrin of the Cottesloe club. This started a ‘paint war’ of retaliation and Bob Weir, Terry Colby and Ron ‘Alf’ White enjoying a party.
John Moncrieff and Sue Keys.
retribution between the two clubs, Peter Halliday regularly supplying the paint!
for him in the car, it was taken up by beer). The other juniors were sent to collect the wayward cans and joined Goose in the boat. The cop on point duty was not amused to see them perched in the bow, as he waved the convoy past.
The tradition continues and many members have pylonpainting stories to tell. In their first season at the club, 13-year-olds Norm Mazzini and Andrew Pope had been working behind the bar at the New Year’s Eve show. In the
Goose, who joined the club in 1974 and went on to be club
early hours of 1980, amid various shenanigans, a few of the
captain and later president, is a larger-than-life character.
seniors pulled out the old surf boat and Norm and Andy
Almost the entire club turned out to farewell him at the
eagerly jumped aboard behind the older members. Somehow
airport when he left to go to the Royal Military College
the boat, loaded with about 20 blokes, made it down to
Duntroon in 1980, and when he was posted back to Perth as
Cottesloe and the pylon was painted. It was the first of many
a young captain in 1987 was back in the boat the day after
pylon-painting escapades for Norm and Andy, who were
his return, after a call from Jack Alliss. Even in the services he
always the young ones in the group but were happily led
performed work for the club – one year the swimming buoys
astray by the likes of John Rear. A few years later they changed
drifted down to Cottesloe so Goose organised an army
it up from painting the pylon, instead painting giant blue-and-
Mark Cleary, Jack Alliss, Bruce ‘ABJ’ Jenkins, Richard Meadmore, John Love and Jeff Coleman.
landing craft and restored them to North Cott – his CO was
white footprints up the wooden ramp at Cottesloe, along the
not amused.
walkway to Marine Parade, to the door of the Cottesloe Hotel
late 70s, a ‘rental return Range Rover was arranged to tow
Not much has changed in touring since Don Drabble, Mark
the surf boat and carry the team. Beer supplies became
‘Lumpy’ Davis, and Gary ‘Zoobie’ Brown, Tony Woods, Bruce
critical during a traffic jam at one point and then junior Craig
‘ABJ’ Jenkins, Jack Alliss and Adrian Ridderhof set out on
‘Goose’ Smith-Gander was sent out to secure supplies. When
their 1973 drive to the Australian championships on the Gold
And it was not just on the beach that club cohesion was to
he raced back to the car, spilling tinnies from the sodden
Coast. Meticulous planning in loading the car with every
be found. Away from the surf, David Hough entered a club
cartons, he was bundled into the boat (there was no room
possible piece of gear saw Zoobie, Jack and Adrian roll their
team in the ABC’s Fair Go program (the predecessor to later
110 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
and then on to the OBH. Again John Rear was the leader but by now the younger guys had a solid group that included Craig Bell, Russell Fellowes and Bernie Boylan.
North Cottesloe’s dominance in the women’s events continued in the 70s. The women trained and competed against each other in all the accepted events of surf life saving – R&R, belt races, beach relays, beach sprints, grand march pasts and beach novelties. Younger members Francine and Marlene Russell, Cindy Moncrieff, Jenny Halliday, Delise Houston, Vicki Woods, Anne Carter, Derry Dunn, Rosemary Anyalai, Mandy Harrison, Faith Hocking and Helen Drabble regularly cleaned up the opposition across a full range of events in the 70s, although there was no boat rowing for women in those days. A decade later in the 80s, the women were finally given the opportunity to gain their bronze medallion and compete with the guys. Leith Weston, Michelle Stark, Debbie Hanson, Jane Dickson, Talia Edelman, Kate Flower, Emma Driscoll and Liz Taylor kept up the tradition of excellence. Karen Liggins (nee Hungerford) was back at the club helping out with the nippers in 1984. This was the beginning of the huge influx of female membership that took place in the 1990s, and included competitors Julia Brown, Alex Vaughan, Julie Jenkins, Sarah Thorpe, Sian Halliwell and Carole Hughes, Peter Doyle (hidden), Danny O’Connell, Johnno Miller, Mark Davis, Jerry Knowles, Richard Meadmore, Steve Artelaris and Richard Martin at the 1977/78 surf medley marathon, Port Beach to Scarbrough.
who regularly beat most of the men in the club Sunday morning swim.
‘Gladiator’ shows), broadcast live, nation-wide. North Cottesloe
and old, travelled together in the coach as a unit, displaying
In many areas North Cottesloe was right up there at the top,
(approaching the competition with the usual cavalier flair) took
again those ‘family’ qualities that differentiated North Cottesloe.
and in the matter of success breeding success, every victory
out second place to the RAAF team, displaying teamwork and
This particular carnival was memorable as the surf was huge.
attracted into the club new members eager to take part in
fitness levels that impressed the servicemen, who won by the
Paul Skinner swept the C crew in pre-race practice (again,
competition. Among these was a young swimmer by the name
narrowest of margins. Many of the RAAF guys later joined the
an excuse for a surf for the boaties of the day) and managed
of Simon Martin, who joined the club in 1965 having already
club as they were so impressed by the spirit and enthusiasm of
to rip out one of the rowlocks in a very spectacular wipeout.
established his proficiency in the pool. He held a number of WA
the North Cottesloe team.
Terry Colby worked all night to repair the boat, used in heats
In 1972 the club experimented with travelling to a Denmark
the following day, but fortunately not the finals which were
carnival after a New Year’s Eve party by bus – with the surf boat
cancelled due to waves breaking over the turning buoys!
perched in a cradle on the roof! A crane loaded the bus in front
Simon Martin swam in the belt, and had to release the pin (as
of the surf club and to get the boat off the roof in Denmark the
did Warren Morris in the junior R&R) due to the horrific surf and
senior ironman. He trained with the club, received his bronze
bus backed into a sandhill, all hands manhandling the boat off
weed, and in the process of retrieving the line, it broke from the
in 1968, and then began to take an interest in ski paddling. He
the back of the bus. The entire club, men and women, young
weight of all the weed that was tangled around it.
immediately came to the attention of Jack Trail, possibly the
mid and long-distance swimming records and quickly adapted to the surf conditions. A natural athlete, he had no trouble in learning to handle surf craft, including skis and Malibu boards. Simon’s State championship successes included both junior and senior wins in surf teams, surf race, belt race, and the
Chapter 6 Out in front | 111
best mentor in that discipline he could hope to have. Given Simon’s background as a strong swimmer, it was only natural that he should gravitate towards the ironman event.
“I’m going paddling ABJ, not surfing!” The first serious test of the new craft came at Ocean Grove where Jack took out the gold medal. But sad to say the ski didn’t make it off the beach that day – a youngster half Jack’s weight sat on the ski on the beach and it snapped in half! Jack moved from prototypes to production. Often, after a hard afternoon training session, they would return to Trail’s shed where they would carve the moulds and pour and finish the skis. Each new advance in ski design had to be taken into account, and Trail experimented with quite a few modifications of his own.
Jack Trail and Simon Martin became firm friends and colleagues, sharing a single-minded determination to succeed and a supreme sense of self-discipline. They are remembered as the best of the bunch of talented swimmers and paddlers to come through the club at this time, all of whom contributed to a winning streak for North Cottesloe. As well as training together for their respective events, often with gruelling two-hour paddles from Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, through the Fremantle heads and back to North Cottesloe, Jack and Simon competed together in double surf skis and taplin relays. Trail’s phenomenal winning streak in surf skis at the State championships continued right through this period, as Simon Martin began to pick up honours in ironman events. An important part of success in surf ski paddling, from the mid-1960s onwards, was the technology of ski construction. At the national titles in 1966, Jack Trail saw, for the first time, fibreglass surf skis in action. They were lighter, more flexible and far more manoeuvrable than the plywood models, but still met the strict specifications required for national competition. Jack knew that if he was going to remain competitive he would have to get hold of one of the new skis. They were not being made commercially at the time, so the only way to get one was to make it yourself. You had to make a mould, then mix and pour the fibreglass to exacting standards. Jack, ably assisted by his doubles partner David Russell, Jeff Wickens and Bruce ‘ABJ’ Jenkins (who was into surfboard design at the time), set about developing a prototype ski. They chose Jack’s father-in-law’s Atlas Brick factory and after two weeks of careful shaping produced their first double ski – and an odd shape it was, with a rounded, bulbous front section Jack considered essential for flotation, and very light. ABJ protested at the weight (there were few ski regulations in those days) and was advised:
112 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
All the time, the ski had to match specifications for length, depth, weight and width. At one national championships, Trail was about to take part in a single ski final, when officials declared that his ski was too narrow by a couple of millimetres. Though it had been made to specifications, the fibreglass had contracted as it set. With the start of the event looming, and disqualification an unsavoury likelihood, Jack found an old icy pole stick on the beach and glued it to the side of his board, thereby increasing the width to the regulation. As the competitors were lining up to start, Jack was still sanding his ski, and yet went on to win the event.
1974 Australian ironman champion Simon Martin surges from the surf.
It was perhaps a sign of the times that Trail and Martin would bring national glory to their club as individuals, 20 years after the club enjoyed national success in a team event. In 1970, Jack Trail brought home the Australian single ski title. The highlight of Simon’s surf career was in 1974 at the Australian championships, at Glenelg in South Australia. At that time the Ironman competition was dominated by Simon, fellow West Australian Ken Vidler (both following in the footsteps of WA legend ironman Fred Annesley from Trigg Island surf club) and Cronulla competitor John Holt. Holt had been injured at his State titles and could not compete. The two West Australians led the field throughout the race that commenced with the board and ski legs. In the final swim leg Simon surged ahead to take the Australian ironman title with Vidler second. The following year at Clifton Beach in Tasmania the traditional rivals, Martin, Vidler and Holt lined
up at the ironman final. Simon was leading comfortably at the beginning of the final water leg of the race that involved the surf ski. A mishap in the surf tipped Simon off his ski allowing the two others to pass him. Simon finished third, and such is the competition. Jack and Simon became the first of only three North Cottesloe members ever to win individual national open titles. (Indeed, until 2010 they remained the only ones to achieve this feat.) Competition at the very highest level is obviously intense, and with thousands of contenders from scores of surf clubs across the nation, there can only be one winner, from one club. Simon has continued his outstanding career, and at the time of writing had just set a new Australian record (over 50s) in winning the national shortcourse 50m swimming title, named ‘swimmer of the meet’ and also anchoring the gold-medal relay team. Four weeks later at the World Masters Games in Melbourne he took five golds, swimming as fast as he did 30 years before! As Jack Trail commented, an important factor in winning at a national level was simple perseverance, and being in the right place at the right time. The uniqueness of surf sports, something that applies for every single event, is the fact that so much can hinge on the conditions on the day, and the luck of the draw. The size of the seas running, the wind direction, the pattern of rips and undertows in the water, the condition and slope of the beach, all combine to make each set of circumstances absolutely unique. You can train and get yourself into top physical condition for the event, only to have the guy or woman next to you cop a lucky wave that canons him straight up onto the beach, and victory. So, for Jack Trail, and for Simon Martin, the key to success was to be there, year after year, having a go. And for both of them it paid off.
As Jack Trail commented, an important factor in winning at a national level was simple perseverance, and being in the right place at the right time.
Another who has featured regularly in the record books is Stan Davies. Stan came from Cottesloe Surf Club, as a strong competitor in single and double skis and the ironman, where he had been the nemesis of many North Cottesloe competitors since his junior competition days. John ‘Mogoo’ Moncrieff remembers being forced to dramatically improve his abilities to surf every last bit out of a wave after being pipped at the post by Stan in the City Beach shore break, with Hayden Pickersgill from Bunbury beating both of them to win the State title – the only surf or belt race Mogoo lost that year. Stan won State gold in the double skis and ski relay and was club captain for three years. He continued to compete in the masters events, winning gold in State, Australian and world titles, though he would later return to Cottesloe. Alex McKenzie was another member who moved from another club and made North Cottesloe his home. Originally from Bunbury, Alex and his wife Lynn (nee McClements of Mexico Olympics butterfly gold fame, and parents of Barcelona Olympian daughter Jacqui) joined the club in the early 70s and quickly became involved as a competitor and administrator. Alex was, and remains, a very committed competitor, winning state titles in 1972/73 in double skis and the ski relay. He added much-needed depth to the club, in and out of the surf. Alex served as club captain and in other administrative roles and remains a strong competitor in the masters events (and would later become president). Competitors during the 80s, however, were few and far between. At the Australian championships in 1984 there were only 11 North Cottesloe competitors. Even with just a few competitors, North Cottesloe managed to fly the colours high. Two key names during these years were Nick Taylor and Ian Brown. Nick joined the club as a juvenile in the early 1970s and achieved his bronze in 1976. He was a most active and successful competitor in ski, board and swimming events at club, State and national level, winning the State double skis (with Jack Trail) and taplin relay in 1981/82, ski relay and surf
Chapter 6 Out in front | 113
Wales championships and three Australian championships (by 1990) and was selected in the Australian Olympic team for Seoul in 1988, where he finished ninth in the 400m freestyle and was a member of the 4 x 200m relay team that finished fourth. At the Commonwealth Games (New Zealand) he won gold in the 400m freestyle setting a new games record. It is testimony to all the club represents that Ian never allowed his successes to affect him, remaining a very popular team member at North Cottesloe. Grant Stoelwinder regularly competed alongside Ian. Rob Hodby was also a champion competitor during these years. He was the State junior ironman champion in 1986 and 1987 as well as winning the State junior board titles in both One of the many cartoons by Paul Rigby.
North Cottesloe on tour (back row) Stuart Fullerton, Mark Davis, Stuart Mitchell, (centre standing) Richard Meadmore, Stan Davies, Laurie Byrant, Adrian Ridderhof, (front standing) Ron Fussell, John Reed, Bert Ward, Graham Russell, (sitting) Johnno Miller, Nick Taylor and Victor Raeburn.
years. In 1987 he was also awarded the Simpson Medal. With such a small competitive base the board, ski and boat areas became one distinct area and the focus on team events was even more critical during this time. The club was more like an institution in that each person knew their place
as captain of the juveniles, and by the enormous amounts of time and effort he applied in fostering, developing and training members in water-related events, particularly the ski. Later, Nick became the club’s major focal point at carnivals, providing guidance to younger members, marshalling and advising competitors on the rules of competition. He was awarded life membership in 2002, wherein he waxed eloquently to all and sundry on his memories of touring to Denmark. Gart Dunn, Mark Davis, John Rear, Graham Russell, Russell Fellows and Norm Mazzini.
teams in 1982/83, double skis (with Stan Davies) in 1983/84 and the ski relay in 1984/85. Nick became a regular member of the beach committee from 1977, occupying the positions of patrol officer, club vice-captain, ski and board captain and active members’ representative. From the very beginning, his leadership and commitment were evident in his appointment
114 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
In 1976 brothers Ian and Andrew Brown joined North Cottesloe. Ian formally joined the club as a 12-year-old juvenile and commenced his successful competitive career that year. He has been one of the club’s most successful swimmers, winning both junior and senior State title surf race, surf belt and surf teams between 1978 and 1990. However, Ian was even more successful in the pool swimming in the 100m and 400m freestyle events, butterfly and medleys, winning 21 WA championships, two New South
– juniors were allowed to ‘cut their teeth’ and join the older members; however, they always knew their place and the older members showed the juniors the ‘ropes’. Patrols were hard yards in the early to mid-1980s. Nick Taylor was the patrol captain – a very disliked position, as he had a tough job to fill patrols with only around 60 senior active members in the club of which 30 would show up regularly. Patrols therefore were every second weekend for a full eight hours. A key part of patrols was ’manning’ the patrol tower on the roof, which was exceedingly hot, as it had no shade at all. As a result, North Cottesloe patrols were always in trouble because they seemed to use the radio all the time to call a sub to relieve them from duty in the tower! There was always something happening on patrol. One day, inspectors turned up at the beach and there weren’t enough people on patrol. Mark ‘Lumpy’ Davis ran down the beach to Scotty McKinnon’s house to get him down to the beach. It was explained to the inspectors “that he was doing
would always make Hodby, Brown and Taylor go off last no matter what. Craig ’Belly’ Bell was one of those members who joined the club as a junior, in 1982, and rowed in the junior boat crew that year. He continued to row and sweep boats for some time but became more prominent around the club at the end of the decade through his position as chief instructor, club secretary from 1988/89, 89/90 and club captain for five years from 1990/91 to 1994/95. He obtained his instructor’s, examiner’s and advanced resuscitation certificates and was a member of the WA Board of Examiners. He was involved in almost every aspect of the club. Sponsorship and fundraising opportunities were never passed up. The Masters Choc sponsorship of the surf boat required some particularly interesting arrangements. Masters wanted to stick a cow in the back of a surf boat for a TV commercial. Jerry Knowles told Nick Taylor that he had to wear the rather heavy and cumbersome cow suit along with Mark Jackson. Mark was to be in the front of the cow and Nick in the rear. So, one hot summer’s day the boat crew rowed out into the surf with Nick and Mark sweltering inside the cow suit for an hour whilst footage was taken for a 30-second TV advert.
Candy Moncrieff, junior R&R, 1969.
foot patrol and that he’d be back in a minute”. Luckily Scotty was home and he wandered down the beach assuming another name as someone else’s name was in the book. The inspectors were no wiser. Sunday swims were also a must and old Trevor Nicholas was always the timekeeper/handicapper. There was always a good turnout, however no matter who showed up he
Reserve grade surf boat winners John Griffiths, Adrian Ridderhof, Ian Dalton, Rod ‘Rocket’ Coleman and Johnno Miller.
Knowlsey had also sold sponsorship rights for a patrol shelter/windbreak for $1000 a year. Although the money was welcome it meant that each patrol had to put 20 signs out along the beach each day and bring them in, in the afternoon – this was the only time that those on patrol volunteered to be in the tower. Another fundraising attempt was the 500 Club established by associate members Vic Fisher, John Bell and Allan Treloar. In 1986 they managed to enlist the support of 13 other members to donate $500 to fund the upgrading of the gym and other facilities. The $8000 raised was held in a trust account and spent on the new gym development in 1990. Leith Weston, one of the first women to compete in open surf carnivals.
Chapter 6 Out in front | 115
A typical courtyard scene in the 1980s.
116 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
The women’s auxiliary was also formed by a group of women who wanted to be part of the club but didn’t want to do their bronze. Sue Flower, Merinda Rigoll and Susie Craddock were a few who did fundraisers to buy new gym equipment for the club. Events included auctions, gambling nights, white Christmas and pasta nights at Steve’s. This tradition continued on with ladies such as Aroha Knowles, Carol Knowles, Yvette Ridderhof, Karen Liggins (nee Hungerford) and Rose Hawtin helping with many social functions throughout the season. At the end of the 80s the club ‘leaped’ forward. Mike ’Miki Moto’ Flower’s effort as president from 1987/88 to 1991/92 cannot be underestimated. Incoming president Colin Chalmers wrote: “I believe that leaders should be judged on their results and everyone agrees that Mike’s achievements have been outstanding. He has led the club into a period of growth and success and instigated the redevelopment of our clubhouse giving us a fine asset.” In 1989, Mike had set up a new management structure. The introduction of the competition committee and patrol committee was organised to oversee the running of patrols and a chief instructor position was created to improve training Adrian Ridderhof, Bruce ‘ABJ’ Jenkins, John Love, Geoff Coleman and (front) Jack Alliss, Terry Colby, Richard Meadmore and Mark Cleary at a Denmark carnival, 1972.
of new members. This proved a fantastic move by the club
successful seasons the club had experienced for many years.
and put it in good stead for the influx of members in the 1990s.
New members had been recruited and a record number of life
Towards the end of the 1980s, representation in the junior ranks at North Cottesloe had increased. In 1982 there were just 49 juniors but by 1987 there were 252 registered children.
standard and the club experienced a revival in the competition arena with increased numbers of members participating in
Seven club juniors were selected in the 15-member WA Surf
carnivals, resulting in a much higher level of success in State
Life Saving Team, They included Jamie Edelman, John and
and Australian championships.
Simon Worth, Alison Thunder, Nick Shave, David Venn and
Johnno Miller, Lorna Wall and Craig Bell worked tirelessly to
Jason Perkins. Peter Wood and Talia Edelman were also amongst the strong juniors at the club at this time. Reserve grade surf boat crew Adrian Ridderhof, Jack Alliss, Brian Dawson, Craig Smith-Gander and Johnno Miller at the 1979 Australian championships, Trigg Island, WA.
saving qualifications recorded. Patrols continued at a very high
train the influx of new members. Lorna was the first one to formalise the bronze process and put multiple bronze classes
The club went from strength to strength. 1991 and 1992
through their training. Renato Bruno came down to the club to
were years of outstanding growth in the club and the most
row and as well took up the role of chief instructor.
Chapter 6 Out in front | 117
Johnno Miller, Sue Block and Richard Pyvis at a fancy dress party, 1971.
Nippers including (standing) Georgina Walsh (fifth from left), Ben Mercer (sixth from right), Simon Flower (far right) and (kneeling) Jimmy and Matt Hawtin (second and third from right), 1990.
Whilst the club has had many outstanding elite performers
skis, inflatable rescue boats and boards – has elevated the
among its numbers over the decades, it has also produced
sport almost to professional status. In this respect, there is
some high achievers in the business and academic
nothing unusual, since most sports – even minor ones –
community. Perhaps the lessons learned as a member of
have acquired a certain degree of professionalism in the last
a squad, or time spent as a leader of peers – whatever the
few decades. Surf life saving, however, has traditionally been
occasion, the time spent as a team member and lifesaver at
a voluntary pursuit and the competitions, even the high-
North Cottesloe has provided the necessary background and confidence for many club members to compete successfully in the corporate pond. Mark ‘Clarence Darrow’ Cleary, Jack Alliss, Steve Artelaris and Bruce ‘ABJ’ Jenkins ‘parking’ Paul Skinner’s Cooper S inside the club hall, 1973.
118 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
profile televised events, were still supposed to be held in accordance with the rules of the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia. Competitors are not meant to benefit directly
The injection of lucrative sponsorship money into surf sports,
from prize money or sponsorship deals, but in practice, the
particularly the ironman and the various craft events – boats,
clubs, to whom the prizemoney is nominally paid, use that
money to benefit their top competitors. The clubs realise what an asset champions are, both to the individual clubs and movement as a whole. Moreover, the standard of competition is such that competitors need support to devote time to very strenuous training regimes.
This refusal provoked a vehement attack on the Cottesloe
on the clubrooms. In that year, North Cottesloe had made
council by the North Cottesloe president Colin Chalmers,
loan repayments of $7000 to the council.
having opposed, in the previous year, the club’s application
North Cottesloe was “the only metropolitan surf life saving
Sponsors, for their part, are attracted to sports, not out of any altruistic or charitable motives, but through the visibility afforded to their products and brand names. In one way or another, this has always been the case, though not always in a formal sense. Cyril Hanson’s butcher shop offering North Cottesloe use of its cool room, or the Ocean Beach Hotel turning on a celebration for a victorious team, is all good for business. Companies donating money for surf boats purchase the right to have the company name emblazoned on the side of the boat. Members also regularly contribute, in time, kind and product, and the list of those who have is very long indeed. All decline publicity, although it includes Peter Halliday with glass and mirrors, Jack Trail with bricks and sand, and Ray Hinchliffe, who for decades supported the club with the resources of his construction business when help was desperately needed.
for a special State Government grant to build a new change
club in Australia to have received no financial assistance
room for female members, and refusing to accept an
from the relevant local authority”. Though North Cottesloe
application for special assistance to carry out maintenance
often trumpeted its independence from extensive local
in the 1985/86 annual report. Apart from aborting the Swan Light sponsorship deal, Chalmers accused the council of
Chalmers prefaced his remarks with a declaration that
There can be occasional problems, however, when a club oversteps the mark. This is what the Cottesloe council decided North Cottesloe had done in 1963, when the club sold to the Ilford photographic company the right to display a banner on the side of the club’s patrol enclosure every weekend. The council decreed that the beach was not to be used for such commercial advertising. By the 1980s the council’s attitude had loosened somewhat, perhaps in recognition of the fact that the more money the club could raise through sponsorship, the less it would be putting the screws into the council. Still, the council drew the line at allowing the club to accept a very lucrative sponsorship deal from the Swan Brewery. Even promoting the low-alcohol Swan Light – weak enough to be sold in corner shops – was too much for the council. Third place in board teams at the junior State championships, Rohan Gunton, Anthony Brain, Peter Wall and Nick Shave.
Chapter 6 Out in front | 119
government support as something of a virtue, it appears that the club would not have knocked back the assistance if it had been on offer. What particularly riled Chalmers was that not only did the council not support North Cottesloe financially, it actively sabotaged North Cottesloe’s attempts to support itself through sponsorship. Chalmers obviously considered that the council was interpreting its policy of not permitting advertising of alcoholic beverages too tightly. The council did not share his view. Possibly its very accommodating attitude towards North Cottesloe’s deal to establish The Blue Duck restaurant, and an enduring source of cash flow, had to do with the rather strange relationship between club and council in the preceding few years.
120 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
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7
Richard Meadmore and Jack Alliss hug after North Cottesloe wins the senior surf boat State title in 1992 after a 31 year drought.
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2001 Australian female beach relay champions Nicole Skelton, Sonja Belle, Renee Winteridge and Annette Margaret. 122 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
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Chapter
. . . AND ON TOP
This commitment has been well rewarded by repeated boat
on a national basis with Surf Life Saving Australia Ltd, the
successes, and was joined by Len Buckeridge’s company
national umbrella organisation. It was purported to be worth
BGC in entering into deals with the club, usually involving
some $3 million a year at its peak. Kellogg’s sponsored
some sort of exposure of the company name. A long-term
the National Surf League, a high-profile competition
benefactor of the club, Len Buckeridge donated $95,000
involving composite teams from each State and individual
worth of building materials to the club in November 1995,
competitions. Money was supposed to filter down to clubs
for yet another round of clubhouse renovations. Sponsorship
through prize money and support for club-level training
deals often came as a result of personal approaches from
and competition.
club members with good commercial connections, for the club membership profile was moving steadily upmarket. Lawyers, doctors, company executives and senior public servants now appeared on the books in increasing numbers, reflecting both the rising affluence of the club’s hinterland (in particular the successful careers now enjoyed by many of the club’s former juniors and cadets) and the new value being placed on the club as a recreational resource by the
T
street appeal days, the chook raffle and weekend dances
and surf boat competition, organised at club level and involving money directed at individual clubs. Surf clubs all over Australia were invited to participate in the events, which would be held in all states. Needless to say, Surf Life Saving Australia took a very dim view of this threat to the position of its very lucrative major sponsor, and immediately forbade any affiliated clubs from having anything to do with
Of course, North Cottesloe was not the only surf club on
the rival competition, on pain of the direst of consequences,
an aggressive hunt for the sponsorship dollar. All along
which were not specified in any detail. For its part, the WA State Centre passed a motion in October 1993 declaring
sponsors were becoming increasingly prominent.
that any members who participated in the Uncle Tobys
Some see the decline of ‘grassroots’ fundraising as
State championships. The WA leg of the competition was
potentially damaging to the kind of mateship that has
scheduled to be held at Scarborough Beach on
characterised North Cottesloe’s past. The myriad of stories
29 January 1994.
that are associated with street appeal day – rattling the tin in the pub late in the afternoon inevitably led to many a collector being shouted beer after beer, in addition to the silver going into the tin, and just getting back to the club
to raise funds, was still part of the make-up of the club.
to hand in one’s tin was an achievement in itself. But other
However, sponsorship saw North Cottesloe enter the big
fundraising sources have appeared, and in themselves
league. Companies like Auspharm, City Motors and Multiplex
contribute to the sense of ‘club’ that is North Cottesloe.
were attracted to the club. Tony and Michael Rigoll’s
Tobys began promoting a separate super series ironman
well-to-do.
the coast, on clubrooms and at carnivals, names of club
he quest for sponsorship dollars would come to play an important part in the fundraising efforts of North Cottesloe in the 1990s. The days of members passing round the tin in the city, the local pubs, and shopping centres on
In 1989, however, rival breakfast food company Uncle
Super Series would be barred from competing in the
The super series competition looked very attractive to individual surf clubs, since it involved direct injections of funds into clubs. There had for some time been dissatisfaction with the amount of Kellogg’s money that was finding its way to the local clubs. Richard Meadmore at one stage said that all he had seen of Kellogg’s sponsorship at North Cottesloe in two years had been a cheque for $260
Sponsorship dollars would also precipitate yet another of
and a box of T-shirts. By contrast, the prize money for the
North Cottesloe’s frequent struggles with State Centre,
team. Tony senior’s wife Lorraine was personal assistant to
surf boat event in the Uncle Tobys competition would be
demonstrating just how seriously the issue was taken, and
$5500 for the winning club. State Centre, it would appear,
Multiplex chairman John Roberts and she used her influence
how jealously guarded were the rights of major sponsors.
was going to have a confrontation on its hands if it wished its
to develop the Multiplex boat sponsorships in the late 80s.
The Kellogg’s sponsorship of surf life saving was organised
member clubs to boycott the competition. North Cottesloe,
father Tony had been a member of Graham Russell’s R&R
Chapter 7 ... And on top | 123
in particular, was not going to pass up such an opportunity, or shy away from a fight, given its history of taking on State Centre in pursuit of what it genuinely believed in. As if to try and forestall any compulsion to take action, State Centre, at its meeting in early January 1994 amended the early resolution to state simply that it did not support any members of affiliated clubs taking part in nonsanctioned events. All references to sanctions was thereby removed, much to the relief of many intending participants. Subsequently, State Centre actually granted permission to Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club to host the event at its beach. The ambivalence of State Centre’s decision must be seen in the light of the decision-making structure of the organisation, for far from being a supervisory body imposed from above, State Centre was nothing more than a composite organisation of WA clubs. Affiliation gave each club the right to be represented on the State council and, therefore, to have a vote in any decision such as this one. The whole is no greater than the sum of its parts, and could only survive if a reasonable degree of consensus could be maintained. All the voting members were also members of affiliated clubs, including North Cottesloe, and as such, needed to be able to balance the interests of their own club against the well-being of the movement as a whole, not to mention
Adrian Ridderhof, Tony Beard, Richard Meadmore and Steve Coote (with sweep Jack Alliss) win gold in the 35+ at the 1991 Australian masters championships, Cottesloe Beach.
the legally-binding contracts entered into by the national
to Griffiths: “You were a prick when you were at North Cott,
research for this book. This is not to say that State Centre
body. A decision such as the one taken on the Uncle Toby’s
and you’re still a prick!” This altercation resulted in a three-
was a welter of squabbling despots, only that it was an
competition was, therefore, perhaps the only reasonable one
month suspension from competition for Richard who was
organisation composed of ordinary people, passionately
that could have been taken.
a member of the State team at the time. The penalty was
involved in enterprise and dedicated to their cause. It is only to
Like any large and growing organisation composed for
set to conclude on the eve of the State competition. One of
be expected that things may occasionally boil over.
North Cottesloe’s fairly recent associate members, Malcolm
The WA heat of the Uncle Tobys Super Series went off as
umbrella body of surf life saving in Western Australia had
McCusker – one of the leading law practitioners in Perth –
planned on 29 January 1994. Crews from four local clubs
its fair share of internal inter-club rivalries, and in some
was instrumental in proving to State Centre that the ruling
– North Cottesloe, Scarboro, Trigg Island and Fremantle –
cases even personal animosities. These often bubbled to
by the official was wrong and that there was an anomaly in
competed along with interstate crews, the event was telecast
the surface in a most colourful fashion. An altercation after
the rules. State Centre saved face and applied the three-
live, and North Cottesloe’s number-one crew brought home
a surf boat race, which involved an official, John Griffiths,
month penalty, subsequently amending the rules at national
the prize money for their club, defeating series leader Manly.
who was a former North Cottesloe member, resulted in the
council. A number of other incidents, some of which could
They also brought home a whole heap of controversy, which
North Cottesloe sweep Richard Meadmore saying loudly
not legally be related, were described to the writer during
ended up on the doorstep of the Federal Court.
the most part of non-professional decision-makers, the
124 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
It all hinged on a telephone conversation Colin Chalmers had with president of State Centre Bill Robertson just before the Uncle Tobys event. Asked if, as club president, Colin supported his club’s involvement in the competition, he replied that he did, implying that North Cottesloe’s participation had been officially sanctioned by the management committee. As sweep for one of the competing crews, however, Colin could hardly say otherwise. That Colin Chalmers was also North Cottesloe’s representative on the State council and, as such, had participated in the early resolution, further compounded his problem. This was the ‘evidence’ that State Centre needed to cook North Cottesloe’s goose, or so they thought. In redrafting the resolution against the Uncle Tobys competition, State Centre had absolved itself of the necessity to punish individual competitors and, hence, the possibility of bringing disgrace to the clubs on its own head. If the individual clubs did not officially sanction the breakaway competition, then those competing must have done so against the wishes of their club. One crew, indeed, had been expressly forbidden from competing by its club, had been denied the use of the club’s boat, and borrowed one of North Cottesloe’s boats. It would, therefore, be up to the clubs to determine what action, if any, would be taken against the rebel rowers. In the case of North Cottesloe, however, Colin’s remark to Bill Robertson
Open men’s and women’s surf boat crews, mid-1990s, Tom Warner, Pat Walsh, Jack Alliss, Karen Kearns, Margaret Tannock, Kate Scott, Alli Gould, Ian Clarke, Craig Smith-Gander and Ben Rosser.
here was an opportunity to present an example to other
competition. Their club was to be penalised, while others
sanctioned and supported the event.
clubs contemplating anything precipitous. Measures were
that took part would be left to decide for themselves if their
In fact, they actually had done so, unofficially at least. North
commenced to have North Cottesloe suspended from
rowers had been rule breakers.
further competition, and relegated to probationary
was a clear confirmation that North Cottesloe had officially
Cottesloe was right behind the Uncle Tobys series and had openly and actively encouraged other clubs to participate.
affiliation status.
Jerry Knowles had already brought Malcolm McCusker into the fray. McCusker had contacted State Centre’s lawyer
North Cottesloe rowers, principally Richard Meadmore, had
Not surprisingly, the North Cottesloe committee saw red,
Richard Sandover, early in January, to warn that the attempt
been a driving force behind the establishment of the WA
and came out fighting. Here, in their eyes, was a clear
to stop teams from competing in the Uncle Tobys series
Surf Boat Rowers’ Association, an organisation State Centre
example of victimisation, and it certainly did look like
amounted to a restraint of trade under the Commonwealth
declared did not exist. Wishful thinking, perhaps. Whatever
that – a throwaway remark could hardly be interpreted
Trade Practices Act. Now, he contacted the chief executive
the case, it appeared that, in its support of the Uncle Tobys
as a statement of official policy. To many North Cottesloe
officer of Surf Life Saving Australia Scott Derwin indicating
series, North Cottesloe was becoming just too independent
committeemen, this looked like yet another attempt by
that, if State Centre persisted with its measures to discipline
for its own good, and had to be taught a lesson. Furthermore,
their enemies at State Centre to run their club out of the
North Cottesloe, proceedings would be initiated in the
Chapter 7 ... And on top | 125
Federal Court under the Trade Practices Act. This did the trick, for State Centre backed down, reducing measures against North Cottesloe to a ’censure’. The club’s big guns won out. The ‘cereal wars’, as the newspapers dubbed the controversy, demonstrated just how much was at stake in the big business that surf life saving had become in the 1990s. Each side claimed to have right on its side, but the driving force behind the whole action was once again money. Surf Life Saving Australia had the multi-million dollar deal with Kellogg’s to protect, while North Cottesloe was keen to secure a bigger slice of the sponsorship pie for itself. Though North Cottesloe was the one that was prepared to stand up and be counted on the issue, it is certain that other
2001 State double ski champions Tim and Will Bird.
Competitors (back) Adrian Ridderhof, Jack Alliss, Jeremy Knowles, Richard Meadmore, Tony Beard, Dave Barber and (front) Jason Wright, Grant Wright and Sam Knowles off to the 1993 Australian championships at Collaroy, NSW.
its share of media attention, while North Cottesloe claimed
and finances, North Cottesloe will continue to thrive. The
on the day themselves can make or break a top competitor –
its share of victories, and prize money.
Australian championships at Kurrawa, during which Cyclone
drawing a bad stretch of beach or starting position can hand
Beti tragically claimed the life of one competitor, saw a North
victory to a second-rate performer. Beyond that, there is the
Cottesloe team of 56 compete. In addition, North Cottesloe
effect the conditions can have on audience appeal. Sports that
had consisted of a number of the elite including Ian Brown
attract sponsorship must by implication also attract audiences,
(1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympics), Jack Trail (1976
either live or, preferably, on television. A football game can be
Montréal Olympics), Sarah Thorpe (1986 Commonwealth
exciting even if played in pouring rain, but a surf boat race, no
Games), Jacqui McKenzie (1994 Commonwealth Games and
matter how closely contested, run in flat calm conditions can
1992 Barcelona Olympics), Marion Taylor (Australian Water
make for boring television. The kind of action depicted on the
highly-competitive iron men and women are still very much
Polo Team) and so the list goes on. But it is not just the elite
back of the Nutri-Grain box is the action that sponsors pay for.
club members, with the same obligations to the club and the
achievements that make North Cottesloe so special. Be it
movement as any ordinary bronze holder, and they have had
dressing up as Santa Claus for the kids at Christmas in the
to undergo the same training and examinations as everyone
surf boat, a carnival, or seeking sponsorship, members from
else. To be sure, there are perks for the top performers, and
all levels of skill and success are to be found contributing in
highly attractive ones as well, but in the end the ironman, the
support of their club.
clubs were quietly urging them on from the sidelines, hoping to establish a precedent. As it turned out, that is exactly what happened. The Uncle Tobys Super Series rolled on, claiming
Looking at events like this one, it is easy to forget that, despite the money being poured into it, surf life saving is still essentially an amateur sport, and most who participate still do so for their own enjoyment – the thrill of competing and the exaltation of winning. Whatever professionalism might creep in is still underpinned by the avowedly voluntary nature of the surf life saving movement. The glamorous and
champion paddler, the beach sprinter and surf boat crew are
Surf life saving continues to attract huge numbers of participants. In terms of the number of participants, the national championship carnival, held for 10 years at Kurrawa beach in Queensland, is now the largest regular sporting event in the southern hemisphere, eclipsing even the Commonwealth
In a sense, that surf life saving will remain amateur is possibly
Games in the number of competitors. Several kilometres of
inevitable, given first of all the very public space in which
beach are taken up by the four-day carnival, and dozens of
But what of the future? A snapshot of the past decade or
competition takes place, and secondly the glorious imprecision
clubs from all over the nation send teams. Change is afoot to
so it is evident that given the right spirit, administration
of the whole enterprise. As pointed out earlier, the conditions
again share this event around the country.
all still representing their club.
126 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
The North Cottesloe contingent at each national championships numbers up to 60 competitors and officials and the club is now represented in most events. Large block bookings of travel and accommodation are made and though the club provides some support, most competitors fundraise and still pay their own way. The experience of travelling away to competitions, long a part of the club tradition, is as important as
Colin had had enough. He had acted as secretary during the early part of the negotiations of The Blue Duck, and now, as president, he was in the firing line as the lawyers lined up for battle over the cereal sponsorship.
ever, and perhaps bigger than ever. For Colin Chalmers, being in the thick of things during the cereal wars was a reminder of just how taxing the role of
down and try their hand at surf rowing. They asked club member Andrew Brown, who rowed at the University of Western Australia Rowing Club, to sound out any interested persons and the response was immediate and gratifying. Quite a number of rowers, among them David Barber, Ben Rosser and Paul Page, came down to try out, and some stayed on to form the nucleus of the champion crews that would sweep all before them in the 1990s. In 1992, at last,
But few in the club knew that Jerry was fighting a losing battle against cancer, and in May 1996 he died, aged 56. In
a North Cottesloe crew consisting of Barber, Rosser, Page and Goose, swept by Alliss, won the senior male surf boat State championship, the first victory since the days of Ron
president of a surf life saving club can be. It had never been
a moving ceremony, a couple of hundred metres off North
a piece of cake, even in the early days of Barney Peacock
Cottesloe beach in December of that year, his son Sam
and Jack Morton, but by now, even if the task of finding the
Knowles, surrounded by a flotilla of North Cottesloe craft,
ready cash to run the club was not quite so difficult, the new
scattered his father’s ashes into the sea. The following year,
complexities of the role were beginning to tell. By the end
Sam began following his father’s footsteps, taking on the role
of his second term, Colin had had enough. He had acted
of club captain. As ever, North Cottesloe remains
as secretary during the early part of the negotiations of The
a family affair.
Walsh, Ian Clarke, Andrew Taylor, David Clarke and Tom
The Uncle Tobys series was a natural progression from a
championship crew, had been rowing on the river since
renaissance in surf boat racing at North Cottesloe that began
1982, and had been offered the opportunity to come to
in the late 1980s, and eventually broke a 30-year drought.
North Cottesloe in 1989. It was not until he decided that
There had been a few near misses in the 1970s, under the
he had gone as far as he wanted to in river rowing that he
tutelage of sweep Terry Colby, but the 1980s produced
came to try his hand at surf rowing. Though there are some
Knowles had never been far from the fray during the
little joy for the boat crews at North Cottesloe. Many, like
techniques that are similar, there is much that a river rower
intervening years, holding a variety of minor committee
Peter Doyle, Ian Longson, Mark Davis, Steve Artelaris, Brian
has to learn, and unlearn, in the switch to surf boats. There is
positions and always standing ready to wade in with legal
Dawson, Stuart Mitchell and John Rear, who had been
much more pitch to begin with, crews have to work harder to
help when necessary. He had stepped aside as secretary
rowing for some years, drifted away, others became heavily
keep the boat balanced and, above all, the unpredictability
when pressures of work and family had become too much,
involved in committee work, and it was a day-to-day struggle
of the ocean leavens every race with a large dose of chance.
but now he was ready and willing to take on the leading role.
just to keep the club afloat. It was Richard Meadmore on
Blue Duck, and now, as president, he was in the firing line as the lawyers lined up for battle over the cereal sponsorship. In 1994, he was quite happy to bid farewell to the presidency, and hand over to the man he had replaced as secretary 13 years before – Jerry Knowles.
It was, perhaps, only a natural step for someone who had made such a lifetime commitment to the club, and was at the peak of his abilities as an administrator and advocate. His tenure as president should have been long and illustrious, a period the club would be able to look back on as a golden
his return from City Beach, where he had rowed for several seasons, who finally started to pull things together, ably assisted by the tenacious and enterprising sweep Jack Alliss, who had drifted away from the club at the end of the 80s due to family commitments.
Fussell in 1961. And it would not be the last. From then until 1998, North Cottesloe won the senior male surf boat State title every year except 1994 – its best winning streak since the 1920s. Several more river rowers came into the club, including Pat Warner. Walsh, who joined in 1991 and rowed in the 1993
The early 90s also marked the introduction of female surf boat rowing into North Cottesloe. Jack Alliss and Richard Meadmore remarked on the potentially exciting prospect of introducing a serious female program – after all, men attract women and vice versa, and North Cottesloe has a long history of female involvement in all aspects of club life,
age. He was the logical successor to people like Ted Jaggard
Meadmore and Alliss hit upon the idea of inviting still-water
except boats – and within days of its mention 16 aspirants
and Graham Russell.
rowers, from the various clubs on the Swan River, to come
took up oars. Their inspiration is ascribed to the 1994
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T
hroughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s, maybe longer, dozens of North Cott’s senior members flew to the Aussies each year on student discounts. Men with thinning hair, the beginning of arthritis or grey-flecked beards, cheerfully acted like schoolkids or students as they lined up at the terminal. And let’s be honest, some in their 30s and 40s need to act like kids. Anyway, one, a highly articulate stockbroker used to the luxuries of life, was travelling as a 15-year-old. He flew to Brisbane economy, but faced with the much longer cramped flight home, thought “stuff this”. Stunned fellow members then watched as a huge argument developed at the check-in with this man of the world, disguised as a student, demanding to be upgraded to his usual mode of travel – business class. Other passengers, distracted by the fist pumping and yelling, watched on in amusement as the ‘schoolboy’ insisted on his rights. Standing nearby, Jerry Knowles’s face revealed his dismay – the club’s years of cheap fares about to end in ignominy and shame. No doubt he could see The West Australian’s headlines, “Surf club rorts system – again”. Fortunately for everyone the stockbroker/student cooled down after he lost the argument, the airline ignored the obvious subterfuge, and so another generation of North Cott members was free to collect their discounted fares.
H
earing Ian Clarke, Craig Smith-Gander, Tom Warner and Jack Alliss reminisce about surf boat rowing in the 90s, the listener soon is struck by the almost total professionalism they, Ben Rosser, Dave Clarke, Pat Walsh, Simon Nutter, Paul Crocket, Greg Kerr and others brought to the sport. A decade or so earlier, the training regime may have been three week-day mornings or evenings in the boat, another session on the weekend, and maybe a run or two. The Clarke (he stroked five State title winning crews) and Warner (also five State championships) era was totally different, with up to 11 sessions per week – a mixture of gym work, rowing, and for some, cycling as well. This paralleled a high-quality still-water training regime. However, where fitness and skill usually triumphed on the river, this group who successfully made the transition from one form of rowing to another, the fluky surf conditions
were sometimes very frustrating. Fitness, skill and luck were what counted at a surf carnival, whereas the first two prerequisites almost always brought success on the river. What a change this form of training was from the John ‘Griffo’ Griffiths years in the mid-1970s when his crews did little more than row for miles. Steve Artelaris said: “We were bloody fit for marathons, but nothing else.” This was also the ‘steak for strength’ era, when Griffo ordered his crew at the 1973 Burleigh Heads nationals to have a large steak for lunch before rowing later in the afternoon. Every one of them fell asleep soon after their meal, struggled to wake up before the race and of course got beaten. When North Cottesloe later forged close links with the UWA Rowing Club, diet was one of several critical elements in preparing championship-winning crews.
Australian championships at Swansea Belmont, and the sight of very healthy women in ‘cheeky’ bathers competing in a female invitational surf boat race – enough to excite any onlooker. Success quickly followed the club’s maiden appearance at a Mullalloo carnival with a succession of State and interstate titles – Karen Kearns, Allison Gould, Kate Scott and Margie Tannock, with Meadmore as the sweep, making up that first 1994 group. The next year female surf boats were made an official competition event Australia wide. Louise Roberts, an earlier member of that first crew and many successful crews, went on to further fame, becoming the first female sweep in an official carnival in 1996/97, again at Mullalloo, successfully sweeping the experienced Jack Alliss, Richard Meadmore, Steve Artelaris and Steve Coote. And women row in the same boat as the men. In the early days as the women struggled to pull their boat back to the clubhouse after their training session, a not uncommon cry from the safety of The Blue Duck after the men’s training session would be: “If you can’t get it up the ramp, you can’t row it”. But things change, and they have proven themselves every bit as capable as the men. At one memorable Cottesloe carnival, with the waves breaking over the pylon, Ian Clarke’s then girlfriend (now wife) Fiona was tossed out of the boat along with Lou Roberts, splitting her head well open. A young club doctor/rower, Greg ‘Hoges’ Hogan, performed the required stitching (as he was to do over many years). Meanwhile, whilst all this action occurred, Ian Clarke rowed in dead flat conditions at the Uncle Toby’s Surf Boat Super Series at Freshwater in New South Wales. The women have fielded many crews in competition. In the inaugural year of 1994/95 when North Cottesloe won gold, the club also won silver (Alysia Burton, Claire O’Brian, Jodi Kerr and Sally Fox, with Tony Beard sweeping) and placed fourth (Michelle Proudlove, Sarah Rankin, Fiona Wauchope and Kathryn Granheim, swept by Craig Bell for training and Jack Alliss in the race), in the WA Coca Cola series. The Inter-Oceans Championship at Mooloolaba in
Blood and smiles show commitment from surf boat rower Andrew Brown.
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Jack Alliss was sweeping Fi Murray, Alli Gould, Kelly Moss and Lou Roberts into fourth place at the same carnival, while
M
oose’, ‘Goose’, ‘Splinter’, ‘Spud’. But in a club of nicknames, Colby, a surname, stands out. Never Terry. Never his initials. One of the club’s real characters was simply Colby. Who stirred Jack Alliss’ lifelong enthusiasm for surf boats? Colby. Who grabbed Steve Artelaris when he first appeared and persuaded him to row? Colby. Adrian Ridderhof lived with him for a while in the Cottesloe Rugby Club’s building and says he was eccentric and a great guy. Late in the afternoon when the beach was almost deserted Colby could be found, on patrol, inscribing huge swells and arcs into the sand, while muttering “when the mighty ride the Mook we’ll be there”, a reference to his father’s old club, Mollymook. Whether he was leading others on nightly nude swimming circuits through the pools of St Hilda’s, MLC, PLC…or painting large white feet on footpaths between Cott and North Cott beaches, he and a few others were always conspicuous in a club with more than its share of oddballs. Yet, whatever the escapades, Colby is equally well remembered for his infectious enthusiasm for surf boats, catching waves, and rowing. The towering swells at Denmark, or the chop of his home beach made no difference to Colby – the sooner he had four rowers and could take a boat out, the happier he was. Even though he had an Australian junior boat title to his name (at Swanbourne-Nedlands), his crews never had too many wins, but then winning wasn’t the only reason Colby jumped into the stern of the boat.
130 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Willow swept Naomi Hough, Sally Glen, Liz Carson and Mich Butler into first place at the Kellogg’s series at Coolum in Queensland. This dominance was so clear during one race in the 1997/98 season – Richard Meadmore and his crew stopped rowing to wave to Channel 7 TV camera crew covering the race, still winning by a comfortable margin. It is hard to imagine what North Cottesloe would be like without its complement of women, active in every aspect of club life. Top-level still-water rowing is a very precise sport and scientific principles can be brought to bear on training practices to produce the best results under predictable conditions. Surf boat rowers, it seems, do not wish to work that hard, they want to win, and still have fun. Yes, they train hard, and keep in top physical condition, but on the day, it is often the luck of the draw that prevails. Female beach sprinters Margot Ferguson, Kathryn Heaton, Kirsten Gibbs and Susan Stewart, 1996.
Queensland also followed.
Like the particularly hair-raising experience at an Uncle Tobys series race at Portsea, Victoria, one year. Swept by Jack Alliss with Ian Clarke, Ben Rosser, Pat Walsh and Craig
To this day, along with serious training and selection
Smith-Gander in the crew, North Cottesloe’s boat came
procedures, squads are assessed at the halfway point
roaring in on a two-metre swell. On the right the Freshwater
of the season, the best four making up the number one
club, from New South Wales, caught the same wave.
crew. Merome Hall, Karen Kearns, Kelly Moss, Liz Carson,
Suddenly, Jack lost control momentarily, the boat veered
Lou Roberts, Georgina Walsh, Kate Scott, Sally Snook and
sharply to the right and the bow crossed over the freshwater
Eliza Patterson were integral members of some of the
boat, picking up ‘Bluey’ Myers, the Freshwater sweep. “Stay
number-one crews over the years. The result has been an
there Bluey!” called North Cottesloe bowman Craig Smith-
outstanding dominance, such as the 2001/02 performances
Gander (‘Goose’, obviously) and the North Cottesloe boat
of Gary ‘Willow’ Williamson (son of George of R&R fame)
surged into the beach carrying the Freshwater sweep as
sweeping Lou Roberts, Fiona Murray, Sally Glen and Liz
an unscheduled passenger. Bluey jumped off the boat and
Carson to silver at the Australian championships, gold at
sprinted to the finish line beating Goose and winning the race
the State championships, gold at the Australian Surf Rowers
for Freshwater. There were no complaints this time when
League Open and second in the overall grand prix series.
North Cottesloe was relegated to second place. This kind
For further proof of dominance, while the men were taking
of accident can flummox even the most skilled crew. This
second place at the Australia Day carnival at Manly in 2002,
incident was filmed by Channel 10 and broadcast nationally
beach. In the end, North Cottesloe was the last club on the coast to purchase one, primarily because training for the bronze medallion now included an element of IRB handling.
Ben Styles, Jenny Rutter, Swanbourne SLSC member, Karen Liggins, Matt Stafford and Nic Gerrard.
that night on the news. Similarly years before, Channel 2 had captured a spectacular wipeout by the Terry Colby-swept crew of Geoff Nicholson, Richard Pyvis, Geoff James and Johnno Miller at a Scarborough Carnival in 1967. Rowing in the Uncle Tobys series involved frequent interstate travel, with the team taking off for weekends to compete in various parts of the country, at the expense of the sponsor. This was a far cry from the days of Ron Fussell’s eventful trip east with his boat crew in 1961. No more sleeping in clubhouses on camp stretchers, or even relying on the hospitality of other clubs – all accommodation was in good hotel rooms close to the venue. Also, no more begging for boats to borrow for races – all the boats were provided by the sponsor. All the team had to provide was oars. It was a precision operation, with no room for error, or for crew members getting lost along the way. If even one member missed a flight, there would likely be no racing the next
Beach sprinters Nick ‘Stinga’ Rea (front) and Peter Wall, early 1990s.
day. Jack Alliss would gather his crew together on a Friday afternoon and convey them to the airport along with baggage and accoutrements for an overnight flight, and next day they would have to be ready to race, wherever that happened to be. In this respect, at least, surf boat racing has become thoroughly professional. Again, the changing nature of surf life saving and the advancing technology have affected the surf boats just as much as the R&R, though in the opposite direction. Oared surf boats nowadays are rarely used in rescue operations or chasing sharks, as they were in the past. The IRB (’inflatable rescue boat’ or ’inshore rescue boat’, depending on whom you ask) with its powerful outboard motor is now a common sight on surf beaches, alongside boards, which are also being used increasingly for rescue. At North Cottesloe, the management committee held firm for some years, believing, possibly rightly, that an IRB was unnecessary at such a safe
But rather than lead to their demise, the effect upon surf boats has been that they are now being designed exclusively for racing, built for speed and handling rather than strength and durability. Far from making a huge amount of money out of the sport, surf boat racing is probably the most costly area of surf life saving and, notwithstanding the big prize money coming into the sport during the 90s, it is a considerable drain on a club’s resources. A surf boat these days can cost $20,000. The sleek, lightweight fibreglass vessels are a far cry from the clinker-built boats of yore, and frequent technological advances mean that a boat cannot be expected to retain a competitive edge for more than a few years. Carbon-fibre oars now cost more than the price of a whole boat just a few decades ago. And of course, there is the constant wear and tear resulting from the depredations of salt and surf, not to mention the ever-present chance of the lightweight boat simply being smashed to pieces in the waves. It was not only in surf boat rowing that North Cottesloe experienced a renaissance in the 1990s. Beach sprinting is an area where the club has produced some outstanding performances during the last decade, through the efforts of members like running coach Graham Miller, and competitors Alex Parks and Nick Rea. Though much less visible than the surf boat, the results have been no less spectacular. North Cottesloe now sends up to four full relay teams to the national championships each year, including a number of participants in individual sprint and flags events. Possibly at the extreme opposite end of the scale in terms of the amount of capital equipment necessary, beach sprinting is as unlike track sprinting as surf boat rowing is unlike river rowing – the basic techniques are there, but there are other factors borne into play, including that ever-present bugbear in surf sports, pure chance. The state of the beach – the
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Rea, Steve Gibbs, Matt Keys and Wade Jarvis brought home the world men’s open beach relay title. North Cottesloe was once again a force to be reckoned with in beach sprinting, with a daunting record to follow including bronze at the 1997 nationals, silver at the Aussies in the following two years as well as at the 1998 world championships in New Zealand and again bronze at the 2001 Aussie championships. The girls too began to dominate throughout the 1990s, starting with the first ever female State championship medals by North Cottesloe in any arena. Margaret Anderson won the female beach sprint in 1991 and Kate Flower won the female cadet beach sprint in the same year. The girls regularly picked up medals at the State championships. Margot Ferguson, Susan Stewart, Karen Heagney and Kathryn Heaton dominated in WA in 1995, but were unable to ’have a crack’ at the Aussie titles as women’s relays were not yet included in the national competition. In 2001 however, the strong team of Sonja Belle, Nicole Skelton, Annette Margaret and Renee Winteridge formed to bring home the coveted gold medal (that still
1995 State ironman champion Michael ‘Liggo’ Liggins.
firmness of the sand, the presence of rocks and other debris,
The sprinters of North Cottesloe attracted the attention of
the slope to the waterline – can all affect the outcome of the
the committee when they began to string together success
race and the winning time. Drawing a lane in soft, churned-
after success, beginning with Martin ‘the rat’ Toohey bringing
up sand can lose even a skilled sprinter a race. In the sprint
home bronze in the under-18 male beach flags at the
events – the 90m sprint and the 4 x 90m relays – proficiency
national championships in 1995. With the encouragement
on the track does not readily translate into success on the beach. Though beach sprinters would probably be hard put
of the club they set their sights higher. In 1996, after winning the silver in the beach relay at the nationals, Nick ‘Stinga’ Rae
eluded the boys) from the Australian titles. They continued to dominate the State events in 2001/02, and won silver at the nationals. Nicole Skelton won bronze in the open female beach sprint at the Australian championships in 2000 and dominated the State championships for many years, while Sonja was also a regular medal winner at the states, including the 2002 State title.
(an ex-Bondi boy) and his mates decided they would have a
North Cottesloe had started its ironman successes with
crack at the world titles, to be held in Durban, South Africa.
Jerry Knowles, then Simon Martin. In the 90s, the names
The entire beach sprint squad approached the committee
of Jacqui McKenzie (daughter of Alex and Lynn), Stephen
for assistance with their air fares. The coffers were bare at the
‘Hoppy’ Hopkins and Michael ‘Liggo’ Liggins (son of Karen
time, but in a unique act of entrepreneurship, the committee
Hungerford and David Liggins) leapt into the record books.
allowed the beach sprint team to take over the social club
Stephen became one of the State’s most decorated ironmen,
for a year, to put on parties, barbecues and any other social
winning the event four times before passing the baton to
the finish line, competitors leap to their feet, dash 20 metres
events they could think of, using the club premises, and put
Michael. In 1994 ‘Hoppy’ was awarded the Bernie Kelly medal
and dive for a flag. It requires a high degree of physical agility
all the proceeds towards the Durban trip. The whole squad
for the most outstanding performance by a competitor at
and quick reflexes – both necessary requirements of a
went about the task with a will. Six male runners and one
the State championships for wins in the ironman, board
surf lifesaver.
female runner and a beach flagger went to Durban, and Nick
race, restricted surf race and surf teams. The following year
to describe exactly, there is little doubt that running barefoot on sand is a far cry from running in spikes on a cinder track. Beach sprinters do train on the track, but it is on the beach where the sheep are separated from the goats. Then there is the beach flags event, one without any exact equivalent in any other sport. From a facedown position, and away from
132 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
‘Liggo’ reigned supreme, winning the coveted ironman title.
building kept in top-class condition, and an energetic
Former Olympic swimmer Jacqui dominated the women’s
and increasingly professional management committee,
event, adding board and ski skills to her superb swimming
membership began to grow steadily, and has continued to
strength. In winning the gold it was an iron double not just for
grow ever since. There was a sharp drop in 1990, caused
North Cottesloe but for Liggo and Jacqui who were a couple.
mainly by a purge of members who had failed to meet
Jacqui included a second ironwoman title in a bag of State
their obligations, financial or otherwise, but ever since then
titles and at the 1996 State championships was awarded the
membership has shot up, to the extent there were too many
Bernie Kelly medal for the most outstanding performance
candidates for the available instructors for the 2002/03
at the championships. Sharlyn Sarac dominated the junior
bronze squads, and a waiting list had to be formed. Associate
ironwoman in 1996 and 1997 as well as the junior and senior
membership numbers have similarly been capped.
board events and at the 1996 Australian championships she
The membership purge of 1990 very likely served as a valuable
won gold in the under-16 board race. From 1997 through
reminder that North Cottesloe membership was too valuable
until 2000, Briohny Callaghan won a swag of State medals
these days to let it simply lapse. There were three main
in the open ironwoman, board and ski, including two silvers
components of the growth of the club during the 1990s, each
and a bronze in the ironwoman. Sharon Stacey was another standout iron performer during this period, winning silver in
one with its own set of implications for the club’s future.
both the open and under-18 ironwoman events in 1998 – the
Firstly, as alluded to earlier, there was a continuing increase
same year Hoppy was back on the dias, winning silver in the
in the number of associate members. Associate members
open ironman.
are not required to carry out patrol duties, nor to qualify for
The club has been well represented by swimmers during
the bronze medallion, but they have full use of club facilities and have been strong supporters and contributors to the
its lifetime. More recently Peter Wood (brother Steve is at Floreat club) has contributed strongly for North Cottesloe. Peter’s father Alf had wholeheartedly encouraged his sons in their surf life saving pursuits, having been a boat arena judge, and was himself a life member at North Bondi. Alf was Cottesloe’s 1997 citizen of the year, and was in the public eye in the 1960s as a pro wrestler known as ‘The Phantom’ with Killer Kowalski and their WCW Troupe. Johnno van Hazel
1995 and 1996 State ironwoman champion Jacqui McKenzie.
club’s administration.
to the State’s strongest masters section, and superb ski
This is certainly true of one of the club’s better-known
facilities, competition success lives on at North Cottesloe. Tim and Will (gold and bronze respectively) Bird and Andrew
surf life saving as a 16-year-old, joining the fledgling North
‘Pek’ Stevens (silver) made a clean sweep of the 2001 State
City club. North City at one stage threatened to cause
titles, also taking gold in the 2002 ski relay.
considerable confusion in the surf life saving movement
and Matt ‘Keysie’ Keys were two other strong swimmers
The names of Nick Taylor, Rob and Julie Jenkinson, Ben
competing for the club. In 2000, Keysie not only won the
Mercer, Tim and Will Bird, Sam Knowles, James Knowles
State senior male surf belt but also backed up to take out
and Andrew ‘Pek’ Stevens are just some that quickly spring
the gold medal in the senior male beach sprint – from which
to mind who regularly represented the club in the ski arena
he earned the label ‘amphibian’. The girls, too, had success
through the 1990s.
with Catherine Moore, Marion Taylor, Emily Heitman and Sian
associates, Malcolm McCusker QC. McCusker came into
by having the same initials (NCSLSC) as North Cottesloe, until it changed its name to Floreat. After 10 years at Floreat, competing as a rower and beach sprinter, McCusker dropped out when he married and moved away from the coast. In the early 1980s, looking for a partner to paddle in the Avon Descent, he contacted Jerry Knowles, who was
The 1990s was a growth decade for North Cottesloe, in just
already partnered up with Jack Trail, but suggested North
about every direction. With relative financial security assured
Cott member Mike MacDermott as a partner. It was through
And building on the successes of Jack Trail, the club’s ski
through Kim Gamble’s Blue Duck restaurant lease and a
Knowlsey and MacDermott that McCusker came back into
presence is well reflected in the record books. In addition
group of loyal and supportive sponsors, a well-equipped
the surf life saving movement, joining North Cottesloe as an
Halliwell winning the surf teams State title in 1995.
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associate. Yet another lawyer to swell the ranks, McCusker would prove a useful asset in a number of legal battles the club became embroiled in. McCusker’s story is typical of many people who came to North Cottesloe as adults. Some are renewing an association with the movement they had as youngsters, while others simply looked for an enjoyable way to keep fit. Many older members, including Malcolm McCusker, along with champions Simon Martin and Jack Trail, now compete in masters events, for competitors over 35, held as an official part of surf carnivals, up to national championship level. McCusker, as a matter of fact, became one of North Cottesloe’s leading masters ski paddlers, representing the club at a number of national championships. At club level, there is an unofficial masters ski paddling competition, divided, informally, into grades A to D, depending on the ability to keep up with the leaders, usually Trail and Martin. For some, the urge to compete never wears thin. For the most part, however, associates use the club as a recreational resource and, as such, their priorities are going to be different from those of active members who join to compete, or those who want to gain lifesaving qualifications. Of course, not all adults who join North Cottesloe do so as associates, for there is no age limit for qualifying for the bronze medallion. Dennis Hawtin joined the club in the mid-1980s, mainly because his children wanted to join. He wanted to participate fully in the club, especially in the area of coaching younger members, so, at the age of 40 he took his bronze and placed himself on the patrol roster. Eventually he was appointed to the committee position of junior officer, was vice-president for six years, was awarded life membership in 2003, and continued to regularly be seen with ski paddle in hand at the club. Changes to club administration were also taking place. The influx of membership also meant a lot more work at the club. Julianne Simmons was the club’s honorary secretary
134 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
internet site, newsletters, administration of the registrar role, membership liaison and implementing a CPL membership database. In June 1999, the position was made a full-time role with John McNaught appointed to the position, followed by Kelly Moss (active boat rower) in June 2001. The new influx of junior members was another aspect of North Cottesloe’s growth in the 1990s. for a number of different reasons, suddenly surf life saving was again a popular sport with the young. The dissolution of the old image of military discipline and hard work was replaced by an emphasis on fun and participation. In common with many other junior sports in recent decades, the raw competitive aspect began to be downplayed in favour of an emphasis on the teaching of skills. There were also the frivolous aspects. Some kids nagged their parents into letting them join after watching the television series Baywatch, which featured the exploits of a group of very attractive and well-endowed American lifeguards. Apart from these aspects, which affected the movement as a whole, North Cottesloe was beginning to take in kids younger than ever before. Largely through the efforts of Ron Sheen, a healthy ’nippers’ division was established. Ron Ski paddlers Krede Wright, Tim Bird and Stephen Hopkins at the 1998 Australian championships.
Sheen, sometimes known as ‘Sheeny’, has been one of the more colourful and supportive associate members since
for many years during the 1990s and performed a role which
The club soon realised that administrative support was needed
joining North Cott from the City of Perth in 1979. Ron was a
went far beyond the expectation of any voluntary roles. She
and in 1996 employed its first part-time club administrator,
group leader of the juvenile division under-7s since starting
was instrumental in developing a photographic history of
surf boat rower Alan Evans. He worked four hours per day
the surflings in 1980. Ron started the group to amuse the
the club’s activities during this period; setting the standard
from Royal Life Saving Society WA headquarters and oversaw
little kids while they were waiting for their older brothers and
in relation to the club clothing and its distribution, including
the patrols, minutes of the meetings, competition entries and
sisters who were attending regular juvenile division activities.
implementing the concept of ‘sales’; coordinating large
annual reports. Merome Hall, also a surf boat rower, took over
Many of these kids progressed through to the more senior
Australian titles travelling teams, including accommodation
the role in October 1997 through to May 1999 (two to three days
ranks (some 10 years later).
and airfares and team management; coordinating
per week) and the office was moved to the club following the
Ron’s generous support also extended through to the senior
newsletters and events calendars; liaising with sponsors/
renovations. The job role expanded during this time to include
club and each year in the 80s and into the 90s he presented
patrons; and on top of that, she competed in the beach
additional tasks such as social event organisation, Australian
the Ron Sheen trophy, awarded to the best club man. In 1987
events in the masters competition, including winning silver at
championship organisation, patrols, communication including
the management committee was seeking sponsorship to
the Australian masters championships.
the introduction of a contract accountant, establishing an
enclose the tower. Ron’s reaction was: “We can’t have kids
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Karen Liggins and Yvette Ridderhof, always helping at club functions.
Bill Kidner and Graham Russell at North Cottesloe’s 75th anniversary dinner, 1993.
sitting out in the weather all day, I will fix it up.” Fix it up he did, at a personal cost of $8000.
were followed by a cup of hot soup prepared by the mums, in an attempt to make membership more user-friendly.
Since recruits under the age of seven fell outside the official ambit of surf life saving – and North Cottesloe was signing them up much younger than this – Ron organised insurance himself, kitted the kids out in club colours and instituted a training regime that involved kids as young as three years old. With what truly started out as a babysitting club for parents, Ron has demonstrated just what can be achieved with enthusiasm, commitment and vision (even arranging, on one excursion, for the group and its gear to be barged over to Rottnest Island). Perhaps in a kind of Jesuitical conspiracy, Sheen’s efforts were aimed at getting them young, to provide the club with a healthy crop of competitors in the future. It worked well, for several club champions, including Mike Liggins, came up through Sheen’s nippers.
Another factor that worked in favour of the younger members was the changing nature of training for the bronze medallion. Gone was the gruelling and exacting R&R drilling, to be replaced by training in up-to-date resuscitation techniques, including the use of respirators, the new torpedo tubes for surf rescue, IRB handling, two-way radio operation, and even helicopter crewing. There was much more theory and less of an emphasis on physical prowess, though proficiency in the water was still important.
Parents are a key element in the youth programs and, as yet another attraction to the youngsters, Sunday morning swims
136 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
In 1999 cadet, junior and juvenile members numbered nearly 300, and in the preceding season 89 bronze medallions had been awarded. By comparison, in the late 1980s, only a couple of dozen awards were made each season, hovering around the level set more than 50 years earlier. It might be argued that the bronze is now easier to get, and that the physical requirements are now not as onerous as they were
Michael Beech, Lorna Wall, Brian Sierakowski and Dennis Hawtin at the president’s cocktail party, 1994.
Jack Alliss, Richard Meadmore, Greg Hogan, Adrian Ridderhof, Colin Chalmers and (front) Steve Coote and Tony Beard at the annual dinner, 1994.
in the past. This may indeed be so, but it is also likely that Ron’s training is now much more relevant, and certainly there is little likelihood that the lifesavers of today are any less proficient than their parents and grandparents. The ability to effect a rescue in the surf is still the main point of bronze training, and the movement as a whole, has too much to lose to allow standards to fall. The movement has much to thank members like Brett Endersby, Renato Bruno, Will Telfer, Lorna Wall (and the list goes on and on) for, as their time and energy as instructors ensures that the right skills and attitudes will continue into the future. Some now lament the fact that, though there is a gratifying influx into the younger levels of the club, there is not the same level of commitment as there has been in the past. Many drop out shortly after passing the bronze, but others don’t even get that far. There are many more distractions for young people now than there ever have been in the past, and it is noteworthy perhaps, not that so many drop out, but that so many others resist the temptation and stay with the club. Even those who leave with their bronze and never return are people in the community who know how to save a life, and one day that training may need to be used. In this respect, the club fulfils a valuable function as an educational resource, even if many of its bronze holders drop out.
Beach sprinters Nick Rea, Steve Gibbs, Matt Keys and Sam de Vries, silver medallists in the beach relay at the 1998 and 1999 Australian championships.
But the distractions of youth and teenage years are well known, and the club has to learn to live with them. At about age 15 or 16, kids can become restless and often frustrated, and tend to drift away from surf life saving. But if the club had done its job properly during earlier years, they’ll be back. There are so many stories of youngsters who left a couple years during their adolescence, and returned to the club once they had settled down, rendering valuable service later on. A couple of years interruption to a training regime might possibly deprive them of a top-class competition career, but, what the hell – we can’t all be champions. One of the joys of surf sports is that it is still an amateur pursuit, except perhaps in the upper echelons of the ironman circuit. Other areas
Chapter 7 ... And on top | 137
On Tuesday, 28 October 1997, club member Brian ’Siera’ Sierakowski (on right in photo) and John ’Barney’ Hanrahan were paddling a double ski near Dutch Inn, south Cottesloe, when a white pointer shark launched an attack on their ski, virtually biting the front of the ski off just centimetres in front of the front foot straps, narrowly missing Siera’s legs. Both Siera and Barney were thrown into the water by the ferocity of the attack and were at the mercy of the shark, estimated to be approximately 5m long. Fellow club members Milton Barker, Malcolm and Dianne McCusker were paddling with the pair and displayed enormous amounts of courage as they carried out a rescue knowing the great white shark was in the immediate vicinity and could possibly strike again any time. Milton was paddling his single surf ski not far from Siera and Barney. He assumed at the time that the shark had taken Siera’s legs below the knees. The McCuskers had just caught a wave and were about 80 metres way, just turning back to paddle out. When they saw Siera and Barney in the water and yelling, they initially thought they were clowning around, as so often happens in this group. Milton, having seen the size of the shark and the ferocity of the attack from close at hand, would have had no doubts about the dangers he faced by paddling over and pulling Barney on board his ski. Whilst the McCuskers didn’t see the shark initially, they knew and later observed that there was something big and dangerous out there. To paddle
80 or so metres out to confront that, when they were just 40 metres away from the safety of the beach, must have taken enormous resolve. They didn’t hesitate for a second. Once the two had been picked up, they all showed great presence of mind to paddle calmly back to the shore, bearing in mind that they expected the shark to strike again at any moment. They were all aware that a panic would almost certainly cause them to tip off their skis, especially since it was a fairly rough day. Siera and Barney also contributed to their own rescue by not panicking when the shark hit or whilst they were in the water or when they were being taken back to shore – their legs dangling over the rear of the skis.
Nippers, late 1980s, including a young Georgina Walsh (centre) who later became a successful surf boat rower.
Perhaps the rescue reflected in some way the spirit of camaraderie that exists at North Cottesloe. Ski paddlers are a very close-knit bunch and always stick together. It’s also a great example of the attitude adopted in the face of adversity that epitomises the surf life saving movement.
Michael Flower teaching young members in the club courtyard, early 1990s.
are unlikely to develop to the stage where it is impossible to compete at the top level and still have a life. Even while they were jetting around taking the country by storm, the members of the champion North Cottesloe boat crews still held down day jobs, to a man……or to a woman, for the third aspect of North Cottesloe in the 90s is the influx of female members, which has been nothing short of dramatic. If it is
138 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
repeated over the movement as a whole, this development has important implications for the future of surf life saving, both as a community service and as a sport. Despite a valiant effort of some writers to reinterpret the evidence, the first seven decades of the surf life saving movement still predominantly constitute a men’s history, both in terms of the composition of the movement and in its ideology. We know that half of the founding members of North Cottesloe were women, and that they competed in their own R&R events and swimming races, though the results were never officially recorded. Women helped the patrols during the Second World War, unofficially, of course, but were never allowed to qualify for the bronze medallion. They had their own change room in the old clubrooms. Some of the young male members of the club found that by standing on a chair, one could see into the women’s dressing room, straining one’s neck in an attempt to catch a glimpse of one of the club’s champion girl swimmers in a state of partial undress. Some women, such as Dot Shearer, remained active in the club. Though she did not become a member of North Cottesloe until the 1970s, Dot was the sister-in-law of Bob Irvine, one of the club’s first boat sweeps. She was introduced to the club as a girl of seven, helping sell watermelon on carnival days, at stores run by Bob Irvine’s mother. She developed a passion for the ocean and the movement that never left her, even when she moved away from the coast in the 1930s. After the Second World War, the children became involved in the Port Surf Life Saving Club, and she saw her opportunity to reacquaint herself with surf life saving. Of course, there was no chance of doing the bronze and qualifying as a lifesaver, but Dot soon found many other ways she could contribute. Women were allowed to qualify for the first-aid certificate, and she plunged into training, and later instructing, in that area at Sprinter Stacey Elwood on the dias at the 1992 State championships.
Port. When two-way radios began to be used in the 1970s, Dot trained and became expert in their use. She became
Sian Halliwell on the dias at the 1992 State championships.
Chapter 7 ... And on top | 139
Fiona Wauchope, Margaret Tannock, Alli Gould and Elisa Paterson win gold at the Interoceans Surf Boat Challenge, 1994.
Jack Alliss (sweep), Ian Clarke, Pat Walsh, Dave Clarke and Tom Warner battle cyclonic Kurrawa seas at the 1996 Australian championships after winning bronze the previous year (with Ben Rosser in place of Dave Clarke).
an examiner in first-aid and radio for State Centre. When
for the majority of those years. She has been instrumental
not even drawn the line at cleaning the first-aid room and
Graham Russell invited Dot to come back to North Cottesloe
in assisting to lift the performance of patrol members in
laundering patrol uniforms!
in the mid-70s to beef up the club’s first-aid training, she
the areas of first-aid and radio knowledge, including both
jumped at the chance. Through her involvement with State
assisting the training and the examination of radio and first-
Centre she knew many of the North Cottesloe officials, and
aid for the club and bronze candidates. The club has also
focused firmly upon its community service aspect,
been ably represented by Dot at the State level and she has
rather than on competition. Perhaps this is a result of the
spent many years as the VN6SA radio operator. Dot was
limited opportunities for women to compete, but it also
Dot had been a valued member of the club since 1979 and
awarded life membership in May 1997 (the club’s first woman
shows another side of the movement, which high-profile
occupied the position of first-aid officer and/or radio officer
life member), and recently SLSWA life membership and has
competition tends to push into the background. To people
she retained fond childhood memories of the club.
140 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Dot Shearer’s attitude to surf life saving has always
Champion men’s and women’s crews in a row past, 2000.
Chapter 7 ... And on top | 141
Alan Evans, Greg Kerr, Paul Crocket, Simon Nutter and Richard Meadmore (sweep) rowing to a bronze medal in the open male surf boat at the 1996 Australian championships.
North Cottesloe wins gold and silver in the open female surf boat at the 2000 State championships. Gold to Merome Hall, Tony Beard, Georgina Walsh, Kelly Moss and Liz Carson and silver to Michelle Butler, Mark McDermott, Alli Gould, Naomi Hough and Sally Glen.
like Dot, the primary aim of surf life saving will always be the
theme that women were not strong enough – they could not
the committee as a whole grasped the necessity of attracting
beaches.
row surf boats nor paddle skis. But women began to comein
female members. The building program launched in 1987 had
to the movement, first as a trickle, then a flood, eventually
as its main aim the construction of facilities for women equal to
proving their proficiency in every sphere of surf sports.
those of the men. With the Government wavering on whether
In 1980, surf life saving finally opened its doors officially and completely to women. For the first time women were
or not to allow the club to proceed with its plan to lease part of
allowed to qualify for the bronze medallion and participate
Not surprisingly, given the lack of facilities, few came into
in patrols and competition. Parallel events for women in all
North Cottesloe at first. There were actually some men on the
area of surf competition began to be developed. There had
management committee during this time who did not see any
not been much resistance to this development at club level
point in encouraging women to join the club. In the light of
– most were fairly pragmatic in this respect, and saw it as a
the club’s usually pragmatic attitude to female members, and
way to increase the membership. Still, all sorts of spurious
the stagnation in membership numbers during the 1980s, this
Laurie Russell had no particular problem with women joining
arguments were thrown up, usually around the age-old
is a little surprising. Fortunately, they were in a minority, and
the club, but he felt, perhaps in the light of experience, that few
142 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
its premises for a restaurant, one of the telling arguments put to the Minister for Lands, Ms K Hallahan, was that most of the proceeds would be used to provide women’s facilities. Some members actually believe that was the clincher.
Gary ‘Willow’ Williamson (sweep), Fiona Murray, Sally Glen, Liz Carson and Lou Roberts ride a wave on their way to a silver medal in the open female surf boat at the 2001 Australian championships.
On patrol, (top) Matt Hawtin with Roxie and (bottom) Michael Pell, Michael Young and Andrew Schupp.
women would wish to join the club, even if it had the facilities.
value in surf life saving from both the community perspective
He was quite happy to eat his words when they began to flock
and the ethos of service and mateship the movement
in, and the trend has not eased to this day. Throughout the
provided – all of which North Cottesloe delivered. She took a
1990s the proportion of each year’s bronze candidates who
bronze in 1987, overcoming criticism that she was not qualified,
the champion patrol title – the best result for some 35 years. Sam Knowles, Catherine Moore, Steve Gibbs, Kareena Preston, Simone Janney and Andrew Elliott comprised the champion team.
are women has been increasing, until by 1999 it was virtually
notwithstanding the energy and enthusiasm she poured into
at the 50 per cent mark. Many of the female bronze holders
the rapidly growing juvenile division. Lorna’s decision was a
came under the tutelage of Lorna Wall, the club’s first female
fortunate one. She became a major force in the management
instructor. Lorna became a member of the Board of Examiners,
of the club’s large and growing juvenile division, committing
one of the few North Cottesloe members to make such a
countless hours to the training of new and existing members
contribution in recent years. Lorna had joined the club in 1983,
in life saving awards, including serving as chief instructor for
with her three sons Rob, David and Peter, because she saw the
two years. Under Lorna’s tutelage North Cottesloe even won
Bronze holders, active members, form the backbone of every surf club, so it stands to reason that if the present trend continues, active female members will soon outnumber males. Not only is their proportion increasing, but the retention rate for girls tends to be slightly higher than for boys, in the difficult teenage years. The rich social life at North Cottesloe, if it’s nature has changed
Chapter 7 ... And on top | 143
Open surf boat relay State champions, 2003.
144 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
somewhat, is still a big factor in drawing people into the club. A number of younger members named the social activities as a major factor keeping them in the club. With more than 1200 members, there can be few social events that involve the whole membership, especially if families are involved, but various sections of the club hold their own functions. The sundowner barbecues in the courtyard, available free for members, are in constant use during the summer months. The upstairs room is used for a variety of activities organised by members, including yoga and exercise classes. The gymnasium downstairs echoes with the sound of physical exertion from early morning until late at night all year round. Dean Alston and Mike Rigoll, both renowned cartoonists, are two who have added tremendously to the creative side of the club, from designing T-shirts to event invitations and newsletters. They epitomise the depth of talent within the ranks of North Cottesloe that truly sets the club apart from the rest. And, of course, people will become friends, and even more. In April 1999, beach sprinter Susan Stewart married surf boat rower Tom Warner. They had first met through the club, and so, along with rowers Fiona Wauchope and Ian Clarke, Merome Hall and Tony Beard – the list goes on – were carrying on a tradition begun in the generation of the grandparents. Barney Peacock and Connie Pitman, Ted Jaggard and Joan Glauert, Graham Russell and Fran Lillingston, Bill Kidner and Pat Beamish, and as long as it does, one aspect, at least, of the future of North Cottesloe is secure. The quality of the social life, the dedication and competence of its management committee, the structural soundness of its building, its performance in competition, its ability to attract new members and, not least, its capacity to carry out the prime function of safeguarding beachgoers, are all measures of the strength and viability of a surf life saving club. By all of these measures, North Cottesloe’s future looks bright. The very fact that the club commissioned a history such as this is itself a measure of confidence and self-assurance.
W
hen the distinctive white North Cottesloe caps flashed across the sands of Durban in 1996, winning the world men’s open beach relay title and again in Kurrawa in 2001, winning the Australian female open beach relay championship, it was the combination of a remarkable tradition in the event. Before World War II the club enjoyed great depth in beach sprinting, so much so that it won 11 of the 16 State beach relay titles. Then soon after the war, from 1949 until 1957 the open men’s team was unbeaten in nine successive State championships, a winning streak never equalled. One of the reasons for success was the continuity of membership. Alan Rich and Laurie Russell were in the team throughout and Max Carter for eight years. The remaining place was shared between Tommy Stewart and several others, one of whom, Gerry Sturt, undoubtedly would have been a regular but for his tragic death in a traffic accident after he had shared in the first victory. It was Sturt who, in the relay final at an interclub carnival at North Cottesloe, performed a cartwheel as he ran the final leg, to celebrate yet another victory. No one recalls the team’s performance at the 1951 Scarborough national titles. However, five years later they were likely winners at Torquay, having performed outstandingly in the heat and semis. Unfortunately, in the final a dropped baton at a changeover ruined what could have been the climax to an outstanding era.
Was their success due to mediocre opposition? No, because City, Scarborough and Cottesloe were strong too. North Cottesloe’s secret lay in high-quality training under coach Don Host (member of champion teams in the 1930s), working on starts and sprinting techniques on both grass and sand. Run-offs were held for anyone eager to challenge for a place on the team, and in Sunday points races in the first half of the season the relay boys always started behind scratch, running 105-110 yard, then closer to 100 as the season progressed. It was a wonderful era, all the more amazing for the fact that throughout the nine years only Alan Rich won the senior beach sprint title, although other team members were frequent finalists. Of them all, Max Carter had the longest career, for in 1965, 1966 and 1967 he joined Lyn Girdlestone (all three State titles), Clive Berringer (two), Barry Newton (two), Bill Anderton (one) and Alan Porteus (one) in yet another hat-trick of State championship victories. The dominance faded in the 70s and 80s, a time when Graham Miller worked hard to revive the club’s beach sprinting fortunes. Unfortunately, the process took a little longer, but by the mid-90s North Cottesloe was back on top in an event they could almost say belonged to them.
Instructors (standing) Mark Familton, Brett ‘Chunds’ Endersby, Linda Gladwell, Daniel Pilsneniks, Lisa Palmer and (seated) Kate Smith, Niall Warren, Trish Goldie, Caroline Hill, Jeremy Hill and Bec Gamble.
Tom Warner, Jack Alliss, Ian Clarke, Nick Rea and Andrew Clarke ‘frock it up’ at a club party, mid 1990s. Sue Flower, Pat Kidner and Wendy and Brian Sierakowski at the president’s cocktail party, 1997.
Dennis Hawtin, Graham Russell and Ron Sheen, naming of the Graham Russell Room.
The club is going to be around for some time, maybe in a
“I suspect that most people get the greatest satisfaction in
form barely recognisable in 50 years’ time, just as the way it
their leisure time activities if one of them is either directly or
appears now would be barely recognisable to someone who
indirectly of service of some sort to other people. Look at the
last saw it 50 years ago. Whether it has become a high-class
surf lifesavers of Australia – they pay a subscription to the
social and recreational club, a fully professionalised sporting
clubs for the privilege of risking their necks to save others.”
club, a voluntary service organisation, or some combination of all three, will depend on the people who made it happen in the first place – the members.
146 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
The Duke of Edinburgh, patron of Surf Life Saving Australia
Swimmer Pete Wood.
1995 State champion beach relay teams (back) Simon Pratten, Karen Heagney, Steve Gibbs, Margot Ferguson, Nick Rea and (front) Susan Stewart, Matt Keys and Kathryn Heaton. Chapter 7 ... And on top | 147
148 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
PART 2 WRITTEN BY GEORGINA BARKER
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 149
Foreword
R
eflecting on the 100 years of North Cottesloe Surf Club I have tried to identify why the club has such a strong sense of community. Is it because people want to be a lifesaver? Is it the surf sports aspect of being fit and competing? Is it because they started as a nipper? I pondered this for a while and my personal reflection is that it is the sense of community and belonging that is the greatest draw. My wife, Fiona, grew up in the country. She says North Cottesloe is my country town. She is right, it is my country town. To put this into perspective, North Cottesloe is the place you go regularly, regardless of your age, to train, swim, paddle, use the gym or just walk. It is the place that is relaxed and makes you smile, where everyone knows everyone (enough to say their daily hello) and is there for each other when needed. It is the place where you are not judged by what you do, who you are or who you know. North Cottesloe Surf Club has a strong sense of community that endears people to have a lifetime association with the club. My connection started in my early 20s when I joined to row surf boats. This quickly evolved into loving the camaraderie, competition and representing the blue-and-white stripes, which are now synonymous with our club. I encouraged my then girlfriend, now wife, to come down and be a part of the club. She also competed in the early female surf boat crews. Our two kids, now young adults, have been a part of the club since they were babies. The club is no longer mum and dad’s club. It is now ‘their club’ with ‘their’ mates. That’s how the club goes . . . Ian Clarke President since 2016 March 2019
Clubrooms and beach, 2018.
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 151
Ambulance room, boat shed and lookout, with clubrooms behind, 1940s.
152 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
1
Chapter
PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL GROWTH
O
ver the past century, North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club’s physical existence has been split across two locations. Slightly further north on the east side of Marine Parade for the first half of the century. And in its current
location on the ocean side of Marine Parade at the bottom of Eric Street for the past 50 years. Of course it’s here that the club will remain, proudly looking out over the Indian Ocean from its modern, spacious clubrooms that, unlike most other surf clubs in Australia, are owned by the club.
gone hand-in-hand with the rapid growth in membership. In season 1989/90, just three years before the club’s 75th
Parade after securing a grant of leasehold on the crown reserve where the club sits today.
anniversary, the club had 356 members, of which only 63
The effect on the club was almost immediate, with
were active. Today boasting 2226 members (668 active),
membership increasing by more than 50 per cent the
North Cottesloe has more nippers (451) than it did total
following year from 124 to 189, the highest in 15 years. It was
members back then. Just over a quarter of a century ago,
the start of a recurring cycle – membership growth, followed
North Cottesloe struggled to have enough active members
by a plateau and then decline, sparking renovations or
to fill patrols and those active members were required to do
extensions to try and lure more members, again resulting in
full day patrols at least every second weekend, often every
membership growth. President of 20 years Graham Russell
weekend. Today’s North Cottesloe is a club that has put a
(1964 to 1984) and his committee grasped very early on
cap on membership numbers in some years and at which
the need to make sure the club’s facilities were at least
active members are required to patrol just 18 hours a season
on par with, if not superior to, those offered by other surf
and often help fill patrols at other clubs.
clubs and sporting organisations. This is one factor that has
For the bulk of the century the bricks and mortar growth
underpinned the success of the club since.
of North Cottesloe Surf Club was a long, slow progression,
The cycle, including stagnation and a very low point of near
carried out with much elbow grease by a small but
collapse in the 1980s, continued until the early 1990s when
passionate membership. The move across the road into new
membership and finances started going from strength to
clubrooms in 1967 was a major milestone, but it wasn’t until
strength. The club exploded and has never looked back. The
the early 1990s that the club started to explode – in both
75th anniversary season of 1992/93 boasted record levels of
its membership numbers and financial strength. It’s been
recruitment and training of new members. The growth to 718
rapid growth and change through necessity, but also as a
members from 543 the previous season highlighted North
result of the passion and foresight of various individuals, the
Cottesloe as one of the fastest-growing clubs in Australia.
generosity of the club’s benefactors and a whole lot of work from a lot of people.
It took 75 years to reach 718 members. Just 10 years later (2003/04), North Cottesloe became the largest surf club in
In 1918, North Cottesloe Life Saving and Athletic Club
Australia in terms of active membership, boasting 467 active
became WA’s third surf life saving club behind Cottesloe
members among its total membership of 1387.
(1909) and Bunbury (1915), and the 64th club in Australia. North Cottesloe soon found its place as an innovator in the surf life saving movement and in 1920 became the only club
In 2008/09, North Cottesloe cracked a membership of more than 2000 for the first time, with 2011 members (642 active). Membership has remained above 2000 in all but one year
The club’s financial existence has also been split in two. Just
in Australia to privately purchase and develop land for its
managing to make ends meet for the first three-quarters of
own clubrooms. It was a far-sighted move and a hint at the
a century. Then progressively increasing in financial strength
vision and innovation that would define the club over the
for the past quarter of a century, recording a recurrent
next century. Basic stone change rooms were built on the
trading surplus in almost every year for the past 25 years and
block of land fronting Swanbourne Terrace (now 166 Marine
Membership caps were first considered in 1994. Following
balance sheet assets growing from less than $200,000 in
Parade), which was to remain the home of North Cottesloe
continued membership growth, the committee decided
1990 to more than $5 million by 2017. This financial growth has
until 1967 when the club moved to the ocean side of Marine
the facilities were strained to capacity with a membership
since (in 2015/16 it dropped to 1937). Season 2011/12 remains the club’s highest membership level of 2264 members (611 active).
Chapter 1 Physical and financial growth | 153
the plans were temporarily put on hold. Then came a key turning point in the club’s history – the offer from restaurateur Jamie Nairn to lease the club’s under-used social hall for the establishment of a restaurant – The Blue Duck. Interestingly, it hadn’t been the first offer of its kind. One of the owners of the North Cott Café (where Barchetta is now located) had been the first to approach the club with a proposal for a restaurant. However, the proposal hadn’t been developed well enough for the surf club to consider and it didn’t progress beyond one committee meeting. Jamie Nairn presented a more detailed proposal and, in 1988 at a special general meeting, North Cottesloe Surf First clubrooms (male and female change rooms with no roof) built at Pulpit Rocks at the bottom of Grant Street in 1918.
Change rooms built on the club’s newly-purchased land on the east side of Marine Parade, 1921.
Club approved the plan almost unanimously. The club’s
of 750 and, as outlined in registrar Laurie Russell’s annual
club where they had to pay an entry fee. Cash generation
club financial independence to allow it to properly maintain
report, planned to limit the number of senior and new
fell in a heap and the big hall soon became a white elephant.
its building, buy much-needed equipment and help
members. However, the cap wasn’t put in place and the
Some revenue was derived from renting out the space to
its competitors.
following season the club boasted 786 members. Capping
jazzercize classes, weddings and the like, but the club was
membership, or even considering it, was a situation that
going into financial stress fairly quickly as a result of limited
would have been considered unfathomable less than a
hire and upkeep costs that were higher than the income.
decade earlier, when the club was in dire straits and looking
By the late 1980s, the club was paying the price for
1982 (except season 1971/72) and president 1994 to 1996)
the building renovation, which had been done by club
for getting it over the line against all the usual objections
The club had undertaken a big renovation in the late
members and lacked quality. It was a lesson well learned.
from locals who didn’t want any development at all. Jerry’s
1970s, with extensions to the southern end of the building
President from 1987 to 1992, Mike Flower, described the
emotional speech to council was certainly one to remember.
essentially doubling the size of the clubrooms. The
club as extremely rundown. The floor of the big hall needed
He talked about a fishing boat that had run aground just
re-doing. The curtains were ripped and falling apart. The
north of Grant Street and stayed there for months before
women’s facilities, which were virtually non-existent anyway,
being salvaged. Jerry used the washed-up boat as a
collapsed due to a number of factors. The club had some
were dreadful. But the club had no money to do anything.
metaphor for where the club would be if the approvals were
licensing issues driven by the infiltration of some nasty
In 1987, club member and architect Steve Artelaris prepared
customers to the Sunday shows. In addition, the shows
some plans to construct a ladies’ facility in the then-grassed
In addition, the council could see potential financial benefit
became too much work for the few members who were
courtyard. The club set up a fundraising committee,
from the surf club leasing its hall for a restaurant. The
running them. And by the late 1980s Perth’s Sunday session
including Graham Russell, Adrian Ridderhof, Jerry Knowles,
council was owed quite a bit of money by the surf club. The
culture changed totally when hotels were allowed to open
Mike Flower, Michael Beech, Brian Sierakowski, David
council knew if North Cottesloe could be provided with a
from 10am to 12 midnight on Sundays instead of the 11am
Liggins, Dennis Hawtin, Cec Gray, Lyn Girdlestone, Len
good source of income, not only would the repayment of
to 1pm and 4.30pm to 6.30pm ‘sessions’. People could now
Buckeridge, Ray Hinchliffe, Rob Jewkes and Ray Steedman.
the present loan be guaranteed, but the club would be less
remain in the hotels so had no reason to venture to the surf
The initial estimate of the change rooms was $26,833 and
likely to come running to the council for loans and handouts
like folding.
renovation came off the back of the great success of the club’s Sunday night cabarets. However, these shows then
154 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
motivation for accepting the offer was that it would give the
The surf club then convinced the Cottesloe Council of the merits of the project. Credit goes to club stalwart Jerry Knowles (club captain 1963 to 1968, secretary 1968 to
not granted.
in the future. Once council gave approval in 1988, the clubhouse was upgraded at a cost of $220,000 to accommodate The Blue Duck. The club paid $190,000 cash and took out a bank loan for $30,000, which it repaid within three years. Extensions and renovations, managed by Adrian Ridderhof, included filling in the lower grassed courtyard to the north of the current club to include a two-level building. The club ended up with new clubrooms, committee room, kitchen, change rooms, courtyard, an upgrade to the gym and, importantly, new women’s facilities, which were very long overdue. The downstairs extension to the gym was made possible by digging east towards Marine Parade. It was back-breaking work, carried out by the small membership. Mike Flower, who was president during these years described it is as a building period – building facilities and building membership. The surf club then reached an agreement with Mr Nairn. The site was fitted out and The Blue Duck started operating in 1989. The subsequent battle that arose with the WA Department of Land Administration (DOLA, today known as Landgate) over the crown reserve on which the club is located, is well documented in part one of this book. After nearly two years of negotiations, DOLA granted the club a 50-year lease on a peppercorn rental, with approval to lease the restaurant to a commercial tenant. The agreement was conditional on the club keeping the income from the lease in a trust account
Club members on the beach with the Ocean Beach Hotel in background, 1920s.
much, it provided a focal point for the locals, and particularly
and one of Roger’s daughters remains a cadet. In addition,
for a new breed of North Cottesloe local. Young professionals
Roger and David’s law firm, Steinepreis Paganin Lawyers and
were by that stage buying up in the area. They came to The
Consultants, has long been a sponsor of the club. Roger and
Blue Duck, which offered the best view of the club’s activities
David remain very proud of not only being there in the earlier
and newly-upgraded facilities, and they started to join the
days when the club was much smaller, but that they can
club in droves. Many of these new members now have their
continue to provide some financial support.
kids in the surf club providing the latest generation of active members.
In addition to the financial security offered by The Blue Duck, significant sponsorship deals also came to the fore in the
– to be used for building maintenance, renovation, capital
Roger Steinepreis and David Paganin joined around this time,
1990s. Sunday night cabarets, car raffles, fashion parades
works, equipment purchases and the like.
at the encouragement of Roger’s brother Derek, who had
and aerobics classes were no longer the main money
There’s no doubt The Blue Duck was a game changer
joined in 1986. Initially it was the improved gym that attracted
spinners. The club was now relying on corporate help for
for North Cottesloe. Many of today’s members who were
Roger. Down the track Roger and David became more
things such as new surf boats (Multiplex), building materials,
around back then go as far as saying it was the club’s saviour.
involved in the club and its activities. David paddled skis and
services and maintenance (BGC) and transportation of
Despite massive expenditure on the redevelopment, the
swam for the club, while Roger started rowing surf boats.
equipment (Toll Express), as well as equipment for junior
club’s financial position had never been more optimistic. Not
This was the catalyst for more of their friends to join and
programs, assistance with social events, right through
only did The Blue Duck provide a steady income stream
on their heels were many more young professionals. Both
to contributions to the cost of club bathers. Sponsorship
from a section of the building that was no longer used very
Roger and David’s children were later involved in nippers
deals often came as a result of personal approaches from
Chapter 1 Physical and financial growth | 155
life saving, also community support and a way for families to participate in an activity together. You can see the benefits in the very strong, cohesive environment of North Cottesloe. The surf club also provides an opportunity for people to grow as people and develop many attributes for life – volunteering, life skills, being part of a community, management-type roles, to name a few.”
Tim Roberts with the open men’s J crew Kim Greville, Jono Fievez, Dave Porzig, Derek Knox and sweep Jack Alliss.
T
he late John Roberts and his family formed a deep passion for North Cottesloe Surf Club during the early 1990s. While John’s sons Tim and Andrew participated
in club activities, John was encouraged to buy a surf boat for the club through his construction company Multiplex. This encouragement came via his personal assistant Lorraine Rigoll, mother of North Cottesloe surf boat rowers Mike and Tony. Not a lot of encouragement was required. John quite liked the idea of having a surf boat named after him to stir up Len Buckeridge, who supported North Cottesloe through his
Some of the competitors at the 2018 State championships with the ‘John Roberts’ surf boat.
Multiplex. The support for the club was continued at a family level through Tim Roberts. The North Cottesloe/Multiplex relationship was a strong one. Photos of North Cottesloe surf boats and rowers made it to the walls of the Multiplex office alongside memorabilia of the company. John and his family were invited to the club. Champagne christened all the new boats. It was a simple relationship without a contract. Richard remembers driving down the freeway from Perth one day. He called Tim to ask for
construction company BGC. Although they were not direct
a new surf boat and by the time he arrived in Rockingham for a
commercial competitors, John and Len had a very friendly and
meeting, a new surf boat was on order.
respected rivalry.
Tim’s foray into surf boat rowing in the early 90s had lasted
Long-time member and surf boat sweep, Richard Meadmore,
just three sessions. He crabbed each time and decided rowing
also put forward strong arguments for the Multiplex
was not for him. He and Andrew competed for the club in
sponsorship. His passion for the club was contagious and
various other disciplines and their passion for the club grew,
an ongoing arrangement was established, through which
alongside their father’s. “It was a wonderful way to keep fit
Multiplex supplied a new surf boat virtually every year through
and there were so many different activities to participate in,”
until 2006 when the family started divesting its interests in
Tim said. “The surf club provides enormous grounding for surf
Andrew eventually moved to Sydney and Tim continued to compete at State and Australian carnivals. When John passed away in 2006, his ashes were spread in front of North Cottesloe Surf Club. His family felt it was a place where he would wish to be. Tim was heavily involved in the club at the time and from a family perspective it was decided he would personally continue to support the club on a number of levels. Tim continued to provide a new surf boat in numerous years. He made a major contribution to the building fund during the club’s major redevelopment. And most recently, he was the driver – in ideas, enthusiasm and money – behind the development of the club’s surf sports academy. All the support Tim has provided to the club has been in respect of his father. “I know he would have wished to support the club in this way,” Tim said. “I too am extremely proud of being able to provide for the club what I have until today and look forward to many years of continued relationship.” John’s legacy is imprinted on one of the club’s newest surf boats. It’s an image of the man who made a significant impact on the club’s growth and, specifically, on the growth of the club’s surf boat section.
Looking north to Grant Street and Pulpit Rocks, the North Cottesloe SLSC boat shed and lookout in the dunes, late 1940s. (photo courtesy of The Grove Library)
club members with good commercial connections. The
Specifically, John became a major supporter of the surf boat
McCusker Charitable Foundation, Shellabears, Fosters,
club membership profile was moving steadily upmarket,
section, while Len made various building projects possible.
Skilled, SWG, Cadbury Schweppes, Steinepreis Paganin
reflecting both the rising affluence of the club’s hinterland
Both have been unique relationships, with many dollars
Lawyers and Consultants, Hollywood Private Hospital,
and the new value being placed on the club as a recreational
committed simply by way of a handshake. Since the passing
Swings & Roundabouts, Rottnest Express, Gage Roads
resource by the well-to-do.
of John in 2006, Tim Roberts has carried on his father’s
Brewing Company, Westpac Cottesloe, Frank and Rachael
passion and support of North Cottesloe, most recently
Torre, Euroz Securities, Mermaid Marine (later MMA offshore),
The most notable and long-running sponsorship deals were
through Tim Roberts Giving.
Westrac, Yalumba, Coopers Brewery, Hills Cider Company,
and Len Buckeridge and his company BGC. John (and
Other key sponsors during the past quarter of a century
Demand, Channel 9, Westerfeld Engineering, Finz, Gwarda
later his son Tim Roberts) along with Len, became major
have been Toll Express (20 years), Bendat Family Foundation
Sports, Linneys, BDO, Roobix, Liquor Barons, Tottle Partners,
supporters of the club for more than two decades, playing
and the Perth Wildcats (nine years), along with Swanbourne
Robert Half International, REL, DOF Subsea, Powertech,
a major role in the club’s financial security and growth.
Cellars, Coca Cola Amatil, Parry and Rosenthal Architects,
Odyssey 2020, Black Brewing Company, PROmotion
made with John Roberts and his then company Multiplex
Browne Grove and Associates, Claremont Quarter, KWIK On
Chapter 1 Physical and financial growth | 157
M
ost sponsorship continued to result from member connections. The Bendat sponsorship was delivered by Keith Johns (treasurer 2006 to 2013), who had joined the club as an associate member in 2000 so he could be involved in the same community organisation as his five kids. Keith was an associate of Jack Bendat’s. President Craig Smith-Gander gave Keith the pitch document for him to deliver the proposal to Jack. The initial pitch was to be for $20,000 per annum for three years. As Keith was about to leave his office to go and see Jack, he decided to double it to $50,000. Jack didn’t blink an eye and agreed to it on the spot. The sponsorship support was targeted specifically at providing resources for the club’s junior members over an initial three years. The growth and success of the junior section was a reflection of this support, which ultimately continued for nine years, coming to an end in season 2015/16. Life member Adrian Ridderhof (vice-president 1998 to 2003, chair of assets 2013 to 2016) had delivered Skilled, while fellow life member Craig Smith-Gander (president 2006 to 2013) can take the credit for SWG, Hollywood Hospital and Swings & Roundabouts. A couple of club members were with SWG and Craig had previously worked with the two major shareholders. They were looking to sponsor IRBs and thought Fremantle might be a good partner. Craig had a coffee with them and convinced them their thinking was wayward. As for Hollywood Hospital, Craig had sat next to the CEO at a function, where he was also paired with State operations manager Kevin Cass-Ryall to talk for two minutes about something they were passionate about. Kevin spoke about holidaying with his family and Craig spoke about North Cottesloe. Kevin told Craig they had been looking to partner with a surf club as a sponsor and that was that.
Chris Shellabear (president 2013 to 2016) started his involvement with the club in 1989 when his eldest daughter Bec joined nippers. Subsequently, North Cottesloe became important for all the Shellabear family – giving them skills and a regard for working in the community, which Chris believed made surf unique. Because the club ‘gave’ to his family it made sense to Chris to ‘give back’ to the club. Shellabears has been a sponsor for nearly two decades and for Chris it’s a “no brainer” to support something he is involved in, to be an ambassador for the club and show long-term consistent support because it fits with his own and his company’s values. “We are a family company and the club is a family club. It’s a good match,” Chris said. Steinepreis Paganin Lawyers and Consultants had resulted from a direct approach from club members Roger Steinepreis and Dave Paganin wanting to sponsor the surf club. The Yalumba and Coopers sponsorships came via Brian Hockney, who chaired the sponsorship committee for a number of years. Brian is a South Australian and friends with the Hill Smith family who owns Yalumba. The Gage Roads sponsorship came about because thenCEO Nick Hayler, board member Ian Olson and chief brewer Bill Hoedemaker were all ex-North Cottesloe surf boat rowers. By now Nick was also heavily involved with nippers.
Physiotherapy and Pilates, Carlton Mid, SEKEM, Claremont Sports, Lotterywest, Town of Cottesloe, Humphrey Homes and Capital Partners. A sponsorship and marketing committee had been established in 2006/07. Brian Sierakowski was the inaugural chair, followed by Brian Hockney. From 2007 to 2014 sponsorship had grown from $75,000 per year to $300,000 per year. These funds had a significant impact on the club’s ability to provide resources to all areas of the club. On top of that was the sponsorship that wasn’t given as cash. In simple terms, transporting equipment to the east coast for competition would have cost a fortune without Toll Express. And all the building extensions and redevelopments could not have been achieved without Len Buckeridge and BGC. Len, who was actually an architect but also manufactured bricks, had started providing bricks to the surf club back in the late 1980s. Through Len’s close connection with North Cottesloe ski paddling legend Jack Trail, Len’s bricks miraculously appeared at the club whenever they were needed. By the mid-90s, when significant building refurbishments were about to get under way at North Cottesloe Surf Club, Len was also batching concrete and had his own commercial construction company. His contributions to the surf club expanded accordingly. With the failing health of club president Jerry Knowles, vicepresident Richard Meadmore had effectively taken charge. Richard had brought a new level of enthusiasm to the club. He might have ruffled a few feathers along the way but that enthusiasm was central to the new lease of life that the club discovered in the 90s. Richard had asked club member and architect Steve Artelaris to draw up sketches for a new ski storage facility and a new concrete ramp down to the beach to replace the awkward old wooden ramp that ran down at a right angle. The current storage shed housed everything – surf boats, skis, boards and now even an IRB – and more space was
158 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
needed. Richard’s brief to Steve was to count the number of skis in the shed and treble it to work out how big the new building needed to be. Steve designed a huge building. Then came the task of working out how to get it approved. And how to pay for it. Approval turned out to be the harder of the two. Cottesloe Mayor Charles Murphy initially referred to the club’s building application as a “land grab”. He was convinced the club was trying to build something that could eventually be joined to the main building and allow The Blue Duck to expand south. The club, in particular Richard, fought like hell and managed to convince the mayor and the council otherwise. The two councillors who were a great help were Julian Donaldson and Gail Bonsor. After a lot of controversy, the council finally gave conditional approval and in August 1996 the club entered into a 20-year lease with the Town of Cottesloe over the crown reserve on which the ski shed is located. The new building could only be used for recreational and surf life saving equipment. It could not be joined to the existing building and the roof had to be higher than the floor of The Blue Duck. Building had actually started before approval was given. Via discussion and a handshake with the club, Len had agreed to provide materials and services for the project at no cost
Additions and renovations to the clubrooms in 1958 increased the main hall area.
construction. So there was no conflict at all.
thought it might just push the council over the edge.
no cost. Len had architects so provided the club with free
Meanwhile, the conflict with Cottesloe Council continued.
Not long after the ski shed was completed, it was
architectural services, marking the start of the club’s great
And it riled Len. Sick of the situation, Len rang Richard
mysteriously fitted out with ski racks. They came courtesy of
relationship with architect John McKenzie. Len also provided
Meadmore and told him in rather colourful language to just
Jack Trail. Not many people were aware that Jack had long
building supervision at no cost. In effect, Len was providing a
start the job because the council would never make the club
been a silent benefactor of the surf club and continued to
large proportion of the project for nothing.
pull it down. Richard, whose instincts had been well honed
be for many years to come. And without Jack, there would
But what about the club’s other main sponsor, Multiplex, a
by Jerry, enjoyed being at war with the council so he got the
huge construction company? Would it create conflict if Len’s
job under way. Len was regularly on site supervising. The ski
company BGC came in and did the construction? Richard
shed was built in no time and Cottesloe Council delivered
The new ski shed and ramp, along with an extension and
had what he thought was going to be a difficult conversation
the building approval after it was finished. Len then offered
upgrade of the gym, completed in season 1995/96, were
with John Roberts’ son Andrew. It turned out John and Len
to build an ice cream shop on the shed roof, from which the
fantastic new additions to North Cottesloe Surf Club. However,
were friends and John couldn’t care less if Len was doing the
club could “make a fortune”. Richard said it was tempting but
the main club building was not in good shape. The roof of
to the club. Len made concrete so provided concrete at
have been no Len. Jack kept Len engaged with the club right through until the latest redevelopment.
Chapter 1 Physical and financial growth | 159
contain asbestos. He began making noises about health risks and the project was looking like being delayed for a few weeks while he was satisfied with the removal process. This made Len irate so he arranged for the old roof to be removed forthwith and he personally supervised its safe removal. Len’s silver Mercedes was parked in front of the club most days. The club won the battle, had no further problem with the neighbour and the project was finished in three months. It was during this time, that ABC’s Four Corners revealed that Alan Bond actually owned the lease on The Blue Duck. Members started the 1997/98 season with no access to the clubrooms because of the renovations. Bronze medallion classes were held in the boat shed about six weeks later than usual and bronze medallion requalifications were completed on the pavement in front of the clubrooms. But it was a short inconvenience. On completion of the refurbishment in November, North Cottesloe members were now enjoying a facility equal to the best in Australia. The clubrooms quickly became well used for award training, social functions, stretching classes and wine tasting lectures. They were so well used that on one occasion it was necessary to hold a management committee meeting in the storeroom because the clubrooms were being used for another purpose. All up it had been a capital improvement program totalling $1.05 million, made possible with a $225,000 Lotterywest
Daily News, 1962.
The Blue Duck was leaking and the club’s social and training
together with a new training and social facility, it was a tricky
facilities were totally inadequate for the huge growth in
project on many levels. A neighbour across the road from the
membership the club was experiencing. A major refurbishment
club didn’t like the fact that the roof level was being raised. He
was needed. Richard lobbed into Len’s office and in his ever-
would hide on his balcony and throw apples and oranges at the
colourful language Len asked what Richard wanted: “Probably
guys when they were on the roof doing the survey work prior to
something for nothing again?” Len seemed at war with
the removal of the old roof. The Blue Duck needed to be closed
everyone but he always came through for North Cottesloe Surf
for three months during construction, which meant no rent
Club. So, again, Len was on board.
would be received during that time. Any delay in completing
Steve Artelaris proposed the curved roof that can be seen today. It was to be one metre higher than the old roof and,
160 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
the project was going to cost the club much-needed income. The neighbour over the road heard that the old roof might
grant, $100,000 loan from the Town of Cottesloe, a $660,000 bank loan (paid out in season 2014/15), plus $65,000 in cash from the club. That covered the actual payments, but of course what wasn’t actually paid for was all the building materials, services and labour provided by Len Buckeridge. These contributions were invaluable and made the program viable. Following the completion of the surf club refurbishments, a progressive maintenance program kicked off. Finally, in 2000/01 the gym was upgraded with $45,000 worth of new equipment, bringing the quality of the gym in line
with the rest of the club premises. The refurbished facilities had allowed the club to cater for a larger membership and it was hoped the upgraded gym would help attract new members to the club. The membership demand did indeed increase and in season 2002/03 associate member numbers were capped at 400 (and not to exceed active members) to ensure that all members had access to facilities and to limit overcrowding. And so started a waiting list for associate members. The cap was lifted in 2013 but it remained to the extent that at no time could the number of associate members exceed the number of active members. Although expenditure on the upgrade of the gym meant the club’s loan repayment was delayed and a gym levy was applied, the club’s finances remained strong. Michael ‘Beechie (Muncher)’ Beech had taken over as treasurer in 2000/01 from Richard Fayle, who had been in the position for just a few months. Tom Stewart had held the position for the previous decade. Beechie introduced some strong financial disciplines and, in 2006, handed a solid balance sheet to new treasurer Keith Johns. At the same time, Craig ‘Goose’
Looking south across Grant Street and Eric Street in 1960 and 2011. (1960 photo courtesy of The Grove Library)
Smith-Gander took over as president from Alex McKenzie.
Eagles had just won a grand final. We have now just had our
A building committee was formed to look at the club’s future
Plans for the latest redevelopment, which was completed
third child and the Eagles have been to the bottom of the
building requirements how to best meet these requirements.
in 2012/13, were already under way, following a $100,000
ladder and back to the top. You could say this project has
Taking its lead from the new version of the strategic plan,
upgrade to the change rooms, paid for in full by the club.
taken a while.”
the building committee set about establishing the overall
Again, it was Richard Meadmore and Steve Artelaris who
Not only did it blow out in time, but it blew out in cost as the
started the plans and completed the initial drawings. When Richard moved to London in September 2006, new president Goose took over the project and new chair of assets, Brett ‘Chunds’ Endersby, became one of the main drivers of it.
project evolved into something much grander than was initially planned. But if it was going to be done, the call was made to do it properly and end up with facilities that would cater for the membership for decades to come. Moving into new clubrooms
direction the club wanted to take in all areas of operations and the changes that needed to be made to the building to help the club achieve those strategic goals. Some shortterm solutions were implemented, including changes to the configuration of some areas of the club, to make more efficient use of space and improve the way the club was
It was to be a major redevelopment and those involved in
on the ocean side of Marine Parade half a century earlier was
the early planning recognised it would be a long process.
a huge milestone. This latest project was the next. Aside from
However, no one envisaged just how long it would be and
building the new ski shed and replacing the roof of the club/
In progressing the long-term solutions, the board of
how many hurdles would need to be cleared. Chunds
Blue Duck in the mid to late-90s, most of the work done to the
management believed consultation with all members, as
summed it up nicely in his annual report of 2011/12 when
facilities had been cosmetic. It was time to fix things that were
well as all the club’s external stakeholders, was crucial to
work was still yet to start: “When we started the process of
falling down, replace things that were well past their use-by
getting the task done properly. This took a year, with the
looking at extending the club premises I had no kids and the
date and expand the facilities for the future.
building committee, chaired by Howard Read, holding
functioning for members.
Chapter 1 Physical and financial growth | 161
17 stakeholder meetings with section heads, committee chairs, section captains and life members. Club member Paul Rossen, director of Parry and Rosenthal Architects, played a lead role in conducting interviews with each of the operational sections of the club. The information from these meetings was evaluated against the strategic plan and against other surveys that had been done. In general terms, the members were reasonably satisfied with the size and scale of the club. There were a lot of suggestions for ways the configuration of the club could be changed to improve its functionality but members didn’t feel there was any need to drastically alter the ambience of the club. There was also a fairly strong sentiment that the members didn’t want to substantially increase the club’s
New clubrooms were built on the ocean side of Marine Parade in 1967.
Extensions in the late 1970s doubled the size of the building.
saving and storage areas and hospitality capabilities, without
The council approved the plans in 2009/2010. In addition
the shell of the building to its lock-up stage.
putting the club under too much financial pressure.
to the extension of the club’s leased area underground to
debt to refurbish or expand the facilities. Numerous works were identified that would improve the club’s training, life
Parry and Rosenthal Architects developed a brief for the redevelopment and continued working with the building committee and board of management on the design. Plans were submitted to the Town of Cottesloe in 2008/09 and
the north, the plans also included an extension east and the creation of an entrance that would significantly improve the Marine Parade streetscape and significantly improve the functionality of the club.
The Lotterywest grant was a huge coup for the project. Since the mid-2000s, SLSWA had been helping clubs apply for Lotterywest funding, vetting the applications before they actually reached Lotterywest. The board had decided to apply for a $250,000 grant and general manager Kelly Moss
after much consultation the club was successful in gaining
The Town of Cottesloe approval was followed by approval
and her team in the office did a fantastic job putting the
Cottesloe Council’s support for stage one of the proposal,
from the Western Australian Planning Commission and it
submission together. On the day it was due to go to SLSWA
which included renovations and some building within the
was anticipated that work would be starting early in the new
for vetting Kelly rang president Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander
current lease. The Department of Planning and Infrastructure
season, to be completed by the time the following year’s
and suggested they up the request to $500,000. Goose
also gave support for these plans.
annual report was written. It was a busy year getting all the
agreed. So that’s what the club asked for and that’s what
necessary approvals in place and applying for a building
the club got. SLSWA was supportive of North Cottesloe’s
licence. Accordingly, by the time the 2010/11 annual report
grant application and recommended to Lotterywest that it
was being written, work still hadn’t started, much
be favourably considered. In hindsight, Goose suggests they
less finished.
should have asked for $1 million.
engineering specifications and feedback from community
Despite frustration at still not getting the project started, the
Meanwhile, the building licence brought with it another
consultation. With the aim of having the additional
year brought a couple of exciting developments – a $500,000
stumbling block. It was identified that there wasn’t enough
information by the end of July 2009, the club hoped a
grant from Lotterywest (via SLSWA) and a commitment
water pressure in the street to service the building and
favourable decision would result in work getting under way
from the club’s vice-patron and long-time benefactor Len
comply with the applicable fire regulations. The club was
in winter 2010.
Buckeridge for his company BGC to do all site works and build
advised that the only viable solution was to build large
Stage two looked at a possible extension of the club’s leased area underground to the north of the club. Council indicated it was prepared to consider the club’s proposal but asked for more details of its environmental and community impact,
162 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Renovations and extensions in the late 1980s included new clubrooms, committee room, kitchen, change rooms, courtyard, new women’s facilities and an upgrade to the gym.
Graham Russell, Charles Murphy (mayor of Cottesloe 1987-94), Jerry Knowles, Dennis Hawtin and Lyn Girdlestone in the new courtyard, named after Jerry Knowles.
underground tanks and pumps. This meant extending the
without them. In the end, the club didn’t build the tanks. This
and went on to make an outstanding contribution to the
area of the lease further than was originally anticipated and
resulted in Adrian Ridderhof spending the next two years
club over the next five decades. He was an outstanding
it meant going back through the whole approval process
sorting out the council. But it also resulted in the club getting
athlete, competing in beach sprint, surf race and R&R. He
again. It was a long and arduous process.
a storage facility 50 per cent larger than expected.
represented the State six times and won Australian R&R
Finally, the club was in possession of a building licence
Although final touches were still to come, the new
and work got under way in season 2011/12. The building
clubrooms were officially opened in August 2013 with the
program was completed in 2013. However, the water tanks,
club’s belated awards night, in cocktail format rather than the
included chief instructor for five years and president for 20
without which the whole project was threatened, were
usual sit-down dinner.
years. It was fitting that his widow, Fran Russell, officially
never built. Richard Meadmore had become involved while
The first function at the new clubrooms had been the wake
on an extended visit from France and worked through the
of club patriarch Graham Russell following a ‘row past’
issue with consultants and BGC. The consultants thought
and scattering of his ashes out at sea. It was 71 years since
There had been continued setbacks throughout the
the club was paying for a solution that was not actually the
Graham and a fellow sub-junior member had been the
redevelopment. During the building phase the club used
club’s problem, but instead fixed a problem for the Cottesloe
subject of a complaint about cheekiness and were warned
temporary toilets and showers, there was no upstairs area
Council. They said the club should not have agreed to build
that they would be suspended from the club if they did
and the club office was located in the Cottesloe town centre.
the tanks as the council had already approved the plans
not improve their attitude. Graham indeed did lift his game
The completion of the project allowed many to breathe a
gold, silver and two bronze medals. Graham’s contribution touched almost every aspect of club life. His official roles
opened the new clubrooms and spoke about what the club meant to her and Graham, and how it had shaped their lives.
Chapter 1 Physical and financial growth | 163
I
n season 2013/14, North Cottesloe held its first surf boat carnival since 1992. A bumper crowd packed the club’s newly-extended balcony to watch the Yalumba Sunset Sprints on a Friday night. North Cottesloe’s gnarly shore break and a howling southerly provided challenging conditions for the 22 crews. It was an event for everyone, with many past rowers and club members jumping into crews, taking on officiating roles or cheering from the balcony. The sunset sprints continued for the next couple of seasons, with North Cottesloe’s balcony unofficially declared the best spot to view racing from.
Lyn McKenzie, Simon Martin, Alex McKenzie and Jack Trail.
sigh of relief as they celebrated. North Cottesloe now had
great aspects of the club but fix the minor bottlenecks that
clubrooms that rated among the best surf life saving facilities
had developed. They wanted their use of the club to improve
in the country. Amid an era of WA surf club redevelopments,
and wanted to enhance the service the club provided to the
North Cottesloe’s may have been considered one of the
community, while retaining the basic fabric of what made it
most basic, but it delivered a highly-operational facility and
a great club. Amid the many different ideas was a recurring
remains one of the most successful. And throughout, the
theme of the importance of the gym as a central hub. A
club never lost sight of what it was there for – its members.
place that brings everyone together – competitors and non-
Looking at the feedback that members had given during
competitors of all ages. It’s why the gym is so big. This theme
the early part of the process some six years earlier, the
was spot on and, to this day, the gym remains the key social
overarching theme was that members wanted to retain the
hub of the club. The finished building achieved everything it
164 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
set out to do, while remaining the club that everyone loves. The project was a huge financial achievement for the club. What had started as a $1 million refurbishment had evolved into a massive $4.2 million project and it was completed without any loans. In addition to the $500,000 from Lotterywest, the club paid $1.53 million cash and the rest was made up from building fund donations and the contribution from Len Buckeridge and BGC. Since the project was first in the pipeline there had been a
Jerry Knowles with daughter Kate, who became a successful board paddler in the 1990s and chair of juniors in the 2010s, with her own daughters also involved in nippers.
big focus on fundraising. Treasurer Keith Johns headed up a fundraising committee, which encouraged members to support the project by making a financial contribution, however big or small. The hope was that all members would be involved so that it really would be a team effort and everyone could enjoy the benefits long into the future, knowing they had all contributed. This may have been great in theory, but it was far from easy. The fundraising became more problematic as the project grew. But even without the blowout in cost, the response to the call to members for financial assistance via the club’s weekly eNewsletter was what Keith described as
Richard and Meadmore and Len Buckeridge at the christening of the ‘Len Buckeridge’ surf boat, 1997.
eventually convincing them to jump on board. Keith, Kelly, Goose and Beechie were tireless in their efforts
hand, foot and paw prints in the pavers they had donated, cementing their place in the club’s history.
to raise the money, which ultimately totalled $1.17 million in
The aim of the fundraising program was to leave the club
donations. There were some extremely generous donations,
with a fantastic new facility with no extra debt and to pay off
with 85 per cent of the donations coming from less than 10
the loan from the club’s previous building project. Kelly Moss
per cent of the membership. Tim Roberts (diamond donor),
managed the fundraising program and although it took time
not only donated upwards of $200,000, but also helped
and a whole lot of effort to get it rolling, she remembers it
raise funds from others. Along with Tim, the backbone of the
as an exciting time opening mail each day as the fundraising
project was provided by The Rowley Foundation (platinum donor), the Shellabear and Smith-Gander families (gold
forms started coming in. Kelly produced a giant thermometer for the gym foyer showing the club’s $1 million target and she would regularly colour it in as more donations came
“deathly silence”. He was extremely surprised at this lack of
donors) and the Johns family and McCusker Charitable
response from a membership that had a huge capacity to raise
Foundation (silver donors), along with another 31 members/
money. So, instead, the fundraising committee targeted certain
families (bronze donors). A further 233 donors gave various
members and asked for money. As the committee fell away, it
amounts. In addition, 185 pathway pavers were purchased
was Keith Johns, Kelly Moss, Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander and
at $500 each. The donor pavers were finally laid in season
And of course the project could not have been completed
Michael Beech who stuck at it, continuing to chase members –
2015/16 around the grassed area to the north of the club.
without the huge support from Len Buckeridge, whose
calling them, calling them again, having coffee with them and
Members young and old, and a few dogs, pressed their
contribution via his company BGC was around $1 million in
in. Confirmation of the $500k Lotterywest grant came just before Kelly left her role as general manager. Not a bad parting gift to the club.
Chapter 1 Physical and financial growth | 165
up Len’s passion for the club. With his hospital identification band still attached, Len had a few drinks and entertained the crowd with many of his union clash stories. Len passed away in 2014 but his memory lives on in all the bricks and mortar at North Cottesloe Surf Club. Len was undoubtedly one of North Cottesloe’s greatest supporters. To salute his contribution, the club held a ‘row past’ and morning tea to honour his memory. He was also honoured in a plaque among the donor pavers. As always, Len’s involvement was massaged by Jack Trail. As president, Goose had taken the lead role with Len during the project. However, Goose is quick to admit he couldn’t have done it without Jack’s support, coaching and advice. The project had been a frustrating one for Len and without Jack on hand to One of the many cartoons by Dean Alston.
placate him on several occasions, he could well have walked away.
kind, committed with the same handshake deal that defined
Hand-in-hand with Len’s involvement was the involvement
his relationship with the club. Len again took a personal
of architect John McKenzie. Just as he had been in the
interest in the project, but by now his health was failing and
mid-90s with the building of the ski shed, John was again
he did not supervise it. It was Len’s last project with North
pivotal to the project. He and his team of architects, in
Cottesloe and despite the stumbling blocks, it was one of
particular Jason Young, devoted a huge amount of time
which he was extremely proud.
166 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
over many years to get the project completed, at absolutely no cost to the club. John’s conviction to pursue such an
When North Cottesloe held its first function in the new bar
ambitious version of the project was surpassed only by his
area, Len checked himself out of hospital to attend for a
dedication and persistence to get a sometimes-reluctant
couple of hours. It was a memorable evening and summed
local council to see things his way. While Brett ‘Chunds’
Future club captain Tom Flower with his dad Mike, president 1987-92.
New ramp under construction, mid-1990s.
Graham and Fran Russell, 1996.
Endersby, admittedly, overplayed his role as bad cop on many occasions, the club was fortunate to have John playing the good cop so well. Jason also played a major role, undertaking the huge workload Len had for him with such care and attention to detail on behalf of the club. Aside from club members who donated money, there were a number of members who donated time and services to bring the project to completion. Paul Rossen and his company Parry and Rosenthal were invaluable in navigating the process of dealing with all stakeholders to define what the club needed and drafting up many versions of the proposed facilities for reviewing. Michael Henderson contributed a significant amount of his own time and the resources of Sandover Pinder to help
T
he Trojans formed during the 2015/16 season to address the long-term maintenance of the club and its amenities. Made up of around 25 retired members, the Trojans have since been carrying out various jobs around the club, typically on two scheduled mornings each week. Gardening, sweeping, polishing, painting, replacing tiles, erecting shelving and stacking equipment are just some of the jobs the Trojans can be thanked for.
retired members and others to contribute to the club. Patrons on the Blue Duck balcony have also benefited from the initiative – entertained on occasion by the Trojans as they diligently clean the club premises. And there is plenty of entertainment within the group itself. When The Phantom put out the call for volunteers to help with a painting job, there was much laughter when one of the ladies turned up with her artist’s paintbrush.
But the club is not the only beneficiary of this initiative. It has also provided a wonderful environment for
with a number of detail items and finishes. Of course, Chunds had been instrumental over a number of years, pushing the
Chapter 1 Physical and financial growth | 167
Row past in honour of Len Buckeridge, 2014.
development through and putting a huge amount of his life into the project. Adrian Ridderhof, during a brief stint at retirement, took up the reins of project management for the second half of
lack of space forced him to give up the idea. The club’s relationship with the Town of Cottesloe took various
been named community organisation of the year halfway through the project and had been named SLSWA club of the
forms during the process. Rather than being treated as a valued
year three times during the course of the project (2007, 2009,
the project and was assisted by Steve McConkey. Brian ‘Siera’
member of the Cottesloe community, there were times when
2010). And, despite spending considerable money improving
Sierakowski dedicated much time to adorning the walls with
the club felt it was being treated as a corporate entity, only in
the public areas around the club, it was disappointing that no
club memorabilia and establishing a museum. Siera had grand
it for money and wanting to destroy the public environment.
financial support was received from council. The club’s request
plans to hang half a surf boat from the ceiling in the bar area but
This was disappointing, particularly given that the club had
for financial support had been refused – presumably at the
168 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Ski paddlers and surf boat rowers before the start of the Bridge to Bridge race, 1998.
hand of the anti-development sect on the council at the time. There were, however, two people within council who did back the club’s endeavours. Councillor Jo Dawkins and Mayor Kevin Morgan both gave the club great encouragement to pursue the project, which would have been all that much harder without their support. Departing president Craig Smith-Gander played a strong hand
Brett ‘Chunds’ Endersby and Tom Flower with the SLSWA club of the year trophy during the latest redevelopment, 2013. (photo courtesy POST Newspapers)
throughout the building process and, indeed, throughout his time as president. His tenure was described by many as remarkable, leading the club with his outstanding drive and passion and leaving it club in a fantastic position financially, operationally and in almost every measure you could place on it. As one building project finished, another was already under way and the club was set to define itself as a true community leader,
not just a surf club. During the redevelopment of the clubrooms, the club started discussions with Scouts WA regarding the scout hall on Eric Street, 500m up the road from the club. The scout hall had been in disrepair for some years and rumour had it that the government was going to take back the land and sell it off for housing. Incoming club president Chris Shellabear recognised an opportunity to work with
Chapter 1 Physical and financial growth | 169
Major renovations to the clubrooms were completed in 2013 and club members gave the ski shed a fresh coat of blue paint in season 2014/15. 170 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander and Chris Shellabear.
Scouts WA on a solution and got together with outgoing president, Goose, to develop a plan.
Life members (back) Craig Smith-Gander, Cliff Ford, Alex McKenzie, Brian Sierakowski, Adrian Ridderhof and (front) Dennis Hawtin, John Miller, Jack Alliss and Michael Beech, 2018.
the Cottesloe Scout Hall and Community Centre. Goose and Chris became the major drivers of the project,
any concessions. It was going nowhere until Goose caught the eyes of the Scouts WA chief commissioner and State chairman on the opposite side of the room. Sensing they
North Cottesloe proposed it would work jointly with Scouts
which soon evolved into a much larger community solution
WA towards building a new facility on the site, principally
involving North Cottesloe Primary School, Cottesloe
for use by the two organisations but also for use by the
Playgroup, Cottesloe Child Care Centre and the Cottesloe
general community. The Cottesloe Council and local MLA
Toy Library. Having previously been approached by all these
that both North Cottesloe Surf Club and Scouts WA would
Colin Barnett (Premier at the time) both strongly supported
groups for funding, Lotterywest arranged a community
be delighted if one of the groups came and joined them in
the proposal – possibly the only time Cottesloe Mayor Kevin
meeting involving all parties. This is where the project
the new community centre they were planning to develop
Morgan and Colin Barnett agreed on anything. With this
really came together. With self-interest aplenty from all the
at Eric Street. It became the catalyst for all of the different
support, the club embarked on another building project –
groups at the meeting, all were refusing to budge or make
elements falling in to place.
were of the same view as North Cottesloe, Goose jumped up, commanded attention and got stuck in. He gave the groups a hard time for their narrow views and announced
Chapter 1 Physical and financial growth | 171
The next day Goose received a call from Lotterywest saying
on behalf of Scouts WA and Lotterywest approved the full
The project was completed in 2014. It had resulted in the
it wanted to discuss fully funding the project, as it would
amount. Colin Barnett’s support of the club’s endeavours had
kindergarten moving from Marmion Street to the school,
ensure that all of the other projects got off the ground as
been extremely valuable.
the toy library to Marmion Street, the playgroup to the new
well. Goose remembers it as “a bloody good moment”.
Again, BGC jumped on board as builder and project
community centre and the child care centre to Marmion
Parry and Rosenthal Architects developed the design of the
manager. Knowing the amount that was coming from
Street. The project redefined how community groups could
facility in consultation with various stakeholders, including
Lotterywest, Len Buckeridge gave a fixed quote for $3.3
share facilities. Chris was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award
the user groups and the Town of Cottesloe. Once the design
million so there would be $100,000 left over for the fit-out.
for Innovation in Volunteering.
was approved by the identified community groups, the plan
Scouts WA chairman Peter Walton, an architect, was a great
As well as providing a fantastic community facility for all the
was scoped and the cost estimate came in at $3.4 million.
supporter for North Cottesloe during the project, which
Cottesloe community, a great new hall for the local scouts
North Cottesloe prepared the Lotterywest grant application
was a fantastic team effort between the two organisations.
and cubs and a new home for the Cottesloe Playgroup,
172 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
there were also some very positive flow-on effects for North
a key appointment for Chris in his first year as president. Chris
facility has run at a surplus without the need for any council
Cottesloe Surf Club. The facility, which is owned 50-50 by
knew he could count on Ridders to be on top of the project.
or external funding.
Scouts WA and North Cottesloe Surf Club for the life of the
Along with Chris, Ridders was the development manager
facility, has provided the club with a long-term premises
overseeing and coordinating with BGC, the architect and
away from the beach for no monetary outlay. It has enabled
Lotterywest, keeping the project within budget. Ridders
the club to move non-essential equipment off site. In
maintained that role, in coordination with Scouts WA, for
addition, the club’s archives, which were previously stacked
three years during his time as chair of assets.
in the boatshed, are now stored in a dry, fireproof facility, thanks to Adrian ‘Ridders’ Ridderhof. Ridders had come on board as chair of assets in 2013. It was
Back at the homestead, general maintenance and small projects have been undertaken since the completion of the new clubrooms. In season 2014/15, in a great display of club spirit, club members finished the painting and signwriting of the ski shed and even gave The Blue Duck a freshen-up. It
The club’s plan was to also undertake much of its training
harked of days gone by when members banded together
off site and therefore use its prime real estate to provide the
to maintain the facilities. The 20-year lease with the Town of
greatest amenity for its members. Since completion, the
Cottesloe over the crown reserve on which the ski shed is
Chapter 1 Physical and financial growth | 173
located was soon to expire and the work the club had done demonstrated the value the club put on the facility. A new lease was entered into. Other work around that time included installing the fire alarm system, fitting out the IRB storage shed and renovating the patrol room. The Blue Duck is the responsibility of North Cottesloe as the lessor and work has included replacing the decking and balcony ceilings, modifying the air-conditioning and repairing and painting the southern wall in ‘true blue’ club colour. The club also started annual maintenance, which is onerous and ongoing because of the ocean environment. Many other improvements and maintenance items have been carried out by The Phantom and his Trojans. This small band of members give up their time and save the club from incurring the costs of these jobs. The club became debt free in season 2014/15 after paying off the final installment of the ski shed debt. In his annual report of 2015/16, treasurer David Andrew said although the financial year had been another successful one, with a modest surplus, the club was feeling the impact of the subdued economic environment. Season 2017/18 was recorded as the club’s most financially challenging in a number of years due to WA’s local economic uncertainty and the discontinuation and renegotiation of some existing major sponsorships. As North Cottesloe Surf Club moves into its second century, it remains financially sound. The club is fortunate that it has had good governance and fiscal control over the past two decades that has enabled it to continue to strengthen its financial future. The annual budget targets surplus funds each year as a principal, which adds to its cash capital asset. North Cottesloe remains reliant on three primary components – membership base, income from The
174 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Blue Duck and sponsorship. The club has had some very generous sponsors. However, as the economy tightens and competition for sponsor dollar becomes harder, it is an area the club needs to constantly work on. The North Cottesloe membership remains strong and the club is cognisant of the mix of membership (nippers/cadets, senior active/long service, associate) and how the total membership puts pressure on its resources, particularly the building services. As yet, there have been no discussions or plans on major changes to the building. The club’s focus is on consolidation of its financial position over the next two years with minor renovations to maximise space. Replacing the roof is the next big maintenance project.
North Cottesloe members shaking the tin for SLSWA’s annual street appeal, 2008. Chapter 2 New era of professionalism | 175
The North Cottesloe team for the 2013 Australian championships, Kirra, Queensland.
176 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
2
Chapter
NEW ERA OF PROFESSIONALISM
J
ust as the past quarter of a century was defined by an explosion of membership numbers and finances, so too has it been defined by a new era of professionalism across all aspects of the club. The growing professionalism of the organisation
was, in part, driven by the need to manage the aforementioned explosion, as well as respond to the changing legislations and demands from Surf Life Saving Western Australia (SLSWA). There was also, of course, the need to respond to ever-evolving technology. But also, there was a conscious decision to become more professional across the board – in administration, sponsorship and capital raising,
organisation, at times struggling to keep its doors open, was
collectively run the club for the best part of 30 years and
very quickly becoming a significant commercial entity.
had held the club together over a long period of declining
A look at the annual reports from 25 years ago compared
revenue and membership.
with today hints at how far the club has come in that time.
Many people say Jerry was the club. His law firm, Parker and
From a few photocopied pages stapled together with no
Parker, did a lot of the club’s administration and certainly
images, the annual report has become a glossy 50-page
no other senior partner in Perth would leave work at 5pm
magazine-style publication full of quality images. Twenty-five
and go to the beach. Of course, he would then go home
years ago, membership records had just been computerised,
and work at night. Jerry’s wife Aroha also remembers Jerry
but most aspects of operation were still recorded manually.
going past the club every night to check everyone was out,
In 1997, the club employed a part-time administrator for the
the lights were off, the place locked up and the rubbish bins
first time and, in 2000, became the first club in WA to have a
were out in the street for collection. No one since has lived
full-time administrator, demonstrating itself as a leader and
and breathed the surf club quite like Jerry. He was Mr North
what many described as a ‘trendsetter’ in the surf life saving
Cottesloe. Perhaps no one actually used this term at the
movement. In 2003, the club developed its first strategic
time, though it is remembered that a tourist who was staying
plan. Fast-forward to today and the club has four full-time
at the Ocean Beach Hotel and going to the beach regularly
staff, plus a part-time finance officer and is being guided by
came to the club one day asking for “the man who owns the
its fifth strategic plan.
beach”.
The Blue Duck deal of the late 1980s (outlined in the
Jerry had left a hole in the club and changes were inevitable.
previous chapter and also part one of this book) had a major
Richard Meadmore took over as president and found himself
influence on the club, doing more than just saving it from
in the thick of managing the changes. Graham Russell had
possible collapse. The Blue Duck had delivered a steady
been vice-president since 1989 and Richard was thankful to
income stream but with that came difficulties. There were
have Graham by his side when he took the reins. The two of
continuous problems with the lease and money not being
them became close mates and Richard’s respect for the man
paid on time. A lot of money was also starting to come
he called the ‘rock’ of North Cottesloe grew to another level.
in through sponsorship. And with increasing numbers of
No task was ever too small for Graham. When the time came
members, training courses and bronze requalifications,
each year to sell tickets to the club’s annual dinner, nobody
the running of the club was becoming more complicated
other than Graham, wanted to take responsibility. Graham
and time consuming. At that stage, North Cottesloe was
was happy to come to the club each Tuesday and Thursday
an organisation run solely by volunteers. But it was an
evening and wait patiently for members to come and buy
organisation that was in the midst of huge growth and was
tickets. Graham had been an inspiration to younger members
becoming too large for the volunteers to manage.
throughout the decades and he continued to be so until the turn of the century when he moved away.
education and training, patrols, surf sports and community
The passing of president Jerry Knowles in 1996 was a trigger
involvement – including planning for the future, setting goals
for change. Jerry had been club captain during the 1960s
Under Jerry’s presidency, committee meetings had been
and achieving KPIs. It wasn’t just about changing operational
and then secretary through until 1982. He was vice-president
open to all club members. Jerry had been a benevolent
practices, but also about changing mentalities. What for
during the early 90s and then took over as president in
dictator, so anyone who wanted something came to the
three-quarters of a century had been a small volunteer
1994. Jerry, and president of 20 years Graham Russell, had
meeting and Jerry usually gave them what they wanted.
Chapter 2 New era of professionalism | 177
“Our administration has changed significantly with our parttime administrator working in a modern office situated at the clubhouse. Not only does our administrator have the facilities of a computer, fax and photocopier but we are moving to the next level where the club will soon have its own website and email address. These amazing changes are all symbolic of the fundamental change that has taken place within our organisation. The club has now become too big not only in membership but also financially and has to be managed differently from how it was earlier this decade and the time before. . . Our management this year has attempted to meet these challenges and our plan is to be at the forefront of Australian Surf Life Saving in all areas into 2000”. Tom Stewart (treasurer 1990-2000), Laurie Russell (registrar 1990-2001) and Graham Russell (president 1964-84), 1994.
Graham Russell making a presentation to future president Nick ‘Stinga’ Rea at the club’s annual dinner, 1993.
In season 1998/99, the club adopted a new structure of club management, with new positions being created and old positions being changed. Prior to this change, the club had
Richard put a stop to this and only elected committee
to describe North Cottesloe. Surf boat rower Alan Evans was
active and associate members’ representatives. However,
members attended the meetings. Ultimately, the changes
the inaugural administrator (for less than a year), followed by
over time it had transpired that the representatives didn’t
that took place around that time included employing an
fellow surf boat rower Merome Hall for three years.
really do much active work and the management of the
administrator, restructuring the committee, re-writing the club’s constitution and building the capacity of bronze
As a result of the club’s financial growth and the large growth
club had been consolidated to the president, secretary, treasurer and club captain. Under the changes, each
across all areas of the club, management started looking
member of the committee was responsible for a portfolio,
at its long-term future and development – something that
In essence, Richard and the management committee of the
reflecting the various activities and responsibilities that the
had not been considered for a long time, if at all. The club
time started setting up the structure for how the club is run
club managed over the course of the season. New portfolios
was moving from survival mode into strategic mode. The
included club premises, youth life saving, social events and
today. In 1989, Mike Flower (president 1987 to 1992) had set
challenge was to then apply the club’s financial security and
activities and special events and activities. The introduction
up a new management structure. A competition committee
management skills into improving its performance in patrols
of an administrator effectively did away with the need for a
and competition.
secretary, though this position continued until 2003 when
medallion training.
was introduced, a patrol committee was created to oversee the running of patrols and a chief instructor position was created to improve training of new members. This proved a
The completion of renovations early in season 1997/98
fantastic move by the club and put it in good stead for the
enabled the club to consolidate its management and
influx of members in the 1990s.
operation structure, as well as successfully accommodate
In 1997, North Cottesloe became the first club on the coast to employ an administrator and, although it was initially a parttime position, it had been a big deal. Many North Cottesloe members were critical of the decision. Other clubs raised their eyebrows and ‘arrogant’ was just one of the words used
178 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
the club’s administrator in the clubrooms. Technology was very basic by today’s standards but, as described in that year’s annual report, it was exciting for the time and with more changes imminent:
the management of the club underwent another structural change. Vice-presidents continued to be elected until 2005. As opposed to earlier in the decade when the club was being run by a small core group, more members were starting to take an active interest and become more involved. And what was highlighted at the time as being particularly promising was that many who were showing leadership were relatively young and/or new members of the club. They included (from the mid-90s through until 2000) Jamie
management and members. The aim for this was to enable the club to move forward and look to how it could improve the organisation and address any weaknesses. In 2000, accountant John McNaught was employed as the club’s first full-time administrator. John, who had been a member of the club during the late 1950s and 60s, is the first to admit he was the wrong person for the job. Most of the work in the role was computer-based and John could hardly type. John and the surf club’s management committee came to a mutual understanding and after a year he was replaced by Kelly Moss. The employment of Kelly in 2001 marked what many members say was the start of real professionalism in administration. Kelly resigned in 2003 and, in 2006 after three years living away from Perth, was welcomed back with open arms into what was now the role of general manager. She stayed in the role until 2010 and many members agree that without her as general manager the club would probably not be where it is today. If there has ever been a case of anyone working well beyond their job description, Kelly was it, and remains so. She has since worked as part-time finance officer and most recently chaired the centenary steering committee, always putting in well beyond the required amount of work and expanding her assistance into whatever Richard Meadmore and Graham Russell on the beach at North Cottesloe, early 1990s.
was required across all areas of the club.
Edelman, Renato Bruno, Nick ‘Stinga’ Rea, Steve ‘Gimp’
nippers, cadets and into the senior ranks and stepped into
Throughout the 90s, the club’s sponsorship portfolio
Gibbs, Sam Knowles, James Knowles, James ‘Chocks’
the role of club captain a year after his father passed away.
had started to significantly expand, as outlined in the
McLaughlin, Stuart ‘Tubs’ McLaughlin, Kate Knowles, Jacqui
When he finished as club captain in 2000, a succession of
previous chapter. The club was overdue to manage these
Cook, Tom Flower, Todd Edwards, Lea ‘Loops’ Ridderhof,
great young leaders followed him over the next 18 years,
Sonja Belle, Brett ‘Chunds’ Endersby and Linda Gladwell.
including James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin, Rick Falken, Travis
Sam Knowles, Jerry’s son, was club captain at the time. Unsurprisingly, Sam had grown up around the club. He had
Sheehy, John Polinelli, Tom Flower, Nat Benjanuvatra and Todd Edwards.
relationships in a more professional manner and in season 2001/02 the club held the inaugural sponsors’ dinner to recognise sponsors’ loyalty and also help showcase the club’s facilities. The club also started working harder to ensure its sponsors were receiving maximum exposure
been a nipper in the earliest age group and remembers
By the turn of the century, general organisation and efficiency
and benefits from their association with the club. Exposure
being scared of swimming around the cans – but not when
had improved and a new constitution and set of by-laws
continued to be improved through the prominent display
he was paddling on a ‘foamie’. Sam progressed through
made clearer the rights, obligations and responsibilities of
of logos on the club website, newsletters and apparel, as
Chapter 2 New era of professionalism | 179
well as signage on surf boats, oars, skis and boards and eventually on a plaque in the club courtyard. The club continued to work with its sponsors to seek new mutually beneficial opportunities and in season 2006/07 the creation of a sponsorship and marketing committee took things to a new level of professionalism. The committee, initially chaired by Brian ‘Siera’ Sierakowski, worked closely with Kelly in building relationships with sponsors and with Niall Warren in attracting new sponsors. Siera and subsequent committee chair Brian Hockney, along with Keith Johns, Michael ‘Beechie (Muncher)’ Beech and Kelly deserve a huge amount of credit for managing the club’s sponsorships in a professional manner. It has always been a challenge for a community-service-
Merome Hall (part-time administrator 1997-2000) in the club office, 1999.
Margot Ferguson (secretary 2001-03) and Kelly Moss (administrator 2001-03, general manager 2006-10) point to North Cottesloe’s first web address, launched in 2000.
of management for approval. Sponsors also needed to be
and strategic vision, more administration support and more
categorised properly, so that the marketing benefits the
sponsorship dollars all created a greater awareness of
club could offer were in balance with other sponsors in
needing to do the right thing. Along with policy requirements
expected back in return, but had become about creating a
each category.
and regulations from external forces, the club was forced to
partnership where both parties benefited commercially. The
One of the major difficulties was how best to deal with
club had learnt how to forge strong win-win relationships
potential sponsors that might conflict with existing sponsors.
with its partners and this was helped significantly by the
What might seem an obvious sponsor might in fact not be.
This included taking a more responsible stance on social
sponsorship and marketing committee. Sponsors were now
Real estate agencies were always trying to get in on the act.
functions. The huge unrestricted parties that packed out
kept informed and involved. An end-of-season report was
This created a continued source of angst for the committee
the courtyard with no apparent heed to number restrictions
provided to each sponsor on the club’s achievements, as
and usually the president, who were forever fending off
became a thing of the past. In the 1970s, people who had no
well as specific information on their area of sponsorship and
proposals from western suburbs’ real estate agents keen to
interest at all in surf life saving remembered the club for the
how the club had acknowledged their support.
get hold of the club’s database. Shellabears had been North
ear-shattering dances they put on. Similarly, during the late
Cottesloe’s long-term sponsor in that space and, to this day,
90s and early 2000s, North Cottesloe had become known as
has never sought to market directly through the club. The
the place for young people to go for a good party, especially
only other real estate company the club took on was Browne
on Australia Day and Christmas Eve. The courtyard was that
Grove and Associates when club member Andrew Clarke
packed you could barely move and if there were any number
owned it. This sponsorship was specifically for ski paddling,
restrictions it seemed as though they were not adhered to.
didn’t conflict with the club’s main sponsor and never sought
Wads of cash were counted, until these events started losing
to do so.
money because of the amount of drinks being given away.
the sponsorship and marketing committee, where they
As the club continued to progress during the 2000s, all areas
As liquor licensing and occupational health and safety
were shown the benefits of the club, terms were discussed
of growth went hand in hand. Membership and financial
regulations tightened, the club played by the rules in terms
and offered and then finally recommended to the board
growth, increased professionalism, improved governance
of numbers at events and responsible service of alcohol.
based club to define what it can offer sponsors and identify the marketing opportunities it can provide. Sponsorship was no longer about obtaining cash donations or gifts with little
A handshake no longer cut it, except of course in the case of Len Buckeridge, who continued to renew his relationship and support of the club by way of a handshake. Existing members remained the club’s best source of sponsor referrals, but there was now a formal process to introduce, negotiate and present new sponsors to the club. This involved firstly introducing any potential new sponsor to
180 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
improve its own methods, regulations and governance in all areas of responsibility.
W
hile North Cottesloe has been fortunate to have some extremely generous sponsors, fundraising has remained a constant focus. Each
year, surf sports sections look for innovative ideas to raise much-needed funds to assist with travel and competition expenses. There have been quiz nights, wine tastings, art exhibitions, social functions, corporate raffles and stalls at community fairs, to name just a few. There has also been a nude calendar and a bikini car wash. In early 2003, surf boat rower Georgina Barker (Walsh) persuaded a bunch of the club’s athletes and identities to pose for a calendar, many of them minus their club bathers. They were brilliantly captured by photographer Bohdan Warchomij. What wasn’t so brilliant was making it a financial year calendar. Who buys a financial year calendar? Luckily, enough were sold to cover costs and make a bit of money. But the fundraising venture could have been a lot more successful had a little patience come into play. Needless to say, it provided plenty of humour for those involved and certainly a lot of publicity for the club. The West Australian’s ‘Inside Cover’ picked up on the inclusion of footballing great, Brownlow medallist and Claremont
Male and female boaties proudly sported their blue-andwhite competition bathers and budgie-smugglers as they embraced the dirty job of washing beachgoers’ cars.
premiership captain-coach Graham Moss with a strategically
A prominent local social media profile got wind of the
placed oar, pictured (centre) with Adrian ‘Ridders’ Ridderhof,
fundraiser and, protected by their fake online persona,
Murray McHenry, Graham ’Tuppy’ Lahiff and David ’Spider’
posted a story punctuated with accusations of bullying,
Liggins. The Sunday Times had a great addition to the story:
exploitation and sexism. It argued the fundraiser set women’s
“And it seems that one bite from a shark gives you a taste for
liberation back hundreds of years and the story got even more
fame. Club member Brian Sierakowski was so disappointed
interesting with claims that vulnerable young surf lifesavers
about being away when the photographs were taken he
were exploited and pressured into taking part. As the saying
(unsuccessfully) demanded a re-shoot”.
goes, don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story. . .
In early 2018 the fundraising efforts of the boat section
particularly when it can’t be traced back to you.
received the level of attention that most fundraisers could
The story spread like wildfire, featuring in the local newspaper
only dream of, but for all the wrong reasons. A fundraising
and then the television news without a single attempt of fact
car wash became a battle ground of social opinions
checking. Unfortunately for the boat section, especially for the
when the words ‘bikini car wash’ featured on homemade
females who were the masterminds and organisers of the car
cardboard signs to help draw the attention of passing traffic.
wash, online bullying was not what they thought they would
raise from their fundraising efforts. However, support within the club and across sections of the local community was strong, and North Cottesloe Surf Club finally had its turn to speak via an opinion column published in The West Australian, written by journalist and North Cottesloe member Gemma Tognini, who dubbed the saga “Bikini-gate”.
Professional security outfits replaced the club members
a result of Tim’s vision and financial support. Tim initially
who took on the job when needed. And the club itself
committed $1 million towards the development of the club
cracked down on people behind the bar slipping drinks to
and, in particular, the foundation of the club’s surf sports
their mates. Social functions went from losing money to
academy over a five-year term. In 2018, Tim re-committed to
making a profit. When Brett ‘Chunds’ Endersby started on the
a further five-year sponsorship of $50K per year under Tim
management committee in 2001, he was in charge of parties
Roberts Giving.
that he and the board of management were knocking back 10 years later because of the tightened regulations.
been slowly building since the early 90s when the club
sponsorship. As it was, life member Adrian Ridderhof clearly
started recruiting river rowers to row surf boats and undergo
remembers Len Buckeridge saying: “I’ll never give you
selection programs to field the best crews. The sprinters
guys a buck because you’ll piss it up against the wall”. If
followed suit in the mid-90s, recruiting track sprinters to
the club wanted something done, Len did it, but he never
boost the competitiveness of the beach squad. It was also
gave money. And it wasn’t just the partying reputation that
the start of external coaching in the beach section, followed
preceded the club. The club was also known for not taking
by the ski section. These initiatives, combined with travelling
its patrols seriously. These things started to matter when
east to high-profile competitions during the season, made
big companies like Multiplex started giving big dollars to
a significant impact on the level of professionalism of North
the club. With Multiplex plastered over everything, the
Cottesloe’s athletes. This has continued through to recent
club needed to be doing the right thing or risk losing the
times when sponsorship has allowed North Cottesloe
sponsorship dollars.
to compete in professional competitions such as Ocean Thunder.
and enabled significant spending in surf sports. It had also
Much of the club’s increased professionalism and success
lifted the club’s game in being a responsible citizen. And, of
in surf sports can be attributed to the club’s strategic goals,
course, the enviable list of sponsors in itself raised the profile
which were first developed in the early 2000s.
of the club.
182 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
professionalism in surf sports. This professionalism had
The club also needed to act responsibly or risk losing
Sponsorship had given the club financial flexibility, stability
Beach sprinters Nick Rea, Sam de Vries, Steve Gibbs and Matt Keys, silver medallists in the beach relay at the 1998 and 1999 Australian championships.
The academy has further boosted the club’s level of
The club’s first strategic plan was launched for season
Most recently, sponsorship has enabled the club to
2003/04, driven by Alex McKenzie in his first season
significantly lift its professionalism in surf sports with the
as president, and determined by the members. Alex’s
launch of a surf sports academy. Although the Multiplex
description of the club as having mediocre governance and
sponsorship came to an end in season 2009/10, the
lacking structure, direction and policy settings wasn’t a view
generosity of the late John Roberts, former club patron,
shared by all committee members. Just because there was
was carried on by his son Tim, who has continued to
no formal vision statement didn’t necessarily mean the club
support the club.
was directionless.
Tim, who had been club patron since 2006, continued to
The previous three years under Nick ‘Stinga’ Rea’s watch may
support the club with the same passion as his father. Over
best be remembered as the party years, but the club had
the past decade, Tim’s support of the club has continued
continued to progress and some would argue it was what
to evolve. The surf sports academy, launched in 2016, was
the club needed at the time. Others say it was a place you
wanted to stay away from if you were over 40. Either way,
Recognising the importance of member involvement in
the social activity had brought in new members and, as had
developing the plan, Alex instigated an approach that
been the case traditionally, there was a want for the common
saw club member Greg McLennan facilitate an inclusive
good of the club.
strategic planning process. Greg, who joined the club in
Stinga was very young and although he had carried out various roles on the committee since joining the club in 1991, he certainly wasn’t looking to be president. However, he received the tap on the shoulder, as seems to be a common succession story at North Cottesloe. Previous president
worked in senior positions in the sports industry all his life. This professional background was invaluable to the club’s planning process, which culminated in the club producing a strategic outlook for its future.
Richard Meadmore had progressed a lot of positive change
Many of the club’s older business-minded members really
but had also ruffled a few feathers and Stinga saw it as an
got behind the strategic planning process, which included
opportunity to take the foot off the accelerator and bring
working with the membership to ascertain what they were
the club back together. He reflects now that it was the right
looking for – in terms of governance and strategy, socially,
thing for the time and, although he describes it as a bit of
competitively, in community interaction and also in what
a social exercise, he knew he had vice-presidents Adrian
the clubrooms could and should offer. Workshops were all
Ridderhof and Dennis Hawtin at his side to make sure
about the members owning it, believing it, acting it. When the
everything ran smoothly.
strategic plan was presented at the annual general meeting
While some have said Stinga’s was a stability presidency, others say it was an important presidency, with a focus on an active social life and very active competitive life in the
there was a solid turnout because it had been so inclusive and everyone had had a buy-in. It was a defining time for the club. The strategic plan created a road map for the club’s future.
club. Stinga also provided a great rallying point for a younger
It was the first time some members of the committee, and
generation to become active in the club, with many of these
certainly many club members, had ever heard the term KPI
members remaining active today.
(key performance indicator). But what these KPIs did was
There’s certainly no argument that the club was continuing to grow and, with that, was facing many challenges. In 2003, after those few years off the accelerator, Alex McKenzie came and took the bull by the horns. He drove it hard with a strong focus on structure, strategy and governance. Alex had joined the club as a swimmer in 1969 and had a long
North Cottesloe J crew racing in Ocean Thunder. (www.harvpix.com)
1997 as an active member and future patrol captain, had
provide the club with a new and clear set of measurable standards that the membership was expected to continue to own and live up to. It was hoped that the implementation of the plan over the next three years would help to further consolidate North Cottesloe as one of the premier surf clubs in the country.
competitive history, including being a member of numerous
Although some members of the committee believed Alex
State teams. With a strong background in the Royal Life
was driving things a bit hard at times with his strong and
Saving Society of Western Australia, he quickly identified a
forceful personality, there’s no arguing that he brought focus
starting point – the development of a strategic plan that was
to the club, formalised the club’s sense of purpose and
simple, understood and “had a primary focus of getting the
direction and progressed governance and policies. Alex’s
club back on track”, focusing on competition first, community
motivation and determination saw every area within the club
service second.
commit to achieving new goals with renewed vigour and the
Chapter 2 New era of professionalism | 183
club started providing significant financial support to various sections to ensure those goals were met. With a primary focus on competition, the club invested a significant amount of money developing a system of excellence, with priority given to the best competitors. For example, if an athlete won a State title they were allocated money to go to Aussies. A surf boat was kept in storage on the east coast for the top crews to use in competitions such as Ocean Thunder and the Australian Surf Rowers League Open. These things were unprecedented. Alex admits the focus on competition may have been to the detriment of other things – such as the condition of the gym and change rooms – but the decision was made to invest everything into human resources rather than into structure or operation. To a degree it formalised what was already in place in some sections of the club. The surf boat section had been on a pathway of excellence since the mid-1990s and was extremely professional in its own right. It could be said that the boaties provided the example of how the club should be managed. What they did was noted by the runners, who then took up the same level of professionalism and achieved the same results. These were shining examples of what the club could do and Alex, as president, was behind it all the way.
Development officer Anna Foster, general manager Kelly Moss, member services officer Kym O’Neill and director of coaching Derek Knox, 2010.
Jake and Joey all competed as juniors and cadets in various
The club’s sporting reputation then also helped the club
events. Matt, who competed in swimming, board paddling, ski
make headway in community service. North Cottesloe
paddling and ironman, also represented WA and went on to
attracted professionally-focused people to the club through its sporting success and many of them became active in
compete as a senior athlete. He remains an active member.
pressures on the few needed to be shared by the many. A long review process had resulted in the shift to a board of management. Accountable board positions were created with those new board members (chairs) being tasked to set
Their mum, Sharon, provided beach support for all the kids
up their own committees within their portfolios. The intent
and, of course, was the taxi to and from all the training. As for
was for the chairs to sit on the board, report to the board and
Keith, he was an age group manager for many years, as well
think strategically about their portfolio while their committees
as treasurer, chairman of the fundraising committee and was
would carry out the day-to-day operations of the portfolios.
an interest in surf swimming, the family decided that North
very involved in the sponsorship committee.
This structure has been only somewhat successful, with
Cottesloe was the place to be. They saw North Cottesloe as
By the end of the 2004/05 season, more changes were
other areas of the club – from juniors, through to education and life saving. Keith Johns and his family are a great example. They had no history in surf but, when the older boys, who were all very good pool swimmers, expressed
a successful club with outstanding community involvement.
made to the governance structure. It reflected a similar
many of the appointed chairs over time effectively running those portfolios by themselves.
Keith’s five children all became involved and added their own
situation to the one the club had found itself in nearly a
The governance of the club became more structured and
achievements to the club’s sporting success. Will, Matt, Beth,
decade before, with the club growing to the point that
professional with the shift to a board of management, but
184 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
many agree the cohesiveness had always been there. Other clubs have been prone to factions and cliques and have been damaged by backroom chat and breakaway groups whereas North Cottesloe hasn’t had that. And it’s not because North Cottesloe doesn’t have big personalities. In fact there was talk that the last extensions wouldn’t be big enough to house the club’s egos. However, the cohesiveness is a reflection of successful governance and a want for the common good of the club. Still to date, handovers of board and committee positions have typically been smooth and the club has increasingly been blessed with a diverse membership with good skill sets. In general, the right people have been happy to jump into roles when they got the tap on the shoulder or thought they could offer their skills and experience to the committee or board. North Cottesloe has been progressive, with the ability to look to the future and the betterment of the club rather than being hamstrung by the past and searching for ways to restore it. Of course, there have been occasions where some people have let their own egos or agendas get in the way of the greater good. There has also, at times, been a macho culture at the club. But on the whole, there has been no empire building at North Cottesloe and there has been a common belief that nothing is more important than the club as a whole, being united and heading in the same direction. The first strategic plan had been a useful platform in bringing more purpose and focus to the club. The ‘ownership’ of the running of the club had shifted to the board, which was more representative of the members and moving from administration to leadership. The club had started to use the human resources of the club a lot more smartly, especially as influencers. There was a stable financial income through lease and longstanding generous sponsors. There were more rigorous systems in place, including financial discipline and consistent application of rules. And the size of the organisation meant a very healthy flow of income from fees. The income was roughly one-third membership fees, one-
I
n late 2003, North Cottesloe was treated to a visit from the England rugby team – despite initially saying no to the request for use of the premises. At that point the club had a blanket ban on outside hire of the facility. Despite being told this, the England team persisted and eventually offered a sum that the club couldn’t refuse. Alex McKenzie was president at the time and negotiated the fee. It was before the World Cup and the team of burly Brits enjoyed an afternoon of playing in the surf with club members and taking publicity shots on the sand. The event attracted significant attention both locally and overseas. Pictures were published in the United Kingdom of the rugby players rowing boats with Mark ‘Macca’ McDermott
and the girls. England vice-captain Jonny Wilkinson attracted a large crowd of his own and North Cottesloe beach sprinter Sam ‘Barney’ de Vries was lucky enough to have a few photos with him and get some rugby apparel signed. It was basically a big publicity event. A bunch of supporters had won tickets in the UK through a television promotion in the lead-up to the World Cup and the event at North Cottesloe was part of their prize. North Cottesloe members did bar duty and the event was broadcast live to breakfast television back in the UK.
third rent, and one-third sponsorship and related funding (grants, state and federal funding through SLSA/SLSWA). In his dual roles of vice-president and chair of governance and strategy, Alan Tietzel led the development of the second strategic plan (2006/07). A vision was created for North Cottesloe to be: ‘the club which everyone would like to depend on for water safety; have in their community; belong to; be trained by; compete for; and support’. This remains the club’s vision today. The first strategic plan was tweaked and new strategic goals were developed. The new version of the strategic plan provided a platform from which the newly-formed building committee could establish the overall direction the club wanted to take in all areas of operations and identify the changes that needed to be made to the building to help the club achieve those strategic goals. The massive redevelopment project (covered in detail in the previous chapter) that was completed in 2013
North Cottesloe’s Anna Foster (second from left) and Jo Clucas (fifth from right) delivering the Telstra Beach to Bush program on the Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberley, 2010.
out that it was not the case. The club’s richest asset was
do another summer sport. So Goose joined North Cottesloe
its large membership base, which naturally led to constant
After making their initial impact and bringing a formal focus
where his uncle Rob Leslie was running nippers. The surf
demands on the purse. Receipts from subscriptions and
and vision to the club, the strategic plans have continued
club quickly became a huge part of Goose’s life. When he
rent from The Blue Duck were falling well short of that
to be revised and updated in the background. The club
expenditure. As a result, there was a need for constant focus
turned 16, sweep John Griffiths put him in a surf boat. Surf
is now operating under its fifth strategic plan, which was
on the club’s income and expenditure to ensure that it not
developed in 2015/16 (the sixth iteration is in review). As well
only had the funds to run the day-to-day operations, but
as providing a vision and strategic goals, the strategic plans
also to be secure in the future. Goose was thankful for his
also help maintain continuity of club structure and focus in
predecessor’s emphasis on strategic planning, which had
the face of people coming and going. Also in season 2015/16
left a great platform on which to move forward. Alex’s vast
a governance charter was introduced that provided, among
experience, both in the club and in sports administration
As the club continued to grow, demands from SLSWA
other things, greater clarity of role definition between the
generally, had been of great value in guiding Goose down
and other interested bodies also increased. With more
board of management and the club’s administration,
the right pathway.
rules, compliance and demands from SLSA/SLSWA and
It was a guidance that had started back in 1974, when Goose
government, the administration of the club had become
was the result.
aimed at ensuring the two are working efficiently and effectively together.
boats became his sport and North Cottesloe became almost his entire existence, aside from when he had a few years away with the army. Goose was grateful that after more than 30 years he could still rely on Alex and Lyn for support and assistance.
first came to North Cottesloe as a very young cadet and Alex
more time-consuming, stressful and demanding. When Kelly
With a large and continually growing membership that by
and Lyn McKenzie gave him a lift to the club every Sunday
Moss left the administrator’s role in 2003, Belinda Wilson
season 2006/07 was above 1500, the club certainly had a
morning from his parents’ house. Goose had mostly played
took over as general manager and stayed in the role for
lot of expenditure. Although many people, both internally
football and cricket but, after a bad experience at cricket,
two years. When she left, the club’s part-time book-keeper,
and externally, were starting to see North Cottesloe as a rich
his dad (a former Swanbourne-Nedlands member and
Carina Mossop, took up the reins and almost collapsed under
club, new president Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander pointed
multiple State beach sprint champion) suggested he should
the pressure. Carina’s commitment and dedication to the club
186 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
greatly exceeded what she had been asked to do. Still being
During the 1990s, Richard had been involved in two strategic
paid a book-keeper wage, she singlehandedly managed
reviews at State Centre and both times pushed for State
the administration of the club for nearly a year until Kelly was
Centre to start delivering a service to the clubs rather than
recruited back into the role of general manager.
just taking from the clubs. Capitation fees continued to be
The club had embarked on a formal recruitment process and for the first time used a professional recruiting company. It
a huge burden. It seemed to North Cottesloe that the other clubs just accepted what State Centre decreed, whereas North Cottesloe continued to push back. The reviews were
became a very professional process because of the calibre of
the beginning of the change and it’s why Richard joined the
person the club needed in the role, which by now was better
SLSWA board. The process of change at State Centre was
defined as a CEO position. Indeed, the first advertisement
helped by North Cottesloe having professional staff.
published in The West Australian was titled ‘Chief Executive Officer’. The backlash from elements of the club’s membership was incredible, with some saying North Cottesloe was trying to turn itself into the WA Club or the Weld Club. This, of course,
Kelly recalls in her earlier years at the club that SLSWA had been ‘the enemy’, with North Cottesloe being very intent on doing what it wanted. Although SLSWA had always seemed to be a hindrance rather than a help, Kelly had established
wasn’t the case. The club was simply trying to recruit the right
good relationships with some of the people at SLSWA during
person for the job. The board of management changed the
her time as club administrator. By the time she returned as
title to ‘general manager’ to mollify the vocal element of the
general manager, and with Goose as president, things were
membership. Certainly, the desire of everyone involved was
starting to change. Previous presidents Stinga and Alex had
to keep the ‘kitchen table’ club North Cottesloe always prided
started the process of thawing the antagonistic relationship
itself on being. North Cottesloe was grappling with having
with State Centre. Then, in an act of reproach toward State
a sophisticated governance structure without turning into a
Centre, Goose manoeuvred to get Michael Beech, who was
soulless entity.
finishing as the club’s treasurer, on to the SLSWA Board of
The club also employed a full-time administration officer to work under Kelly. Kelly quickly started taking the club into a more professional realm, which included mending and building relationships with external stakeholders such as SLSWA and local government. Historically, North Cottesloe was far from the flavour of the month with SLSWA (State Centre) and vice versa. Graham Russell and Jerry Knowles had perpetuated an antiState Centre mentality which, for a while, had been continued by Richard Meadmore. However, Richard had recognised that
Directors. Beechie became an incredibly valuable contributor to the SLSWA board, as he had been as treasurer on the North Cottesloe board. Meanwhile, Kelly made a concerted effort to build on the relationships she had established years before. She remembers an overall desire from Goose and the North Cottesloe board to start being proactive, supportive and to look for opportunities to partner with SLSWA. Slowly, what had been an organisation that North Cottesloe had pretty much no relationship with, in fact an organisation the club
the club should stop fighting State Centre and at the end of his
would duck and weave from, became an organisation that
club presidency was elected to the SLSWA Board of Directors,
the club supported wholeheartedly. As North Cottesloe
which at the time was quite an incredible turn of events. Richard
became more professional, SLSWA started to look to the
was on the board for two years and could well have gone on to
club more and began to work on projects in partnership.
be president had he not moved to London for work.
Kelly and Goose were instrumental in this but another big
Leith McKerracher (Weston), Bob Hunter and Lisa Taylor (Ferrie) are among the many club members who have volunteered their time to assist community organisations and events.
Chapter 2 New era of professionalism | 187
factor was that while North Cottesloe had been becoming
that North Cottesloe would look to SLSWA to form
for the benefit of other clubs and ensure the changes could
more professional, so too had State Centre.
professional relationships. As such, North Cottesloe became
be implemented seamlessly.
A turning point was Mike Smith coming on board as SLSWA State president in 2002. Mike’s personal relationship with North Cottesloe went back to the mid-1960s when he was competing for Bunbury as a junior and North Cottesloe was
the ‘go to’ club for a lot of things. In turn, SLSWA was able to rely on North Cottesloe’s capabilities to trial new ideas or provide assistance to deliver new initiatives for the movement.
considered Bunbury’s Perth sister club. Mike remembers
The Christ Church Grammar School cadets program was
the after-carnival social gatherings in North Cottesloe’s
one such example. The program had actually been run by
old clubrooms across the road. He also spoke of Bunbury
Swanbourne-Nedlands for a number of years but in 2008 the
members who moved to Perth in the 60s, 70s and 80s and
club elected not to continue with it. The then CEO of SLSWA,
joined North Cottesloe, including Mike Flower who ended up
Paul Andrew, contacted North Cottesloe president, Goose,
president of North Cottesloe from 1987 until 1992.
asking if the club would do SLSWA a favour and take on the
Mike Smith not only started to change State Centre’s attitude towards North Cottesloe, he also supported governance reforms within the state organisation. These reforms essentially allowed outside directors to be elected to the board and for the directors to concentrate on the strategic issues of the organisation and leave the day-to-day running
program. Goose immediately said yes. It resulted in North Cottesloe creating a successful blueprint of how school surf life saving programs could be delivered directly by surf clubs to their local community. The program continues to thrive a decade later and the club is working on replicating it at other schools.
of surf to the staff and member groups. Paul Andrew was
Across the 2006/2007 season, SLSWA and the Disability
SLSWA’s CEO during these significant changes. The move
Services Commission undertook a trial to improve beach
to an independent board effectively allowed the CEO to run
accessibility to people with mobility restrictions. The trial was
the organisation for the first time. Governance moved from a
funded by Lotterywest, a long-time supporter of surf life
very old-school structure that reflected the (lack of) service it
saving in WA. The trial involved testing a variety of purpose
was providing to clubs, to more of a parent organisation that
designed beach wheelchairs and sand matting. North
was starting to provide a very good service to clubs. Many
Cottesloe was integral to this trial and worked seamlessly
a robust discussion was held regarding the governance of
with SLSWA and the Town of Cottesloe to implement the
SLSWA but the consensus, certainly within North Cottesloe’s
beach chairs and matting into normal club operations.
management of the time and since, is that State Centre
This involved storing and providing access to the wheelchair,
has gone from strength to strength since the changes
taking reservations from users and maintaining both the
were implemented.
wheelchair and matting as required. At this time, few other
North Cottesloe hadn’t been the only club to have a bad relationship with State Centre. All clubs were sick and
WA clubs were resourced to provide this level of commitment.
With its development of the scout hall on Eric Street, North Cottesloe was instrumental in promoting the concept that surf clubs could work as part of a shared-use community facility. North Cottesloe also provided both practical and theoretical assistance in developing the SLSWA nipper curriculum. And in 2017 North Cottesloe volunteered to trial the first WA Surf League (round one), which involved 15 club-based teams competing over a range of surf sport disciplines. Being a new initiative, which was more like an event rather than the typical carnival in terms of its structure and production, it was essential to have a host club that was committed and reliable. As North Cottesloe increasingly supported SLSWA, the club also started supporting SLSWA’s Awards of Excellence in a dedicated fashion. Nominating people for awards had been patchy for many years but the club had never even thought about nominating for club of the year. Kelly suggested to Goose that the club put in a nomination and his reaction was: “Of course we should”. The result was winning SLSWA club of the year in 2007. It was the club’s first year of nomination. Goose described it as a lot of work and a lot of satisfaction. North Cottesloe went on to win the award two more times (2009, 2010) before choosing not to put in a nomination. Being asked by SLSWA where the club’s nomination was summed up the regard State Centre now had for the club. North Cottesloe started nominating again and in 2013 it won the award again. Just as Kelly had found six years earlier, new general manager Ben Unbehaun also found the nomination for club of the year an “easy sell”. It was easy to highlight aspects of the club such as patrol hours, community engagement, club expansion, reinvestment in the club, membership stability, competition success, education and
tired of receiving very little proper service. Under SLSWA’s
From the introduction of Surfguard, SLSA’s core database,
ongoing investigation into improving and extending life
new governance, clubs realised they were more powerful
North Cottesloe has been at the forefront of trialling, testing
saving services. But it continued to be a credit to the club,
together. At the time, no other surf club had the same
and reporting on the system. This interaction has allowed
the board of management, all sections and the membership
structure as North Cottesloe so there was an expectation
SLSA/SLSWA to develop change management processes
base that North Cottesloe continued to evolve and strive for
188 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander (president 2006-13) and Ben Unbehaun (general manager 2012-16).
David Andrew (treasurer 2013-17) and Michael Beech (treasurer 2001-06).
improvement, giving the club an opportunity to compete for
By the following year, the club had achieved all these things.
for their attention to the SLSWA affiliation requirements in
these awards.
It had started to undertake significantly more work within the
achieving that score. It was also a huge credit to the various
local community, with programs under way or completed
board members who attended certain forums during the
with North Cottesloe Primary School, Presbyterian Ladies’
year to which points were attributed.
The club has since been named runner-up in the SLSWA award three times (2014, 2015 and 2018). With four wins and three times runner-up in the space of 11 years, no other club holds this record in this highly-valued category. It is testament to the success of North Cottesloe and recognition of the club’s ability to constantly adapt
College and Christ Church Grammar School. As these programs developed it had become clear there was a need to provide a more professional focus, resulting in the employment of club swimming coach Leith Weston as part-
Former general manager Kelly Moss admits it would have been very embarrassing not to win the Hayward Shield. With two full-time staff members North Cottesloe was far better resourced than any other club in terms of paid administration.
its processes and structures to ensure member and
time development officer. The former administration officer
community relevance in its key pillars of life saving,
role morphed into member services officer and club sprinter
throughout the year was certainly one of Kelly’s priorities.
competition and nippers, while at the same time always
Tegan Maffescioni was employed in the role. Leith and Tegan
She did not want to incur the wrath of president Goose if the
maintaining a social environment.
were welcome additions to the club’s administrative team,
club fell short. The club has won the award another three
which was starting to kick some goals within the surf life
times since (2010, 2014, 2015).
By 2006/07, North Cottesloe was already thinking about adding more paid roles to the administration, specifically
saving movement.
Making sure the club ticked off all of the requirements
By 2008/09, the development officer role had become
a development officer. In addition, the club was looking
In 2008 North Cottesloe was named joint winner of the
a full-time position. SLSWA had become a registered
at the potential to use its historically strong capacity in
SLSWA Haywood Shield for administration club of the year
training organisation in 2005/06 under the vocational
training and education to deliver lifesaving education
with a score of 100 per cent. The award is based on a criteria
education training (VET) system, instigated by SLSA. It
programs to the local community and, in particular, to the
of set KPIs all clubs must hit throughout the season. A score
became a requirement for surf club members to achieve
local schools.
of 100 per cent was a huge credit to the administration staff
a unit of competency as a prerequisite for patrolling the
Chapter 2 New era of professionalism | 189
beach. Affiliated surf life saving clubs were able to offer
The program was taken over by ICEA, a foundation started
inaugural chair of surf sports, while North Cottesloe surf boat
their members units of competency from relevant training
by North Cottesloe member Lockie Cooke that focuses
rower and member of the champion J crew Derek Knox was
packages in addition to receiving surf life saving awards.
on reconciliation inspired by young people. From many
employed as part-time director of coaching. This role was
North Cottesloe thought it could be a good commercial
other experiences like the shark incident, the program
aimed at providing pathways for both athletes and coaches
opportunity for the club and this was part of the reason for
was amended to focus more on first-aid in the classroom.
to ensure North Cottesloe was competitive on the State and
expanding the development officer into a full-time role.
ICEA continued to conduct the first-aid sessions at remote
national stage.
As the first club on the WA coast to have a full-time development
communities for a number of years.
The club had tried this, to a degree, a few years earlier. In
officer, North Cottesloe was in a better position to be part of a
Commercial training continued locally and the plan was that
2005, the club introduced a high performance program,
delivery mechanism under the VET system than other clubs.
once the new scout hall was completed North Cottesloe
managed (voluntarily) by sprinter Sonja Belle. There was
However, the qualification and obligations to be a trainer and
could expand the number and frequency of courses on offer.
a loose selection process to form a squad of athletes
assessor under the nationally-regulated system was onerous
This would increase revenue, which could then be directed
ranging from under-11 to under-19. To be accepted, each
even for North Cottesloe. In 2012, SLSWA made the brave call to
towards further enhancing the club’s life saving and training
athlete had to sign a contract regarding participation in
break away from the national stance on the unit of competency
equipment. Since the completion of the scout hall in 2014,
carnivals, workshops and training, attaining necessary surf
requirement. WA remains the only State that has pulled away
commercial training hasn’t expanded as planned. Perhaps
life saving qualifications and attending patrols. The program
and it’s been a blessing for all clubs on the WA coast.
it wasn’t realistic to become a general provider in a very
accomplished its short-term objectives and boasted a
North Cottesloe has continued to operate as a commercial
crowded market place without a real point of difference.
number of key achievements. This included juniors Anna
training organisation, but the suggestion is that the potential
However, there is still potential for commercial training to
Williams, Kale Pervan and Matt Johns being selected in the State team in 2006 and 2007, an increase in under-15
has never been fully realised. By 2010, the club was
become a stronger revenue stream. A revised plan is to
operating as a licensed provider for nationally-accredited
focus on the surf component and offer commercial courses
corporate and community first-aid and surf safety courses,
aligned to the club’s surf expertise. This would provide North
with the aim of providing flexible courses that could be
Cottesloe with a good point of differentiation from the likes of
tailored to the participants’ needs. The club was holding
St Johns and Royal Life Saving Society, for example.
worked well for a couple of years but was unsustainable on
successful senior first-aid and SRC courses for local
Goose remained president for seven years and his passion
the funded model that was later put in place.
businesses, schools and community groups.
for surf sports continued to drive progress in this area. Under
In addition, the club started to deliver some fantastic programs
his leadership, the club started taking a more professional
in remote areas. Trevor Gibb has since run courses each year
and inclusive approach to sport and athlete development. In
in various towns up north and the program remains a great
season 2009/10 the club kicked off a number of important
money earner and public relations exercise for the club.
initiatives in coaching and sports administration, including
North Cottesloe also delivered the Telstra Beach to Bush program, in which the club took its trainers to Aboriginal communities on the Dampier Peninsula and delivered a
employing a director of coaching and adding a new role, chair of surf sports, to the board of management, taking some of the work load off the club captain.
athletes competing at senior carnivals and an impressive representation in the under-15, under-17 and under-19 age groups at the Australian championships. The program a voluntary basis. However, it was probably the precursor to
Through the more recent vision, the club set goals to develop its senior and junior ranks, both of which had been disjointed in terms of training and coaching and even identifying potentially-talented athletes. It was about increasing the professionalism of the coaching side, creating a pathway from juniors to cadets and through to seniors and overall just getting more members competing. Various initiatives were undertaken – from have-a-go days on the
range of programs, supported by Telstra. It was an eye
Just as five years earlier when the first chair positions were
beach for members to try different surf sports, to athlete
opener for the North Cottesloe trainers. During a beach
created, the intent was for the chair of surf sports to sit on
and coaching camps, through to a gala dinner with Ric
safety event, a shark came into the shallows where the
the board, report to the board and oversee all of the section
Charlesworth, who coached the Australian women’s hockey
kids were playing and instead of listening to the safety
captains. Long-time member and competitor Liz Lang
team to two Olympic gold medals. All these initiatives went
experts they chased the shark and speared it for dinner.
moved from a brief stint as club captain to become the
hand-in-hand with trying to align surf sports and coaching
190 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
which was established in 2007 by young club member Lockie Cooke and aims to achieve reconciliation through mutual respect for all Australians. The club hosted a beach water safety day for a group of children from a Balga primary school with a largely immigrant population originating primarily from conflicted and war-torn countries. Long-time club member Alli Gould organised the day after hearing life guards from the local pool suggest that the group was particularly vulnerable to incidents because of limited exposure to water. Many of the children lived less than 10km from the ocean yet had never been to a beach. Alli organised transport through Buswest to get the group to and from North Cottesloe and assembled a team of dynamic, skilled and empathetic club members to volunteer as group leaders – Bob Hunter, Lisa Taylor (Ferrie) and Leith McKerracher (Weston). The children shrieked with delight when they opened goodie bags containing bathers, water bottle, goggles and snacks. Despite initial trepidation from some of the children, they all enjoyed the beach and water activities and embraced the out-of-the-ordinary experience. The day culminated with a banquet lunch that was cooked and prepared by club members Kim Gamble, Niall Warren and their band of helpers, including then-president Chris Shellabear.
N
orth Cottesloe is more than just a surf club. It continues to engage with the local and broader community on so many different levels – supporting charities and assisting community organisations and events. 2014/15 was a particularly busy season in this regard. North Cottesloe supported the Australian Doctors for
Africa ‘Little Feet Walk’ for the second year running. The club teamed up with Community Mates, with club member Shana Gordon organising North Cottesloe volunteers to help out at events like Alzheimer’s Australia ‘Memory Walk and Jog’ and the Disabled Surfing Association ‘Let’s Go Surfing’ days. The club hosted a Variety Bash sundowner, did a toy drive for the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal and continued its strong affiliation with ICEA Foundation,
2014 was also the first year of the North Cottesloe Cold Water Classic, which was established to honour the work of the Leukaemia Foundation and help raise awareness and much-needed funds for cancer research. The event, sponsored by Euroz, started as a 1600m open water swim and quickly became a fixture on the open water swimming calendar. In 2017, a stand-up paddle board race and beach run were added. By the end of 2018, the North Cottesloe Cold Water Classic had raised nearly $100,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation.
strategies to the club’s strategic plan. It’s been a challenging
role of secretary, but photography was something Julianne
evening during the week. Fiona remembers it being hard
process but over the years inroads have been made. Marian
enjoyed and with no one else consistently taking photos, she
work. The main problem was storing the gear. Many people
Taylor took over the role from Derek in 2011 and for the next
took it upon herself to record the club’s activities. The club
seemed to have a key to the cupboard and lots of the gear
three seasons put a strong focus on functional strength and
bought a camera and zoom lens for Julianne to use and it
went for a walk. Needless to say, stocktake was interesting.
development for athletes.
became pretty much a weekly routine of taking the film into
While North Cottesloe had been ahead of the game in many areas, and despite some consistently outstanding success in the beach and surf boat arenas, there had been a lack of depth across sections and lack of alignment across surf sports in terms of coaching and athlete development. The flow-on from this strategic and professional approach to surf sports and coaching was the employment in 2014/15 of a full-time surf sports development officer, thanks to funding from Tim Roberts. The aim was to strengthen the club’s performance in surf sports competition across the board. It also aimed to provide surf sports training and coordination not just within the club, but to the wider community of schools and sporting clubs, which would give more people access to surf sports and would promote community
the chemist on a Monday after the weekend carnivals and club activities. The photos were typically ready around four days later. Needless to say, a lot of money was spent on purchasing film and developing photos.
From 2005, North Cottesloe gear was sold through Sports Fever Cottesloe, with all profits going back to the club. The relationship with Sports Fever had been developed to ensure members had convenient access to purchasing club merchandise and to relieve the administrative burden
In the early 2000s the club mostly relied on members taking
that came with selling and stocking the goods. Sprinter Sam
photos and sharing some of them with the club. Obviously
‘Barney’ de Vries had been instrumental in setting up and
the advancement of digital cameras made this a lot easier.
managing the relationship. With the Australian Surf Life Saving
And cheaper. Then, from 2006, the club was given a
Championships hitting Scarborough Beach for three years
significant visual boost by photographer Stefan ‘Seven’ Green
from 2007, it was a great way for both the club and Sports
who photographed all of the club’s major events for a couple
Fever to be promoted during the championships. In 2008/09,
of years. He set up an online ordering system so photos
Gwarda Sports came on board to supply all things North
could be viewed and ordered and the club was able to promote itself in a much more professional manner by using his brilliant images. This was the start of real professionalism
Cottesloe and gear continued to be sold through Sports Fever Cottesloe until 2010/11, when Claremont Sports took over.
in photography. Numerous photographers since, such as
Club swimwear and apparel had taken different forms over
Angie Coote, Stew Nicolson, Cliff Ford and Jane and Miles
the years, with new products created over time. The men’s
Ponsonby, can be thanked for continuing to document the
bathers had been pretty static from the late 70s when the
club’s activities in a manner that continues to lift the club’s
blue-and-white stripes became a staple. From the early
As a result, sport specific training has been available for
profile. A flick through part two of this book and the annual
inception of the ‘stripes’, Speedo had been the supplier
nippers and cadets and in 2017, the club took four 14-year-
reports over the past decade sums it up.
and the men’s bathers never really altered – until Speedo
involvement at North Cottesloe. Shannon MacLachlan was employed in the role and in 2016 the Tim Roberts Surf Sports Academy was launched.
olds and four 17-year-olds to The Aussies. There is a new level of professionalism amongst North Cottesloe’s youth and slowly there has been a more coordinated and strategic approach to training and coaching across the senior sections as well.
As for club apparel, up until 2005 stock was managed and sold by members (except for a short period when it was sold through Claremont Sports). In the 1970s Richard Meadmore kept a cardboard box of men’s bathers in the back of his car. He sold the bathers for $5 a pair (though most of the
stopped making the striped fabric due to the limited market it was servicing. The club announced that the men’s bathers were to change, as the material could no longer be sourced. The men would no longer have the ‘stripes’. They would now have plain blue bathers with North Cottesloe SLSC in white on the back.
In addition to the growing professionalism behind the
time he’d give them away because he was in a hurry). Later
scenes, North Cottesloe had gradually been developing
in the 1990s, secretary Julianne Simmons and part-time
This caused a mutiny in the club, led by the Clarke boys,
a more professional look, both in the way it was being
administrator Merome Hall managed the stock out of the
Dave and Ian. The ‘stripes’ were not going anywhere. The
captured in images as well as via an expanding catalogue of
club office and stepped things up by getting Seafolly on
‘stripes’ WERE North Cottesloe. Dave and Ian took it upon
merchandise. The bulk of the club’s photos from the 1990s
board for bathers and Mountain Designs for club fleeces.
themselves to rally the troops and petition against the
are courtesy of Julianne Simmons, who was secretary from
There was a period when Fiona Smith-Gander and Lorraine
change, rang around Australian bather manufacturers and
1993 to 2000 (excluding season 1997/98). Not that it was the
Walters sold the merchandise on Sunday mornings and one
within several hours found a manufacture that would do the
192 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
T
he North Cottesloe Surf Sports Academy was founded in the 2016/17 season. Long-time member, supporter, sponsor and club patron Tim Roberts provided much of the vision and enthusiasm that got the academy off the ground, as well as the all-important funds. The academy aims to develop young members into wellrounded athletes with a focus on competition, community, personal development and sustainability.
Academy athletes Kate Stenvers, Bella Poll, Lily Moore, Georgia Gillibrand, Abby Weber, 2018.
Through the academy, young members are supported, challenged and developed as they become age group and, eventually, senior competitors across all North Cottesloe’s surf sports sections. Throughout the season, aspiring athletes undergo fitness testing, physiotherapy screening and participate in regular strength and conditioning training sessions. In addition, there is a focus on team building, leadership and education, helping them make good decisions and develop as young leaders in the club and community. These aspects define the key goals of the academy and aim to provide young athletes with the best opportunity for success. In its inaugural season, 13 athletes aged 13 to 18 were involved in the academy. Two years later, the program was expanded to the under-13 age group and in late 2018, the academy had 32 athletes aged 12 to 18.
Academy athletes Eamon Walker and Jacob Fitzgerald win bronze in the under-19 male double ski at the 2018 State championships.
To date, academy athletes have represented North Cottesloe in State and national competitions with some outstanding success. Academy athletes won multiple medals at the 2017 and 2018 State championships. Standout performers were Bella Poll, Dominic Banks-Smith, Zaide Moxham, Matthew Lloyd, Georgia Gillibrand, Josh Lynn and Lily Wall, who all won individual medals. At the 2017 Australian championships, Jaxon Hayden won silver in the under-14 2km beach run, and at the 2018 Aussies, academy athletes made up the majority of the team that won bronze in the under-17 mixed march past. At the 2018 Australian pool rescue championships, Lily Moore won three individual medals and five team medals. Lily was runner-up overall champion and was selected in the junior Australian team. These and other young athletes are not only building their own success as surf sport champions, but are key to the club being able to fill the age group categories that will enable North Cottesloe to challenge rivals Trigg Island and City of Perth for the title of State champion club in WA. The academy has been managed by the club’s full-time surf sports development officers (Shannon McLachlan 2016 to 2017, Brooke Ponchard in 2018 and Steve Bird from January 2019).
with competition rules. Problems also arose from groups within the club bastardising the apparel by producing their own club t-shirts, hats and so on, using their own version of the club logo and getting the club to sell it for them. The revenue wasn’t always going back to the club. However, one successful example of this was the production and sale of club towels, which were in high demand. In season 2012/13, merchandise was shifted from chair of assets to the club services portfolio. By then, more consultation was being undertaken with the membership in regards to the quality, function and look of the swimwear and apparel and more members were taking the opportunity to offer constructive feedback. The club was endeavouring to ensure members had quality gear that enabled them to train, compete and patrol in comfort, while looking fabulous in the surf and on the sand. As for the men’s bathers, one thing was for sure – the iconic and much-loved blue-and-white stripes weren’t going anywhere. And they still haven’t. In season 2014/15 a merchandise shop finally opened at the club thanks to a team led by Alison Robson, who was chair of club services from 2012 to 2015. The shop continues to operate and has expanded its range. However, stock continues to be tricky to manage. The development of an online merchandise store should improve stock control and make purchasing merchandise easier for members. The online store was kick-started with the launch of the club’s centenary merchandise in 2018. Dave Kordic and Andrew Moore, drivers of North Cottesloe’s slick IRB outfit.
The centenary merchandise has been a huge success. It has also been a great tribute to some of the club’s younger
stripes if the club committed to purchasing the whole ream
Seafolly was a fashion label before it started making bathers
of material, over a year. Deal done – Togz became the club’s
for athletes and had no idea about the size of people who
new supplier and the ‘stripes’ continued to be a staple.
competed – runners being lean, swimmers being broader
The women’s bathers, however, had been far from
in the chest and women who had any sort of bust. Seafolly
static. Style and colour morphed with different labels
struggled with designing bathers that would fit all shapes
(Seafolly, Spank, Finz) and different people managing the
from nippers through to the older associates and the club
Reif Myers. The centenary merchandise was virtually sold out
merchandise. Dealing with Seafolly had been interesting.
ended up with multiple designs that didn’t always comply
by the end of the centenary season launch in October 2018.
194 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
members who jumped on board to lend their branding and marketing skills. The team of Stami Kafetzakis, Claire Jordan, Kate Bonner and Patrick Hazard designed the club’s centenary brand and gave valuable input to the merchandise package, which included a range of shorts designed by club member
Technology has been essential to the growth of North Cottesloe. Since the club’s first website was launched in 2000 it’s been a continuous cycle of upgrading websites and investigating and applying different communication platforms. It’s been a constant grapple with how best to communicate with members and how to reduce the number of phone calls coming into the office. In this regard, the club has tried to embrace technology and has done some great things with technology but has probably never been on top of the game. The club had launched into the online world at the end of the dot-com boom. It was a time when expectations of websites shifted extremely quickly, even though the technology to deliver the expectations was not keeping up. The cost to deliver websites was extraordinary. Not many
North Cottesloe wins SLSWA administration club of the year and runner-up club of the year, 2014.
Email was also becoming an important tool for
The club stopped using the direct-mail service somewhere
communicating with members and by the end of season
along the line as Kelly Moss remembers in the early 2000s
2002/03, 82 per cent of the membership was receiving
sitting with Laurie Russell putting hard copy newsletters in
regular news updates and patrol reminders via email.
envelopes and mailing them to members.
site wasn’t being delivered. And of course the bandwidth
Throughout the 2000s, communication with members
For Laurie, spending time in the North Cottesloe office was
didn’t help with everyone still relying on dial-up modems.
continued to be a focus and by 2007 was dramatically
just part of his day, sharing a coffee and chat with whomever
improved by way of a weekly eNewsletter. Over the previous
was there. Laurie had joined the club in 1941 as a junior and
decades, newsletters had periodically been mailed to
remained an active member for more than 65 years. Like his
members. There were times when the newsletters were
brother Graham, Laurie made a huge contribution to almost
regular but they obviously required content and someone to
every aspect of club life. He was a staunch member of North
be responsible for them and both weren’t always in abundant
Cottesloe’s R&R team that won numerous State titles and at
supply. Around the mid-1990s the ‘Reefer News’ included a
the Australian Championships won gold, silver and two bronze
hot-off-the-press section full of humorous snippets about
medals. Laurie represented WA six times, served as chief
club members. The satire provided great entertainment for
instructor for 11 years in the 50s and 60s and from 1990 until
the readers.
2001 was the club registrar, meticulously keeping pencil notes
people were really capable of delivering the products and most people had no idea what went into it. North Cottesloe members were not alone in being constantly perplexed by the jargon and the excuses as to why the promised flash new
By July 2001, the club’s new website already needed a complete overhaul so that it could move from an outdated and uninformative site to one that was modern, user-friendly and packed full of information for members to access. Long-time member Jeff Spirek contributed countless hours to create the new site, which was launched during season 2001/02. Not only was the new site a great asset for members, it was also very easy to update and administer, enabling the club administration to regularly update the site
on every member. Laurie passed away in 2007.
with news stories, up-coming events, competition results,
During the late 1990s, part-time administrator Merome Hall
photos, club newsletters and much more. There was also a
and secretary Julianne Simmons endeavoured to make the
The eNewsletter of the late 2000s was certainly a time-saver.
patrol section where members could look up their patrols
newlsetter a monthly publication. They would type it on the
Kelly had heard about ‘mailchimp’ in her former role with
for the season. The website had become an integral part of
computer and Julianne would take it to East Perth where
the Department of Sport and Recreation. She subsequently
disseminating information to members and the aim was for
club member Michael Broughton had a direct mail business.
investigated and implemented it when she returned to North
this to continue to grow.
Michael would format, print and send out the newsletter.
Cottesloe as general manager. The weekly eNews became an
Chapter 2 New era of professionalism | 195
N
orth Cottesloe has been lucky to have some talented artists within the membership. These artists have depicted the club, been inspired by the club and its people, and provided artwork for magazines, newsletters, merchandise and walls, as well as pieces to be auctioned to raise funds for the club. Dean Alston is the club’s resident cartoonist. Best known for his daily send-ups in The West Australian, Dean has penned up to 60 pieces for the club since joining as an associate member around 1990 at the encouragement of fellow artist Mike Rigoll. The club hooked onto him fairly quickly, asking him to do a cartoon for a club t-shirt and then strips for the newsletters. Later he did some larger pieces that were framed and auctioned at events. For Dean it has always been a bit of fun, largely because his cartoons are typically about someone everyone knows. Jerry Knowles had suggested to Dean and Mike that they would see a lot of wonderful things looking out the windows from the club gym. Indeed he was right. “Naked backpackers, unique people and personalities,” Dean said. “It’s been very interesting. It’s a window to the world and all the different personalities. I’m down there at odd times so I see a lot of different things. Part of being a cartoonist is that you notice things others don’t.” As for Mike, he had joined the club in 1983 and by the mid-80s was redesigning the club logo after Graham Russell (president 1964 to 1984) pointed out that the club actually had a yellow/ gold accent. The club has kept the logo ever since. Recently, Mike had a big hand in the club’s centenary logo. Over the last three decades Mike has done many designs for team shirts and posters for events. The most popular shirt was 2012. Mike was asked to come up with a symbol that club members of all ages, male and female would be happy to wear. He thought a star would be a good fit as the club’s star was on the rise through the 90s, and deep down everybody wanted to be a bit of a star. His favourite design remains the
2013 retro GT stripe. It had a mid-century surf culture vibe and was not too far removed from the club stripes (plus Mike is a massive fan of retro muscle cars). Ongoing projects include surf boat livery for potential sponsorship proposals. Reif Myers started competing for North Cottesloe as a nipper when he was 11. Five years later he took his first sample of shorts to the club. They were the result of a school project and the start of his brand Ocean Zone, or Oz, which 10 years later is an iconic WA brand that reaches across Australia and is growing rapidly. He has since done about five different runs of boardies for the club, most recently for the club’s centenary. Aside from designing club boardies, Reif gains inspiration from the club for his art. Most of his work is focused on the western suburbs and Rottnest landscapes and almost always has the Cottesloe pylon, North Cottesloe colours and a North Cottesloe life guard (and yes he has personally been involved with painting the Cottesloe pylon). Reif’s mother Jos Myers has also connected with North Cottesloe through art. Around 2000, Jos held an art exhibition in collaboration with the surf club and many people will remember her beach characters who wore the blue-and-white stripes.
Artist Jacob Butler, AKA Shakey, joined the club in 2014 through his girlfriend Ange Coote, who had been rowing surf boats for a number of years. Jacob has since depicted various aspects of club life through murals and smaller pieces. The mural above the bar came courtesy of Jacob and at a couple of annual dinners he’s done live paintings that were auctioned off, with funds going to the club. He and Ange, a photographer, designed nipper boards for SLSWA. The boards, sponsored by AGL, were given to clubs throughout WA. In 2018 Jacob worked with North Cottesloe nippers and cadets to develop the concept for the club’s centenary mural, which he painted on the north wall of the ski shed. He also collaborated with Ange (by now his wife) on the design. Jacob finished off the centenary season with a framed piece to be auctioned off at the gala dinner. Jacob really sees the value in the surf club community and the difference it can makes to lives – bringing up a family in the surf club environment and the benefits that can permeate through life. He feels the best way he can support that is through his art.
institution that continues today and remains the key tool for
Similarly, since the early 1990s education and training at North
communicating with members.
Cottesloe had been undertaken in an increasingly professional manner. However, it took a long time for the club’s efforts to
By the late 2000s, the club’s website had again been
be recognised by State Centre. It was a reflection of the bad
overhauled to include features such as choosing patrols
relationship between North Cottesloe and State Centre that
online, advertising patrol swaps, online payment systems and
was discussed earlier in this chapter. But eventually State
updating membership details. With the website continuing
Centre actually came to the club and saw what the education
to evolve, not only was it a great new feature for members
team was doing, how much effort was being put in and finally
but a way of streamlining some of the club’s administrative
realised the club was doing an excellent job. This high esteem
functions. Its ability to manage patrols was the envy of the surf
has continued to grow, with North Cottesloe envied for the
life saving world. There was a plan to license the software and
professionalism of its education team, which for many years
roll it out to other clubs but it was hard to apply to other clubs
has trained the most awards out of all the clubs in WA and in
and there were always issues getting the software right so the
some years has put through more bronze medallions than the
plan never eventuated. Another new website was launched in mid-2014. Again, a large part of the website was about communication between the club and its members and a major project in conjunction with the new website was a new patrol booking system. The system was all about creating greater flexibility for members, resulting in a more self-sufficient system and freeing up a
rest of the WA clubs combined. Travis Sheehy (club captain 2006-09), Lee Barker (surf sports chair since 2017) and Michael Beech (treasurer 2001-06).
are detailed in later chapters. since the early 2000s North Cottesloe has expanded its IRB operations into an extremely professional outfit, providing water safety for nippers on Sundays, local carnivals, Australian
time-consuming administrative task.
championships and also water events outside of SLSWA.
Meanwhile, patrols themselves had also become much more
been involved in the Wesfarmers Emergency Response Team
professional operations. Gone were the days that members on patrol would play beach cricket, duck upstairs for a coffee, over the road for a beer or, indeed, sign on and off without
North Cottesloe’s education, life saving and officiating stories
In more recent years, North Cottesloe members have also as jet ski operators and with the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter as crew.
North Cottesloe’s involvement in education along the coast played an important role in enhancing the club’s strengthening relationship with SLSWA. So too did the club’s continued involvement in the SLSWA committee structure, with representatives on State and national advisory committees and also at board level. Following Richard Meadmore and Michael Beech on the board were Mike Rees and then Kelly Moss. In fact, North Cottesloe has been
actually completing the patrol. Patrolling the beach is the
Officiating is another area in which North Cottesloe has upped
represented on the SLSWA board continuously since Beechie
main priority of any surf club and during the early to mid-
its professionalism. Less than 15 years ago there was open
first joined in 2006. Beechie’s strong control of finances
2000s North Cottesloe’s patrols had been overhauled to
hostility towards North Cottesloe among carnival officials
had been of great importance in the development of North
reflect this. In both the administration and also on the beach,
from other clubs. The club was seen as aloof, arrogant and
Cottesloe as a professional club. He then played a similarly
practices had changed with the aim of bringing patrols up to
not prepared to do its bit towards the running of carnivals.
significant role at State Centre and was instrumental in getting
the high standard they should be. These efforts culminated in
Through the dedicated involvement of a number of North
Wesfarmers on board as a sponsor in 2007/08. It was a fine
the club being named SLSWA patrol club of the year in 2017. It
Cottesloe officials, led by John Barwood, the club has been
conduit for the club in its rising status within SLSWA.
was the first time the club had won the award since 1932. The
able to overcome this negative view and establish recognition
North Cottesloe members have also been centrally involved
and respect. North Cottesloe has increasingly recognised its
in the two very significant property transactions undertaken
In the early 1990s, North Cottesloe became the last club
officials as important members of the club’s surf sports team
by SLSWA. Richard Meadmore advised on the sale of the
on the coast to get an IRB. It took more than a decade for
and has been one of the leaders in the rising status of officials
Osborne Park property in 2005, and in 2010 David Paganin
the club to really start building its capacity in this area but
within clubs.
assisted SLSWA during the planning that led to the purchase
club finished runner-up in the award in 2018.
Chapter 2 New era of professionalism | 197
and construction of its Balcatta headquarters. Also during the late 2000s, North Cottesloe members, former WA Governor Malcolm McCusker AC, CVO, QC and lawyer Brian Sierakowski, acted as trustees of the SLSWA fund. All these things demonstrated that North Cottesloe had interest in all of SLSWA, not just its own club. As more of North Cottesloe’s members became officials at the SLSWA level, it further demonstrated the club’s involvement in the State’s affairs. Prejudices and preferences that had occurred in previous years had been put to bed. Of course, North Cottesloe’s sporting success also helped, with sprinters and boat crews successfully competing on the national stage from the mid-1990s onwards. The outstanding success of the J crew in the 2000s with four successive national open surf boat championships underlined this to State and national officials. These results, when put together with the club’s involvement on State and national advisory committees, its heavy involvement in local and State training and development activities, and its recognition on multiple occasions as club of the year, clearly demonstrated the club’s professionalism. It also put the club in a strong position to
Nat Benjanuvatra and Miriam Salter demonstrate the slick actions of North Cottesloe patrols.
ensure it had strong relationships at State and national levels. In 2014, Craig Smith-Gander became SLSWA president, the fourth State president from North Cottesloe and the first in 50 years (since Don Molyneux held the position from 1961 to 1964). Craig, who had finished as president of North Cottesloe the previous year, took on the State role simply because he was asked to – by outgoing SLSWA president Mark Irwin (2008 to 2014), who was keeping up the grand old tradition of being unable to resign until you find a successor. During his time as North Cottesloe president, Craig had gained a reasonably good insight into the way SLSWA was run and he held both Mark and CEO Paul Andrew in high regard. During
“While developing their business beyond what most clubs had done, North Cottesloe never lost sight of its members. Many clubs struggle with periods of growth in terms of funding, building new clubrooms, trying to expand services into the community whilst remaining focused on their members. North Cottesloe has been able to do that and this has been proven with the club’s financial, social, life saving, and competitive sides and the strength and depth they’ve been able to achieve. “From an outside perspective, North Cottesloe has been perceived to have a bit of arrogance, but in a good way. They have been so confident of themselves and their ability to perform: ‘We can be the best. We will be the best.’ North Cottesloe seems to have a clear plan with strong recruitment programs, community engagement and of course strong competition. The J crew provided a real focal point for the club on a national stage followed by many other great athletes and they continue to back it up.”
the previous six years, SLSWA membership had increased from 11,000 to 19,000 and annual turnover from $2.5 million to $10.5 million. SLSWA was in great shape, and Craig was honoured to be asked to take the lead.
198 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Mark Irwin, SLSWA President 2008 – 2014
“North Cottesloe has an inspiring ability to engage their members and the community, adapt their services to best suit everyone involved, and are strongly committed to continuous improvement of all facets of the club, from their services and volunteers, to their relationships with partners and the local community.
Competitors Alli Gould, Tom Nolan and Sarah Power with an SLSWA fundraising distribution cheque, 2015.
Jacob ‘Shakey’ Butler working on the centenary mural with some of the club’s young members, 2018.
Paul Andrew resigned a few months later to become CEO
Surf Life Saving Foundation to deliver its own fundraising
of Lotterywest. Fortunately, he had a great team in place
arm in WA. Craig emphasises it’s been a matter of continuing
and with James O’Toole selected as the new CEO it was
the improvements that were already under way.
a seamless transition. From all accounts, SLSWA’s “great
In 2013 Chris Shellabear succeeded Goose as North
shape” has continued to improve. The body has undergone
Cottesloe president. He jumped into the role with a ‘one
numerous changes, including resigning from the national
club’ mantra and a strong community focus. Since joining
“I will start by declaring my interest – North Cottesloe is my club. North Cottesloe is one of our most successful, and our largest club. The last two decades have seen an acceleration of the professionalism of the club, and its increasing engagement at both State and national levels. During this period, North Cottesloe has had regular involvement in shaping SLSA strategy through the involvement of its members on the standing committees of SLSA. In Western Australia, almost all of our standing committees have representation from the club, and there has been a North Cottesloe member on the SLSWA board for well over a decade now.
“The club continues to keep up with changing culture and technology, ensuring their members are well equipped to not only undertake their life saving duties, but also to continue growing as individuals. Through the club’s surf sports academy, members are encouraged to become leaders not only within the club, but in the broader community as well, while also developing their athletic abilities. “North Cottesloe has also served as a leader for many clubs to emulate when planning for success. With a membership now that hovers around 2000, renewed success in surf sports, a strong nippers program and an education program that has expanded into the wider community many clubs have sought their advice.” James O’Toole, SLSWA CEO since 2015
North Cottesloe is a club that is generous in its involvement and engagement with the movement – be it with other clubs or with the State or national association. The club regularly features as a finalist or winner in many of the SLSWA awards. Of this I am genuinely proud. As SLSWA president, I removed myself from all the panels that select the winners of the various categories at our awards of excellence – with so many North Cottesloe finalists, the potential for conflict was just too high.” Craig Smith-Gander, SLSWA President since 2014
Chapter 2 New era of professionalism | 199
as an associate member in 1989, Chris had been involved in many facets of the club from juniors and cadets, to helping out with senior touring teams and as a sponsor. The club presidency wasn’t a role Chris sought. However, when he was approached to be president as an unaligned ‘clean skin’ who was clearly passionate about the club, he didn’t need long to think about it. He felt the club was in good shape but believed he could contribute by bringing the club together, breaking down the silos that he felt were growing and knock any elitism on its head. On the back of the strong focus on competition, he set about acknowledging all areas of the club, from patrolling members to officials. The aim was to bring the club together as one team, with everyone playing their part. The photographic mural in the gym remains a
Patrolling members at the launch of the club’s centenary season, 2018.
Ian Clarke (president since 2015) in action as a surf boat sweep.
Chris also set about building the club’s involvement in
at the club. Throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s,
Surf sports sections have been asked for a three-to-five-year
the wider community. As detailed in the previous chapter,
Clarkey was one of the core members of the senior male surf
strategy that feeds into the broader club surf sports strategy.
he played a key role in the development of the old scout
boat squad. He was a member of the crew that won the club’s
Point scores have been looked at more strategically – where
hall into the Cottesloe Scouts and Community Hall. The
first surf boat medal at an Australian championships (bronze
does the club lack, where can the club get the most points
facility not only gave the club a long-term storage facility
in 1995) and certainly played an important role in building the
– with the ultimate goal of being the number-one club in the
away from the beach for no monetary outlay; it provided a
surf boat strength that the club is known for today. Clarkey
State for competition. Funding models have also been looked
facility for other groups in the community to use. Along with
believes that when you compete for North Cottesloe over a
at – how does the club support those who support the club?
further expansion of community service and alignment with
long period of time, the blue and white becomes ingrained in
charities, these things demonstrated the worth of the club to
your DNA.
the wider community and the club’s commitment beyond life
Clarkey felt the different sections of the club had become
subtle legacy of his mantra – every individual is important and contributes to the whole. One club.
saving on the beach. Chris believed that for the club to keep filling its ranks with motivated, community-minded people, the club needed to be involved in the wider community.
segregated so when he became president his focus was to unite them – by refocusing on surf sports. He took a holistic approach and worked with chair of surf sports Lee Barker, who
Competition became a pillar of the club’s strategy, along with life saving and youth/nippers – not one over the other. Clarkey points out that all this is underpinned by a sense of community and community events. He emphasises “underpin” because although community is an important part of the club’s values, he doesn’t believe it should be a focus.
Chris sought to demonstrate to the Cottesloe Town Council
facilitated planning sessions with all section captains. It was
how much the club was increasingly doing in the wider
about learning from each other’s successes, sharing results
Clarkey’s philosophy is: “Club first. Team second. Individual
community and the club’s relationship with the council is
and celebrating together, with the aim of recreating a sense
third. If you live this for the club, the club will support you 120
stronger for it.
of pride and camaraderie in each other’s performances and
per cent, not the other way around!”
Former North Cottesloe surf boat rower Ian Clarke took over
ultimately as a club.
At the 2018 State championships, North Cottesloe finished
the presidency in 2016. Clarkey had been encouraged to
Lee took on the role of chair of surf sports in 2017 with a
third. The club hadn’t been this competitive across the board
take on the role given his competitive history and longevity
strategic approach, taking accountability for performance.
since the early 1970s.
200 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
3
3
Traditional fun and dress in Geraldton after the country carnival, 2018.
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 201
Training with the dolphins at sunset.
202 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
3
Chapter
The barren wilderness of North Cottesloe became known
Richard Meadmore, life member and president from 1996
as ‘Siberia’ and started attracting a ‘working class’ who saw
to 2000, remembers going to the club unsupervised from a
themselves as separate from the inhabitants of the older
very early age. Richard had a strong family connection to the
established Cottesloe, south of Eric Street. The membership
surf club. His father Reg had two brothers, Bill (William) and
of the North Cottesloe Life Saving and Athletic Club, as it
John. Both Reg and Bill were life members and John was a
was called when it was established in 1918, reflected these
member of the 1952 Australian champion R&R team. Reg was
demographics. It was a club for the working class. Cottesloe,
also a life member of SLSWA. Richard’s uncle on his mother’s
on the other hand, was seen as a club of silvertails.
side, another Bill (William Ivor Holly), was one of the club’s 14
By the early 1920s, North Cottesloe was building new
members killed in World War II. Bill Holly’s brothers, Tom and
clubrooms on private land across the road from the beach and they quickly became the major social attraction in
John, were also members at some point. And in the 1960s, Richard’s sister, Sharon Smith, was a member of a State
Cottesloe. It wasn’t long before North Cottesloe became
champion R&R team. Richard became a life member in 1995
known for its wild parties and over the decades this social
and Meadmore remains the only family with three members
side, in varying forms, has been an important part of the
inducted as life members.
club’s culture. The focus on competition has been similarly
From the age of eight, Richard did everything at the club,
strong and active members fulfilled their patrol obligations mostly so they could compete. Today, the life saving aspect
including a lot of surfing. “You won’t believe it but before the north mole was extended and the two groynes at Cottesloe
CLUB LIFE, CLUB PEOPLE
has also become an integral part of the club’s culture. By 1922, the 35 founding members had grown into a
we used to get a nice surf along the Cottesloe coastline,”
T
membership of 136 and until the 1980s the membership
Richard said. “When there was no surf we built rafts, skin-
(including associate members) typically fluctuated between
dived, played endless games of table tennis and cricket and
100 and 200. During the 1980s it jumped to around 400
generally annoyed each other. I kissed my first girlfriend at
but active members remained less than 100. This resulted
the club, I studied for exams at the club, I drank alcohol for
imes have changed and in many ways the life and culture of the club has changed. No longer is it an intimate family club where everyone knows everyone, nor the do-it-yourself club where everyone does their bit to keep the
clubhouse from falling down. It’s a big organisation with
in regular and long patrols. For the most part these patrols were fun with members playing beach cricket or touch football while patrolling.
full-time staff and a membership of more than 2000. But
For many members during this time, it was a case of spending
for many members, both old and new, it is a home away
whole days or weekends on the beach. With fewer social and
from home where there’s a feeling of family and a sense of
sporting options then, the club provided everything many
belonging to a welcoming and hugely-diverse community.
needed from a social and sporting perspective. Kids were down
It’s a place they spend their time – exercising, patrolling, socialising and competing. It’s a place they make lifelong friendships, learn life skills and create memories.
and the marinas in North Fremantle were constructed,
there with their parents, or being supervised by the other adults. Be it on the weekend or after school, the club was a fun place to hang out and there was always someone looking out for the kids. As parents rolled out the same jukebox for every party,
In the early 1900s there was a divide between Cottesloe and
the kids would play, or crash out in the clubrooms when the
North Cottesloe, both in social standing and development.
evenings got late.
Beach judging and relaxing.
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 203
the first time at the club. I did everything except sleep and eat there, although as I got older I did sleep at the club quite a few times. I went home when I was hungry.” Richard was not alone in his experiences. Club life was pretty much like that for many young members. Although the membership was small, the club was a hive of activity. There was a very strong culture of people being present, spending time together and working together. When something was needed, the members did it themselves, the younger clubbies learning from the more experienced. Graham Russell, president from 1964 to 1984, worked for Hinchliffe Bros and could turn his hand to anything. Young clubbies would help Graham weld ski racks at the workshop, then bring them to the club and install them. Today’s Trojans have
Easter in Denmark, 1987.
brought back an aspect of the do-it-yourself culture. Lyn Girdlestone remembers the club never being locked, so many of them spent all their spare time there, even through winter. They all came from humble beginnings. No
Kids excited at Santa’s (Ron Sheen) arrival at North Cottesloe in a surf boat, 1983.
Victor Raeburn, Richard Meadmore, Steve Artelaris, Adrian
driver, and camping in the big club tent with the same 20 to
‘Ridders’ Ridderhof – and who let him drink beer.
30 competitors. Singing Christmas Carols on Christmas Eve on the back of a tray-back truck, travelling from the club to
one had any money so they developed their own activities
There was a regular training run, with up to 30 members
and bonded as mates, which then followed through to
running the three-mile (almost 5km) circuit around Cottesloe
competition. Fundraising BBQs were held in members’
on a handicap. There were the Sunday night shows after the
backyards – kegs of beer hidden in the chook yard in case
pubs closed at 7.30pm. The best bands in town, including
the homes were raided by the police. A special few even
Fatti Lumpkin and Dave Hole Blues Band, would pack
held the keys to Cyril Hansen’s local butcher shop where
up from their gig at the pub at 7pm, hightail it to North
the club stored its kegs. Lyn and his peers learnt how to
Cottesloe, and be on stage to start at 7.45pm. They were
Pope, who had arrived back from India.
party from older members like Graham and Laurie Russell
the days of loose regulations, with underage drinking and
Today’s members who were kids in the 80s remember
and Bill Kidner. To go on country carnival trips as juniors
people driving home after a few drinks. At 16, Goose worked
fondly the small family club and under-developed facilities.
and be invited into the bar afterwards for a couple of beers
on the door of the Sunday shows a bit boozed and collecting money.
They played spotlight in the sand dunes and wrestled on
was pretty special. A senior member would then escort the juniors into the dining room for their evening meal.
Nedlands and back, stopping and singing carols at the houses of other members. The truck was provided by club member Murray Hindle, who had a trucking business in Fremantle at the time. One year the loaded truck even ventured out to the very new international airport to pick up boatie Andrew ‘Popey’
the mattresses in the big hall while their parents enjoyed
Jenny Ford’s memories from the 1970s and 80s include
sundowners. When they were old enough to patrol, they
Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander (club captain 1987 to 1990,
keg parties in the kitchen and courtyard with about 20 to 30
surfed on foamies and played beach cricket and touch
president 2006 to 2013) talks about the club becoming
competitors after carnivals – two boat crews, half a dozen
football on the beach during patrol. Some patrol groups were
almost his entire existence and spending whole weekends
swimmers and half a dozen ski paddlers. Country carnivals
known for putting new members in the tower while the rest
there during summer. He remembers being guided by a
at Denmark, Geraldton and Albany – travelling in a hired MTT
of the patrol would grab foamies and catch waves. Mornings
strong group of older guys whom he looked up to – Mark
bus, with boatie Johnno Miller (chief instructor for eight years
were wave catching and afternoons were cricket. Another
‘Lumpy’ Davis, Rob Jewkes, Stewie Mitchell, Simon Martin,
during the 70s, 80s and 90s, club president 1986/87) as the
favourite activity was the regular three-on-three basketball
204 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
tournaments in the old upstairs courtyard, organised by Dennis Hawtin. Renato Bruno remembers doing all-day patrols as a teenager and being served chicken lunches by the oldies who used to hang out upstairs all weekend. James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin remembers there always being a few people sitting and chatting whenever he went to the surf club. Craig ‘Belly’ Bell was always there and knew everyone’s name. Belly was an ideal clubman, active in surf boats, as a patrolling member and on the committee. He also had that cheeky, mischievous ‘North Cottesloe attitude’ that has been part of the club through much of its history. During the club’s tough times in the 80s, Belly was part of a core group doing weekly patrols, organising fundraisers and helping keep the club afloat. Graham and Laurie Russell, Mike Flower, Jerry Knowles, Colin Chalmers, Lyn Girdlestone, Peter Driscoll, Dennis Hawtin, Mike Rigoll, Nick Taylor, Craig Smith-Gander, Cliff Ford, Graeme and Russell Fellows, Norm Mazzini, Bernie Boylan, Rob Hodby, John Rear, Andrew Pope, Ian and Andrew Brown, Rob Jewkes, Victor Raeburn and Mark ‘Lumpy’ Davis were others in this core group. Some of them were older but still active. Some had young families. Many of them were also training and competing in their respective surf sports disciplines, as well as
Steve McConkey and Adrian ‘Ridders’ Ridderhof relax in ‘variable heat’ Radox baths after day one of the Avon Descent in the late 1980s when many North Cottesloe ski paddlers competed in the two-day whitewater race. Note a young Lea ‘Loops’ Ridderhof behind Ridders.
While there are plenty of stories about Belly, one that
Belly is one of a number of North Cottesloe stalwarts to have
sticks in Andrew’s mind (and is printable) is from a Denmark
passed away in the past quarter of a century. The stories
After a short stint as chief instructor in the mid-80s, Belly
country carnival in the 80s. Late at night, Belly, Andrew and
of Graham and Laurie Russell, Jerry Knowles and Colin
went on to be secretary from 1988 to 1990, followed by
Norm Mazzini borrowed the old MTT bus that the club had
Chalmers are included elsewhere in this book but suffice to
club captain through until 1995. Chocks wasn’t the only one
hired for the trip to go into town to find some food. They
say they all had a profound impact on North Cottesloe Surf
whom Belly made a big impression on. He was respected
stopped in a gravel car park and tried a few donuts with
by everyone and had a bit of a legend about him. However,
limited success. Then they came across a hitchhiker who
Club and their passing was sorely felt. The club has sadly
there was a side to Belly that was hidden from even his close
couldn’t believe his eyes when an MTT bus stopped to pick
friends. He committed suicide in August 2004. His good
him up. Andrew and Norm wanted to charge him 50c for a
friend and long-time North Cottesloe competitor, Andrew
ticket but Belly being Belly let him ride for free. It turned out
Brown, had swum with him only a few days before and
there was nothing open in Denmark at 1am and the guys
nothing seemed amiss. Belly’s death shook the whole club
were lucky to get home after driving down a dead-end street
Sam Knowles pretty much grew up at the club. One cold
and he is still terribly missed.
and having to negotiate a 52-point turn to get out.
winter’s day he watched his dad Jerry swim about
running nippers and sitting on the committee.
said goodbye to a number of other members during this period – those who made it to a ripe old age and those who died well before their time. Their memories live on at North Cottesloe.
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 205
more accountable for their actions. The way the club manages patrolling/life saving, competing and educating is now a lot more serious, with a significant amount of discipline and expertise invested in these activities. Dynamics have also changed with competitors making up just over a third of the active membership (15 years and over). All these things have had an effect on the culture of the club. In addition, as the club has grown, the volunteer culture has been threatened by a sense of entitlement. Membership of the club increased in the 1990s and the new faces reflected the changing demographic of Cottesloe. Until the late 80s the area was still relatively working class. It also had a lot of retirees, as well as holiday houses for farmers. Young professionals realised it was a pretty under-valued area and started moving in. With the huge increase in enrolments in both the boys’ and girls’ independent schools in the western suburbs, numbers for the club’s nipper program jumped significantly. Many of these nippers either stayed in the club or rejoined as they started post-secondary studies. As a
Bronze requalification at Rottnest Island, early 1990s.
consequence, the employment demographic has increasingly
200 metres out to rescue a hypothermic man and his
‘Stinga’ Rea highlighted this: “Assistance and participation
reflected tertiary-educated statistics. It is no longer the
unconscious son, who were floating down the coast (wearing
from members is going to be a new push next season. Over
working man’s club. It is a corporate club. But at its core it
lifejackets) after their boat had capsized off Fremantle. Jerry
the past few years this has faded somewhat as the club has
remains a family club.
and the other lifesavers dragged the father and son out of the
grown and become more financially secure. In days gone past
water and gave them CPR. Both men miraculously survived.
volunteering was one of the many things that helped build the
Many a comment is made about the casualness of North
club spirit. Most members would still love to assist so the club
Cottesloe’s patrols in those days, and of how professional the
just needs to capture these offers and make use of them.”
patrols of 2018 are in comparison. But North Cottesloe never
Times have changed in other ways. Typically members don’t
self development. For these reasons, surf life saving has
spend as much time at the club these days as they did during
something to offer every member from the age of five to 95.
failed when it came to performing rescues. Young fit surf lifesavers were always there when needed.
the bulk of the 20th century. From a social and sporting
North Cottesloe took off in the early 90s. Increased financial
perspective there are now more things on offer. Today,
security, a huge increase in membership numbers and
members are more likely to go to the club to train, patrol, use
ultimately, the shift to a paid administration then changed
the gym or have a swim, and then they leave. They no longer
People get involved in surf life saving for many reasons – parents want to help their children learn about the ocean and the enjoyment that it can offer, others join to build new skills, for camaraderie, physical fitness and personal
The North Cottesloe membership is hugely diverse – in age, interests, backgrounds and professions. Many members are in highly-regarded or powerful professional roles. Yet the club remains inclusive. Perhaps this goes back to the club’s roots.
the culture of the club. Large numbers diluted the ability to
spend all day or all weekend there.
get to know everyone and paid staff diluted the potency of
Increased regulations across the surf life saving movement,
it started and it welcomed members who had been turned
volunteerism. In his 2000/01 annual report president Nick
and life in general, have also had an impact, with everyone
away from other clubs.
206 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
It was always inclusive. It welcomed women from the day
An early example of this goes back to the 1920s. Two teenagers, Gus Graham and H.R. (‘Bob’) Irvine, spent a lot of time at Cottesloe Beach fishing from their small boat, often hawking their catch off the Cottesloe jetty on a busy summer’s day. They also discovered that they could use the little dinghy to catch waves, and developed a technique for riding waves to the beach, controlling the boat with the oars. In 1924, the two young men applied to join the Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club, but were knocked back. It was suggested the club did not consider it seemly to admit members who sold fish from the jetty and showed off their shark catches to the public from a small tent on the beach (charging 3 pence per adult, 1 penny per child). So the men went up the coast and were welcomed by North Cottesloe. Their experience messing about in boats made them obvious choices for the crew of the club’s first surf boat ‘The Bryan’. Gus Graham swept North Cottesloe to victory for the first seven years of State championship competition – clobbering Cottesloe year after year. In 1980 when Colin Chalmers arrived in Perth with a wealth of
Post-country carnival dress and antics with Steve ‘Popstick’ Penrose, Julianne Simmons, Nick ‘Stinga’ Rea, Sian Halliwell, Tom Breen, Colin Chalmers and (bending over) Andrew Clarke, Geraldton, 1993.
Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander with son Gordon, who later became a successful surf boat rower, 1993.
experience at surf clubs in Victoria and NSW, he also sought to join Cottesloe Surf Club. But the club did not seem too
builders to name a few. The club was humourously
affiliation status because of the club’s support of the Uncle
interested in new members, so he walked the few hundred
described by one member as “a rogue state” and “a Swiss
Tobys series. Malcolm quickly knocked this on its head.
metres up the beach to North Cottesloe where he was
army knife of individuals depending what the f. . . up was”.
welcomed with open arms. Colin quickly threw himself into
In a more humorous incident on the Gold Coast in 1995,
Jerry Knowles was the first lawyer to become a member
surf boat sweeps Richard Meadmore and Jack Alliss took
and over the years he was more than happy to use his legal
Malcolm with them to a meeting with the owner of South
training, along with his tenacious and combative nature, to
Coast Surf Boats, Ron Kelly. North Cottesloe had taken
fight for the club’s best interests. In the early 1980s, Jerry’s
delivery of a new South Coast surf boat early in the year but
For the bulk of the century, club members have worked hard
long-time friend and legal associate, Malcolm McCusker,
it was not what the club had ordered. Richard introduced
to keep the club financially viable. Although today North
joined the club as an associate member and he too
Cottesloe has a more enviable balance sheet than most and
proved a useful asset in a number of legal battles the club
Malcolm as the substitute for the club’s president, Jerry
a sponsorship list to rival any sports club, at the core, the
became embroiled in. Most were about alleged breaches of
passion and hard work remain.
discipline. But some were a bit more involved.
There have typically been some fairly heavy hitters at North
During the ‘cereal wars’ in the 1990s (documented in
wouldn’t be taking the boat back. Malcolm turned Ron inside
Cottesloe and they have been more than happy to use their
part one), State Centre sought to have North Cottesloe
out, along the way telling him he was a QC. Ron agreed to
professional skills for the club’s benefit – lawyers, architects,
suspended from competition and relegated to probationary
take the boat back and build the club a new one, which he
management duties and played a vital role in keeping the club afloat during the 1980s. He spent two years as president and followed it with a second two-year stint in the 90s.
Knowles, who was sick. Ron looked across the table at Malcolm and said: “I don’t know if you know much about the law” and proceeded to tell the North Cottesloe group why he
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 207
Having a great time at the club’s 75th anniversary dinner at the Hyatt, 1993.
Craig ‘Belly’ Bell and Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander, 1995.
Tom Flower (future club captain), Andrew Moullin and Stuart ‘Tubs’ McLaughlin, 1996.
did the following year. It was a good boat. It was what had
as an eclectic group of people from different walks of life, very
been ordered originally. But needless to say North Cottesloe
friendly and with a strong commitment to physical fitness.
never bought another South Coast boat.
Underlying the membership is a sense of community service.
in the club who has this view. Those who have joined the club having previously had this opinion have been quick to change their mind.
Malcolm, who ended up being a very successful masters
The regular paddling has also been an important time out for
competitor for North Cottesloe, went on to become
associate member Denis Reynolds, who retired in 2018 after
Governor of Western Australia from 2011 to 2014. Malcolm
34 years on the bench, the last 14 years as President of the
doesn’t compete any more but continues to paddle with
Perth Children’s Court. It was a high-pressure role and one
his mates a couple of times a week. It remains an important
for which he needed to be balanced and consistent in his
time-out for Malcolm – recreation in the true sense he calls
thinking, as well as respectful and patient to everyone who
it, even if it does sometimes go awry. One Mother’s Day in
came before him. Denis found paddling on the ocean with his
the late 2000s, Malcolm and Jock Vincent paddled a double
mates to be very therapeutic (complete with free advice and
ski to a buoy way out off Swanbourne in a howling north-
gratuitous criticism). It was mental relaxation, as well as clear-
west wind. He can’t recall what evil genie possessed them
thinking time. He came to many decisions while out on his ski.
to do so. They lost their ski and paddles, which they last saw
Denis lived and breathed every case. He likened the time on
cartwheeling south as they painfully swam back to the club.
the water to taking the pressure off a pressure cooker.
Their embarrassment was further fuelled by Dean Alston’s cartoon of what quickly became remembered as ‘the Mother’s Day disaster’.
There is no hierarchy at North Cottesloe. Members can find themselves in the gym, on the beach or in the club courtyard talking to a high court judge, builder, surgeon, teacher,
Malcolm has seen the huge growth in membership and
student, politician, labourer, black hawk pilot, photographer,
finances but agrees that what hasn’t changed is the spirit of
plumber or an Olympian. Outsiders may argue that the club
friendship and enjoyment of the club. He describes the club
seems arrogant and elitist but you’ll struggle to find anyone
208 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
When Nat Whiteside shifted from Cottesloe to North Cottesloe with her surf boat crew in season 2010/11, she did it because it was best for the crew. Personally, she didn’t want to betray her club and row for its ‘wealthy rivals’. However, her impression that North Cottesloe was a club full of the rich and famous and too intimidating was quickly turned on its head. “The reality was the complete opposite and we couldn’t have felt more welcome into the North Cottesloe family,” Nat said. “After competing very successfully for a few years (including two Australian silver medals in the under-23 female surf boat), Nat moved overseas. She returned in 2017. “I couldn’t picture myself anywhere else other than North Cottesloe Surf Club now,” Nat said. “Coming back to the atmosphere, the people, the lifestyle, the summers, the vibe and surf boats having spent four years without it, was one of the main reasons I’ve stuck around in Perth. It’s a family down there. There is no segregation between the disciplines and everyone is so welcoming. I love how people of all ages, socio-economic
and cultural backgrounds, varying fitness levels and careers
North Cott that you don’t get anywhere else. Things happen,
can all find this place as their own special escape they can
ideas grow and are nurtured into reality. We can do anything
enjoy, or as a home away from home. I can see North Cott
if we put our minds to it. Those that have gone before me
being a part of my life, for life.”
have shown that time and time again and those that will
When Ben Unbehaun joined the club as general manager
follow will be inspired, as I have been, by the immense
in 2012 he was aware that North Cottesloe was a reputable
capability of those that wear the blue and white stripes.”
club with a large membership base and impressive list of
And for life member and former treasurer Michael ‘Beechie
influential members. “But in hindsight I was probably similar
(Muncher)’ Beech, who joined in 1979 and is down at the
to others who think that it’s a club for the who’s who,” Ben said. “Once I worked there it was apparent that it was a club for everyone. Early in my stint there I remember (club captain) Tommy Flower bringing in a newspaper clipping (from WA Business News) saying the North Cottesloe board was one of the State’s top five sports club boards to be on, along with the likes of the Eagles and Dockers. I think this
club every morning to use the gym and have a swim, it’s the ability to have a chat with friends in their 80s or a Year 12 student that defines what the club is all about. He doesn’t care for the golf club, or some club on ‘The Terrace’. North Cottesloe is his club. Beechie spoke along these lines when he accepted his life membership in 2008. It was quite a
stirring speech and is remembered by many – along with him then losing his medallion under the table. Members of all ages appreciate the intergenerational mixing at the club. Jamie Ridderhof remembers being a young kid in the late 1980s chatting to Graham Russell and being able to relate to him. A visit to the ladies’ change rooms on any morning also says it all. It’s a unique social experience with a happy mix of schoolgirls, senior competitors, patrol members and seasoned regulars including several octogenarians. Life member Brian ‘Siera’ Sierakowski recently visited around 12 clubs in Queensland and New South Wales, looking to see what made North Cottesloe so special. “At North Cottesloe one of the most salient features is the special relationship
was almost typical of the external perception rather than the reality that the club is too big to be run solely by a board. It takes dozens of people on a lot of committees, helpers groups, squads and sections to keep it running well.” Nat Benjanuvatra, who joined in 2002 and was club captain from 2015 to 2018, sums it up: “The club is essentially a network of people who love the ocean. We all can be so different in terms of background, interests, profession, which side of politics we are in, and even what we want to get out of the club, but we love being active and being around the ocean. The club is like a second home.” As boat rower and long-time member Alli Gould said in 2017: “The reason or circumstances for your entry to the club doesn’t matter, as they are many and rather varied. What matters are the diverse ways that we can contribute to the fabric of this strong and inclusive club. Often our initial perception of our role in this community grows and transforms in rather unexpected and awesome ways. Connecting good people can produce some exceptional results.” When Mike Carter finished as chair of education in 2011, he wrote: “The thing I love about our club – there is a magic at
The Swan River Classic Paddle, otherwise known as the ‘Bridge to Bridge’, 1995.
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 209
everyday. It’s the morning ritual of a swim or a social paddle on the surf ski with a bunch of mates. Or perhaps a session in the gym, followed by a leisurely swim. For others, it might be intense surf sports training sessions and competition, the morning or afternoon fitness classes, a handful of patrols over the season or the calendar of social events. Jenny Rogers and Bob Serich joined the club in 2003 as associates, having previously been members in 1983/84 before starting their family. Their club life is shared, but it also means something different to each of them. “The fellowship within the community that defines the club was evident before we joined and has become an important part of our lives,” Jenny said. “The opportunity to be involved in differing ways has been integral. Bob’s preference is for a gentle walk, gym or swim before surveying the morning activities with his coffee mates from The Blue Duck veranda. Meanwhile, I have relished the transition from hockey to swimming, gym sessions, boxing and, my new passion, surf ski paddling. Each activity gives contact with club members of different ages and abilities, many of whom come up to the morning coffee party at Little Sup. “The time-honoured adage ‘the more you give the more you get’ has been most apparent when doing patrols and helping with the first-aid equipment,” Jenny said.” Competing in the State masters and supporting the younger ones has been another pathway for getting to know some wonderful, Malcolm McCusker, Greg McLennan, Adrian Ridderhof, unknown, Dennis Hawtin and Peter Driscoll, 1995.
generous and dedicated members.” There are family names that remain synonymous with North
between all the members – associate, juniors, parents,
Ski paddling captain Brendan ‘BD’ Downes believes this
Cottesloe Surf Club. Russell, Knowles, Flower, Meadmore,
competitors,” Siera said. “All groups embrace one another.
interest from some of the associates is a real driver. “One
Hawtin, Ridderhof, Smith-Gander, Clarke, Liggins and Ford
It is such a community club. There may be similar clubs in
of the best motivations of the club is having the likes of
WA but I believe North Cottesloe is unique. There is such a
Mike Rees and Michael Beech coming up to me and the
nurturing of competitors by the associate members. They
other squad members and encouraging us to train and
really care about what is going on, who is doing well. It’s a
encouraging us to compete.”
very distinctive point of difference. Our club is so blessed –
Today’s clubrooms are fantastic, but the people remain the
There are many others who also compete with the same
this all-embracing aspect.”
lifeblood of the club. For many members, club life is the
passion, heart and soul. But there are also those who
210 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
to name a few. They learnt to love the surf club and, along with many others, became part of the heart and soul of the club. When they competed, it wasn’t for themselves, but for the surf club. The family tradition continues with the next generation and soon to be the next.
compete for themselves and use the surf club as a means for competition. Of course it’s unavoidable. With the huge growth in membership and increased professionalism of the club, there will be an element of that. But at the core, and for those who continue their involvement over many years, the passion, heart and soul remain. Be it in competition, official roles or patrolling, so many members give selflessly year upon year. In the 2016 annual report, president Chris Shellabear wrote: “As president it is so rewarding to see what all our members achieve because I know that the club experience can enhance the lives of all its members from our young to our young at heart. The vision for North Cottesloe is not about resting on our laurels but ensuring that the culture of the club is enhanced with inclusiveness its hallmark. Where service above self guides your actions as a member, where decisions are founded on what is in the best interests of the club rather than the individual. In that way we honour all those who have gone before us.” The family tradition has been aided by the countless club romances blossoming into marriage and children. Many a member has met their life partner through the surf club and some of these partnerships are mentioned at the end of part one. Kelly Moss and Travis Sheehy, Lea ‘Loops’ Ridderhof and Todd Edwards, Bec Sattin and James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin, Bec Shellabear and Stuart ‘Tubs’ McLaughlin, Naomi Hough and Jack Alliss, Vanessa Whitehand and Stuart Reside, Georgina Walsh and Lee Barker, Mo Jaggard and
N
orth Cottesloe’s morning boxing sessions started in mid-2003 when club members Nick Hayler and Ali Gatti made a commitment to get fit. The old friends
agreed to train three mornings a week at various locations, doing a form of cross training that was fun, interesting and always different. By the end of 2003, there was a regular group of up to 20 participants doing boxing, cross training
and Nick offered free training to any club members who wanted to join. Nick continued running the sessions until 2012. He donated all the boxing gear and skipping ropes to the club and members Bob Hunter and Stew Nicolson took over the reins. Bob and Stew continue the classes today. Due to insurance, the classes are now only for club members. Cost
Ben Cole, Jodie Forlonge and Kim Wallis, to name a few.
and general fitness.
Some of their children are already, or soon will be, coming
Nick and Ali purchased enough gear to cater for everyone.
through nippers and it will go back to what some of them
The social aspect remains as important as fitness. For
It was for anyone who wanted to join in, have fun and
many members, the boxing classes have been their first
get fit. And it was free. The night before each session,
interaction with the club, aside from their bronze course.
Nick notified everyone via text message of the location,
The classes cater for all levels of fitness and are loved for
Indeed the Jaggard line is a long one. In 2018 Mo and Coley’s
accompanied by amusing words of encouragement. When
their friendly, inclusive culture. Getting fit by the beach,
two eldest children, Ari and Imogen, joined North Cottesloe
winter hit, North Cottesloe provided the perfect sheltered
with friends, as the sun rises is a pretty good way to start
as nippers. They are the fifth generation of the family
location. The club agreed to let the group use the premises
the day.
remember – the age group manager teaching you to sprint is your best mate’s dad.
is a gold coin.
M
ark Familton joined North Cottesloe in 2000. By the following year, his observations of club life had inspired him to start ‘Friday night fitness’. He wanted to improve the fitness of patrolling members, give new members a way to connect with the club and each other and create a more inclusive club culture. At the time Mark was a reserve specialist medical officer in the Army. He based the classes on military physical training, highlighting the military philosophy of mateship through a sense of teamwork, combined with the shared pain of high-intensity fitness training. The classes, which were open to members and non-members, enabled participants to connect with each other and the club, while greatly improving their fitness. The classes became known as ‘FNF’ and were so popular that Mark quickly added Monday to the program. When Guy Mouritz (member since 2006) started taking some classes in 2009, the Wednesday session was added – MWFNF. Mark ran the sessions for more than a decade. In 2011 he passed the baton – or more accurately, the medicine ball – to Guy, who continued with the same philosophy. MWFNF grew in popularity during 2012 when Guy signed up 36 club members to train and travel to Sydney to participate in Australia’s first ‘Tough Mudder’ event’, a 21km military style obstacle course. The group raised nearly $3500 for Legacy through a fundraising party hosted at the club. By now classes were getting so big (30-plus) that Guy raised the issue of insurance with the club and proposed to form a company, Outfitt, with its own insurance. The separation from the club allowed friends of members to
continue participating. Quite unintentionally, the classes had become a showcase for North Cottesloe Surf Club. Many non-member participants have joined the club as active members, with some going on to be patrol captains, significant contributors to various sections of the club and highly-successful competitors. In 2012, Erika Lori won bronze in the open female 2km beach run at the Australian championships. She credits MWFNF for not just introducing her to the surf club but providing her with the fitness to compete successfully on the national stage. The Australian men’s hockey team also participated in some ‘mental toughness’ training with
the class in the lead-up to their world cup win in 2014. Guy and Ken Tomczak (former City of Perth captain who joined North Cottesloe in 2012) continue to run Outfitt fitness classes on a voluntary basis on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. In 19 years, the price for North Cottesloe members has increased from $2 to $5. All proceeds go to covering insurance and equipment as well as donating to good causes at the club. The classes remain open to members and non-members and equipment is shared with the morning boxing class.
C
Brett ‘Chunds’ Endersby, MC at the annual dinner, early 2000s.
Elvis beach sprinters Matt Keys, Steve ‘Gimp’ Gibbs, Nick ‘Stinga’ Rea and Sam ‘Barney’ de Vries at the annual dinner, 1999.
associated with North Cottesloe – Mo’s great grandfather Ludwig Glauert, her grandparents Ted Jaggard and Joan Glauert (who also met at the surf club), her father Ed in a loose way (he actually wrote a lot of the club’s original history book and has written the postscript to this book and is a SLSWA life member), Mo and Coley and now their children. While there are those with family ties, many others have joined of their own accord and made the club their second home. A prime example is recent club captain Nat Benjanuvatra who joined in 2002 and has since set a great example of what it is to be a club member. Nat has competed across arenas, coached swimming and board paddling, was club captain for three years and continues to help the club’s younger members improve. Ben Unbehaun summed it when looking back on his time as general manager (2012 to 2016). “When I’m asked what I enjoyed about the club and being involved in surf life saving,
A memorable performance from Dennis Hawtin and Brian Sierakowski at the annual dinner, 2003.
my answer always revolves around the concept of giving back. The percentage of members within North Cottesloe who asked, “what can I do”, was extraordinary. Coming from a golf club background it was extremely refreshing. No matter where someone found their niche in the club, they were there to help. The financial benefit attributed to the level of volunteering of our members couldn’t be calculated. There were many members whose commitment would be the equivalent of paid roles in other organisations and it was inspiring.”
There are also all the ladies and other associate members who
Over the decades, nominees and recipients of club awards and State awards demonstrate all that is good about the surf life saving movement and in particular North Cottesloe. Life members too, embody all of what North Cottesloe is about. The majority of those still alive continue their commitment and involvement in the club, giving guidance and wise counsel when required.
fundraisers and with the club just starting to grow in numbers it
have helped with countless functions over the years. In the late-1980s the wives of the some of the men who were then very active in the club started a ladies’ auxiliary, specifically to raise money to fit-out the new kitchen with appliances. It was the club’s first ladies’ auxiliary since the 1960s. President Mike Flower’s wife Sue was a key member, along with Fiona SmithGander as treasurer, Leslie Girdlestone, Aroha Knowles, Lorna Wall and Susie Craddock. The group held social events as was also the start of bigger social events. Once enough funds were raised, the ladies’ auxiliary folded. Of course, the social functions continued. And just as they had throughout the decades, the ladies of the club continued to help with whatever was needed. Yvette Ridderhof, Rose Hawtin, Carol Knowles, Karie Liggins and the late Wendy Sierakowski, to name a few, no doubt lost count
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 213
of how many times they cooked and served pasta to hungry
has been a permanent fixture at the club. He has tried three
competitors in the lead-up to States and Aussies. They and
or four times to obtain his bronze medallion but came to the
others who have helped over many years are now being
conclusion he’d never be able to pass. His concern that he
supported by a new younger generation.
might be asked to leave the club was unwarranted. Instead,
There are also the associate members who might have
he was made an honorary member.
joined just to use facilities but end up being very involved.
Lance has had great times at the club and continues to
Like Mike Rees: “I Joined the club for a chance to have a
tell inappropriate jokes. Club member and chemist James
hot shower after my morning swim,” Mike said. “It’s now an
McAllister even made a line of cleaning products in Lance’s
integral part of my life. I have developed a strong base of
honour. The Don’t Take Chances – Use Lance’s range
friends at the club, I follow the sporting results from club
included Lance’s Bronze Party Chunder Remover and
athletes closely, and I care for my club. From just being a
Deodoriser, Boaties Biodegradable Butt Balm and the Hit
member at the gym every morning, it now involves being
and Miss Pisser Spray (for those who can’t aim straight).
available for any duty the club requires, participating in most social activities, developing into a committed ski paddler and providing advice for the club when required. And providing free music when required.” Finding a place to have a shower ultimately resulted in Mike becoming a director on the SLSWA board and he continues to serve SLSWA on the strategy committee. As for the free music, this is in the form of The Smugglers, a band of club members started by Mike in 2011. There have been various changes to the line-up but the band is still going strong today (see story on page 216).
Other members with varying disabilities also enjoy and benefit from North Cottesloe’s inclusive culture. Not only do club members have an obligation to look after each other, no matter what the circumstances, they also have the desire. Pete Rossen has Down Syndrome. He joined North Cottesloe as a nipper in 2006 with encouragement from various members including president Craig Smith-Gander and nipper officer David Andrew. He was also encouraged by the consistent positive enthusiasm of his dad Paul, himself a member and sponsor of the surf club through his architecture practice Parry and Rosenthal Architects. More
Then there’s the club’s resident caretaker, comedian and
of Pete’s story can be found in chapter six but suffice to say,
‘chairman of the broom’, Lance Parker, whose enthusiasm
the club has had a huge impact not only on Pete’s life, but
for the club never wanes. In the words of long-time member
also on those around him. Pete has a community of North
James Knowles: “He embodies the positivity and family vibe
Cottesloe members around him whom he inspires with
of the club”.
his persistence, positivity, cheerfulness and willingness to
The surf club has been a lifeline for Lance who, at 11
volunteer his time to so many aspects of club life.
months old, contracted tuberculous meningitis from a
Ewen Robinson has quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy with
neighbour who kissed him on the mouth. Combined with a
associated epilepsy. He is non-verbal, is tube-fed via a
resulting stroke, the right side of Lance’s body was affected,
PEG and has some intellectual disability, which affects his
including spasticity in his arm. Joining the club in 1978 at the
communication, motor coordination skills and mobility. Ewen
suggestion of his mum was the best decision he ever made.
needs 24/7 one-on-one care. He is a club member along
He got a job out of it and made a lot of friends. Aside from
with his twin brother Declan, father Cameron and mother
a few years living away from Perth during the 1980s, Lance
Ellen (who is also unable to speak, eat or drink following
214 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Requalification weekend at Rottnest Island, 2003.
NC White Caps, sometimes known as the ‘NC White Cheeks’ when off the beach.
major surgery resulting from a malignant tumour in her gum). One of Ewen’s favourite past-times is swimming. It gives him freedom of movement and enables him to enjoy vigorous physical activity in a life otherwise restricted to sitting in a wheelchair. “My favourite is going to the beach and swimming in the ocean,” Ewen said. “I love the waves and surfing on a bodyboard with assistance. My father and brother take me to the beach. One of the reasons I love being a member of North Cottesloe is that I can use the club’s beach wheelchair. It is fantastic and makes the beach accessible for me. The members on patrol are always helpful and friendly. I even had a ride in the red rescue boat one summer, which I loved.” Cameron said the surf club plays a huge part in Ewen having as full a life as possible. Club life continues to evolve and mean different things to different people. Social functions have changed over the years as membership has grown and the facilities have changed. The main stayers on the social calendar have been the annual dinner/awards night, which dates back to 1920, and the president’s cocktail party, which was first held in the early 1980s. Other regulars have been the less formal events of post-carnival sundowners, once known as ‘kegs in the courtyard’, the bigger post-State championships celebrations, the Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve parties, and plenty in between. All have had their share of memorable moments and, at times, crazy antics. In 1931, North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club’s 12th annual ball was reported in the social pages of Perth’s weekly newspaper The Western Mail. The ball was held in the Cottesloe Hall where “gay decorations lent a festive air” and “tall glossy palms were arranged effectively on the stage. . . There was a very large attendance and everything went merrily and successfully. . . Among the gay throng of dancers many charming frocks were noticed. In front of the stage, arranged on a table, was a big array of trophies won by the
I
n 1999, when North Cottesloe club member Robbie Burns subdivided the block at the rear of his family home on the corner of Griver and Balfour streets in Cottesloe, the newly-built Burns home threw the existing Balfour Street numbers out of kilter. To overcome numbering confusion, the Town of Cottesloe suggested this part of Balfour Street should be renamed. Robbie and his family were given the opportunity to come up with an appropriate street name. Given Jerry Knowles had recently passed away they considered few people had contributed more to the Cottesloe community, the surf life saving movement and the youth of the area – as well as being a highly-respected member of the legal profession – than the North Cottesloe life member, former club president and legendary club and State competitor. Council accepted the recommendation and to celebrate the naming occasion, Jerry’s family (all high achieving club members) and friends held an unveiling of the new Knowles Street sign. An old pair of Jerry’s distinctive blue-and-white striped bathers were draped over the sign and Jerry’s widow Aroha ceremoniously unveiled the sign by hooking the bathers off with the paddle that had powered Jerry’s ski to glory so many times. Knowles Street is located just one street away from Jerry’s family home in Federal Street.
I
n the early 2010s, Niall Warren asked Mike Rees to handle the music for a season opener. More than handle it, Mike put together a band made up of club members. Mike had
previously talked about the potential of a club band with Mike Best and now there was an excuse. Greg McLennan, Richard Young, Nat Benjanuvatra and Dutch drummer Niels Brouwers quickly jumped on board with the two Mikes and rock chicks Kelly Moss and Georgie Barker completed the The Smugglers lineup. Interestingly, Mike R had been paddling with Greg for about five years and bands had never entered the conversation. The initial set list was based predominantly on Chuck Berry (in the key of A) and the performance at the season opener was very average. But the band persevered, as did the audience. The Smugglers got better with each gig, despite having just one customer – North Cottesloe Surf Club. Mike B’s studio in the basement of his house became the band’s second home. The Smugglers loved to play loud and when Mike’s wife started climbing over the back fence to get
Christmas party, political groupie Hannah leapt off the stage half way through one of her songs and started creating some new moves with the man of honour. At one club annual dinner Nat spent more time in the audience than on stage, giving his new guitar wireless transmitter a good workout. At a gig at Yallingup’s Caves House, two rather forward young girls stole Nat’s guitar tuner and refused to give it back to him until he revealed an important part of his anatomy. He did the honourable thing and refused. Maybe it wasn’t very honourable as it wasn’t his tuner – it was Mike R’s. Richard Young, who had never played professionally before, was now becoming a competent band member. But he did freak out when he was told categorically that it was unprofessional to have his music sheets on stage. When Niels decided to follow his ‘non-wife’ back to the homeland the band thought they would never miss his blunt outlook on life. But they do. Niels was replaced by Damian Carbon, who has since been replaced by Martin Cuthbert.
away from the noise, it was regrettably time for the band to
Lisa got married and became pregnant. Hannah’s business
turn down the volume.
demands and flying high as a hostie were onerous, so again
The first gig to a broader audience was at Fly By Night in Fremantle in the final of ABC Radio’s ‘Exhumed’ competition. It was a competition for old bands or bands based on old rockers. The North Cottesloe fans who attended thought for sure the band had earned a place in the top three. But one of the judges seriously derided the band’s choice of cover songs
the band was on the hunt for some new rock chicks. Mathilda Lipscombe and Georgie McCleod appeared – average age around 20. They presented the band with some challenging music suggestions but the hope was that given their young age and austere outlook on life, The Smugglers might be in for a good run with a baby-free zone.
and marked them down.
The Smugglers are now rocking into the club’s second century
Kelly missed the gig as she had got her rhythm out of
with some new music none of them – apart from the girls
alignment and was at the time giving birth to her first baby.
– have ever heard of before. But they love it and so do their
Georgie obviously started to have similar thoughts and soon
audiences, especially their number-one customer – North
also waved goodbye to the band.
Cottesloe Surf Club.
Along came sisters Lisa and Hannah Ferrie. By now The
In support of the club’s aspiring Olympians for Tokyo 2020, The
Smugglers were playing some birthday parties and other
Smugglers have held two ‘North Cott to Tokyo’ fundraisers at
private gigs. Their antics evolved accordingly. At the Premier’s
Mojos and intend holding some more before July 2020.
club, which were much admired and spoke volumes for the
Fremantle’s Esplanade Hotel was the next venue with the
prowess of members and the fine reputation of the club and
Redback Ball – black, red or arachnid – in 2004, followed
its activities”.
by top hats and tiaras in 2005, when juniors were invited for
Later in the century, the annual awards night was held in the surf club hall before it was rented out to The Blue Duck. It then
the first time. Other venues have included University Club at UWA, Italian Club and Subiaco Oval.
moved to Cottesloe Civic Centre’s Jarrah Room as Cottesloe
Tim Gossage was a favourite MC for a number of years and
Council’s annual ‘donation’ to the club. The venue lasted until
was hosting when Trevor Gibb was awarded patrol member
one of the Fellows brothers took the payphone from the foyer
of the year. When Tim made a comment about the high
and launched it into the pond – morphing Solahart’s well-
number of patrol hours Trevor had accumulated, Trevor
known ‘How fast can you get me hot water’ advertisement
was quick to chide Tim for not even having a bronze. As for
of the time.
Trevor, he had many awards. Tim managed to get in the final
Many venues have been used since – not necessarily because the club was searching for a better venue but often because
word as Trevor walked off stage: “I bet you haven’t got your own TV show Trev.”
it had been banned from the previous. Seaview Golf Club was
In 2013 the annual awards night returned home to North
one such place after a club member put a fist through a glass
Cottesloe. In a new cocktail format it served as the opening
door and another did burn-outs on the course fairway. Then
of the new clubrooms, which had undergone a major
there was Claremont Yacht Club, where spirits were not going
redevelopment. The event spilled through to The Blue Duck
to be served so the sprinters snuck in bottles and placed them
and while many agreed it was great to have the event at the
under the tables. Later in the evening a member punched a
clubrooms, it didn’t really work in the long, narrow venue and
bathroom porthole, shattering the glass.
in cocktail format. After a couple of years it moved back to
The 1993 event in the ballroom at the Hyatt in Perth was particularly memorable, celebrating the club’s 75th anniversary.
a sit-down dinner at external venues. In 2018 it was held at Bendat Basketball Centre.
It was a sit-down dinner, with a band and lots of dancing and
Dress themes and skits at the annual dinners had faded out at
drinking. Much to the delight of the club members, the night
some point, but many remember them fondly. Surf boat rower
included a large-screen showing of an anniversary video that
Breff O’Shea brought a bit of the old flavour back in 2017 with
the club had commissioned.
an entertaining song at the annual dinner when he was MC.
The awards night went through an era of dress themes and
The president’s cocktail party has also had some memorable
skits. At the Ocean Beach Hotel in 2003 there were some great
themes over the past couple of decades. Karie Liggins
costumes for the Oscars theme. Brett ‘Chunds’ Endersby won
organised the club’s first president’s cocktail party for Colin
the prize for best dressed as Yoda from Star Wars. Young rower
Chalmers in his first year at the helm in 1984/85. Karie was
John ‘Priz’ Templeman performed a hilarious impersonation of
secretary for that season and got the idea from the golf club.
salty seadog surf boat sweep Gary ‘Willow’ Williamson. Those
It ended up being a one-off event. Then in the late 80s when
at the Aussies a couple of months earlier had already got a
Goose was club captain, there was a memorable captain’s
sneak peek of the younger Willow and were very entertained to
party. It was held in the boat shed and Mark ‘Lumpy’ Davis
see another performance, which was nearly outdone by Dennis
mixed up a huge batch of cocktails. It too was a one-off but
Hawtin and Brian Sierakowski and their dueling banjos.
these two events set the scene for what eventually became
Some of the guests at the presidents cocktail party, including the Colombian Ambassador (club captain James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin) and some of his bronzed secret service men (Stuart ‘Tubs’ McLaughlin, Jimmy and Matt Hawtin), 2003.
an annual president’s cocktail party, which has had its more formal eras as well as entertaining themes. A standout was the ‘presidential’ theme in 2003 which attracted Saddam Hussein (surf boat rower Dave Porzig) and misfit terrorists (swimmers Jono van Hazel and Manny Petros), as well as the Colombian Ambassador (club captain James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin) and his band of secret service men (Jamie ‘Jiggers’ Ridderhof, Stuart ‘Tubs’ McLaughlin, Tom Flower, Matt and Jimmy Hawtin, Al Nixon, Graeme ‘Graz’ Teasdale, John ‘Priz’ Templeman, Andrew ‘Aggs’ McLean and Peter ‘Cheeks’ Andrews). The lads went through a hefty amount of bronzer to get the Latino look on point and after pre-party drinks at the Ridderhof’s house in Cottesloe, they drove down Eric Street in Priz’s 1948 Series 1 Land Rover. They held up traffic as the Colombian president stood in the back waving to the bewildered pedestrians in the street and at the OBH. The car was swarming with more than half a dozen secret service agents, dressed in black and complete with ear pieces, concentrating intently on protecting the
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 217
Colombian president as they ran alongside the vehicle. They rolled down the hill into the surf club to the amusement and applause of all the surf club partygoers. The 2005 cocktail party was themed ‘rock around the clock’. Ladies in poodle skirts and bobby socks and James Dean look-a-likes jived on the dance floor and enjoyed typical drive-in diner fare of fries, mini hamburgers and hotdogs. And in 2007 it was flappers and gangsters. Some years have seen young crowds, others older and many a mix, often reflecting the broader social scene of the club. Just as it had in the 1920s and again in the 70s and 80s, in the early 2000s North Cottesloe again gained a reputation as a party club. After several years in what some called the doldrums, North Cottesloe’s parties were again the envy of other clubs. But it depended on age. Some members remember this period as a time they wanted to stay away from the club’s social events. Others fondly remember the fun and antics that these parties catered for. Such events included sold-out Christmas Eve parties – a couple of them complete with a 10-foot snowman – and Australia Day eve parties. They also included post-State championships/end-of-season parties, which attracted
Club championships, 2005.
crowds of surf club members and ‘guests’ from up and down the coast into the jam-packed courtyard. This was before strict
seaward into the moonlit night it took him several attempts to
coast. In 1999, City of Perth was the place to be and for one
liquor licensing regulations came in (or were adhered to). One
start the outboard. He repaid the cheering from shore with a
bunch of North Cottesloe competitors, the best way to get
year the Balinese team joined the party after hearing on the
drive-by spray and headed south. He was aiming for Fishing
there was via the beach in Andrew ‘Pek’ Stevens’ four-
beach that North Cottesloe was the place to celebrate.
Boat Harbour but became a little disoriented and ended up
wheel drive. The packed vehicle made it there safely, but
at Fremantle Yacht Club – in the commodore’s pen. Macca
unfortunately for Pek, the departure wasn’t quite as incident-
drove the tinny back to the surf club the next morning and
free. He took a ‘short cut’ over the wall onto the beach while
with the help of the fitness class, he was able to get it back
Jeremy Knowles was on the phone ordering pizzas. Jeremy
up to the shed. While washing it down, the then-president,
ended up sprawled against the windscreen, but still made
Alex McKenzie, walked past and commented: “Good to see
the order. The vehicle copped a bit of damage, including a
you getting in some early morning training Macca!”
twisted chassis, but drove as if nothing had happened. They
During this era, Mark ‘Macca’ McDermott found a unique way to get home from a States party. Macca had walked home to Fremantle numerous times but had never taken a cab. This particular year he planned his mode of transport, asking Matt Hawtin to bring him a bike and leave it in the cage in the boat shed. But when Macca came to get the bike later in the
made it to the next party location at a house in Cottesloe.
evening it wasn’t there. Then he spotted the club’s dinghy –
The post-States parties weren’t always at North Cottesloe.
an even better option – so he got some of the other boaties
Following the early formalities at North Cottesloe,
Another incident involving a late-night 4WD beach journey
to help him down the ramp and launch it. As Macca drifted
competitors sometimes travelled to other clubs along the
from City of Perth to North Cottesloe was a little more
218 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Aside from raising funds, it also had a great social aspect. Once a month on a Sunday afternoon, a car club function was held in the surf club hall for up to 200 people. Kegs were supplied and everyone brought food. This was in the days before Sunday trading so it was quite the social occasion for the time. Enough funds were raised to cover the cost of the car, the functions and have money leftover for the club’s coffers. The events continued for a number of years. During the late 1980s, Dennis ‘The General’ Hawtin and Ron Sheen started holding regular Saturday morning fundraising breakfasts. Tables were set with white tablecloths and Dennis, Ron and their helpers, including Cec Gray and Murray Kornweibel, served up a big breakfast, often with ‘Mad Monday’ bus trip to Byron Bay at the conclusion of the 2004 Australian championships at Kurrawa, Queensland.
dramatic. Not only was the vehicle being illegally driven on the beach, someone was roof surfing. Needless to say, the vehicle and its occupants were soon under the search light of a police helicopter. Everyone dispersed at SwanbourneNedlands Surf Club. Some hid in the dunes, others under the old patrol tower, doing laps to avoid the spotlight from the circling chopper. James Knowles and Pek eventually managed to escape the area, jumping fences until they made it to a house party where they got lost in the crowd. Mention the ‘white party’ and people from different eras will remember different events. In the late-80s there was a ‘white’
Ski paddlers Will Bird, Tim Bird and Andrew ‘Pek’ Stevens rewarded for their performances with a swig of Boronia at the club’s post-Aussies celebration at Broadbeach’s Ocean Royale, Queensland, early 2000s.
A couple of years later, club captain Chocks brought back the white party but with a difference. What started as a “lowkey casual night”, turned into a fashion feast, with members
entertainment as well. Club members were meant to book but typically, they didn’t. Dennis and Ron generally catered for around 40 people but one morning more than 130 turned up. A quick run up to the shops for more eggs and baked beans meant everyone was catered for and the breakfast lived on. In later years these breakfasts evolved into breakfasts for sponsors and continued well into the 2000s.
treated to the debut showing of new fashion label Made in
Breakfast has continued to be a popular meal at North
Utopia. Then in 2008 the under-23 male rowers put on their
Cottesloe. The much-loved Pancake Paddle was started by
version of the ‘white’ party.
Niall Warren in the early 1990s as a fun social event where
In 2017 members young and old alike donned white for the ‘dinner in white’. It was a sit-down dinner and remains the favourite social event for some of the more recent members.
club members paddled from the club to Sandtrax and back. There was a post-race breakfast and as Niall had secured a pile of prizes and giveaways, presentations recognised just about everyone from the fastest to the slowest and even
Christmas function in the boat shed, with white decorations
While the younger members enjoyed the big parties, there
the sneakiest. The first event fell a couple of weeks before
and white sheets covering all the equipment. Everyone wore
have been plenty of other social opportunities at North
Easter, which in Niall’s family always meant pancakes. As
white and white spirits were used for cocktails.
Cottesloe over the years, from low-key gatherings to large
pancakes were easy and cheap to make, that’s what he
events, which have catered to a different set.
served for breakfast and that’s how the race got its name.
to the party Travis Sheehy and Todd Edwards let off fireworks
In the 1970s there was the ‘car club’. Graham Russell, Bill
It became the Pancake Paddle and it was for anyone and
from a bunker at Sea View Golf Club. They remember the sky
Kidner, Herb Williams and a few others decided to turn
everyone. Over the years it was particularly well supported
lighting up like daylight and with lots more fireworks yet to
their regular Returned and Services League catch-up into
by the older social paddlers who loved to be competitive.
go off they ran. Pete Willing ran into a tree stump and ended
a fundraiser for the surf club. They sourced a tax-free car
One year in the absence of the usual sponsors’ breakfast,
up having to have stitches.
through Toyota and sold raffle tickets throughout the season.
Niall suggested inviting sponsors to the Pancake Paddle.
In 2004 the ski paddlers held a ‘white-out’ party. On the way
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 219
V
ehicle incidents weren’t always drunken affairs. Richard Meadmore can claim a few embarrassing stories. His car has accidently ended up down on the beach in front of the club on more than one occasion. Once was a result of not putting on the handbrake when hooking on a surf boat trailer. Before Richard could hook the trailer on, the car had done a nose dive into the sand about a metre below the pavement. It landed next to some sunbathers and provided entertainment for the crowd on the The Blue Duck balcony. Another time was the result of boatie Louise Roberts not hooking the boat trailer on properly. From the driver’s seat, Richard saw the trailer start rolling towards the edge and jumped out of the car (without putting the handbrake on). He saved the trailer but not the car, which did a reverse dive into the sand dune. Graham Moss, father of boatie Kelly Moss, was watching from the balcony of The Blue Duck and came to the rescue with his four-wheel drive and winch. The whole spectacle, including endless expletives from Richard, was great entertainment for the Saturday morning Blue Duck set.
tyres beneath the sand, boatie Simon Nutter had to hand the controls over to club stalwart Graham Russell, who managed to get the tractor out in a couple of minutes. Needless to say, the tractors were returned without purchase.
The sponsors were teamed up with North Cottesloe
Even the club’s four-wheeler ‘Rhino’ has rolled off the edge of the ramp. One afternoon in the late 2000s Dave Kordic had the IRB hooked onto the Rhino ready to take down to the beach for some training. He went back in the shed to grab something and when he came back out the IRB and Rhino were gone. Lea ‘Loops’ Ridderhof, who had been watching from the bike in the gym, came out and directed Dave to the edge of the ramp where the Rhino had taken out the wire fence right near a bunch of tourists. Luckily there was no damage to anything – the Rhino, the IRB, the IRB trailer or the tourists. Though there was a bit of damage to Dave’s pride. Once everything was upright, Dave quickly started the Rhino and got on with his training session. He didn’t hear anything more about it until he won the Midgie Deane award at the annual dinner.
drumming, and for a number of years the Pancake Paddle
and it offered great interaction for the sponsors. Over time kids’ activities were added to the event, including African was quite a big event. However, it has not been held for a number of years and it is missed by a number of the older paddlers who still love to race. Season 2003/04 was the start of what would become the very successful Food and Wine Show, organised by Niall Warren. With more than 150 happy guests sipping on wines and sampling delicious food in its inaugural year, the event cemented its place on the club’s social calendar. The Food and Wine Show quickly grew in profile, popularity and quality and within four years 400 tickets sold within a day. A large marquee on the grass to the north of the club enabled the increase in guest numbers and obviously created a fantastic aspect overlooking the ocean. It had become the club’s signature event, offering value for money, as well become a great way for the club to engage with sponsors. Club sponsor Swanbourne Cellars was a big supporter of the event and for a number of years organised the wineries that took part. The event continued until 2009/10 and was reintroduced in 2014/15 as the Yalumba Food and Wine Show in a scaled-back size.
Member of the four-time national champion J crew, Derek Knox, also lost a surf boat and trailer off the ramp when he tried to single-handedly get it out of the shed before training.
220 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
lap social and two laps racing. Numbers effectively tripled
as the all-important intergenerational mixing. It had also
Another time Richard was towing a surf boat down Eric Street when he saw the surf boat sail gracefully past him and come to rest outside the shopping centre. Richard doesn’t remember much but obviously the trailer had come off the tow hitch. Luckily there was no injury or damage.
There was the time in the 1990s when the surf club trialled a couple of tractors for towing surf boats onto the beach. The fumes weren’t popular with The Blue Duck and it turned out even tractors could get bogged, depending who was at the wheel. After virtually losing the back
paddlers on double skis and the course was changed – one
In similar style, Niall added a ‘winter warmer’ to the calendar in 2005. Tickets sold like hotcakes and members rugged up for a night of tasty food, soothing beats and warm conversation. The mix of events continued over the years and by 2012/13, the Vasse Felix and Maggie Beer luncheons, and the following year the Women’s Networking Breakfast and the Rare and Fine night featuring Yalumba winemaker Jane Ferrari, were sell-outs and continued to add value and Richard Meadmore's Holden in the sand after a 1979 incident.
another dimension to the club for members to enjoy.
Club championships, 2004.
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 221
In season 2011/12, the traditional President’s Cocktail Party was replaced by a family picnic to open the season and foster the club family spirit. The Bowl-BQ at North Fremantle Bowling Club attracted a great cross section of the membership, with nippers through to life members enjoying a tasty barbecue spread, lawn bowls, activities and games for the kids, and the first appearance of The Smugglers. It was the start of what has been many appearances over the years by The Smugglers at various club functions, from sundowners to annual dinners. The following year, with the clubrooms undergoing major renovations, the club’s Christmas party was held at North Fremantle Bowling Club, with balloons, bouncy castle and slushy machine to keep the kids entertained. A raffle of Yalumba’s finest and live music from The Smugglers ensured the adults enjoyed themselves as well. Santa was a big hit with everyone. His creative explanation of why he was not wearing boots as he was a ‘beach Santa’ and thus way ‘cooler’ won over even the most suspicious of nippers. Christmas had always been well celebrated at North Cottesloe, be it members singing Christmas carols from the back of a truck that drove through local laneways during the 70s and 80s or Ron Sheen dressed as Santa for nipper
Tony King, Rory Argyle, Murray Kornweible and Murray Hindle, ready for the Pancake Paddle, 2009.
It’s an amazing experience. Eighty per cent of people are
Post-competition sundowners typically haven’t had the
club members or locals, popping champagne, and others
consistent buy-in that they did in the 70s and 80s. Back then it
as Santa, typically arriving at the beach in a surf boat. One
are tourists. It’s a very important ritual in North Cottesloe’s
seemed to be a given that everyone would go back to the club
year when Ron was stranded down at Cottesloe with no surf
history and it’s a real privilege and enjoyment for me to part
after a carnival and drink, tell stories and generally just hang out.
boat, Dennis Hawtin came to the rescue with his four-wheel
of it and witness it.”
drive. Kids were virtually diving under the wheels to grab the
In 2014 Christmas carols kicked off the Christmas sundowner.
up and down over the past quarter of a century. The 1997
This evolved into a toy drive for the Salvation Army and in
annual report highlighted not just success in competition
some years, an appearance by the Salvation Army band/
but that North Cottesloe was truly functioning as a ‘club’
Then there were the Christmas Eve parties and, of course,
choir. The swim-through Christmas Eve parties of the 2000s
with competitors in different arenas cheering teammates
Christmas morning at the beach. James McAllister has
had faded out but by 2017 a Christmas Eve-Eve bash had
along, competing for North Cottesloe rather than just for
patrolled on Christmas morning for the past 13 or so years
hints of the big parties of days gone by. Organiser Sam Rowe
themselves: “North Cott spirit has begun to build as a club
and describes it as a special way to start Christmas Day. “At
described it as “getting back to the parties of old”. It was back
rather than individual niches. Every Friday night at 6pm
7.30am it starts to build up, peaking at around 400 people.
on the calendar in 2018.
throughout winter a club run is being held and at the time of
Christmas parties in the 80s and 90s. Others have donned the red and white but it’s Ron Sheen whom most remember
lollies that Ron was throwing into the sand. Amazingly no one was hurt.
222 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Member involvement, club spirit and cohesion have been
O
n Good Friday in 1964, Jerry Knowles, Jack Trail, Peter Driscoll, Len Bennett and Tony King set off in the club’s surf boat into a howling sou’wester – destination Rottnest Island. It was an interesting journey, with some unresolved issues surfacing between Jack and Len regarding the double ski they raced. Eventually the crew arrived at Thomson Bay – cold, wet but in one piece. Tragically, the pub was shut. After polishing off the last of their liquid refreshments and unable to find a willing host, the lads returned to the beach, turned the boat over and sought shelter for the night. The next day was sunny and after swims, drinks and socialising, they hit the waves at Transit Reef. The issues that had been smouldering between Jack and Len came to a head as the crew took off on a large wave. While Len (sweep) and Jack (stroke) lunged at each other in the stern, the other three tried to stop the boat from tipping over. All ended well. They had a great Easter weekend, which included being chased by media for interviews and photos – rowing to Rottnest was deemed a rather unusual feat. The row back on Monday was carefully planned with several boxes of beer on board. This time there was a howling easterly. It took many hours of intermittent rowing but they finally reached North Cottesloe. By the 1980s, Rottnest was a regular destination for North Cottesloe ski paddlers. The paddles were slightly better organised than that row in 1964. But safety still wasn’t given much thought. Often the sea breeze was already in before they left. There were few life jackets. No water safety. Ideally the paddlers were meant to re-group halfway to Rottnest but
not everyone did. Some, of course, treated it as a race. Importantly, there was typically a big boat at the other end – either a club member’s or a charter boat – to bring everyone home. On reaching the island, everyone would have a picnic, some drinks and hopefully a surf at Transits. As they neared the mainland on the return boat trip, they would jump on their skis and paddle the last stretch. One year there was a shark and a couple of straggling paddlers managed to lift their rating and bring themselves in to the middle of the pack. The shark
eventually swam away. Another year, Andrew Clarke and Karen Hopkins paddled a double ski. (Karen later married Andrew’s brother Dave – another club romance). As the sea breeze blew them north, they struggled to reach the island. They finally got in to The Basin and walked with their ski to Thomson Bay where Dennis Hawtin was panicking. Dennis and Jerry Knowles were typically the ones to organise the paddles. Seeing Andrew and Karen walk over the hill with their ski on their shoulders was a huge relief.
were also strongly supported during these years with many members taking part and just having a go. In his 1999 annual report club captain Sam Knowles wrote: “This season we seem to have broken down the barriers between new and old members and gone are the days of ‘clique’ mentality that used to prevail amongst the older members of the club. This season has seen a leap forward in our team spirit and it has been great to see the camaraderie which has developed amongst all members.” Sunday fundays continued for a couple of seasons. New intra-club officer Kate Knowles continued the Friday night club runs, followed by drinks, while Sunday afternoons were touch rugby followed by a quiet drink. Chocks was just 22 when he took on the club captaincy in 2000 but he jumped into the role with passion, energy and natural leadership. He wanted to see more opportunities for both new members and long-time members to interact in social and competitive activities. Returning the requalification weekend away to the calendar in 2001 was one successful initiative. Requal weekends at Rottnest Island and Wellington Mills Camp had been held back in the 1970s, usually on the VFL grand final weekend. There are also memories of a particular requal weekend at Rottnest in the early 1990s. Surf boats and skis were shipped over for the weekend and the club members stayed at Kingstown Sam ‘Barney’ de Vries in full flight for a flag in front of James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin and Mark ‘Macca’ McDermott at the club championships, 2006.
Barracks. It was a massive surf weekend, with clubbies cracking waves in boats and skis from the channel marker inside Longreach Bay pretty much through to the ferry jetty.
writing, this is being attended by between 20 to 30 runners,
build the club spirit. James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin took on
swimmers, boaties, ski paddlers and juniors, who all come
much of the responsibility as intra-club officer from 1998
up to the clubrooms afterwards for a drink and snacks. This
to 2000 and then club captain through until 2002. Chocks
is a spirit that will build depth in competition, build club spirit
was instrumental in implementing a number of different
and make North Cott a truly great club.”
activities such as the ‘Sunday fundays’, which gave members
Effort was made over following years to increase club
a chance to paddle, run or swim with or against each other
was in training for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Lucky they
activities so members would embrace club life and further
in a fun and social environment. The club championships
didn’t hit something harder than a sand dune – otherwise Ian
224 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Of course there were also drunken antics. After the pub shut one night, several clubbies were riding back to the barracks in the dark, with no lights on their bikes. Of course the journey ended up in a race and a wrong turn saw the riders, including swimmer Ian Brown, plow into a sand dune. Ian
anywhere from five to 30 people it was often a great mix of ages, from young competitors to older associate members. The concept was resurrected in 2018/19 with training for all sections followed by the bar. It had the great addition of a takeaway menu from The Blue Duck and delivery through the secret door. Craig Smith-Gander also resurrected the Friday night club run. In his 2001 annual report Chocks wrote: “Another possibility further down the track is putting a bar in the Graham Russell Room to give a little bit of atmosphere to the club on those beautiful summer nights. In competition we will endeavor to accommodate more novices and bridge the gap between junior and senior ranks. It would be great to see older and more experienced members helping out in coaching and training roles, instead of the club looking outside of its membership for coaches.” Each of these things eventually came to fruition, to some degree. Liz Cumbor, Michael Beech and Michelle Butler at the annual dinner, 2009.
might not have gone on to finish fourth in the 400m freestyle. Rottnest was the requal destination again in the early 2000s. They were always fantastic weekends, not only for members to do their requal in a relaxed and friendly environment, but also for members to get to know each other and for the trainers to get to know more members. There are many memories. Drinking way too much ‘Pakistani
Chocks was named Cottesloe junior citizen of the year in 2001 and North Cottesloe club member of the year in 2002.
In season 2004/05 the requal weekend was controversially
Chocks was a role model for the younger members of the
moved to Lancelin but the 80 members who attended
club and proved that positions of responsibility could also be
agreed it was a good choice as they were greeted by spring
an opportunity for considerable personal development.
sunshine and a bit of swell and the location was locked in again the following year. Then there was a hiatus. Rottnest was back on the calendar in 2010 but by 2018 there hadn’t been a requal weekend away for a number of years.
Chocks had come through the nipper ranks in the same age group as James Knowles, Jim Hawtin and Simon Flower, all those family names synonymous with North Cottesloe Surf Club. He remembers he and Knowlesy being equally
t-shirt’ – a punch made with goon, vodka, bicardi, midori
As captain, Chocks also spoke about trying to open the
afraid of the surf so spent the first couple of years making
and lemonade in a 9-litre bucket, stirred just the right way.
bar on a regular basis to give members a social outlet
sandcastles until they started wading. It was the precursor
Someone driving the club’s IRB back to the mainland for a
every week. The concept of the Friday night sunset bar has
date. Sprinter and future club captain Travis Sheehy doing
continued intermittently since. Some competitors would
a strip for a hen’s party at the pub. (It wasn’t the first time
do their training and then hang around at the club, while
Travis had got his gear off. Travis had joined the club from
other members, including associates, would come down
Fremantle as a sprinter in 2001. After attending his first
specifically for a drink. Travis Sheehy loved nothing more than
president’s cocktail party he woke up the next morning on
doing a solid beach sprint training session on a Friday night
Knowlesy, nephew of Jerry Knowles, was a member of the
the president’s couch wearing nothing but a bow tie).
and then having a drink upstairs. Although numbers could be
State champion ski relay teams in 2012 (with Tim and Will
to Chocks rowing and sweeping surf boats at elite level and often in huge seas. Knowlesy and Jim also progressed through nippers into the senior ranks as competitors, Jim eventually rowing surf boats, and Knowlesy dedicating himself to ski paddling.
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 225
Bird) and 2014 (with Tim Bird and John Wilkie) when North Cottesloe managed to topple the mighty Trigg, who in 2014 were the reigning Australian champions. Knowlesy has managed this despite having worked overseas in the yachting industry since 2002. He has maintained his connection with the surf club through his core group of mates, most of whom are also club members. Knowlesy has been fortunate that many of his rotations off the boat have (conveniently) coincided with State and Australian championships so he’s managed to continue to compete as a ski paddler. As soon as he returns home, he’s straight back training with the ski squad. Maintaining this connection with the surf club is of the utmost importance to Knowlesy and he plans to remain an active, competing member for as long as he possibly can. After a couple of years traveling Chocks returned to the club and again served as club captain from 2004 to 2006 and also played a key role in building the strength of the underage surf boat rowers. Archie Cooke summed it up in 2017: “Chocks was great mentor for me and the other under-19s boys in 2012/13. Although we were an absolute nightmare for him, he did whatever he could to keep us organised and focused. I had been a member of the club for three years before I started
Hands on the IRB for the club championships, 2006, Jasmine Lamb providing water safety.
rowing and during this time not once did I get involved
The captain’s role is mainly focused on competition but also
and flags at the time. He really wanted the club to excel in
with any part of the club. That was until I met Chocks. I can
encompasses the moral compass of the club. The captain
every facet of competition and was as committed to the other
strongly say he introduced not only me, but dozens of other
must ensure that the club has a strong surf sports capacity
sections as the one he competed in. Travis was a true club man,
boys to the club, and gave me some of the best times of
and intent, for that is the core of the club’s ability to provide
always wanting the absolute best from everyone in the club. His
my life competing, travelling and drinking up and down the
the life saving services that are at the heart of a surf life
enthusiasm was infectious, and he really brought the club along
west coast and interstate chasing waves. Shame I hardly see
saving club. The captain is also responsible for discipline
with him.
him these days as he’s got enough kids of his own to look
among the members, particularly the younger and active
after but I thought this was a great way to thank him as I don’t
JP came to the role young but was very mature for his age
ones. This is the hard part of the role – making sure people
think we really ever did”.
and brought a new level of professionalism to the role. JP liked
have fun as volunteers but at the same time do not push those
to do things properly and was thorough in administration and
Following Chocks, the club captaincy was held by Travis
boundaries too far, to ensure that the club’s members meet the
upstanding in his commitment to the role and the members. He
Sheehy, John ‘JP’ Polinelli, Tom Flower and Nat Benjanuvatra,
expectancies of the community.
was a great young man for the junior members to look up to.
Travis took on the role with tireless enthusiasm and drive. It
Tom not only shared the enthusiasm and strong competitive
helped that he was at the top end of his game in beach sprint
instincts as the captains who came before him, but he also
each for three seasons.
226 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
came into the role with a long family history at the club. Tom was brought up at North Cottesloe and many club members knew him long before he was a nipper. His dad, Mike Flower, was president from 1987 to 1992. Interestingly, Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander was captain during the time Mike was president. More than two decades later, Goose was president when Tom took on the captaincy. Tom remained North Cottesloe through and through and liked nothing more than to see lots of North Cottesloe competitors pushing hard to compete well. Nat was a natural leader in the mould of ‘do as I do’. He embodied North Cottesloe – passionate about the blue and white, a fierce competitor, gave back to the club and was involved socially. Before taking on the role of captain, Nat had worked with the juniors and cadets and trained the swim and board squads. Nat executed the captaincy with pride and worked to engage all the surf sports sections to drive a common goal – success across all areas of competition. In 2018, champion beach flags competitor Todd Edwards took over from Nat. A couple of the club captains can be thanked for the Boronia tradition. Chocks and Tom, along with a few others, stumbled on Boronia as a cheap drinking option in early 2000. The following year, all those who won a medal at States or made a final at Aussies were invited up for a swig. James Knowles sums it up: “On the rare occasion that I’ve won a State medal, I’ve felt like a rock star. I don’t know if any other club does their States and Aussies parties like we do. . . the feeling you get when your name is called up and you get up and do the Boronia skull in front of the club. It’s an amazing feeling that I’ve never had in any other part of my life and I think is unique to the club.” It continued, most recently at the 2018 post-States party (it never made it out of the brown paper bag at the Aussies party). These days it’s more controlled and no longer are juniors invited for a swig, but their parents are. Most keep it to a swig but former surf boat sweep Willow remains on a level of his own guzzling a whole bottle.
Mexican party complete with piñatas, nachos and tequila, 2014.
Of course there had been plenty of post-competition toasts in decades past. Season 1984/85 is remembered for the ‘then came the runner’ toast. It started after the inaugural Observation City surf relay, which North Cottesloe won handsomely. The relay involved swim, board, ski, double ski and boat legs all connected by a single runner who sprinted between the finish of one leg to the start of the next. Nick Taylor took charge of festivities and would call each member of the team to down a beer in the order of the relay legs. This worked fine for everyone, except the runner who was forced to celebrate on a 4:1 ratio. Nick got so fond of shouting “then came the runner” that it became a general signal that night and for several other carnivals that year. Older traditions that have stood the test of time include painting the Cottesloe pylon and the guys wearing dresses at country carnival parties.
The pylon paint war is pretty much all that remains of the historical rivalry between North Cottesloe and Cottesloe. The rivalry dates back 100 years when North Cottesloe formed as a breakaway club from Cottesloe. This rivalry played out in competition for many decades. Then there were the football matches between the two clubs, which typically ended up in fisticuffs. In more recent decades, the clubs have gone on different trajectories and are seen as being very different. The rivalry is virtually non-existent except, of course, in the pylon war. The painting of the pylon had started in the 1970s. With intermittent painting since, a period of dedication came about in the 2000s. Various methods, transport and attire were used. Sometimes in speedos, sometimes nude, sometimes in wetsuits. Mostly by the cover of darkness. The night before the Rottnest Channel Swim was always a coup. When the newspapers asked what techniques were being used, a favourite response was that they were using a hot air
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 227
balloon. More humour was found in a Dean Alston cartoon that showed the whole of Cottesloe Beach painted – groyne, terraces and all – and the caption: “Well. . . what now?” Another winner was the Chicken Treat TV advertisement filmed at Cottesloe Beach with the pylon in the background in North Cottesloe colours. There are some vague recollections of the office processing some interesting expense claims for painting supplies from time to time. On one occasion, Cottesloe Council gave permission to paint the whole groyne blue and white for Sculptures by the Sea. But the plans were stifled by event organisers who were worried that Cottesloe Surf Club would never forgive them! When North Cottesloe included the pylon on its Aussies team shirt in 2010, the club received a letter from Cottesloe Surf Club’s lawyer threatening it with a breach of trademark. It didn’t get very far after president Craig Smith-Gander responded in a very direct, succinct (and unprintable) fashion, following advice from one of the club’s lawyer members. It was very fitting that the sun came up on 13 October 2018 to reveal the Cottesloe pylon in blue and white. It was North Cottesloe’s centenary season launch. A flotilla of craft travelled from Cottesloe to North Cottesloe and the event received much publicity, including the Cottesloe pylon in all its blue and white glory. The Cottesloe pylon is not the only permanent structure to be painted by North Cottesloe members. In the late-1960s, Adrian ‘Ridders’ Ridderhof, Peter ‘Noddy’ Rickard, Bruce ‘ABJ’ Jenkins, Alan White, Geoff Bone, Jeff Wickens, Terry Colby and some
Michael Beech, Melita McLean and Malcolm Hay at the club and beach every day.
members. “Mandy Jeff’s dandy” was painted in the hope that
the OBH. Ridders still had the footprint until 2000 when he
she might see it on her way to Geraldton the next day. Some of
moved house and it ended up in the skip bin.
the paintings were still there in 2018.
when a couple of the guys dived into a Good Samaritan
Cleary and others painted half-metre-long white foot prints
bin after one event They just happened to pull out some
from the surf club to the front door of the OBH. The story hit the
dresses. North Cottesloe blokes in dresses have since
newspapers and the footprints were quickly removed by
been a huge source of entertainment at country carnival
the council.
junior boaties painted water tanks on Great Northern Highway
A group in the 80s got their hands on the plywood foot print,
on the way to Geraldton. A lot of the painting was targeted at
which Ridders still had at his house, and followed suit. A
Jerry Knowles with one sign saying “Jerry coolite king” referring
group led by John Rear, including Craig ‘Belly’ Bell, Russell
to him always surfing North Cottesloe reef on a foamie, which
Fellows, Bernie Boylan, Norm Mazzini and Andrew Pope,
at that time was called a ‘coolite’. They also painted a slogan
painted giant blue-and-white footprints up the wooden ramp
aimed at Jeff Wickens who had his eye on one of the female
at North Cottesloe, along Marine Parade and finishing at
228 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
The tradition of dresses at the country carnivals all started
In the mid-1970s Ridders, Noddy, Terry, Alan White, Mark
celebrations. They have also been the reason for some fights. In Geraldton one year the locals tried to pick fights with the North Cottesloe guys in dresses – those who were in dresses. Many were actually nude, dancing on the roof of the Geraldton Surf Club.
All these events typically remained injury-free – even in Denmark when the club was camping on the cricket oval and some members who didn’t have tents decided the warmest place to sleep was under the engine of the bus the club had hired for the weekend. They were woken by the sound of the air brakes and were nearly crushed.
Training in the streets of Cottesloe with Simon Ponsonby and George Ford.
return he slammed on the brakes and the momentum of the
Jiggers thought Priz had nearly killed them. Priz thought he
final snake resulted in both car and trailer doing a complete
had saved their lives. Funnily enough, the fourth member of
and Andrew ‘Aggs’ McLean were driving back from their first
180 in the middle of Brand Highway. The scene was straight
their surf boat crew, Graeme ‘Graz’ Teasdale, wasn’t on the trip.
country carnival as young surf boat rowers. They were towing
out of a Bond film. However, in a lucky escape, there were no
Graz was meant to go to the carnival but when the guys went
the surf boat loaded with surf skis and tents and were in a rush
cars coming from the other direction and the boat was just
to collect him his mum wouldn’t let him go. They figured she
for Priz to get back to work. As they came over the crest of a
slightly tilted on the trailer. A lady who was driving behind
hill the trailer started snaking side to side. Priz tried to hold it
them told them she thought they were going to die. Aggs
In decades past, Sunday was club day. It was the day for
straight but the snaking got wider and wider. At the point of no
drove the rest of the way home at about 70km/h. He and
members to hang out at the beach and get involved in club
Another lucky escape was on the way back from Geraldton in 2000. John ‘Prisoners’ Templeman, Jamie ‘Jiggers’ Ridderhof
thought the drive would be too dangerous.
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 229
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ince surf life saving began in 1907, more than 8000 surf lifesavers have served Australia in various theatres of war. More than 700 of these surf lifesavers never made it home. The Fallen Lifesavers Memorial at Coogee Beach, NSW pays tribute to those Australian surf lifesavers who lost their lives in combat. The names of 13 North Cottesloe members are engraved on the memorial’s remembrance wall, which was constructed in 2018. If not for the research of North Cottesloe life member Brian Sierakowski, two of these names would not be included. Up until 2016, only 11 North Cottesloe members had been recorded as killed in action. After verifying the names for The Fallen Lifesavers Memorial, Siera called on fellow Trojan, associate member Rory Argyle, to arrange the restoration and correction of the club’s marble plaque Roll of Honour, which now pays tribute to 14 former club members who died in defence of their country in the course of World War II (1939 to 1945). Of the 14 men, 10 were Royal Australian Air Force air crew (seven of them posted to Royal Air Force European operations) and three were 2nd Australian Infantry Forces, all killed in action. One was a Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve. H. A. ‘Pro’ McKenzie, although not included on the Fallen Lifesavers Memorial honouring those who were killed in action in WWII, is included on the North Cottesloe Roll of Honour. Pro, indeed, served in WWII. However, he died not in action but from disease contracted during war operations in what is now east Indonesia. Rory undertook further research and wrote short biographies on each of these men. These biographies are in a booklet which is displayed in the clubrooms with the Roll of Honour. Together they acknowledge the sacrifice of the fallen and serve as a reminder that in times of national peril, when our society and way of life is in the balance, it is to the young, the fit, the strong and the disciplined
– the sportsmen and sportswomen of Australia – who the nation turns to for its deliverance. The North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club Roll of Honour has a special place in the club’s history and will forever be a reminder of the contribution of North Cottesloe members to the history of Australia. Meanwhile, Siera uncovered a mistake in the book ‘Those who served – surf lifesavers at war’ by Stan Vesper (2015). The book records the names of all known surf lifesavers who served in the various wars and conflicts dating back to the Boer War (1899 to 1902), including 59 North Cottesloe members. Siera’s research revealed a further three members who served in WWII. The names will appear in subsequent publications of the book. One name that won’t appear in the book but should be mentioned is William ‘Bill’ Kidner, who served in WWII but did not join North Cottesloe and obtain his bronze until 1946, the year after the war ended. The North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club Roll of Honour and those who served are included in part one of this history book.
‘Chairman of the broom’ Lance Parker.
activities, centred around the club swim. During the 70s and 80s there were typically about 40 to 50 members who took part. Trevor Nicholas was the handicapper through to the early 1990s. A scratch race was held at the start of the season to set handicaps, meaning even the slowest swimmers had a chance to win. Self-confessed terrible swimmer Adrian Ridderhof even managed a win, though typically even if he got to the third buoy before champion swimmer and ironman competitor Simon Martin was in the water, Simon would still beat him. Results were published in The West Australian. The club swim promoted great camaraderie. In season 1989/90 the annual report highlighted there were up to 65 members competing in Sunday morning club swims and that beach sprints, beach flags, board and ski races were also well attended. But the involvement started to die off in the 90s when there were more carnivals and fewer people around. Ironically, this was also the time that membership was growing rapidly. But members became a bit detached from the club swim and with that, a little bit of the sense of
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any laughs have been had over club member antics that have earned a nomination or win in the Midgie Dean award. The award was the initiative
of surf boat rowers Mike Rigoll and Dave Barber in the mid-1980s. It was a time when the surf boat section wasn’t achieving much success and hence wasn’t getting any recognition at the club’s annual awards. The boaties made their own award. Mike built the original Midgie Dean trophy using a toy figurine of He-Man from the ‘Masters of the Universe’ cartoon. He painted blue-and-white stripes over He-Man’s jocks and glued the figurine to a piece of timber. It was an award for the boaties based on the fun theme ‘incredible acts of fearless stupidity’. An individual could only win it once and the winner had to present the next year’s nominations and award winner. The rules changed as the award expanded outside the surf boat section. The Midgie Dean award sums up the larrikin side of club life. It was named (though incorrectly spelt) after surf boat rower Rob Deane who had an ongoing argument with sweep Jack Alliss about who was tallest. Rob called Jack ‘Big John’ and Jack called Rob ‘Midgie Deane’. One of Midgie Deane’s own stupid acts was to lose his new gold Rolex watch when the surf boat rolled in the shallows during an early-morning training session at Cottesloe Beach. He never found it. Jack, who was sweeping that
2009 Midgie Dean winner Simon Ponsonby with Gordon Smith-Gander, who is yet to win the trophy.
Dr Greg ‘Hoges’ Hogan ending up with a broken nose
having previously won patrol member of the year and club
after presenting the award at the Albion Hotel in the early
member of the year.
1990s. A certain dinner guest didn’t find Hoges’ stories quite as funny as everyone else did.
The Midgie Dean trophy was last awarded in 2017. It was controversially awarded to ski captain Brendan ‘BD’
morning, queried the wisdom of wearing an expensive
Eventually the award wasn’t just the property of surf
Downes and surf sports development officer Shannon
watch to training. Jack, however, was presented the
boat rowers. Some of the vehicle incidents have earned
MacLachlan for entering an under-14 competitor in the
inaugural Midgie Dean trophy for putting his crew down
nominations and wins. There have been stories of arrests
the mine at a Scarborough carnival.
and certainly many stories of unprintable social antics.
lifesaver relay at the senior State championships. North
Colin Chalmers won it the following year for his “every man for himself” swallow dive out of the boat at a Denmark carnival just before the crew was belted by a huge wave.
There have been brown smear stories – at least one from
Cottesloe won by a large margin but was disqualified.
a beach sprint track and one from a surf boat. And another
Midgie Dean has since undergone reconstructive surgery.
from a surf boat was more a blind mullet than a smear.
Let’s just say Barbie looks pretty funny with North
Adrian ‘Araldite’ Ridderhof won it one year because that’s
The last time the award was recorded in the club’s annual
what he needed in his early years of sweeping to keep him
report was in 2008. Dave Kordic won it for an incident
in the boat. Some members may remember
with the club Rhino. It took Dave’s club awards to three,
Cottesloe budgie-smugglers, He-Man legs and left arm. She-Man perhaps!
Typical morning on the ramp.
Christmas morning swim, 2016, an annual event since 2014.
community was lost. There have been a few pushes over
turnouts for the club swim when it was made part of the cadet
Fremantle. Royal Life Saving Society WA ran the event from
the past 25 years to get more members involved in the
activities and timed to start as soon as nippers finished so
1997 until 2013 when Paddling WA took over. It was particularly
club swim, including a resurgence in 1994/95 when John
the older kids could take part. The handicapper/organiser
big during the early to mid-2000s with up to 800 competitors.
Guilfoyle took on the position of handicapper. However, there
was typically the key – having the right person rousing up the
North Cottesloe dominated the event for many years, both in
were still only a small number of starters compared with the
crowd. Travis Sheehy as club captain from 2006 to 2009 was
results and participation.
membership size.
important in this role and later on Jenny Ford did a great job of
Just over a decade later in 2006/07, president Craig ‘Goose’
getting people involved.
Negotiating the spit at Point Walter was always a highlight. North Cottesloe would position people at the spit to
Smith-Gander made a push to formalise Sunday a bit more:
Just like the club swim boosts camaraderie and club spirit,
encourage competitors and help the female surf boat crews,
“Reaching back into the club’s history to make it a true club
so too have certain external events fostered a fun, united
which were allowed to have handlers. It was always hard
day – the club swim is the first, albeit most important, element
culture. During the late 1990s and 2000s, the Swan River
going from a long steady pace to a short explosive effort
of this. I would strongly encourage all of you – from nippers
Classic Paddle, more commonly referred to as the ‘Bridge to
in getting the craft over the sand bar and then through a
through to masters including parents, friends, sponsors and
Bridge’ race, was a huge participation event for North Cottesloe.
decent stretch of shallow water, but the race could be won
the like to come down next season and give the club swim
Large contingents of serious and social competitors paddled
and lost at this point. And of course the reward was the
a go.” This resulted in more involvement in the club swim
skis and boards and rowed surf boats in the annual race
presentations and celebrations at the Left Bank at the finish
but it wasn’t sustained. Around 2010 there were again bigger
from the Narrows Bridge in Perth to the Stirling Bridge in East
of the race. This typically led to further celebrations – a party
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o welcome the new millennium, North Cottesloe associate member Di Moxham thought it would be a great idea for a band to play in front of the club at 7am. Mauricio Garcia’s El Combo pulsed out Latin rhythms that challenged any passer-by to toss away the old years and slip into a samba. And so began a much-loved North Cottesloe tradition – a colourful and happy New Year’s morning of musical abandon. Posters in the change rooms would appear close to the event. A small core of regular supporters ensured that all was in place and sufficient sausages were sizzled. Forming a conga line became a ritual, as did Greek dancing as the morning progressed. Surprised passers-by would always join the party. More recently, a group of ukulele players entertained while the band members took a break. The professional musicians pronounced it their favourite annual gig, even though it meant hardly any sleep before they arrived to set up. An extra tradition was born out of the need to pay for the band – a film night at the Windsor, where swimmers encountered their friends in a different setting and fully clothed. Local restaurants geared up for an influx of film-goers. 2016 was Di’s last dance. Her extended family lives in NSW and that’s where she has since been spending her New Year. Former club president Chris Shellabear organised and paid for a band to bring in 2017, but no one has taken over the ongoing coordination of the event. Many members miss not only the New Year’s morning musical fiesta, but also the film fundraiser night that had become a popular tradition in its own right.
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he baby oil was out and the muscles were rippling in front of a predominantly female crowd at the inaugural Mr North Cott competition at the clubrooms in February 2010. Dr Greg Hogan was crowned the overall winner of Mr North Cott, after also winning the silver fox category. Best guns went to Joel Burke, best beach bum to Warwick Michael, best abs to Kim Wallis, best legs to Kyle Bradley and best budgie smuggler to Robbie Benson, who was a bit upset he didn’t get to keep the budgie that appeared from. . . a cage.
Dinner in white, 2017.
Wine and chips in the clubrooms, 2016.
on Pek’s boat for the younger set and a pot luck lunch back
Karie Liggins has achieved the most consistent results in the
The North Cottesloe spirit is not just in the numbers of
at North Cottesloe for the older competitors.
swim, winning her age division every year since the event
members who support the event as participants and
started. The finishing frame, which was built for the inaugural
spectators. It’s also in the effortless companionship that
been a great show of North Cottesloe club spirit. A bunch of
event by Brian Sierakowski, Peter Blake and the late David
surrounds the weekend. Groups of North Cottesloe clubbies
North Cottesloe members, including Rob Devenish and the
‘Spider’ Liggins, was refurbished for the 20th event in 2018.
stay in houses that are either owned by one of them or have
Liggins, Sierakowski and Blake families, started the swim in
Blue, white and gold remain the colours – quite fitting given a
been rented for the weekend. For the past few years Ray
1998 as a fundraiser for the local community. The event has
third of the more than 300 competitors are North
Boffey has invited everyone to his house after the swim for
typically also included an art exhibition and dance night and
Cottesloe members.
hot cross buns. In 2018 about 70 people enjoyed the feast
In more recent years the Gracetown Easter Bay Swim has
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 235
of around 90 hot cross buns. For the rest of the weekend it’s surfing, wineries or whatever else appeals. As for Ray, welcoming everyone into his home sums up his nature. He is recognised by many members for giving up so much of his time for others. When the new clubrooms opened in 2013, the social side of the club was reinvigorated. A house committee was formed to guide the operations of the club, particularly with respect to bar trading and the responsible service of alcohol. As a community service organisation with a particular interest in promoting safety and healthy lifestyles, the club by now had long been taking its responsibilities in this regard very seriously. There was a need to strike a fine balance between responsible service to members, being responsible neighbours and having fun. The creation of leadership groups for all the club’s activities was a deliberate strategy to get more members involved. It was aimed at enhancing communication, spreading skills and responsibilities and providing opportunity for all members of the club and community to step forward, further enhancing the culture of the club. A bar was built into the clubrooms in the redevelopment and since then, there has been much discussion about the club obtaining a permanent liquor licence. Some members and neighbours have been against it and it’s been a long process of trying to bring everyone together on the issue so that the intent and purpose of the application for a permanent liquor licence is understood.
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ince opening at the bottom of Eric Street four years ago, Little Sup has virtually become an extension of North Cottesloe Surf Club. Marshall Thompson intended Little Sup to be a small surf shop with coffee. It morphed into a busy coffee shop with some surf. And quickly a large proportion of the regular clientele was made up of North Cottesloe members or their extended families.
236 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Some people hear the term ‘liquor licence’ and think the surf It’s a symbiotic relationship. Little Sup offers excellent, well-priced coffee – quickly. North Cottesloe offers excellent clientele – every morning. But it’s more than that. Everyone is friendly, engaged and committed. There’s a daily mix of ages, gender, fitness and wit. Club members have been involved in on-site art, drone footage and fundraisers. Little Sup was involved in the club’s centenary season launch event.
club wants to start functioning as a pub. This is not the case. The main reason for applying for a permanent liquor licence is to make it easier for the club to host regular annual events, just like the club has been hosting for many years. All these events require occasional liquor licence applications, which are onerous on the club and are limited to 12 per year. A permanent liquor licence would greatly reduce the load on those who volunteer their time in this area of club life. With a
Country carnival in Albany, 2017.
Three generations of Ridderhofs, Kody, Lea (Ridderhof), Todd and Ryker Edwards, Adrian, Jesse and Jamie Ridderhof. Ryker is the first of the third generation to be a North Cottesloe nipper.
permanent liquor licence, the bar may open occasionally, for
everyone back in the water. He organised a ‘reclaim the
between North Cottesloe and Cottesloe had become
example, Friday evenings in summer to allow members and
beach’ event on a Sunday morning. The entire club, including
increasingly popular for early morning swimmers. It had
guests to enjoy a casual drink at sunset.
nippers, entered the water in the pool where the attack
become the default training regime for anyone doing the
occurred and swam around the reef. Pretty much every
Rottnest Channel Swim. The water became so busy that a
available surf craft was on the water and the event was a
debate ensued, with letters to the local newspaper about
great success – albeit very emotional.
boats and skis becoming too dangerous in their interaction
the club remains just one of two metropolitan surf clubs in
The club set up a trust fund to financially assist the Crew
with the hundreds of people swimming between the two
the State not to have a liquor licence.
family through this sad time. A wake was held at the club and a counselling service was available to members.
string of buoys between the two beaches – surf craft ocean
There are times that club life has been hit by tragedy. The
In 2018, North Cottesloe submitted an application to the WA Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor for a permanent ‘club restricted liquor licence’. Until this licence is granted,
beaches each morning. North Cottesloe eventually put a
Demonstrating the community spirit in surf life saving, many
side, swimmers beach side. This solved the problem. And
2000/01 season began sadly with the fatal shark attack
surf clubs in WA and Australia expressed their condolences
certainly after the attack the swimmers were grateful for the
on associate member Ken Crew on 6 November. It shook
for the Crew family and club members. To help improve
presence of the surf craft.
the foundations of the club and the general beach-going
confidence in people returning to the beach, some members
community, but North Cottesloe members’ strength,
volunteered to provide a watch from 6am to 7am on weekday
The number of early-morning swimmers between North
commitment and support maintained a strong presence on
mornings. These watches ultimately resulted in official early
the beach in the aftermath.
morning patrols being added to the patrol roster. These
When the beach re-opened after being closed for a week, then-president Nick ‘Stinga’ Rea led the push to get
patrols, which continue to this day, are detailed in chapter five. In the decade leading up to the attack, the stretch of water
Cottesloe and Cottesloe has never returned to what it was around the turn of the century, though there are recent signs that numbers are on the rise. As for general early morning activity at North Cottesloe, the summer buzz continues. Ski paddlers, surf boat rowers and board paddlers are in the water
Chapter 3 Club life, club people | 237
training. Swimmers, leisurely and otherwise, bob like corks or do the lap to Cottesloe and back. Any hint of a wave and someone’s on it – body surfing or on a Malibu board. Sprinters strut in the soft sand. Chances are there will be a bronze class practising their rescues, or a requalification session under way. Fitness class is in full swing in the courtyard upstairs, or perhaps pounding the pavement nearby. Music pumps from the gym, where competitors sweat it out under heavy weights or on the rowing ergometers, while other members take it at a more leisurely pace – some associates trying to block out the blaring music. There’s banter in all locations. Dogs wait patiently out the front, eagerly awaiting the many pats and odd treat. And just up the road at Little Sup, the North Cottesloe buzz continues over coffee. It’s club life and there’s something for everyone.
Some of the North Cottesloe contingent in Gracetown for the Easter Bay Swim, 2018.
238 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
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Lish Anderson, Madelline Shaw, Tara Smith, Miriam Salter, Rachel Withoos, Deanne Cummins, Samantha Schilperoort and (front) Tegan Maffescioni, Asa Nowell, Amanda Bowman and Kate Russell at the 2018 State championships. Chapter 4 Women | 239
Judy Peacock, Barbara Gilbert, Libby Driscoll, Sandra Gilbert, Patti Nicholas, Karen Hungerford, mid-1960s. North Cottesloe won the senior female R&R State title eight times between 1950 and 1966. 240 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
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Chapter
WOMEN
Historian Ed Jaggard wrote about this in detail in his
membership again picked up in the late 30s. During the war
1999 article Australian Surf Life-saving and the ‘Forgotten
years when many of the club’s men were serving for their
Members’: “The history and mythology of Australia’s surf
country, the club’s females unofficially picked up some of the
life saving movement portray the surf lifesaver as an inter-
slack in patrol and rescue. In 1950, females made up 45 of
and post-war national symbol, an image of manhood
the total membership of 164. Numbers continued to fluctuate
often regarded as the successor to that of the bushman
and in 1999 North Cottesloe had 324 female members out of
and the digger. According to this viewpoint, women had
a membership of 895 (36 per cent).
no place on the beaches, being supportive fundraisers and social organisers. In fact, almost from surf life saving’s commencement in 1906, many women refused to be confined to these roles; they participated in their own competitions, were proficient in rescue techniques and were
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of North Cottesloe’s membership. During this period, the highest ratio was in 2008 when 43 per cent of the club’s members were female.
proud to belong to the movement, thus contradicting the
In 2018, females made up 47 per cent of SLSWA’s
widely shared belief that their active involvement began only
membership of 20,483. Across Australia, more than 40 per
in 1980 when they were granted full membership”.
cent of patrolling lifesavers were women. At North Cottesloe,
When North Cottesloe was established in 1918, 18 of the 35
of 2226 and 39 per cent of the active membership (15 years
founding members were women. North Cottesloe was very forward in promoting women in the club – engaging with them and allowing, even encouraging them to compete in all aspects of surf life saving, even though they weren’t
urf life saving has long been represented by the stereotypical muscley bronzed Aussie male in Speedos. The surf lifesaver – a national icon. It has only been in recent times that there has been a female version.
Since 2003 females have made up at least 39 per cent
recognised by the movement. Of course many of the females did support the club with domestic and fundraising duties, but they also had a strong presence on the beach as competitors.
females represented 39.5 per cent of the total membership and over) of 668. From the mid-1920s through until 1972, North Cottesloe’s female members had the opportunity to compete at women’s carnivals. A typical season included three interclub carnivals, plus a country carnival and the State championships. During the 1930s the competition program consisted of five events – the rescue and resuscitation (R&R), march past, surf belt and surf teams races, plus a
At North Cottesloe, numbers of females ebbed and flowed
beach relay. By the early 1940s, two individual events had
over the decades but typically women remained an
been added – beach sprint and surf race. Just like the
integral part of the club. The club’s early years were those
surf life saving movement in 1980 when they were allowed
men’s carnivals, the most prestigious event was the R&R.
in which women came closest to forming half the total
And just like the men’s carnivals, members of WA’s board
to do their bronze medallion and become active surf
membership, with male membership increasing in future
of examiners judged the women’s carnivals. These were
lifesavers – patrolling and competing alongside the men.
years at a much faster rate than that of female membership.
the same people who conducted the examinations for the
It has long been documented that prior to this, their place
However, come the mid-1990s when female surf sports
various life saving awards.
in the movement, if they had a place at all, was confined
events were progressively included in State and Australian
to the domestic and fundraising duties they could perform
championships, female membership started to boom.
to support the men. But this this was not always the case.
Between 1922 and 1930 North Cottesloe’s membership
Supposedly they didn’t have the strength and stamina to
Certainly at North Cottesloe, the club’s females were not
fluctuated between 76 and 154, with female members never
swim with a belt and line in rough seas or carry a heavy reel
confined to these roles.
dipping below 22. After a decline during the mid-30s, female
to a rescue scene. Their carnivals proved otherwise but it
Females were only welcomed on equal footing into the
The main argument against women obtaining their bronze was based on their perceived lack of physical ability.
Chapter 4 Women | 241
awarded life membership in 1986 and remains a club member in 2018). Other members of the women’s R&R team over this period were Elizabeth Driscoll, Sandra and Barbara Gilbert, Judy Peacock, Geraldine Hill, Shirley Porteus and Karen Hungerford. Karen, who later became Karen Liggins, is the only one of these members still at the club in 2018. Although Patti’s stint at the club was short by comparison, she has very fond memories of her time there. Her parents, Trevor and Minchen Nicholas, remained involved for the rest of their lives, Trevor most known for his role as club handicapper for many years. “Our club was amazing and was always very welcoming of the females,” Patti said. “We had a big group of girls and we would lie on top of the boatshed on the black bitumen out of wind where it was warm. We had a fabulous female committee and did a lot of fundraising. We used to make coffees for the boys who were patrolling but we also had our own swimming and running races and trained really hard. We took our competition very seriously. It was just another Many of North Cottesloe’s early female members gained SLSA certificates in resuscitation.
Multiple surf race and surf belt race State champion Patricia Nicholas, 1965.
sport we could do. . . We all had a lot of fun. We had dances (stomps), end-of-carnival parties, big presentations. . . I remember going to a stomp across the road at the old surf
did nothing to dispel the arguments of their critics, despite
they took very seriously and had a lot of success in. From
the examiners themselves seeing first hand the strength and
1950 through until 1966, North Cottesloe women were the
stamina of the women.
R&R State champions eight times.
However, North Cottesloe’s women didn’t seem too worried
Patricia Nicholas, who joined the club as a 10-year-old girl in
Perth in the 1960s. Clubs from the east coast came back to
about not being able to qualify for the bronze medallion – it
1957 because her father and brother were members, started
North Cottesloe and the blokes got up and started dancing
was just the way it was. On the contrary, they could have the
competing as soon as she was old enough. Although she
by themselves because they weren’t used to having females
fun without the responsibility. The happy, fit girls regularly
was only a member until 1970, Patti remains one of the club’s
around. Karie remembers training hard, competing in
graced the pages of the newspapers of the day. In 1948 Pat
best-ever female competitors. She won her first surf race
swimming and R&R events and enjoying a lot of interclub
State title in 1962 and the following year she again won the
social activities, including stopping at various clubs for a
surf race, as well as the surf belt race and the surf teams with
drink on the way back from carnivals in Bunbury.
Beamish, who later became Pat Kidner, was crowned Miss North Cottesloe, subsequently placing second in the WA final of the Miss Pacific competition. But it wasn’t just fun and games for the North Cottesloe women. Many of them
Elizabeth Driscoll, Gail Caldwell and Lorraine Burke. Patti won the surf belt race again in 1964 and 1965.
club and the floor was bouncing, moving inches.” Karie also remembers these parties and makes reference to a party at the club after the Australian championships in
Karie stopped competing in the late 1960s but eventually did her bronze medallion in the 1990s and started competing
undertook rescue training and gained SLSA certificates in
Patti was also a member of the champion R&R team from
in masters events. In 2018 she won seven medals at the
resuscitation. They also trained hard for competitions, which
1963 until 1966, coached by Lyn Girdlestone (who was
masters State championships and five medals at the masters
242 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Australian championships. During the 1970s, Karie spent a lot of time down at the club with her young kids and was heavily involved in the ladies’ auxiliary. She looked up to some of the older women such as Pat Kidner and Fran Russell whom she described as the doyennes of the club, the backbone of the club. They were the workhorses, looking after their husbands Bill Kidner and Graham Russell and the other men in the club. Minchen Nicholas also was heavily involved in the ladies’ auxiliary and whenever the men needed money, these ladies ran around doing things – fundraising, holding raffles, making curtains. Other women who have since played an important role in the club through the involvement of their husbands and/or children include Aroha Knowles, Carol Knowles, Sue Flower, Yvette Ridderhof, Rose Hawtin, Fiona Smith-Gander and Wendy Sierakowski, to name a few. In 1980, when females were finally given the opportunity to gain their bronze medallion, a handful of females took the opportunity to do so at North Cottesloe. They included Leith Weston, who had joined because of Nick and Andy Taylor whom she swam with in the pool. Leith began competing and, in the absence of separate competition for the females, she competed against the men. At her first State championships in 1982, she won a silver medal in the junior surf teams. Females may have been able to qualify for their bronze but it would be many more years before the women’s competition program looked anything like that of their male counterparts.
Lorna Wall, Dot Shearer, Simone Janney and Julianne Simmons receive flowers from Richard Meadmore at the annual dinner, 1993.
included and for the next six years these were the only three
The inclusion of female surf boat rowing in the mid 90s
In WA, for the first three years after women could gain their
events for women. In 1992, the ironwoman was added, along
possibly demonstrated beyond anything else that the
bronze, there were no competition events for women, though
with underage events in the beach sprint, surf race and
movement had really started to embrace women. Surf boat
they were permitted to compete in some of the open events
surf board.
rowing had been a boys’ club more than any other of the surf
against the males. SLSWA held the first female events in season 1983/84 – beach sprint, surf race and Malibu board race – and it would be another five years before events
As the 1990s progressed, the future of females in the surf life saving movement started to look much brighter. More
life saving disciplines. In fact, in earlier years national rules strictly forbade women from riding in surf boats at all.
women’s surf sports events were progressively added to the
Sweeps Jack Alliss and Richard Meadmore were the first
State and Australian championships and as women played
North Cottesloe members to witness females rowing
On the national stage it was even worse. It wasn’t until 1985
a growing role across the board, surf life saving as a whole
surf boats in a demonstration race at the Australian
that any female events were included at the Australian
started to shift from a blokey, masculine movement to one that
championships at Swansea Belmont, NSW, in 1994. On
championships. Beach sprint, surf race and Malibu board were
is much more inclusive.
seeing the females do the ‘wedge’ for the first time, it took
increased dramatically to 22.
Chapter 4 Women | 243
Margot Ferguson and Kate Scott (back), Karen Kearns, Fiona Clarke, Lou Roberts and Alli Gould enjoy the drink of the era, 1994. 244 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Merome Beard (Hall, part-time administrator 1997-2000), Liz Carson (member of the club’s first female surf boat crew to win an Australian medal), Kelly Moss (administrator 2001-03, general manager 2006-10), Georgina Barker (Walsh, author of part two of this book) and sweep Tony Beard.
Long-time contributor to education and life saving, Jasmine Lamb, 2003.
them a few seconds to pick their jaws up off the sand but
the climate of 2018, with the elevation of both the profile
and a willingness to engage actively in every aspect of
they quickly recognised they needed to embrace women’s
of women’s sport and salary structure in the likes of AFLW,
the club. This was balanced across a fulcrum of social
surf boat rowing if the club was not going to be left behind.
tennis and Australian cricket, the club was perhaps ahead
awareness and integrity.” Alli continues to row today in a
Richard described it as a ‘Eureka moment’, that they had to
of its time. In 1995, women’s surf boats became an official
reserve/masters crew.
get off their male chauvinist band wagon and accept that
competition event Australia-wide. For the next decade, there
women were entering this very male-dominated arena of
remained only the open women’s category but there has
surf life saving. Whether they liked it or not, women’s surf
since been the inclusion of under-23 women in 2007 and
boat rowing was set to have a strong future and North
reserve and under-19 women in 2017 – a program equal to
Cottesloe needed to jump on board.
that of the men.
And jump on board the club did, disagreeing with many
Allison Gould was a member of North Cottesloe’s first
pillar of competition strength at North Cottesloe, eclipsed
other clubs of the day, which seemed to begrudge
women’s crew in 1994. “I remember a lot of laughter and
only by the female beach relay. The women’s beach relay
the introduction of females into the sport. Rival clubs at the
collegiality amongst the women as it was such a male-
was added to the Australian Championships program in 1996.
time thought the women should be allocated the oldest
dominated field that we developed a rather necessary
In 1995, North Cottesloe’s State champion female beach
and slowest boats and the most out-of-shape sweeps –
sisterhood,” Alli said. “That said, the women who stepped up
relay team (Karen Heagney, Susan Stewart, Kathryn Heaton
pretty much whatever was left in the back of the shed. In
to row tended to be alpha personalities with athletic ability
and Margot Ferguson) ran against the men at the Australian
In 2002, the crew of Fiona Murray, Sally Glen, Liz Carson, Louise Roberts and sweep Gary ‘Willow’ Williamson won North Cottesloe’s first Australian medal in women’s surf boats. Since its introduction, female surf boat rowing has been a
Chapter 4 Women | 245
championships after arguing their way into the event. With the event listed as ‘open’ not ‘male’, the officials could find no reason to exclude the gutsy female team. The North Cottesloe girls’ aim was to not finish last in their heat against all the other male teams. They finished seventh because another team dropped the baton, but it was a legitimate result. They didn’t finish last and they gained kudos. In 2001, the North Cottesloe beach relay team of Nicole Skelton, Sonja Belle, Renee Winteridge and Annette Margaret won North Cottesloe’s first ever female Australian title. It was the club’s first Aussie gold medal in 27 years and the first ever gold for the beach arena. In 2018 it remained the club’s only female Australian title in open events. Underage gold medals have been won in the under-19 female 2km beach run by Emily Wray in 2017 and Sophie Hogan in 2018. The growing role of women in the surf life saving movement has been far more than just as competitors. Except for the very top, women have had a profound impact. The years 1980 to 2000 were not easy for the pioneering women who gained their bronze and sought to patrol and compete on an even footing with the men. Opposition, especially in some NSW clubs, was unrelenting and unashamedly misogynist. However, the new reality was that, by 2000, women were just as likely as men to be wearing red-and-yellow caps, and maybe crewing an IRB. Women brought a different set of life skills to clubs and with this came the benefit of a much wider range of viewpoints in decision-making. Despite this, the growth in numbers wasn’t reflected in the committee rooms, where women remained a rarity. Weight of numbers meant that this slowly started to change, firstly in clubs and then later at State and national levels. 2001 Australian beach relay champions Sonja Belle, Renee Winteridge, Annette Margaret and Nicole Skelton.
246 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Liz Pavlovich (Lang, inaugural chair of surf sports 2009-12) and Lea ‘Loops’ Ridderhof (chair of surf sports 2012-15), 2004.
Australian representatives Jess Flower, Libby Gatti, Bec McLaughlin (Sattin), Rachael Taylor and sweep Alex Davies rowing in New Zealand, 2013.
In 2000, there were almost 38,000 female members
was secretary for a year, followed by Margot Ferguson for
Australia wide. The total membership of SLSA’s boards and
two years, before a restructure in the organisation of the club
committees was 161 of which 19, or 11 per cent, were women.
saw the position of secretary disappear.
Seven years later the figure had fallen to 10 per cent, while the comparable WA figure was 13. Today, roughly 30 per cent of all such positions at State and national levels are filled by women. After 38 years and with almost 60,000 female members Australia wide, two thirds of all key decision-
More notable, however, was Lorna Wall becoming the club’s first female chief instructor in 1992. Lorna had been involved in running the nipper program since her boys became involved in the early 1980s. In 1987, Lorna gained her bronze,
makers remain men.
started patrolling and ultimately gained her advanced
In 1984, Karie Liggins became the first female to hold a
as an instructor. Her first official position in the club was
position on North Cottesloe’s management committee when she took on the role of secretary for the season. Karie had been involved in running the juvenile program since the late 1970s when her boys were old enough to take part.
resuscitation and first-aid certificates and then qualified as cadet officer in 1991. The following year Lorna became chief instructor, a position she held for three years before becoming patrol officer in 1995 for two years.
After Karie’s brief stint as secretary, the position was filled by
Simone Janney had been the club’s first female patrol officer
males again for the next eight years. Julianne Simmons took
for one year before Lorna took on the role. Females taking
on the role in season 1993/94 and held the position until
on positions that had clearly always been the domain of the
2000 (except for season 1997/98). From 2000, Liz Cumbor
men was a clear sign that things were changing.
Long-time contributors to life saving and education Helen Allison and Mary-Anne Paton, 2015.
Chapter 4 Women | 247
Women have helped to re-fashion the public image of surf life saving, from one which was proudly, almost defiantly masculine, to one which better reflects the expectations of modern day Australian society. The importance of this to governments, sponsors and supporters cannot be overstated. There’s a delicious irony in the knowledge that almost 40 years ago women gave the kiss of life to a national icon. Ed Jaggard, 2018
248 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Kate Carbone (Knowles, chair of juniors 2016-18) and long-time helper Carol Knowles 2004.
Masters competitors and first-aid officers (since 2015) Amanda Nitschke, Jenny Ford and Jenny Rogers, 2016.
Chair of life saving (since 2017) Pia Claudius, 2017.
Meanwhile, Dot Shearer had long been a pioneer for women
Many females have held positions in the club since the turn
members. The most females on any one board have been
in surf life saving. Dot joined North Cottesloe in 1979 and
of the century – on the committee/board of management
three members in 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18 and
became first-aid officer for 13 years, followed by radio officer
and as officers in the various sections of the club. However,
2018/19.
for the bulk of the 90s and into the early 2000s. Dot played
the number is yet to reflect the ratio of women in the broader
an integral part in the development of new technologies
membership.
and procedures for essential radio communication. She was awarded life membership of North Cottesloe in 1996.
In 2018, there were three females on the 10-member board of management, which had come into being in 2005
Meanwhile, there has never been a female president and Liz Lang, who was club captain for part of season 2008/09, remains the club’s only female club captain. Females have made huge contributions across all facets of
Other females to hold positions during this time were
following a restructure of the club management. Of the
Jenny Rutter as juvenile officer, Kareena Preston, Katy
inaugural nine-member board, two were female – Linda
Rutter and Rebecca Rutter as cadet officers, Fiona Clarke
Gladwell as education officer and Mary Petrie as club
as first-aid officer and Margaret Anderson, Margie Tannock,
services chair. The following year there were no females on
Melita Vojakovic, Catherine Moore, Kate Flower and
the board and in 2007/08 there was just one female on the
There have been many females involved in the
Julianne Simmons in various communications, social and
board. Since season 2008/09 there have been at least two
administration of the club over the past two decades
membership roles.
females on the board, which in 2009/10 expanded to 10
since the club shifted to a paid administration. Kelly Moss’
North Cottesloe SLSC, in particular in education, life saving, as officials and, of course, in competition. Their stories can be found in following chapters.
Chapter 4 Women | 249
Swimmers Lish Anderson, Jess Reynolds and Kat Porter and champion beach athlete Tegan Maffescioni (second from right), 2017.
Masters competitor and long-time contributor Karie Liggins, 2018.
Nat Whiteside and Courtney Aylett (back), Holly Child, Angie Butler (Coote), Anna Speirs, Jess Hayes, Claire Jordan and Sophia Flynn bring some colour to the streets of Geraldton after the country carnival, 2018.
contribution is detailed in chapter two. North Cottesloe has long been applauded for leading the way with its acceptance and encouragement of females. However, in its first century, just one female was awarded life membership – Dot Shearer. This has caused much recent debate and in late 2018, several nominations for female life memberships were being considered.
Competitors Eliza Rakich, Emily Wray and Tilly Morfesse on patrol, 2018.
250 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
5
5
Bronze medallion class on North Cottesloe Beach. Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 251
Team for the mass bronze requalification, 2010
252 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
5
Chapter
EMBRACING LIFE SAVING AND EDUCATION
E
ducation and life saving remain the foundation of all surf life saving clubs. Without these two areas, surf clubs would not be able to fulfill their fundamental tenet of being a lifesaving entity. Much of the focus at North Cottesloe has
traditionally gone towards the more exciting areas of surf
so many active members that it has increased its number of
chair of life saving in the early to mid-2010s and made
patrols and even shares these human resources with other
some changes to the patrol system she was ‘accused’ of
clubs. From a club that had dis-organised patrols – often
making North Cottesloe ‘good at patrols’. The accuser was
with no patrol captain – to a club that has slick, professional
horrified his boaties could no longer ‘sign on’, row and get
patrols led by patrol captains trained specifically for the role.
patrol hours. But just like the broader life saving movement
From a club that was the last on the coast to get an IRB, to
there will always be the conflicting aims of life saving and
one that has five IRBs and provides regular water safety at
competition. And like in any organisation, strength ebbs
carnivals and events. From a club that had only twice before
and flows in different sections at different times. Maintaining
in its near 100-year history been recognised by SLSWA for
balance across all areas is a tough ask and different leaders
patrolling excellence, to a club that won patrol club of the
have different focuses. One thing’s for sure, the famous
year in 2017 and finished runner-up in 2016 and 2018.
bronze parties of the late 1990s and 2000s played a role in
As for education, North Cottesloe has built itself up to be one of the strongest education clubs in the State, on many
The importance of education as a community service at
occasions topping the number of awards taught and at times
North Cottesloe has been increasingly recognised over
teaching more than all the other clubs combined. Education
the last couple of decades. As North Cottesloe member
teams, methods and requirements have changed over the
Malcolm McCusker QC, AC, CVO (Governor of Western
years but the dedication and enthusiasm of those involved
Australia from 2011 to 2014) stated in his address at the
has remained, and with the variety of awards now taught and
launch of the Surf Life Saving Street Appeal in 1998/99, the
the time involved, it could be said that the dedication has
educational aspect of surf life saving had probably assumed
even increased.
more importance to the community and public than that of
For a long time now, North Cottesloe has had a fantastic team of experienced and new educators delivering courses. The club is always looking to improve education and has continued to introduce innovative teaching methods. These have improved the knowledge and skill base of the education team as well as the experience and learning for the bronze medallion and SRC candidates.
sports competition. However, education and life saving
What used to be necessary chores have become clear
support the sports side and over recent years the foundation
pathways for members to take. Choose education. Choose
areas have undergone a significant transformation – not just
life saving. North Cottesloe has grown from a club that
in achievements and numbers of qualifications awarded, but
showed little recognition for these sections of the club,
in recognition within the club itself.
to a club that embraces its educators and lifesavers as
Over the past quarter of a century, North Cottesloe has gone
boosting North Cottesloe’s education profile.
highly-valued members of the team.
patrolling duties in the previous decade. “Especially at North Cottesloe, this is one of the most important community services we offer in comparison to the relatively low rate of rescues,” Malcolm said. “It must be remembered that even people who decide not to stay on as members of our club go out into the community armed with skills and values learnt from completing their surf life saving awards.” In the 1980s, North Cottesloe awarded between 10 and 20 bronze medallions each season, aside from a top of 23 in 1987 and low of eight in 1989. In 1991, award numbers more than doubled to 51, jumping to 95 the next year and 114 in 1993. The increase reflected the huge growth in membership the club started to experience in the early 90s. With its upgraded facilities, North Cottesloe had become a more
from being a club that was regularly in breach of its service
Some will say that North Cottesloe has become more of
attractive place. There had also been a conscious decision to
agreement with SLSWA and the Town of Cottesloe by not
a life saving club than the competition club for which it
take the emphasis off competition because the club needed
having enough members on patrol, to being a club that has
was always known. Indeed, when Mary-Anne Paton was
more patrolling members.
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 253
In the early 1990s, Johnno Miller and Lorna Wall worked very hard to keep up with the influx of new members and were responsible for training more new members than any other time in the club’s past. In season 1991/92, Lorna’s efforts were recognised by SLSWA twice – first being named instructor of the month and again at the end of the season when she received the prestigious award of WA instructor of the year. She remembers one bronze exam as being particularly memorable that year. On 19 October 1991 conditions were so rough that every beach except Sorrento was closed. Consequently, theory was held at City of Perth, followed by the practical test at Sorrento. All 14 of North Cottesloe’s candidates passed, including Nick ‘Stinga’ Rea, who went on to be one of the club’s champion sprinters, as well as president and life member.
Lorna Wall with her champion patrol team Kate Flower, Peter Wall, Adrian Jones, Cipriano Martinez and Sam Knowles, 1994 (team member Ian Burthem missing from photo).
Brett ‘Chunds’ Endersby.
Beach in April 1987 (just before her 40th birthday). Lorna
In season 1995/96 Lorna took on the role of patrol officer
this boosted the confidence of those on patrol and made the
helped out with nippers for a couple of years before gaining
to try to lift the club’s profile on the beach which was in
public feel safe at North Cottesloe.
her advanced resuscitation (ARC) and first-aid certificates
desperate need of improvement. To fulfil its patrol obligations
and then qualifying as an instructor. After training the surf
the club had to have four members on duty per rostered
life saving certificate for a couple of years she became chief
patrol. Yet the club had very few bronze holders, which
instructor in 1992 and eventually also became an examiner.
meant that the patrolling members were rostered every
When Lorna started teaching at North Cottesloe there were
second weekend for four hours. There had been periods,
very few active members and patrols were virtually every
particularly during the 1980s, that members were patrolling
weekend. Craig Bell and Johnno Miller were the only other main
each weekend. There were times when North Cottesloe was
instructors. Everyone had multiple jobs, as well as trying to
unable to meet its obligations – most likely on carnival days
without help from Swanbourne-Nedlands Surf Club, which
compete and also keep the club afloat, so they were more than
when most of the patrolling members were competing. And
at the time was winning all the champion patrol competitions.
happy for Lorna to take over the club’s education.
if there was a ‘raid’ by State Centre the club was penalised.
On asking for help because she had no experience in this
Lorna was the first educator at North Cottesloe to formalise
As the number of bronze medallion holders increased, the
area, Swanbourne-Nedlands not only let Lorna observe their
the training process and put through multiple bronze classes
pressure on patrolling members decreased. Active members
at the same time. Classes had been haphazard to say the
were rostered on less frequently and yet the club was still
least. Lorna set a schedule and for the first scheduled class
able to have more than its contracted number of members
people turned up in dribs and drabs for the first half hour.
on patrol. Lorna took the opportunity to offer additional
However, she had started the class on time and just kept on
training and practice for the extra members while the
Reciprocal relationships weren’t uncommon. Cottesloe had
going. No one ever arrived late again.
contracted patrol watched the beach. She would like to think
very few advanced instructors, so in return for Lorna helping
Lorna had made a quick impact on education at North Cottesloe after gaining her bronze in a mass exam at City
254 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Lorna also took the opportunity to train members for the champion patrol competition. She found there were interested and talented patrolling members who were prepared to put in the extra hours to become medal contenders in the State championships. The result was North Cottesloe winning silver in the State championships in 1994/95. Lorna says the result could not have been achieved
training sessions but they let her bring the North Cottesloe group down to train with them. It was the club’s best result in decades and it would be nearly another two decades before it was repeated.
was the precursor to initiatives taken in later years to focus on patrol leadership and offer specific training for patrol captains. Season 1998/99 certainly goes down in history. It marked the start of the new bronzies’ presentations, soon to be known as the famous bronze parties – usually with a spa or two. The initiative quickly enhanced the education program and boosted the level of motivation within the club. The size of the spas was also fairly quickly enhanced. The bronze parties were a positive aspect in a season otherwise marred by a new education format. State Centre introduced a new award structure and examiners wishing to maintain their active status were required to participate in a re-accreditation workshop. The changes, which were met with varying levels of acceptance up and down the coast, resulted in the season being as much about educating the trainers as educating new and existing members. The extent of the changes meant a large amount of the trainers’ time and energy was directed to learning the new procedures and fulfilling their own obligations under the new assessment system. It unfortunately took away the ability to focus on further areas of education beyond the staple bronze, ARC Niall Warren.
Linda Gladwell.
them with training ARCs and first-aid and examining for
patrols in April. SLSWA was now under pressure from the
them, they helped Lorna with IRB training. Swanbourne also
State Government to deliver a properly managed service
helped train the North Cottesloe bronzies with the IRB. Lorna
to the community and had been requested to form beach
says North Cottesloe could not have managed without such
management plans with all the clubs along the coast.
great cooperation and she remains deeply indebted to all her old friends from those neighbouring clubs.
North Cottesloe started running an in-house patrol competition, which assessed the effectiveness of each patrol,
and SRC. In the transition, the club’s trainers relied heavily on the experience, support and assistance from the education veterans of the club. In particular, Lorna Wall, Dot Shearer and Niall Warren were thanked for their stealthy input throughout the year. Niall had played an important role in putting education on the map at North Cottesloe since gaining his bronze medallion in 1994 under Lorna. It was evident to Niall that the first contact
In 1996/97, after a break of several years, the club started
based on spot checks and mock rescues. However, the
you had at the club really made an impact. He found Lorna
competing in the patrol efficiency competition, with far
logistics of doing mock rescues with each of the 33 patrols
so enthusiastic, so embracing. So too were her young helpers
from impressive results over the first couple of years. North
was too difficult and this was taken out of the competition.
(all from her previous classes). It was infectious. With no other
Cottesloe’s involvement in the competition continued until
But those that were carried out showed, in general, members
obvious direction for Niall to take, he got involved in education
recent years. Around the same time, the club demonstrated
were effective at rescue and resuscitation techniques but
because it gave him a channel to be part of the club, while
its willingness to take its obligation of beach surveillance
needed better leadership and organisation to perform a faster,
meeting new people of all ages. He quickly saw the need to
to a new level by installing a new tower and continuing
more efficient rescue with little margin for error. Perhaps this
foster this important, but largely hidden, section of the club.
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 255
Bronze exam, 2003.
Niall’s great skill lies in putting on events and generating energy around them. He can manage to round up a large number of people around a cause or an event. It’s that bringing of people together which then creates momentum in that area. When Niall did his bronze exam there was no post-exam celebration or acknowledgement on the day, just a certificate presentation toward the end of the season for all bronzies (usually at the Albion Hotel). Niall started assisting with courses, which were taught over eight to 10 weeks. He observed that there was no firm structure in the teaching or onus on the candidates to attend classes. Once Niall started instructing (rather than assisting) he reduced the teaching time to six weeks and allowed all candidates to miss up to three classes with no reason required. Any candidate missing four or more classes either did not sit the exam or had to show cause as to why they should sit. His first class of 25 all sat the exam and passed without a hitch. Both Renato Bruno and Dan Bunning, who had been instructing for a while, believed it was a club first as usually at least one candidate tripped up along the way.
256 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Spinal carry, Lancelin bronze requalification weekend, 2004.
On completion of the exam, Niall organised a small $10 per head barbecue and drinks back at the club. At least half of the class watched the sunset at the club that night (with many trips to the OBH to top up the beer). Niall went on to be chief instructor for the 1997/98 season. Some of his previous candidates jumped on board as assistants and together they formalised and refined the training regime. He got Lorna Wall and Cottesloe Surf Club’s Jean Burling to come down on the Thursday before the exam to ‘test’ the candidates. This was possibly the precursor to the mock exam that was introduced in later years. Each class finished with a post-exam barbecue. By the second class, numbers were up and young club members like James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin, James Knowles and Jim and Matt Hawtin were tagging onto the post-exam party. All classes were invited to the final party, which was a big one with a spit roast and around 80 people. During that season, Niall also started the tradition of inviting all examiners and trainers to the barbecue, where they were formally recognised. Radio Queen Dot Shearer loved this part of the
day and never figured out why she always got a huge bunch of flowers. Niall was named club member of the year that season (along with Alex ‘Moose’ Park). Thanks largely to Niall, education had come out of the shadows and developed a reputation of being a good introduction to the club. The bronze was no longer something to endure. Classes were fun, camaraderie fostered and non-competitors suddenly had a wellorganised, enthusiastic and viable channel to be part of the club. Education became a bit of a fraternity. There were rowers, sprinters, paddlers and now, there were educators. Niall continued to help with dozens of classes, did lots of mock exams and formalised both his instructors and examiners in every discipline of the day. Over the next couple of decades he was involved in likely hundreds of bronze requalifications. Meanwhile, some of his previous candidates took the bronze parties to the next level. And the next level, while Niall continued to do the catering. The late 1990s marked the start of a long and very active
Spinal management, 2007.
Typical scene at the bronze parties during the 2000s.
involvement of two new trainers – Brett ‘Chunds’ Endersby
2004 until 2013 and is certainly a fantastic example of a
get jobs on the beach or at the resort pools – a huge boost
and Linda Gladwell. After completing his bronze in the
member taking the education pathway to leadership within
to their money-earning capacity and ability to support their
1998/99 season, Chunds helped out with the very next
the club. Chunds was also the area training consultant for
families. Teaching on Cocos and Bali are the highlights of
class and was responsible for introducing spas to the bronze
SLSWA for the Swanbourne to Fremantle area from 2002
Linda’s time in education at North Cottesloe.
parties that season. Chunds was then involved in pretty
until 2005. He was named club member of the year in 2003
much every class for the next decade. He took on the role of
and and 2010, SLSWA assessor of the year in 2005 and
education officer for four years and was in the position when
SLSWA administrator of the year in 2013.
it was promoted to a committee/board of management position, reflecting the increasing importance of education within the surf life saving movement and North Cottesloe. Chunds’ contribution to education at North Cottesloe was huge, in terms of the energy and changes he brought to
Running a close second are the bronze parties, which typically ran all day and ended in the early hours of the following morning in a nightclub somewhere. Other major
Linda had gained her bronze in the 1997/98 season and,
highlights for Linda were the great people she met and
like Chunds, she started teaching the very next class. Linda
seeing how skilled the bronzies became during their courses
ended up teaching for the next 12 or so years and served
– and hearing their stories of how they had gone on to
on the board of management. In 2004 she took over as
use their skills. Linda went on to be chair of club services
education officer, which changed to chair of education the
from 2008 to 2011. In 2018 she continued to help out with
following year, in line with the structural changes that were
requalifications.
outlined in an earlier chapter. After being named SLSWA
With education being the first point of contact for most
trainer of the year in 2005, Linda was then asked to run SRC
members, it was hoped that the education team would be
requalifications on Cocos Island for the teachers who worked
able to ensure that all new members could see the club as
there. It remains the most exotic and gorgeous place that
having vast areas of interest for them to pursue, whether
Chunds’ long involvement as a board member included one
Linda has taught surf life saving, followed by Bali. Linda and
competitive, leisure or otherwise. Also that the bronze
year as chair of governance and strategy and then seven
a group of volunteers from Cottesloe Surf Club taught surf
classes enabled the club to promote a spirit of camaraderie
years as chair of assets. Chunds was vice-president from
rescue to the Balinese locals, who could use the skills to
and enthusiasm from the outset. Linda wrote a handbook
the section. His introduction of the bronze parties and spas raised the profile of education. He was good at identifying new educators and getting them to join the increasing number of instructors. And his infectious personality kept people coming back – both instructors and members alike.
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 257
In 1999/2000, club management made it an obligation on active members to participate in junior activities by virtue of a roster for ‘nipper patrols’. This initiative was a success and continued to grow. It assisted greatly in ensuring the club continued to offer junior activities to its youngest members. The following season patrols were overhauled, with changes made to administration and on the beach aimed at bringing patrols up to a much higher standard. Under the guidance of patrol officer Grahame Schultz, nicknamed by many as the ‘Patrol Nazi’, every patrol had been involved in mock rescue scenarios. The club’s instructors kept members up-to-date with their rescues, first-aid, patient carries and signals. Radio officer Dot Shearer, the club’s long-time radio queen, also worked with the patrol groups to maintain a high standard of radio operating. Shayne Yates and Mike Carter, 2007.
to give to the bronze candidates to tell them about different parts of the club. She hated the idea of new members
Despite now having a large membership, North Cottesloe much more sedate.
remained low in members who had furthered their life saving qualifications after getting their bronze. The club started
Those involved in the early days of the bronze parties
working towards each patrol comprising an IRB driver, first-
certainly believe the parties helped build club spirit at this
aid certificate holder and ARC holder and in 2001/02 started
basic level. Many will say these were the days that education
offering a patrol captains’ course. Large numbers of patrol
was fun, with more hands-on practical teaching rather than
captains completed the course and the operating standards
Linda also started getting section captains to introduce
classroom-style textbook teaching that took over. The ‘fun’
of patrols started to improve. The club had also started early
themselves to the new bronzies during their courses. It gave
morphed throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s, as slowly
morning weekday surveillance patrols, involving two or more
the new bronzies an opportunity to get to know people in
things were tightened up with increased paperwork and
their area of interest, ideally offering them an easier pathway
changes to training requirements, as well as OHS regulations
into club activities. Education continued to benefit from the
putting a dampener on the bronze parties. However, what
leaving the club because they hadn’t formed a strong connection, particularly after putting so much effort into teaching them.
ability to recruit directly from the bronzies during the course and there continued to be great new people getting involved in education in this way. The introduction of section captains happened on and off over the years but has dropped off in the past few years. During the era of the bronze parties it never took much to get section captains down to meet and greet. But since the parties stopped in 2011, coordinating the section captains has been more difficult. Celebrations at the end of bronze classes have continued but they have been
258 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
remained was the passion of North Cottesloe’s dedicated
active members watching over swimmers between 5.45am and 7.15am from November to mid-December. The club won the Carlton and United Breweries Award of Excellence in 2001/02 for this initiative.
educators, who continued to impart their knowledge
By season 2002/03 bronze requalifications were becoming
and passion for the art of life saving to new and existing
harder and more in line with State Centre guidelines. Trevor
members. And those involved in education today are quick
Gibb helped the club’s instructors put every active member
to point out that the classroom-style teaching is gone again. Training is extremely hands on, with trainers in the water and on the beach getting sand and salt all over them.
through some of the State’s most gruelling requals. This resulted in SLSWA patrol efficiency checks, traditionally known as ‘raids’, starting to go against the usual club trend. Patrol groups were recording some of the club’s highest scores ever.
Keeping a close eye on conditions and swimmers.
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 259
He also did a stint as membership officer, during which time there was a large influx of girls to the club in proportion to males. Renato figured he was doing his bit to make the bronze parties better as well as trying to increase the ratio of women in the club. It was also around this time that Renato instigated for all new bronzies to sign a form that if they did not meet their patrolling/bronze attendance and pass their exam, their fees would be a club donation. In 2002, Renato became patrol officer and three years later the role became a board of management position. Renato remained chair of life saving for five years and then took on the role of chair of governance and strategy for four years until 2014. He was also director of life saving for WA from 2009 to 2014. In 2008, Renato became North Cottesloe’s youngest life member.
Lifesavers, including Peter Van Geloven (right), take some nippers for a ride in the IRB, 2009.
Trevor had joined the club in 2001 after re-doing his bronze.
track Trevor could take credit for helping remove the culture
(He had qualified for his bronze in 1966 but had let it expire.)
that nothing happens at North Cottesloe during patrols and
For Trevor, the surf club provided an opportunity to do some
getting the patrols more proactive rather than reactive.
community work in semi-retirement and help train others. It was the start of a long and extremely active involvement in the education, life saving and officiating sections of North Cottesloe.
As for Renato, he had joined the club in 1987 as a 17-yearold with some friends from school to sprint and row. Lorna Wall had been told Renato was a street kid and he joined the club as a last resort before turning to drugs. Renato
The club can thank Renato Bruno for Trevor jumping on
doesn’t know where this story came from but he didn’t mind
board. Renato was trying to run a bronze course on the
because it resulted in being very well looked after, including
beach by himself when Trevor asked him if he needed help. Of course Renato jumped at the offer and Trevor has never had any regrets – when you have a passion for something
Lorna lining him up for lunch on the weekends – usually chicken sandwiches provided by Laurie Russell and Ken and Rhona Porteous.
the task is easy. In the early days Trevor looked up to Renato
For Renato the club meant surf boat rowing, parties and
and Brett Endersby as leaders of the education section
hanging out at the beach. Within a decade he had shifted
and aimed to emulate what they were achieving. Down the
his focus to education and in 1995 became chief instructor.
260 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
By the early 2000s, North Cottesloe had for many years been leading the State in bronze training, often putting through more than double the number of bronze medallion recipients than the next highest club. Of course it was never a competition but it demonstrated the popularity of the club and the dedication of the education team, which by now also included Daniel Pilsneniks, Darlene Yates (Rice), Mary-Anne Paton and Trevor Gibb, among others. In season 2003/04 the club awarded 120 bronze medallions, 11 ARC, 15 training officer certificates, 10 bronze examiners, two ARC examiners and three IRB drivers. In his last year as education officer Chunds directly attributed these awards to Linda and Daniel, who both moved within walking distance from the club, such was their dedication. Chunds also pointed out that the club’s introduction of a strategic plan that season gave solidity to a plan started a number of years earlier. The aim was to increase education numbers to spread the load and to allow the education team to offer more higher awards to members. At a time when other clubs were struggling to find people to run bronze classes, North Cottesloe had 16 people attend the trainer’s course and 20 attend the examiner’s course.
By Karen Middleton, Andrew Gregory and Geraldine Capp THE Federal Government would not be bullied into changing its policy to turn back boat people after some threw children and themselves overboard yesterday.
The Royal Australian Navy forced a boat carrying 90 men, 42 women and 54 children to turn around after it entered Australian waters 100 nautical miles north of Christmas Island
One of the new strategies for the following year, thanks to Chunds, was to combine an ARC course with the bronze
ets threw children and themselves overboard when crew of the frigate HMAS Adelaide boarded the boat. They were pulled out of the water and returned to the boat, which was flying an Indonesian flag, before it was escorted back into international waters. Mr Ruddock said the stunt was designed to pressure the Government. “I regard these as some of the most disturbing practices that I have come across in the time that I have been involved in public life — clearly planned and premeditated,” he said. “People wouldn’t come wearing lifejackets unless they intended some action of this sort.” Prime Minister John Howard said the Government would not be forced into easing its policy to turn back boats which arrived illegally. “We are not going to be intimidated out
We are a humane nation but we are not a nation that is going to be intimidated by this kind of behaviour. “It does not speak volumes for some of the people on the vessel. Suggestions of children thrown overboard, that is a sorry reflection on their attitude and mind.” Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said the events showed the Government’s policies were not working and only Labor’s coastguard proposal would solve the problem. The Australian Democrats and the Australian Greens condemned the Government for suggesting the incident was a publicity stunt. Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett and Greens Senator Bob Brown said only desperate people would throw their children into the sea. The Immigration Department received reports that a second boatload had left Indo-
Australian aid agencies called on the major parties to focus on long-term humanitarian solutions to the problem. Christmas Island residents set up a picket line yesterday morning to prevent a ship unloading construction materials for a temporary detention centre. It disbanded in the afternoon. Australian Council for Overseas Aid president Sir Ronald Wilson welcomed the Government’s announcement of an extra $9 million for the growing refugee crisis in Afghanistan. But he said asylum seekers were being treated unfairly. “We need to end policy-making on the run, which is resulting in harsh and unfair treatment to innocent people fleeing desperate situations,” he said.
( Page: 08me
themselves overboard just a stunt: Ruddock
Lindsay, page 15
Paddlers take up shark-watch duty for mates
course for new members. While participants were at the ( CYAN ) ( MAGENTA ) ( YELLOW ) ( BLACK )
peak of their CPR training in bronze, the instructors upped the bar and added the ARC skills to their course. Most of the new bronzies were pleased to increase their skills. This allowed the club to increase its numbers of higher awards using the same resources and a slightly longer course. Among the impressive list of awards achieved for the season were, for the first time in North Cottesloe history, two defibrillation certificates. With automatic external defibrillation devices soon available at surf clubs along the coast, it was the first of many defibrillation certificates, and the precursor to the training of general members in the use of the devices. In 2018, long-time trainer and assessor Helen Allison still ran defibrillator awareness classes for associate members in the winter months. New trainers continued to join the ranks, thanks to the enthusiasm of their instructors and their ability to make the classes fun and interesting. By the end of season 2004/05, and with Linda Gladwell now in the role of education officer, the club had 25 bronze instructors, 17 ARC instructors, eight bronze assessors, six ARC assessors, six senior firstaid instructors, two defibrillation instructors and one IRB instructor. The numbers of instructors and assessors had always been up and down. This was largely to do with what process was in place to train new instructors and assessors. Chunds remembers a weekend where about 15 to 20 candidates took part in a one-day course for instructor accreditation on the Saturday, had a night out and then most fronted up again on the Sunday to do their assessor accreditation. This contrasted to later in the 2000s when SLSWA was operating under the VET system and the bronze was a Certificate II course. During this period it took months to get accredited to teach and even longer to assess. When WA removed itself from the VET system it again became easier to become a trainer.
Protective: North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club paddlers keep a watchful eye out as Lyne Woodland and Ray Boffey take to the sea for an early morning swim. Last November, a 4m white pointer shark fatally attacked western suburbs businessman Ken Crew. The club believes that patrols can reduce the risk of a shark attack significantly. REPORT, PAGE 4 PICTURE: BARRY BAKER
Clipping from The West Fine.Australian, Light winds followed 8 by October Tomorrow:2001. Fine, cool, windy, 8-18.
Perth weather
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a fresh afternoon sea breeze, 8-20. Wednesday: Fine, 7-19. Yesterday: 13.1 at 6.02am; Thursday: Fine, warmer, 9-24. 25.0 at 2.36pm. Trend: Fine, temperatures to mid-20s. Full details: Today liftout, page 20.
Liftout inside
Plus Glory many fixture guide hen Ken Crew was fatally attacked by a white AsPerth a result, of them – Brian Farley, Lyne Woodland, TheatWest delivered. Phone 1800 details 88 cents* (GST Sandy inc.) METRO † pointer Get shark Northhome Cottesloe in late 2000, a 811 855 Ray for Boffey, Greg Ebsworthy, Col Murphy and Harvey, number of regular North Cottesloe swimmers among others – did their bronze medallion so they could set up a look-out for the remainder of the season. It was take part in the official patrols. Niall Warren and Brett ad-hoc and a bit of a ‘Dad’s Army’ but essentially, club Endersby instructed the bronze class in the early mornings. members took turns with the binoculars to watch over They were great bonding sessions for the associate fellow early morning swimmers. members with lots of hard work and lots of laughter.
During the following winter, with the approval of the North Cottesloe management committee, youth officer Alan Tietzel wrote to Surf Life Saving Australia with a proposal to establish a formal early morning shark patrol. Eventual approval meant active members who did the rostered patrols could earn patrol hours towards their competition eligibility. However, it also meant that many of those who had done the early-morning ‘look-outs’ the previous season could not do the official shark patrols because they didn’t have their bronze medallion – they were associate members.
Alan Tietzel continued to do the rostering (and undertook patrol duties himself at least twice a week) for the first three years of the shark patrols, after which time the club administration took over. The North Cottesloe initiative was believed to be Australia’s first ever volunteer early morning shark patrol. Alan said it was rewarding to see the legacy continuing nearly two decades later.
captain from 1987 to 1990, Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander, wrote in his 1989 annual report: “Despite intense pressure from various sources, we still do not have an IRB. We must resist these pressures as North Cottesloe beach can be effectively and efficiently patrolled without an IRB – therefore an IRB would be an expensive and inefficient toy for the club”. Some of those who had been anti the craft started to change their minds when they saw how well they were used for rescues at the Australian championships. However, because IRBs had not been part of the bronze course, they were still considered a luxury – certainly an unnecessary expense. And who would look after it? Alex McKenzie, patrol officer from 1990 to 1993, had sat on the fence. In his 1991 annual report he wrote: “While summarising the season and being an advocate for the use of IRBs within the system, I am now of the opinion that the use of an IRB would be of limited application in our club. If the club is seriously considering the use of an IRB then serious consideration must be given to the club’s patrol contract. If a boat is purchased the director of life saving services will expect us to use it during patrols. This would create extra responsibilities for our patrols. However, the
Team for the mass bronze requalification, 2008.
Jump to 2018 and the number of trainers has gradually
could it get members to drive or crew an IRB? It would also
been increasing over the past four years. The club has 41
be a big expense and the club was just coming out of a bad
instructors, with 18 of them holding assessor/facilitator
financial period. The thought was that IRBs were good at
awards. Another seven members are in the process of
surf carnivals to set out the buoys and that was about all.
becoming trainers. Interestingly, the club has the lowest
Most of those with this opinion came from the ‘old school’ of
average age of trainers and assessors in the State – 36
surf lifesavers and felt that IRBs were cheating – they didn’t
compared with 54 for the State.
equate to being real lifesavers. In hindsight, it was the wrong
In the early 1990s, North Cottesloe became the last club on the coast to get an IRB. The general attitude among the decision-makers had been that the club did not want an IRB because the beach was not dangerous and there was
attitude. Nevertheless, it was an attitude that reflected the club’s DNA at the time. The objections remained for a long time and those pushing for an IRB, including Lorna Wall, were in the minority.
difficulty is that the use of the IRB is now an integral part of the bronze medallion exam and higher awards and we need one to provide proper training for these awards and it will take considerable negotiation to keep this type of rescue craft out of our contract”. In 1992 North Cottesloe purchased a clapped-out secondhand hull. It was a token item for the club to fulfill its contract with State Centre. The club had to have an IRB but there was no stipulation that the craft actually had to be used on the water. North Cottesloe didn’t have the infrastructure to deal with the craft so it remained largely unused and was often in various states of deflation. When a motor was
no one to look after an IRB anyway. The club struggled to
Jerry Knowles and Richard Meadmore had been particularly
purchased the situation wasn’t much better, with no one
have enough active members to fill regular patrols so how
anti-IRBs so it’s no surprise the club didn’t have one. Club
taking responsibility for the upkeep. A bit of fun was still had
262 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Keeping swimmers safe, 2011.
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 263
T
he reason for this letter is to pass on my utmost humble gratitude to all the instructors and coordinators at the club – for giving their time and patience, year after year, to qualify and requalify thousands of members. I cannot thank you enough. The intuitive actions that took over on Sunday made me realise what a truly amazing set of skills I had been taught but had lain dormant for so long. While watching CPR being carried out on a man following a diving incident, I noticed the patient’s chest wasn’t rising. It appeared his neck wasn’t properly extended and there may have been a blockage also. Only 15 compressions were being administered and the breaths were escaping through the seal in the mask and patient’s mouth. I actually felt I could add some assistance and there was a chance it would make a difference. After making myself known, and explaining the neck needed a better extension and mask needed a tighter seal, I joined in by taking over the compressions to enable the other helper to rest, reverting to 30 compressions and two breaths. Between us, we alternated and continued for 25 to 30 minutes. It was apparent to all of us that the man didn’t have a pulse and must have passed away but
we continued until we reached Thomson Bay where the paramedics took over. We heard later that day that the paramedics or doctors had managed to get the man’s heart started and he was in a recompression chamber. Apparently he was stable. It seemed to defy all logic but maybe he was going to make it. Sadly, he didn’t survive the night. My intent with this letter is to let everyone know that even though our efforts didn’t save a life, they could easily have done so in another scenario. I’d urge everyone to pay more attention at the next requal – surely I’m not the only one who gets distracted – and if there’s anyone you know who doesn’t know CPR, encourage them to attend a course. I now see that what North Cottesloe has given me are life-long skills that I hope I never to need to call on again, but for which I am forever grateful. Edited excerpt from an open letter to the club from member Mark Hughes, who assisted in the aftermath of a diving accident off Rottnest Island, February 2003.
C
ould you please pass on a massive thank you to Aidan Squires who took my requal last week. At the time, I was cursing under my breath at how meticulous he was at going through every part of it. But yesterday as Kylie and I were driving to get our lunch, we witnessed a car accident. We were the first people on the scene. The driver managed to get himself out of the vehicle but there were no signs of life from the passenger. Kylie, being a nurse, had control of the situation straight away, but because I had it drilled into me last week I knew exactly what to do. We had her out of the car and started CPR in less than a minute. Knowing what to do made it that much easier to work as a team. We administered CPR for about 10 minutes before the ambulance arrived and we got her breathing again. I don’t know the final outcome but just wanted to again say thank you to Aidan. CPR this is something that I think everyone should know how to do. There were people standing around without a clue of how to help, while we were able to give her the best opportunity to survive. Edited excerpt from an email to the club from member Adam Moore, December 2017.
of course, with the boat used for donuts in front of the surf boats at a North Cottesloe carnival and joyrides up the coast. But the IRB was now part of the bronze syllabus and the club’s few IRB drivers were looked upon to take the IRB component of the bronze course. In season 1993/94 IRB driver Alex ‘Moose’ Park was singled out for doing 90 per cent of the work. North Cottesloe purchased a new IRB in 1997 and a new format and greater participation lifted the presence of the boat on the beach. Until now the IRB had assisted with patrols and bronze classes. In season 1997/98 it was included as a compulsory part of requals. In addition, the club’s education program was enhanced with the boat being available at every water session for bronze training. Meanwhile, the club’s IRB drivers provided water safety for three major long-distance ocean swims, including the Rottnest Channel Swim. This gave the club external exposure for the first time. Tim Allen served as IRB officer from 1997 until 2001. It was obviously a period of growth for IRBs at North Cottesloe, but the section didn’t really take off until the mid-2000s. By 1999 the club had some new drivers, three qualified instructors, two new Tohatsu motors and a road trailer to assist with training and community service programs. The club had built a new workshop inside the boatshed where motors and equipment could be maintained and securely stored. The following season the club took delivery of a new IRB, courtesy of BP Australia. By 2001 this IRB was in strong demand as the only IRB remaining at North Cottesloe.
Trevor Gibb, 2011.
Graeme ‘Graz’ Teasdale found himself in the role of IRB captain in 2001. Graz admits it was an interesting appointment as he wasn’t actually qualified as an IRB driver. Tim Allen, Niall Warren and Jasmine Lamb were the qualified drivers who readily gave their time to the section that season. Meanwhile, Graz and others, including James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin and Pete ‘Cheeks’ Andrews, did their driver training and had to wait until the winter of 2002 to do their
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 265
exam. The exam was held in horrendous conditions at Trigg Island and Chocks was the only one to make it through and become qualified. Despite Graz still not being qualified, no one else put up their hand to take the section on the following season, so, as the incumbent, Graz continued in the role. Graz became increasingly busy with university, surf boat rowing and being social officer for the surf club so was very happy to hand the IRB reigns to newly-qualified driver Daniel Pilsneniks the following season. Daniel and Phil Curtis had completed their driver training in fun surf conditions at Scarboro Surf Club during winter. With fresh enthusiasm they set about rebuilding North Cottesloe’s IRB section, which Daniel described as virtually non-existent at that point. As for Daniel personally, he saw IRBs as a great way to get involved in the club. That season, aside from Daniel and Phil, the only other person with an active involvement in IRBs was Jasmine, who has remained heavily involved through until today. The following winter Daniel took it upon himself to train a group of North Cottesloe IRB drivers who eventually got through their assessment at Scarboro Surf Club. Among those was Dave Kordic. Daniel was shortly afterwards sent overseas for work and Dave took on the section in 2006. Dave didn’t know at the time that he would be in the role for the best part of the next decade. But during that time he drove huge growth
Junior bronze/SRC course with instructors Zac Vinten, Domenic Cowdell, Harry Dixon and Jess Pleydell Bouverie, 2015.
camaraderie, which was usually gained during the beach
during patrols was trialled in 2005/06. This achieved the
activities. An intensive bronze course for competitor groups
goal of reducing the burden on instructors, because they
was trialled in the mid-2000s, compacting the usual bronze
could train more people in less time than at the bulk Sunday
class into two weekends and a weekday in the middle. These
morning requal sessions. It also allowed patrol groups to learn
proved successful and have been done at times since.
to work as teams from the start of the year. However, it was
in the IRB section – in numbers and capabilities. With Dave at
While bronze parties continued to boost camaraderie and
the helm, IRBs quickly gained their place as a crucial element
attract new members to the club, so too did requalification
of the club’s life saving services. Nathan Fitzgerald took over
weekends away build club spirit (as outlined in the chapter
the captaincy in 2015.
on club life). They were great fun and had the added benefit
Meanwhile, the mid-2000s brought about various other changes in education and life saving. Formats for bronze classes had changed over the years, sometimes determined by weather and other times determined by competition pressures. Early in the season putting all the dry land work first and saving the beach work for the warmer weather worked well on the hypothermia side. But it lost a bit on the group
266 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
of getting a large number of members through their requals. However, these were discontinued in 2011 due to the expense and logistics of getting equipment to Rottnest Island, which
a logistical nightmare trying to track who was on what patrol, who had requalled and who hadn’t, as well as the issue of taking people off patrol duties while they requalled. Hence, this method didn’t last long. It was just one of the many different systems that has been tried over the years. Each has its pros and cons but the reality is that putting 600 members through their bronze requalification takes a lot of work no matter what
had been the most regular destination. It was also thought that
system is used.
holding the requals at the club was beneficial in maintaining
Patrols continued to run smoothly under the expert guidance
standards and procedures.
of patrol officer Renato Bruno, who had a massive job of
Back on the home beach a new format of running requals
coordinating 58 patrol groups. In a move that would have
the decision was made to limit the number of new bronze medallion members for the season and focus on developing and retaining the club’s existing active senior members. More members started training in higher awards such as patrol captain, IRB driver, advanced resuscitation and competition official. With a new focus of encouraging instructors to obtain instructor qualifications in other awards, the education team also started regular meetings with their counterparts at Swanbourne-Nedlands and Cottesloe surf clubs in an attempt to have better communication between the clubs about education courses. The clubs undertook to try and combine resources and to liaise on exam scheduling where possible in order to minimise the burden on the area’s assessors. This collaboration with neighbouring clubs has continued. In 2018 clubs are running joint higher award courses to give members more options. There are also some joint bronze Lining up for the run, swim, run in the masters bronze requalification, 2015.
assessments. Clubs must have external assessors for bronze and IRB assessments so North Cottesloe’s assessors are also active at other clubs. North Cottesloe’s chair of
been unthinkable just 15 years earlier because of the very
Improving patrol skills was a key strategic activity and the
low number of active members, the club started outsourcing
board of management was using feedback from patrol
patrol members to junior carnivals. This was well received by
captains to improve how the club delivered its services to
the carnival coordinators and it allowed the club’s juniors to
the public. In addition to offering seminars for patrol captains
compete with adequate water safety. Meanwhile the club’s
and increasing their skills, the club started to encourage
penalty patrols were issued to other neighbouring clubs in an
regular patrol members to higher education, especially in
effort to strengthen their patrols.
advanced resuscitation and IRB crewman courses.
New courses were introduced in 2005/06. These included
In the past, the club had focused on training for the bronze
the newly-created spinal management award, which gave
medallion only, but with more than 400 qualified active bronze-
specialist training in spinal boards and spinal injury care.
holders, it was now time to shift that focus. As such, the
Members were also completing the silver medallion patrol
board set award targets for education to increase the skills of
system quickly proved to be a useful tool, with 75 per
captain and gold medallion courses, which the club had
active members to make them more useful when patrolling
cent of patrols filled in just a few weeks. The new system,
not awarded for many years. Other higher awards were the
the beach. In 2006/07 for the first time ever, patrol captains
developed by long-time club member and IT guru Jeff
senior first-aid and defibrillation certificates. The senior first-
and patrol members were recognised at the annual dinner,
Spirek, was quite a change from the rostered patrol groups
aid, particularly, was becoming increasingly popular and the
highlighting the relevance and importance the club was
the club had always had. It meant that, instead of being
club started offering classes over the winter break.
starting to place on patrol obligations. The following year
rostered into patrol groups with set dates and then having
education Domenic Cowdell is running workshops for trainers/facilitators across different clubs in areas like spinal management and ART. Neighbouring clubs are invited to silver medallion beach management (patrol captain) courses run by Mary-Anne Paton. Input over a number of seasons from the club’s patrol captains on how to better manage the beach, and subsequent support from the board of management, resulted in a number of programs and initiatives coming to fruition in season 2007/08. A new online patrol booking
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 267
the hassle of trying to swap patrols that didn’t suit, members could access an online system and choose their own patrol dates. They could also arrange swaps online. It created greater flexibility and was a great example of the club trying to make it easier for people to volunteer their time. For some members, it meant they were now able to continue their service to the club because they could manage fewer clashes with work and other commitments that would usually result in a missed patrol. Jump forward a decade and the club has continued to invest in the online patrol portal. The portal continues to be refined, both in response to use within the club and to continuing developments in SLSWA electronic processes. As for flexible patrols versus fixed patrol groups, there continues to be discussion at board level. There is some reluctance to go back to fixed patrol groups due to the lack of flexibility for patrolling members. The current system, where members can select their own patrols, combined with the introduction in season 2013/14 of three-hour patrols and 1.5-hour early morning patrols, gives North Cottesloe members probably the most flexible patrol system in Australia. However, the club needs to balance that with delivering its life saving service to the community. The club is trying various methods, including more awareness about how to fulfill patrol hours. For example, active members are now able to complete member service hours (appropriate as determined by the club), not just patrol hours. However, they still have to do nine hours of actual patrolling over the season to maintain their skill level. The club is also assigning penalty patrols if people sign up for a patrol and don’t turn up or do not fulfill their hours. It’s a difficult and time-consuming task but members are becoming more aware that penalties are being applied and over time the culture and attitude towards completing patrol hours will no doubt change. Meanwhile, the club continues to develop processes to accurately record patrol data. Gaps that have been identified since the introduction of the electronic patrol log in the 2016/2017 season are being rectified.
268 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Champion patrol team Chris Burt Allan, Dave Kordic, Zac Vinten, John Lishman, Jason Ponsonby and Nathan Fitzgerald with Tom Carmody (middle), 2014.
When North Cottesloe won SLSWA club of the year in
this role for seven years. SLSWA had actually disqualified
2008/09, the club’s 500 volunteers had performed 5872 hours
Kynan from patrol because of a medical condition, but
of community beach patrols at North Cottesloe, carnivals, and
Renato had been able to give him the role of first-aid officer
surrounding clubs. By now, patrol captains were encouraged to
and make his hours count. Rather than be turned away
obtain the silver medallion beach management module, senior
from the movement, Kynan was able to help the club in this
first-aid, and attend a pre-season in-service briefing, as well as
capacity and remain a part of surf life saving. It was a prime
an end-of-season debrief. Lessons learnt from each season
example of Renato’s philosophy. He always used to say to
and requests received by the captains were implemented the
bronze candidates that passing their bronze was a second
following season.
priority – the first priority was for as many people as possible
A dedicated life saving equipment officer was attending
to join the surf life saving movement in any capacity.
relevant forums and presentations on behalf of the club, as
In 2007/08 the first-aid room was amalgamated with life
well as maintaining the first-aid room. Kynan Smith took on
saving facilities in an effort to provide better patient care,
ultimately providing a comfortable patrol headquarters as well as a fully-equipped first-aid facility. It also centralised the beach operations to one key location that would be easier for the public to find. The club had adopted the SLSWA compliance program as its own patrol checklist that all captains had to ensure was met during their patrols. Patrol officer Pia Claudius, who later became chair of life saving, attended many patrols and performed an independent compliance check to further assist this. It ensured that any deficiencies in presentation, gear and equipment were detected early and dealt with before they became an issue. Pia continued this for six years. Initially it was done to ensure compliance in the event of a raid. However, when the SLSWA raids were discontinued, Pia continued with the compliance checks to ensure that standards were maintained. There was also a separate group of captains, led by Nick Hayler, who were providing water safety logistics for nippers every Sunday. In addition, IRB Officer Dave Kordic was providing IRBs, drivers and crew at every opportunity to further enhance the surveillance in North Cottesloe’s waters, at carnivals and external events such as the Rottnest Channel Swim. SLSWA had become a registered training organisation in 2005/06 under the vocational education training (VET) system, instigated by SLSA. North Cottesloe felt the impact in season 2007/08. All surf clubs now operated under the registered training organisations (RTO) umbrella. Shifting to the RTO regime had a huge impact on the content and delivery of courses, including the bronze medallion, and a lot of clubs along the coast had difficulty in understanding and implementing the new changes. The new system meant there was an even higher burden on trainers and assessors in relation to the conduct and examination of courses and North Cottesloe was doing all it could to try to organise this additional burden.
In the past, the club had focused on training for the bronze medallion only, but with more than 400 qualified active bronzeholders, it was now time to shift that focus.
Education chair James Scovell gave particular thanks to Darlene Rice for doing a fantastic job in adapting to the new system and working tirelessly to ensure the club didn’t fall foul of all the new rules. Darlene remembers major changes to the way classes were run, with a lot more theory, marking and huge amounts of paperwork. For Darlene, the education crew was like family. Education at North Cottesloe was lots of fun and it was a great social outlet. Darlene enjoyed helping, teaching, coaching and seeing people who were terrified of the water overcoming their fears and completing their bronze. Or seeing people who could hardly do their run-swim-run, come out of the water having successfully completed it. The change to the VET system remains in Darlene’s memory as a tough time for the education gang. It was a challenge for them to work out what they had to do and then get the whole team across what had to be done. Obviously, a lot of the fun was taken out of it. As volunteer organisations, it was an extremely difficult time for surf clubs and it got to the point where most clubs were looking at potentially paying people to do the training. In season 2008/09, North Cottesloe became the first club on the WA coast to have a full-time development officer. This put the club in a better position to manage the VET system than most clubs, but even North Cottesloe was looking at employing a full-time trainer. One of the reasons why education was so successful was that when members finished their bronze and wondered what they could do within the club, there was an easy pathway into education. It could often be harder to break into one of the surf sports. If the club started paying outside trainers that pathway would be lost. Mike Carter had taken over as chair of education that year. He jumped into the role because of a love for surf life saving educating that was passed down to him by Darlene (bronze coordinator 2007 to 2008). However, Mike entered the position at a most troublesome time for education. In short, the VET was a vehicle that assured training standards across
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 269
In 2012, realising the huge burden the system was putting on its clubs and volunteers with very little benefit, SLSWA broke away from the VET system and remains the only State to have done so. Those years of the VET system will remain engrained in the memories of those who were heavily involved in education during that time. A more positive change during the 2008/09 season was the introduction of the new SLSWA online bronze education tool. It was a great success, cutting down some of the training time and giving bronze applicants a better reference tool with which to train. In future years, all new bronzies would complete the online course before starting the practical component. When North Cottesloe revealed its education numbers to other clubs along the coast, jaws would drop in wonder. In season 2009/10 it was 507 bronze requalifications, 113 new bronze medallions, 53 surf rescue certificates, all taught or organised by a team of just 17. The stats were impressive. As said by education chair Mike Carter in his annual report for the following season: “If education was a competition then the North Cottesloe education team would be the J crew of the class room. There is no club on the beach pulling such numbers in each season – we are traditionally boat lengths in
Trevor Gibb and Graham Ford.
Australia were being met and that practices were agreed
team, the club managed to retain 17 volunteer instructors
upon nationally. This meant you should be able to go to any
who gave ample hours to the cause. Most embraced the
club for training and you would find the same practices being
changes the VET forced on them and the paperwork and
taught. Mike described it as “the McDonalds of the beach
signatures that went with it. Mike was hugely thankful for the
– same experience in product, no matter which store you
paid development officer, initially swimmer Leith Weston, for
visited anywhere in the country”. It was also supposed to aid
providing huge administrative support. Without Leith, or any
the volunteers in having their hard-earned skills elevated to a
of the development officers who followed (Sacha Bond, Anna
front of the rest. In the four seasons that I have been involved with this amazing team, each season, season after season, they have rallied together and put huge numbers through a complex education system that becomes more demanding each year. Last year I did not think we could do better than cracking the 100 mark for bronze participation – this year we did 150”.
Foster, Kym O’Neill, Caitlin Ward), North Cottesloe, as such
It was done with a mix of volunteers and paid instructors.
a large club, would not have been able to cope with the
Since the late 2000s, North Cottesloe had offered young
VET. As North Cottesloe got a better grip on the VET and the
members aged 16 to 25 casual employment opportunities
RTO requirements, the club managed to retain its instructors
delivering junior bronze and SRC courses. It came about
North Cottesloe was well prepared to weather the VET storm.
while other clubs were seeing their volunteers drop out due
because it was hard to get the senior instructors to commit
Despite the burden that the VET forced on the education
to the frustrations that came with the VET.
to these courses on top of all the other courses they were
point where they had learnt them in a professional, qualitycontrolled environment. This would allow those skills to be transferred into the employment marketplace.
270 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
been at the club since joining as a nipper in 1994. As well as competing for the club, Cam had acquired many awards at the minimum age. Cam and Dave ran many IRB courses and in the 2007/08 season the pair won the club’s only medal in IRB racing. Ultimately, Cam’s experience in surf life saving led him into a role in communications with SurfCom for five years from 2011. He developed an interest in complex rescue operations and was involved in search and rescue on the water in IRBs and coordinating communications for missing persons and shark attacks. North Cottesloe’s education stats were impressive but it was a huge workload for the education team. The implementation at the end of season 2009/10 of an attraction and retention policy, which changed the way volunteer educators were recognised and rewarded, was a huge boost. Mike had been successful in lobbying the club via the board for a rewards program. For the first time in the club’s history, educators were rewarded for the hours they put in. The rewards were
Masters requalification, 2015.
proportional to the hours served. Instructors’ member fees were cut, club clothing was provided for free, instructor T-shirts
running. Young bronze holders who showed the right set of
having incredibly passionate, resourceful and dedicated
knowledge and skills were mentored by qualified trainers to
trainers and assessors who were prepared to provide
become capable trainers in all aspects of SRC and bronze
season-long training, season after season.
Patrolling hours were also cut and replaced with training hours.
Some were the steadfast ‘Yodas’ of education – senior
Cottesloe educators as a thank you for their huge contributions
training, as well as delivering programs to the broader community. This casual employment, which continues today, not only involves member and community education, but also helps young members develop leadership skills that are a valuable asset in the workforce.
educators who had spent years on the beach perfecting the transfer of knowledge. They were the likes of Niall Warren, Deborah Wake, Mary-Anne Paton (future chair of life saving), Renato Bruno (chair of life saving for the previous five years),
In season 2009/10 Mike Carter made a stand at board level
Jasmine Lamb, Helen Allison, Jodie Woodward (future chair
for the club’s instructors and assessors to be recognised
of education), Linda Gladwell (chair of club services and
for their contributions. Unlike the competition side of the club, which was well financed and had many symbolic mechanisms that recognised success, the club’s volunteer
former chair of education), Lara Parsons, Belinda and James Bennett, Pia Blake, Brett Endersby (chair of assets), David Andrew (chair of juniors and future treasurer) and Trevor Gibb.
were given out and worn proudly on the beach during training. Twenty-six recognition packages were distributed to the North and it remains the highlight of Mike’s time on the board. Just a few years later the board of management ended the reward program, saying it cost too much to keep it going. Jodee Woodward was bronze coordinator at the time and tried to get a program in place where the volunteer education hours of some members could be counted as patrolling hours. However, she had no success in getting this implemented. Jodee, who herself ended up burnt out, believed it was important to reward the hard work and effort
instructors were not really recognised for their huge hours
Others were young. Cam Dimsey and Dave Kordic were
the education team put in year after year. For the past two
and the complex environment they were now working within.
the club’s youngest trainers, both of whom would go on to
years, education hours have been recognised as member
Mike pointed out that the club’s education product as a
have professional careers with SLSWA, and at the time were
service hours. Current chair of education Domenic Cowdell is
whole was very matured. North Cottesloe was blessed with
major players in IRB education and competition. Cam had
hoping to get the reward program going again.
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 271
On the patrol side of things, the board of management
instructor at Geraldton Surf Club and as a committed
had invested significant effort in making sure that patrol
patrolling member at Geraldton and later Scarboro, was
captains were rewarded for their extra responsibilities.
invaluable to North Cottesloe. In 2007/08 she began
Performance-based subsidies were repaid in kind by the
assisting Trevor Gibb with the Christ Church Grammar School
level of ownership that all captains were bringing to the
cadet program, starting her long-running commitment to
club’s patrol outcomes. All improvements were due to the
education at North Cottesloe.
advisory role that captains were performing for the board,
Jodee remained in the bronze coordinator role for five
giving the club confidence to invest in new equipment,
seasons, followed by two as chair of education. During this
policies and initiatives knowing that it was coming from the
time, Jodee also worked with SLSWA conducting in-house
people ‘on the ground’. More and more members were keen
trainer and assessor programs. Many of those Jodee trained
to join the patrol captain program and in season 2009/10
continue to be very active at club and State level, including
there were more applicants than positions and the quality
current North Cottesloe chair of education Domenic Cowdell.
of leadership and return applicants, as well as new blood,
In recognition of her dedication and professionalism, Jodee
was a credit to the program. Of course not everyone wanted
was named North Cottesloe trainer of the year for five
to go down that path. Some patrol captains chose not to
consecutive seasons from 2012 to 2016.
continue in their role rather than take on more training and responsibility. As for the subsidy, it was discontinued due to
During the 2012 season, Jodee had been involved in
budget considerations.
developing and delivering a modified SRC course for people with special needs. This came about because a young
The club continued to achieve its highest scores ever in both
club member, Pete Rossen, who has Down Syndrome,
announced and unannounced compliance checks, thanks in a large part, again, to Pia Claudius as patrol officer. Through the patrol officer role, the club held about 20 extra internal compliance checks per season and this alone lifted the standards of patrols. Patrol efficiencies had been achieved in part by balancing out patrol numbers, with patrolling members needing to do three patrols before 31 December and three after. IRB was playing an increasing role in North Cottesloe’s life saving duties. Being such a safe beach, the IRB team was
was keen to be active on the beach. Jodee worked with Isabel Kordic.
club development officer Caitlin Ward, Pete’s parents and professional therapy service provider Therapy Focus. Pete
and west to Rottnest in various water safety and training
successfully completed a modified award that allowed him
capacities. Country trips were always a highlight for the IRB
to wear a uniform and assist with the nipper program.
crew, who took every opportunity to practise and ply their craft in challenging conditions. In season 2011/12 another 75 crew members and 20 drivers, including the Christ Church Grammar School surf cadets, received IRB training.
Another member who required reasonable adjustment to achieve award status to compete was Paralympic swimmer Kat Porter. North Cottesloe worked with SLSWA to develop an award so that members who had physical disability could
In 2011, Jodee Woodward took over from Shayne Yates as
be on patrol and earn patrol hours. This allowed Kat to meet
bronze coordinator. Shayne had been in the role for three
the criteria to compete. Pete and Kat remain very active at
seasons and his professionalism had resulted in a very
North Cottesloe and continue to have reasonable adjustment
polished product. He had taken over the role from his future
to their award requalifications. In 2018 Kat was awarded silver
wife, Darlene Rice, who was also in the role for three seasons.
medallion beach management (patrol captain).
raised a small team of IRB educators. With 26 new crew and
Jodee had joined the club in 2004 following a long
Rescue equipment and shade tents were upgraded in
four new drivers, patrols extended as far south as Bremer
involvement in surf life saving that started as a five-year-
2011/12 thanks to grants from the Town of Cottesloe
Bay, Penguin Beach and Smiths Beach, east to Kurrawa
old in Geraldton. The experience she had gained as chief
and Healthway. This, in turn, increased North Cottesloe’s
primarily looking after water safety for the nippers, as well as providing water safety at local and national carnivals. Dave Kordic and his team continued to provide water safety for other events, earning revenue for the club. In season 2010/11, as well as training crew and drivers, Dave single-handedly
272 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
By now, more backpacker accommodation was available near the beach. As such, North Cottesloe beach had been attracting more seasonal tourists. It was becoming increasingly important for patrols to provide information in a relaxed way to these tourists, most of whom were from overseas and unfamiliar with WA beach conditions and beach rules. Before he joined North Cottesloe, Domenic Cowdell fitted this category. Dom wasn’t a tourist but was originally from the UK and had moved to Australia after 10 years living in Switzerland. When he first went to the beach he saw the red and yellow flags and assumed it was some sort of private beach club so he swam outside the flags. Dom ended up joining North Cottesloe and became a major contributor to the education team. He became chair of education in 2016 and in 2018 was named SLSWA trainer of the year. With an aim of being at the forefront of member safety among Australian surf clubs and world wide, North Cottesloe introduced various safety procedures in season 2012/13. These included haemorrhage kits, which were developed by first-aid equipment officer Kate Wheadon and IRB captain Jodee Woodward training Christ Church Grammar School surf cadets, 2015.
Dave Kordic. The kits, designed to be used specifically for incidents involving serious blood loss and/or loss of limb,
presence on the beach and facilitated good public relations
increased its patrol hours by almost 30 per cent. This was done
were to be used by the IRB team during their regular patrols
and opportunities to educate new beach users on the
by increasing weekend patrol hours and providing an early
and when assisting with carnival water safety. Kate trained
importance of swimming between the red and yellow flags.
morning patrol every weekday over the spring and summer.
staff and IRB drivers how to properly use the specialised first-
However, not all life saving activities are performed during
This meant members were patrolling seven days a week for
aid equipment in the kits so they would be prepared if ever a
rostered patrols. The valuable skills that members learn
almost six months, achieved by increasing individual member’s
severe haemorrhage incident occurred.
during their bronze and higher education programs have
patrol requirements from 16 to 18 hours. It was largely in
often been used to rescue swimmers and surfers at other
response to community concerns about increased shark
times and locations. Many of North Cottesloe’s members have
activity following a tragic series of attacks and even fatalities in
performed rescues and assisted members of the community
the metropolitan and regional areas over the past few years.
in trouble when off-duty.
Thankfully the kits have not been needed yet. Versions were introduced by SLSWA a couple of years ago and in 2018 North Cottesloe evolved the kits further. The club now has six kits for use during regular patrols or events when IRBs are
SLSWA also addressed these concerns with new life saving
on the water. In addition, the club provides its jet ski drivers
Averaging more than 450 patrolling members since the early
protocols and information to clubs via social media and various
with their own personal severe bleed kit, worn on their jacket
2000s, the community had been assured of having a safe
other forums. Grant Street was introduced as a fixed patrol
when they are on patrol. If they are separated from their
beach. In season 2012/13, when the number of patrolling
area, allowing this popular swimming spot to have a
craft, intentionally or unintentionally, they can still provide life
members had reached more than 630, North Cottesloe
flagged area.
saving care.
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 273
management awareness campaign, which resulted in more members either gaining the spinal management award and/ or participating in spinal awareness training. The education team worked around logistical challenges to make the courses happen during the renovations. Jodee Woodward and Helen Allison’s tireless efforts in particular saw them nominated as finalists at the 2013 SLSWA Awards of Excellence. In terms of hours they had contributed to education over the season, Helen had racked up a whopping 187.25 and Jodee 133.75. Following them was Trevor with 93.75 hours and Dave Kordic with 62 hours. Trevor was also one of the eight club members who patrolled for more than 34 hours during the season. The following season Trevor entered the truly select ‘club’ of those patrolling more than 100 patrol hours for the season. Jodee was named SLSWA trainer of the year for 2014 and Helen was again a finalist in the SLSWA assessor of the year award. The following year, Helen and Jodee were again recognised as finalists in assessor of the year and trainer of the year respectively. They had again completed a huge number of voluntary education hours – Jodee 169 hours and Helen 120 hours. Surf lifesavers on patrol at the Cold Water Classic, including patrol captain Bob Hunter (left) and event patrol captain James McAllister (right), 2016.
Helen, originally from Scotland, joined the club in 2006. She had swum at North Cottesloe since arriving in Perth in 1989 after swimming with crocodiles in Kakadu National Park where
The redevelopment of the clubrooms made season 2012/13 a particularly tough one for the life saving and education sections. A make-shift patrol room housed the essentials, and patrol gear was stored in a (very hot) container on top of the ski shed. It was rudimentary, but safety of the public and delivery of service were never compromised.
During the works, training courses and exams were held at
she was an environmental officer for the supervising scientist.
a range of locations, including North Cottesloe’s IRB shed
She now wonders why it took her so long to join the club.
amid the smell of petrol and in the boat shed, with surf boats
After enjoying her bronze course so much she signed up to
carefully pushed out for the training session. On one occasion
help teach the next course and quickly found like-minded
a wire shorted out, causing a small fire which was put out
people in the education group. Following four years of training
quickly. Sessions were also held at Cottesloe and Fremantle
Helen became a bronze assessor and a couple of years later
With some shuffling around and a lot of team work North Cottesloe still managed to put through more new awards than any other club in WA (223 awards, including 121 bronze medallions) as well as successfully deliver programs to nonmember and community groups.
surf clubs, Associates Rugby Club and course instructors’
SRC and spinal management trainer/assessor. Helen has
own homes. North Cottesloe also ran a number of senior
instructed each year since joining the club and by 2018 had
first-aid courses at Swanbourne-Nedlands Surf Club, with
accrued more than 1050 hours in training and assessing. North
many Swanny members also taking part. And, just because
Cottesloe has acknowledged her contribution by awarding her
there wasn’t enough going on, the club introduced a spinal
educator of the year in 2011 and assessor of the year for four
274 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
consecutive years from 2012 to 2015 and then again in 2017. In 2014/15, for the third consecutive year, North Cottesloe was recognised at the Member Education Forum for achieving the highest number of awards of all the clubs in
member, information posters on treatment of stingers and
crew, the presence of IRBs on almost all patrols had been a
anaphylaxis and introduction of rescue training exercises
great asset. And patrol captains were encouraged to patrol
and first-aid scenarios during certain patrols. Despite
as required rather than sticking to boundaries.
expectations from some of the boaties, patrol guidelines
By now North Cottesloe was providing significant water
WA, including 116 bronze medallion awards.
never included sweeping out the boat shed.
An above average number of members took on awards such
Averaging more than 450 patrolling members since the early 2000s, the community had been assured of having a safe beach. In season 2012/13, when the number of patrolling members had reached more than 630, North Cottesloe increased its patrol hours by almost 30 per cent.
as advanced resuscitation, spinal management, IRB crew and IRB drivers, thanks to the club’s higher awards officers Dave Kordic and Trevor Gibb. Meanwhile, the club processed 600 bronze requalifications, managed by Alistair Stolz and Kate Campbell. Also in 2014/15, the club partnered with SLSWA to deliver in-house community first-aid training at the clubrooms and scout facility, with both facilities being wellreceived by members and the wider community. Increasingly over recent years the life saving section of the club had been looking closely at the use of North Cottesloe
areas and also for the Aussies in Queensland. It’s a time-
about sharks and the increasing numbers of beachgoers who were unfamiliar with the ocean. In addition, the club aimed to ensure the best use of available resources, be these financial, club members, neighbouring surf clubs, technology and/or life saving equipment.
While North Cottesloe had historically been considered a safe beach, the changing patterns of beach use and beach users
the patrol at 6am or earlier and can still be packing up eight hours later. After a battle with the gym over space, the patrol room was expanded in 2014 to include an examination area. The wall between the existing patrol room and a store room at the back of the gym was taken down and Pia organised a painting busy bee. New cupboards were a welcome addition. However, even the expanded patrol room couldn’t house
equipment in the boat shed. An eventual solution resulted in all life saving equipment contained along the northern wall of the shed, with racks for flags and other equipment. Patrol
added a certain level of complexity. In addition to assisting
boards are housed in the ski shed, with a dedicated area at
swimmers, the club’s patrols provided first-aid to the three local
the front of the shed for the patrol boards so that they are
cafes, a large backpacker hostel, a very busy hotel/pub and
easy to access in case of an emergency.
an increasingly dangerous mix of cars, motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians. The club’s response had been a willingness to
Various initiatives were implemented in 2013/14. A standard
try new ways, combined with a drive to do the essential things
tented patrol post was installed at the Grant Street rocks, the
even better. For a third consecutive season, in 2014/15 the club
northern extreme of North Cottesloe’s patrolled area. This
delivered more patrol hours than ever before.
gave the club two or three tented patrol positions depending
preparation and provision. Water safety crew often sign on for
between life saving and boaties about storage of patrol
type of beachgoer, the increasing number of beachgoers open water swimming, along with community concerns
consuming job that requires tireless effort in both the
all the patrol equipment. There has been ongoing tension
beach. Specifically, the club reviewed seasonal patterns, and the main times of use, the ongoing popularity of
safety for events and carnivals, both locally, in country
Also in the mid 2010s, new surveillance towers were introduced (in front of Barchetta and at Grant Street) to provide a more specific watch on the flagged water area. The club’s prime surveillance point continued to be from the balcony, while patrol tents provided practical support to
on beach numbers. Roving patrols were extended to ensure
The club had increased the number of patrols, increased the
the patrol and easy access for the public to engage with the
visual overlap with Cottesloe to the south and Swanbourne-
range of days and times that patrols were run and introduced
patrol. The surveillance towers didn’t prove to be as useful as
Nedlands to the north. Meanwhile, in addition to the annual
new patrol types, including shared patrols with neighbouring
hoped and were later sold to other surf clubs.
proficiency, various skills enhancement initiatives were
club Swanbourne-Nedlands. ‘Combined clubs coastal
Jet ski patrols started operating from the club for the first
introduced so patrolling members could keep their skills as
patrols’ included IRBs from North Cottesloe, Cottesloe
time in season 2013/14. State Centre owned the jet skis,
current as possible throughout the season. This included
and Swanbourne-Nedlands. With a significant number of
which were operated by the Wesfarmers lifesaver jet ski
written patrol guidelines sent to every active patrolling
members gaining the extra life saving skills of IRB driver and
teams, thanks to funding from Wesfarmers and the State
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 275
Government. Jet skis are the most capable rescue resource, but also extremely expensive and very dangerous. As for getting qualified as an operator, it was incredibly elitist and priority was given to those clubs that already had jet skis. It took North Cottesloe members Dave Kordic, Kim Wallis, Mark Hughes, Rory Walsh, Pete Van Geloven and Tim Gregg two rounds of selection before they became North Cottesloe’s first qualified operators and members of the Wesfarmers lifesaver jet ski team. The team assists with surveillance, rescues, searches and body retrieval missions, tasked by surf life saving services, or by WA Police and other emergency service organisations. Two jet skis have since been based at North Cottesloe. They remain assets of SLSWA but North Cottesloe will likely take over ownership in the near future under new arrangements. Dave Kordic
is a qualified instructor and provides training to new jet ski operators for North Cottesloe. At the 2015 SLSWA awards of excellence North Cottesloe was one of four finalists for patrol club of the year – a strong indication the club was meeting the changes and challenges of patrols with positive and ongoing improvement. The club continued to have many members who, in their positive patrolling, were exemplars of the club’s constant aspiration towards excellence – Pia Claudius and Trevor Gibb to name a couple. For the previous six years, Pia had been undertaking the role of patrol officer, one of the club’s most demanding and timeconsuming roles. During this time, Pia had been at the club practically every weekend to support the club’s patrols and patrol captains. She also found time to teach on most bronze
courses and help with renovations to the patrol room. Pia’s contribution to the club had been extraordinary and one that many members would not be aware. Come season 2017/18 and Pia had stepped up to a board of management position as chair of life saving. Pia did her bronze in 2006 and started teaching in 2010 following an incident in which she did CPR on a colleague at work – something she couldn’t have attempted without the bronze training she had done. Some of the others on deck were first-aid trained but didn’t have the wherewithal to step in and help. Tragically Pia’s colleague passed away, but the experience taught her an enormous amount. She jumped in as a trainer, believing the bronze that North Cottesloe taught was very practical and very pragmatic, giving both the skills and the necessary confidence to step up when needed. She believes this has got even better over recent years. “There are some really great young trainers who will in turn pass on
Locals had been well aware of the risks since 1997 when North Cottesloe SLSC members Brian Sierakowski and John ‘Barney’ Hanrahan survived a shark attack. A great white tore into the front of their double ski not far from Siera’s feet as they paddled about 200m off Cottesloe Beach. Friends and fellow club members Malcolm McCusker, his then wife Di and Milton Barker did not hesitate to paddle out to rescue the pair and they all escaped without injury. It was the first attack on a metropolitan beach in more than a decade.
their knowledge and skills to future trainers so that we keep building experience and expertise in the club,” Pia said. As for Trevor, many members knew him but probably didn’t grasp the enormous amount of hours he dedicated to the club – on the beach, preparing, repairing and maintaining
But just three years later tragedy struck when Ken Crew was killed by a white pointer in front of North Cottesloe SLSC. The 49-year-old club member was in waist-deep water as he and friends finished their regular morning swim when the white pointer attacked. Despite brave efforts by a swimmer and three surf ski paddlers – who brought Mr Crew to shore and guided many others in the water to safety – the father of three died of his injuries. Swimmer Dirk Avery was also bitten on the leg as he waded to shore.
equipment, teaching, requalling and assessing, IRB driving
Since Mr Crew’s death in November 2000, another 14 people have died from shark attacks in WA and several others have been permanently injured. The high toll earned the State the unwanted title of the deadliest place in the world for shark attacks.
In recognition of the enormous effort he had given the club
There was a second fatal attack nearby in 2011 when 64-year-old Bryn Martin disappeared while swimming off Cottesloe Beach. Police divers found only the Mosman Park father’s ripped bathers and the WA Coroner concluded he was taken by a shark. Attacks in the past 20 years have happened both close to shore and in deeper waters across much of WA.
and supporting, as well as working with the life saving team auditing patrol hours and reviewing the club’s life saving practices. Trevor was always there filling gaps. At the end of season 2016/17, Trevor left the club to move to Kalbarri. and the huge gap that would be left on his departure, the club held a farewell party for him which many club members attended. Even though he has retired to the north, Trevor has continued to go above and beyond for the club – training, assessing and doing more patrol hours than required. Trevor’s best memories include achieving positive outcomes for all the candidates he has taught on various courses as a volunteer
276 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
club office, including a reduction in phone calls. The system continues to be developed. IRB and jet ski continued to be an increasingly vibrant and productive section of the club. In season 2015/16 alone, North Cottesloe provided IRBs and/or jet skis at the Cottesloe Point to Point Swim, Swanbourne Ocean Classic, Race Around Rottnest, Cold Water Classic, Coastal Relay and ICEA Classic. As well as providing water safety for carnivals, North Cottesloe provided a jet ski service to assist SurfCom on last minute carnival call-outs, filling unallocated positions on the jet ski roster that would have otherwise had to be filled by a paid lifesaver. As members of the Wesfarmers lifesaver jet ski team, North Cottesloe jet ski operators were also involved in abalone patrols and combined WA Police, Sea Rescue and SLSWA joint exercises. The IRB section was recognised within the club not just for its life saving activities but also for its team of educators. Kim Wallis, Nathan Fitzgerald, Dave Kordic and Trevor Gibb continued to train a large number of IRB crew and drivers. Kim Wallis and Nathan Fitzgerald.
The number of North Cottesloe educators dwindled in
and as a professional. Many have come back to him years
She continues to use her experience and expertise in training
later thanking him for the knowledge he has passed on. More
new patrol captains.
recently, a personal low point remains in his memory – being
season 2015/16 and the experience of the leadership group was called upon – the likes of Helen Allison, Pia Claudius, Trevor Gibb and Domenic Cowdell, led by chair of education
Managing a patrolling group of 550 to 600 members is
Jodee Woodward. These members set very high standards
a significant exercise. During season 2014/15 the club
in training and assessing at North Cottesloe and were
introduced a weekly life saving-specific e-newsletter for all
widely respected in the broader surf community. For the
Another long-standing member showing huge commitment
active/patrolling members, including operational matters
fourth consecutive year, recognition was given to North
to life saving and education was Mary-Anne Paton. Mary-
and ongoing education and training updates. In addition,
Cottesloe at the member education forum for achieving
Anne joined North Cottesloe in 1995 and quickly became
work started on the club’s new patrol portal, taking into
the highest number of awards of all the clubs in WA. At the
heavily involved in teaching, assessing and as a patrol
consideration comments and suggestions provided during
SLSWA annual awards that year Trevor Gibb was a finalist in
captain. Among other official roles, Mary-Anne was chair of
a feedback process. The new patrol portal was launched
the assessor of the year award for the second year in a row,
life saving from 2012 until 2015. From 2015 to 2017 she was a
the following season, offering improved functionality for
while Jodee Woodward was a finalist in the trainer of the
member of the SLSWA life saving advisory committee. Mary-
patrolling members for booking and changing patrols, and
year award for the third year in a row. Jodee had completed
Anne played a key role in North Cottesloe’s introduction in
enabling the club to monitor patrol hours more effectively.
147 voluntary hours training and Trevor 125 voluntary hours
2013 of a patrol system that was probably unique in Australia.
It was a first step in reducing the administrative load on the
assessing. After being appointed to the WA member
unable to achieve a positive outcome when performing CPR in real life.
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 277
Cottesloe had grown in maturity, professionalism and as a community leader. In short, North Cottesloe had grown up. North Cottesloe had started the 2016/17 season with a plan of doing a few things better than the rest of the clubs on the coast. With Kim in his second season as chair of life saving, North Cottesloe ended up running and supporting more events, initiating a bigger strategy and providing a complete top tier service to the community greater than that of any other surf club in WA. Achievements included hosting or supporting offsite more than 19 events, hosting more carnivals at North Cottesloe than any year recorded, providing water safety at States and Aussies, completing more than 9600 patrol hours and inducting more than 100 new bronzies to the club. North Cottesloe had again broadened its scope of service to the community, including patrolling from Fremantle to Scarborough. Mentoring and training of patrol captains was ongoing and the club had also been successfully running courses with local schools to teach awareness and life skills at the beach. In addition to the work at club level, North Cottesloe assessors The IRB water safety team on a high at Rottnest Island after safely making the crossing from North Cottesloe in large swell to perform water safety for the Race Around Rottnest (and later returning safely to North Cottesloe), 2016.
continued to be active at different clubs along the coast. Across both education and life saving, North Cottesloe had long been involved in SLSWA State advisory committees. Renato Bruno
education committee at the start of the season, Domenic
finishing runner-up. It was a tribute to all the club’s patrolling
had taken charge of developing a new and improved trainers
members for their dedication and perseverance throughout
and assessors course. The course content is more relevant
the season. Congratulations were given to chair of life saving
to surf life saving and provides child protection awareness
Kim Wallis and his team of patrol captains for delivering more
and more robust final assessment and monitoring.
than 9000 patrol hours across more than 300 patrol sessions
Meanwhile, North Cottesloe won a silver medal in
with great professionalism. The achievement was topped the
the champion patrol competition at the 2015/16 State
following season with a win.
Dom started working for SLSWA as training and education
championships. The club had won silver in 2013, but prior to
At the 2017 SLSWA awards of excellence – for the first
development officer for WA.
time since 1932 and only the third time since the award’s
At North Cottesloe, the huge number of requalifications has
inception – North Cottesloe was named SLSWA patrol club
continued to be one of the biggest tasks for the education
of the year. It was an award that most of the club’s long-time
team. In 2015/16, requalifications were rebranded ‘skills
For the second consecutive year, North Cottesloe was a
members could never have imagined their club winning. It
maintenance checks’ (SMC), of which the club processed
finalist in the SLSWA patrol club of the year award, this time
was evidence of the huge cultural change in the club. North
around 600, followed by more than 700 the following year and
that the club hadn’t competed in the event for many years. The last medal had been silver in 1995 under the tutelage of Lorna Wall.
278 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
was on the life saving committee for a tireless nine years from 2006 until 2015, followed by Mary-Anne Paton for two years. Jodee Woodward started on the education committee in 2014 and each year since 2015 North Cottesloe has had two members on the committee – Jodee and Domenic Cowdell from 2015 until 2017, and Dom and Allison Gould since. In 2018
nearly 800 in 2017/18. With various methods trialled over the years, the club now typically sticks to the large group sessions (unless a small group can entice an assessor to do a ‘private’ session, usually for payment in coffee, breakfast or beer). The ‘mass’ requals, for around 50 members, are offered at a variety of times and dates. Dom has brought in run sheets and key items to be covered in an effort to standardise them. Like many of the educators before him, Dom is also pushing
members without the requirement to patrol. Older members can offer mentoring and provide the stability and ability to manage stressful situations. Annually, the education team puts in an enormous effort to ensure the club’s members keep their skills current and are ready to perform any rescue when called upon. During the 2017/18 season these skills were required on numerous occasions. One bronzie, who was still in training, performed
a board rescue to bring a nipper parent to shore. The patient was taken to hospital by ambulance and recovered. In another incident, a member who had finished his bronze a month earlier, performed a successful solo rescue and resuscitation at 7pm at night while on a date. These are just two examples for the season but both were extraordinary efforts on the part of these two members.
that it is a training session – members aren’t expected to have remembered everything. Of course, there remains the problem of stragglers and last-minute requals before the deadline, making a huge task even harder. However, the club’s dedicated assessors always manage to get through the huge numbers.
In 2013, North Cottesloe introduced a patrol system that was probably unique in Australia. •
Members could only register for patrols via an electronic patrol portal.
scenarios were introduced so that patrol captains could ask members to practise rescues.
•
The patrol portal provided the numbers of available positions for each patrol.
•
Members could not just turn up on the day and sign on to a patrol.
•
Weekend patrols were reduced from four hours to three hours to allow for extension of patrolling hours from 7am to 4pm on weekends.
‘Shark patrols’ were revamped and renamed ‘early morning patrols’. EMPs were expanded to include November through to the Rottnest Channel Swim. Members could only do two 1.5 hour EMPs every three months. This stopped members who were doing all their patrol hours via shark patrols (and often in the gym or on the water instead of the beach).
•
Members were asked to do nine hours of patrol every three months to spread out the patrolling numbers.
For many years there had been talk of a penalty system for those who don’t turn up to requal sessions they’ve registered for. This was implemented in 2017/18, with members charged $40 if they signed up for an SMC and didn’t show. It resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of people not showing up. The club also charged a $40 fee for people who requalled after 1 January (unless they had medical reasons), which resulted in an increase in the number of requals pre-December 31. The club has also been looking at ways of keeping its older members patrolling. Helen Allison has had a particular interest in this, with the intent of harnessing the older members’ experience and ability to mentor the younger members. A few years ago the club started offering masters requals for members over 30. These have been a great success. In 2018 the club has 97 members in the 50-plus age group (41 active and 56 long service), who can take part in the vintage SMC. Perhaps there is also room for a ‘legends’ SMC for the 60-plus age groups. The club sees these as particularly important age groups and is looking at
To develop the system, Mary-Anne Paton (chair of life saving 2012 to 2015) had combined and built on various initiatives from preceding chairs. Several other rules and initiatives also came into play. No member could go into the gym or cafes while on patrol. There was no training on the water during patrols – patrols meant patrols. Patrol
Patrol guidelines were written for all members. Expanded and position-specific guidelines were provided for patrol captains. Guidelines were also written for EMPs. Pia Claudius (patrol officer 2009 to 2015, chair of life saving since 2017) started providing laminated pictures of how to set up the beach. By this time North Cottesloe was delivering more volunteer patrol hours than most other clubs, not only in the State but, questionably, around Australia.
how to maintain them as active members. This would require them to requal annually, rather than becoming long-service
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 279
program graduates – Zac Vinten, followed by Julian Ming and Aidan Squires. Over the years, educational expertise has been added by many North Cottesloe trainers, including Helen Allison, Jasmine Lamb, Jodee Woodward, Domenic Cowdell and former CCGS students Oliver Stockwell and George and Andrew Ford. Long-time North Cottesloe member Alli Gould has been the CCGS teacher in charge since 2012. In 2015 when Lotterywest awarded CCGS a grant of more than $10,000 for the program, the school donated it to the surf club. The money was subsequently used to purchase valuable training and nipper equipment and provide teaching resources. Graduates of the CCGS surf cadet program have gone on to represent North Cottesloe with distinction in surf sport competition, as instructors and examiners and as valued patrol members. Retention has increased in recent years with the CCGS team selecting a leadership group to be up-skilled with additional qualifications. This has included sessions for instructor certification.
T
he Christ Church Grammar School surf life saving cadet program was established at Swanbourne-Nedlands Surf Life Saving Club in 2002 and moved to North Cottesloe in 2008. The program aimed to equip students with the necessary skills to save a life and the ability to operate effectively as first responders. CCGS principal Garth Wynne and staff member Shane McGurk were the main drivers of the concept and provided significant resources. Since moving to North Cottesloe, the program has thrived. For three terms of the school year, more than 50 CCGS students
spend Friday afternoons at the club. As well as introducing the students to the surf life saving movement and its core values, the surf cadet program prepares the students for the bronze medallion exam in the spring. It provides them with an opportunity to become active members of a local surf life saving club and progress to higher surf life saving qualifications. In the early years, North Cottesloe trainers Trevor Gibb and Mary-Anne Paton were instrumental in the program’s implementation and delivery. It has since been managed by
Success of a life saving program can perhaps be demonstrated by the saving of lives. In 2017, Year 11 CCGS student Stanley McFarlane came across a woman motionless and not breathing on his way home from a school meeting. Having completed his bronze medallion the previous year via the surf cadet program, Stanley was able to administer CPR and bring the lady around to a conscious state before handing over to paramedics. In 2018, when Thomas Jenkins collapsed on Cottesloe Beach from a heart attack, his friend Parris responded quickly and effectively to provide first-aid and summon a team of North Cottesloe lifesavers. Former CCGS surf cadets featured heavily in the group of rescuers. Parris and Thomas were also CCGS old boys.
However, it seems there’s nothing much to steal – North Cottesloe’s patrols run like a well-oiled machine. This is thanks to the continued revision of the club’s patrol guidelines. Today, with Pia’s latest revisions, complete with lists and pictures, North Cottesloe is arguably the most organised patrol club. As for education, most members see it as a positive, enjoyable and useful experience – be it in their SMCs or in training for the bronze medallion or other awards. While instructors continue to be proactive, innovative and passionate in their teaching, the club continues to look for ways to improve education – both the knowledge and skill base of the education team as well as improving the experience of the bronzies going through the course. Dom’s introduction of electronic manikins, complete with sound effects and vomit, have added an interesting and entertaining element. While there have been many changes in life saving techniques over the decades, the basic principles of surf rescue and first-aid remain consistent, with a little tweaking here and there. Spinal management is probably the area that has had most change, and can cause frustration during requals. North Cottesloe continues to successfully retain a large group of trainers and recruit new trainers each year. In recent years, in addition to those already mentioned, others to
Claire Jordan and Nathan Fitzgerald.
give many hours include Steve Voke, Alastair Campbell, Education and life saving continue to evolve at North Cottesloe.
equipment, first-aid equipment, uniforms, nipper water safety
Andrew Ford, George Ford, Michael Ford, Curtis Spencer,
So too do attitudes to these vital sections of the club.
and so on. The life saving team and club administration
Helen Tyrell, Tim Gregg, Izzy Kordic, Zac Vinten, Deborah
continue to work together to deliver on the club’s life saving
Wake, Jasmine Lamb, Linda Gladwell, Lara Parsons, James
requirements and provide water safety to events and
Hodgkinson, Miriam Salter, Jono Wood and Roy Oldham.
North Cottesloe continues to grow from a club where patrolling was something that many members did only because they had to, to one where many members do additional hours because they enjoy being part of the patrol
carnivals. North Cottesloe continues to be a leader in life saving in terms of the way the club has set up its patrols and
Rob Bell has also been a valuable member of the team. Although not an official trainer, Rob is always there to support
patrol room and the service it provides. Chair of life saving
the candidates, take them for extra swimming lessons
Pia Claudius visits other clubs during the summer so that she
and provide water safety. Peter Van Geloven has been a
The chair of life saving continues to be supported by a life
can shamelessly steal good ideas from them and implement
member of the education team for many years, stepping in
saving leadership team to help coordinate patrols, patrol
them at North Cottesloe.
when needed. However, he has only recently acquired his
team and providing life saving services to the community.
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 281
Bronze class, 2018.
282 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Amy Fitzgerald is a Volunteer International Humanitarian Lifeguard Specialist Squad Leader, selected by the International Surf Life Saving Association (ISLA). Representing North Cottesloe SLSC, SLSWA and SLSA, Amy has run lifeguard operations, first-aid and lifeguard training courses in countries without a lifeguard association, including Greece, Albania, Cook Islands and China. Here she is pictured with donated goods she took to China in 2018. Working alongside the ISLA team, Amy provided first-aid and life saving training and contributed to the establishment of the much-needed lifeguarding agency in Shenzhen.
Pia Claudius and Domenic Cowdell, 2018.
official trainer’s certificate. He remains a core member of the
Rachele Devoto, Julian Ming, Sam Elias, Aidan Squires,
education team and volunteers with search and rescue.
Josh Greenwood, Oliver Stockwell, Patrick Sewell, Robert
The education team is also blessed with having a large
Woods, Campbell Shaw, Sam Collins and Tegan Maffescioni.
number of young trainers and assessors. Some of them
Through their training at North Cottesloe they have made
have been part of the Christ Church Grammar School cadet
major contributions to society, using their skills in auxiliary
program – a partnership between CCGS and North Cottesloe
areas such as life guarding, communications with SurfCom,
that began in 2008 and was further developed in recent
in aerial surveillance with SLSWA’s Westpac lifesaver rescue
years through the mentorship of CCGS teacher and North
helicopters and some have volunteered many hours as
Cottesloe member Alli Gould. These young trainers include
paramedics. In return, their experience as paramedics has
Chapter 5 Embracing life saving and education | 283
improved how they teach first-aid and their management of first-aid incidents at North Cottesloe beach. It has also initiated the introduction of additional resources to the club, such as Sam Elias with pain management. Over recent years these conscientious young members have steadily grown in confidence and are now responsible for the design and delivery of the requal program and are head trainers, especially for the club’s week-long intensive bronze and SRC courses. A special bond has developed between these young trainers and Steve Voke, who has provided vital support in running courses as well as mentoring – using his life experience and his extensive knowledge from his profession in emergency care. Of course it is inevitable that trainers leave the education team. When they have done their stint, they move their interests to other areas of the club or onto their personal interests elsewhere, including producing babies who might eventually become nippers, cadets, SRC members and eventually bronzies. As for the running of education and life saving, it could not be done efficiently without the support of the North Cottesloe office staff.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter team members Kate Bonner (rescue swimmer) and Cameron Coulson (aircrew). After winning volunteer operations member of the year at the 2018 SLSWA annual awards, Kate became Westpac Crew Ambassador for the 2018/19 season.
284 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Nippers, 2009.
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 285
Nippers in the late 1980s, including future club captains Tom Flower (front middle) and James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin (front right) and ski paddling champion James Knowles (front, second from left). 286 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
6
Chapter
FUTURE LIFESAVERS
There was no lower age limit but a degree of confidence in
Nipper numbers hovered around 200 up until the turn of
the water was generally accepted as a prerequisite and kids
the century. In 2001 numbers started to rise, reaching 357 in
were typically not younger than 10. Members up to age 14
2004 and 418 in 2005. From 2008 until 2015 North Cottesloe
were juveniles and numbers fluctuated over the decades. As
had more than 500 nippers, peaking at 792 in 2012 and 737
time went on, younger children got involved. They continued
in 2015. In 2016 numbers were back down to 467 (under-14s
to be identified as juveniles. It is only in more recent decades
had been moved into the cadet section) and have remained
that the term ‘nippers’ has caught on.
under 500 since.
A structured program, with set skills and objectives for each
During the 1970s and into the 80s, Alan Charleston, Jerry
age group, came into existence nationally in the 1960s.
Knowles, Mike Flower, Karie Liggins, Dennis Hawtin, Peter
It was expanded in 1980 with the introduction of the surf
Driscoll, Lyn Girdlestone and Lorna Wall were heavily
life saving achievement certificate, which acknowledged
involved in running the juvenile division. For a number of
proficiency in surf safety, surf awareness, resuscitation,
years Karie conducted nipper registrations at the club out of
signals, board rescue and first-aid. It wasn’t mandatory but
her Kingswood wagon, which was also loaded with foamies
was a prerequisite for competing in the State championships.
and bathers for the nippers.
However, this only lasted a few years as it led to a drop in entries because many juniors were unable to complete the requirements in time. From 1985, the ‘S’ badge was a timed run-swim-run that was mandatory for all 10 to 13 year-olds before they could compete in carnivals.
Ron Sheen jumped on board in 1980 and started an under-7s group to amuse the little kids while they were waiting for their older brothers and sisters who were attending regular juvenile division activities. Ron’s ‘surflings’ program was not recognised by SLSWA and it wasn’t until 2006 that under-7
In 2018, nippers (aged five to 12) receive an age group
‘minnows’ became an official nipper category. Some may
participation certificate at the end of each season. Cadets
put Ron’s program into North Cottesloe’s rebellious era. Or it
(aged 13 to 15) are encouraged to complete their surf rescue
could be looked at as another example of North Cottesloe
certificate (SRC) or bronze medallion once they are 15.
showing initiative and being ahead of the pack. Indeed, many
At North Cottesloe, the chair of juniors oversees nippers
of the kids who came through Ron’s program progressed
and cadets.
through to the more senior ranks.
with little structure, funding, equipment or support, to huge
The 1980s marked a significant period of growth for this section
In 1989, Chris Shellabear’s daughters were involved in the
groups of children taking part in organised lessons and
of the club and in season 1982/83, juvenile membership
nippers program and he too joined the club. Chris, who more
surf sports training, supported by large teams of age group
cracked 100 for the first time, with 157 joining up.
than two decades later became club president, started
L
ike most areas of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club, the junior section has experienced huge growth in the past quarter of a century. The nipper and cadet programs have evolved from small groups of kids playing on the beach
managers, parent helpers and rostered patrols. It’s been a growth made possible by the dedication of various club members and parents and ultimately the support from the surf club in fostering the youth as the future of the club.
For the next decade, numbers fluctuated between 100 and 191 before reaching 200 for the first time in season 1993/94. Growth in nipper activity at this time was reflected up and down the coast. The thought was that this was a result of the
Nationally the term ‘nippers’ dates back to the 1920s.
greater profile the surf life saving movement had received
Interestingly, the term ‘nipperettes’ was used for girls.
from the ironman and surf boat series being televised over
North Cottesloe first had a separate juvenile division in 1937.
the previous couple of summers.
helping Ron and continued working with nippers for the next 18 years. Chris saw the nippers as an extremely important part of the club and had a philosophy of working from the ground up. However, it wasn’t until the late 1990s that the club began to share this philosophy and started fostering and funding the junior section of the club.
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 287
Junior State team members Simon Wroth, Jamie Edelman, David Sierakowski, Philippa Dickson and Alison Thunder with Lorna Wall, 1986.
Maddy Shellabear, Phoebe Power and Jemma Ford, 2004.
Chris had applied for funds for the juniors numerous times
and wanted to get involved, resulting in the Bendat Family
In his annual report of 2000, youth life saving representative
but continued to get knocked back. Taking it upon himself
Foundation and the Perth Wildcats sponsoring the club for
Steve Gibbs stated: “At the cadet level, there is still difficulty
to inject some funding into the section, he talked about
10 years.
in retaining members for the entire season. Although cadets
a miraculous sponsor who had bought 12 boards for the nippers. Chris was actually the sponsor and he remembers the club getting rather annoyed that the unnamed sponsor
Cadet membership has also experienced growth but it’s a growth that has ebbed and flowed. It’s the tricky 13 to 15 age group, where kids hit their teenage years and find
numbered about 40 early in the season, a combination of family vacations, other sporting commitments and lack of coaching resources hindered our goal of a smooth running program for this age group”. Steve’s comments have been
was only interested in helping the juniors and didn’t
themselves being pulled in all kinds of directions, be it
want to support other sections of the club. Over time the
school commitments, sporting choices, social pressures and
importance of the nipper program from a club perspective
even body image issues. It has long been a struggle to retain
After fluctuating between three and 52 during the 80s,
has grown and through nippers, hundreds of families and
cadet members during the season, from season to season
cadet membership was at a low of five in 1989/90 and
the wider community have become engaged with the club.
and as they transition into the senior ranks. Indeed, retention
then 18 in 1990/91. For the next decade, numbers mostly
The program has also attracted some of the club’s major
of junior members remains the most repetitive comment in
hovered in the 30s and 40s before jumping to 92 in season
sponsors. Jack Bendat observed the nippers on the beach
annual reports since the early 90s.
2001/02. Since then the lowest number was 73 in 2003 but
288 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
reflected in many annual reports since.
Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander presenting the champion junior competitor shield to Kale Pervan, 2005.
Steve Coote addressing the juniors, mid-2000s.
numbers have regularly been above 100. The biggest cadet
have been undertaken from a club perspective to increase
the standard of surf education delivery. They also set about
membership was 163 in 2016 (coinciding with the move of
and sustain nipper and cadet participation in competition
getting more support from the club. Specifically, they
under-14s from nippers to cadets). In season 2017/18, cadet
and build strength in this area.
pushed for funds to purchase boards and other gear, which
In 1999, Alan Tietzel took on the role of juvenile officer,
was hopelessly sub-standard compared with other clubs’
The growth in junior numbers typically hasn’t been reflected
following a year as age group manager. Alan and his wife
junior programs.
in competition strength. A highlight for the club’s junior
Kerin ran the juniors until 2003, during which time they
section was the selection of seven cadets in the junior
established a strong platform from which others could
State team in 1987. Since then, there have been periods of
continue building. There hadn’t been a great deal of
strength in nipper and cadet competition, particularly during
support for juniors from the broader club and most parents
the 2000s and largely thanks to the dedication of parents.
disappeared for a coffee while a few hardworking souls
boards as well as dozens of foamies and other gear. In
Over the years various club-driven initiatives have been
looked after the kids. The Tietzels set some goals to increase
addition, club management had given the nipper section
introduced to try to improve competition success. However,
the number of juniors, develop a larger pool of parents and
the formal support of a nipper patrol, with active members
it’s been only over the past couple of years that initiatives
helpers to run the nipper and cadet programs and improve
rostered for duty.
numbers were back down to 78.
Organised activities replaced the Sunday morning chaos on the beach. Numbers grew and parent participation also grew. The nipper team managed to acquire a stock of competition
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 289
Jasmine Lamb with cadets, 2005.
Winners of the handicap shield at the 2005 junior State championships.
With the increased organisation and a reliable roster of
over the previous couple of seasons. But the season began
success in building a team of helpers to support them. Alan
parent and lifesaver helpers, juniors had started to become a
tragically with the fatal shark attack on associate member
and Kerin remain proud of the platform they established,
force within the club and a highlight of Sunday mornings on
Ken Crew in November. Steps were taken to ensure North
describing it as hard work but great fun and very satisfying.
the beach – swarms of kids up and down the beach, having
Cottesloe’s youngest members weren’t adversely affected,
While overall participation and surf education had been the
fun and learning surf skills. As well as the usual sessions
including an information morning at which the nippers were
main aims, there had also been an increase in participation
from 9am to 10am, nippers were also given the option of
able to realise the importance of water safety. However, there
at junior carnivals from around a dozen, to a typical 20 to 30
arriving at 8am to do an additional hour of competition
was still a drop in numbers. Nipper attendance on Sunday
and up to 50 on occasions.
training. These sessions were attended by small core of
mornings ranged from about 120 (the week after the shark
nippers, many of whom went on to compete at the State
attack) to almost 300 kids. Numbers remained fairly steady
championships. The hope was to build on this core group
over the following couple of seasons and the club continued
and make surf life saving a genuine sporting option.
to cap enrolments in some age groups. This contrasted with
Nipper numbers on registration day for season 2000/01 were
many other clubs that were embarking on recruitment drives.
In subsequent years, Cliff and Jenny Ford, Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander, Steve ‘Coobs’ Coote, David Andrew, Bob Hunter, Keith Johns, Michael Silbert and others would take the juniors to even more successful heights, especially in the competition arena. Parents Goose and Cliff were already
huge and in some age groups kids had to be turned away. It
In 2002, Alan won the club member of the year award for
a driving force behind the competition push and when Alan
was put down to the resounding success of Alan’s leadership
his continued dedication to the nippers and cadets and his
stood down from his role in 2003, they took on official roles of
290 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Nipper participation continued to grow and in season 2003/04 retention was improved with more nippers staying for the full season than in previous years. The junior State championships were a huge success with 52 competitors, up 40 per cent on the previous year. This meant around a quarter of all eligible members competed. North Cottesloe made finals in 25 events and won two gold, four silver and four bronze medals. The club had achieved some great success at the junior State championships in the 1980s, winning 12 gold medals in 1986, nine in 1987, 14 in 1988 and seven in 1989. However, during the whole of the 1990s, the club won just three gold medals. In 2002, Alanna Barwood won gold in the under-12 female beach sprint. It was the club’s first junior State title since 1996. Alanna won the beach sprint again the following year in the under-12s, while Matt Johns won the under-11 male surf race. Success was again building. At the 2004 junior States, North Cottesloe finished seventh overall and second on the handicap point score. Of particular note was the dominance in the male surf teams, where the club finished first in under-11s (Matthew Benn, Andrew 2006 under-11 male board rescue State champions Charlie Foster and Andrew Ford.
junior competition officer and youth officer respectively. Goose and Fiona Smith-Gander had brought their son Gordon down to nippers in 1998 when he was seven. They immediately became active on the beach as age group managers for the under-8s. Alan saw the opportunity for a
in some very successful surf boat crews. Gordon’s younger sister Maddy had been trailing along at nippers, so by the time she was old enough to attend herself she already had three seasons under her belt. Maddy has been extremely active in the club since, in both competition and life saving.
Witherow, George Ford, Samuel Weber) and under-12s (Patrick Hoey, Matt Johns, Kale Pervan, Alex Taylor), third in under14s and fourth in under-13s. Under-12 competitor Matt Johns won the club’s inaugural champion competitor trophy. The perpetual trophy, which was presented to the club by Goose and the Smith-Gander family, was awarded to the competitor who contributed the most points to the club’s overall total at
successor and worked on Goose relentlessly for a couple of
The work that so many volunteers have put into running
the junior State championships.
seasons until he took over managing the nippers. Goose had
nippers and cadets over the decades shows huge
Meanwhile, Jasmine Lamb and James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin
been an extremely active member years earlier, including as
commitment to the development of the club’s youngsters.
were taking care of the cadets. Chocks’ Uncle Tobys body
club captain and a successful surf boat rower. Taking over
These volunteers continue to give up their time to do
surf and beach sprint event had quickly become a hit and
the nippers marked Goose’s re-engagement with the club
paperwork, marshal kids, teach skills, oversee safety, cook
was hotly contested at any opportunity. The social side was
at a management level. He went on to be the inaugural chair
snaggers, sell clothes and clean up at the end of it all. But
very important for the cadets and Jasmine and Chocks held
of juniors in 2005 for a season before taking over from Alex
they will all agree there’s plenty of satisfaction in seeing kids
sleepovers and dinners on the balcony. Jasmine continued
McKenzie as president. As for his kids, Gordon continued
bursting with enthusiasm beneath a sea of multi-coloured
to look after the cadets almost singlehandedly for the next
through the age groups and ultimately ended up rowing
caps on the sand and in the water.
couple of seasons.
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 291
By 2004/05 Andrew and Mandy Brown were running the
obviously one of the strongest junior clubs in surf swimming
nippers program and support for this section continued to
events. It was largely thanks to the dedication of a core
grow. Andrew Dimsey had taken on the responsibility of
group of parent helpers.
preparing the beach each Sunday morning, including setting
It was a memorable time for Jenny Ford. “We took them to
buoys. This was to the relief of the patrolling members who
carnivals, taught them the rules and they loved it,” Jenny
no longer had to spend an hour treading water pretending to
said. “We set the beach up on Sunday mornings with arenas,
be turning buoys. In addition, some 20 parents were willingly
we ran relays – cameron, wade, board – everyone wanted
pitching in at carnivals to marshal competitors, run errands,
to be in the team because it was so much fun.” Earlier in
erect tents, transport boards and children and everything
the season, Matt Johns was selected in the State team to
else in between. The Bennetts, John Barwood, Keith Johns,
compete at Maroubra, NSW, where he acquitted himself
Nick Taylor, Goran Pervan and Lorraine Walter supported
admirably in seas like he had never been in before. It was the
every carnival and training session, along with Jenny and
first of three consecutive State teams for Matt.
Cliff Ford who continued to jump in and do everything –
Meanwhile, cadet competition remained a challenge.
always organised, always enthusiastic and always fantastic
During 2004/05, the sight of 82 cadets on the line for a
contributors to the club.
Sunday morning club swim was heartening and throughout
By now Cliff and Jenny had four children involved in nippers
the season there were more opportunities for cadets to
– Michael, Jemma, George and Andrew, who would all go on
interact with senior members through beach games, social
to be standout competitors as nippers, through cadets and
functions, team training, club swims, club marathon and club
remain in the club today as senior competitors. As a nipper
championships, thanks to cadet officer Jasmine Lamb and
competitor Andrew won 13 gold medals over four seasons.
club captain James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin.
Andrew remains active and involved in education, patrols
Cadets were strongly encouraged to participate in
and senior competition. He reached the final of the open
competition and the most talented cadets were identified
men’s surf race at the 2018 Aussies, finishing in the top 20.
to club coaches and team captains. The hope was that
Andrew and George have also had successful water polo careers, both representing Australia and George competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Both are aiming for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Other nippers and cadets who were competing during the 2000s and remain active in the club today include Lachy and Jeremy Andrew, Gordon and Maddy Smith-Gander, Maddy
coaching would be taken up by more cadets in the George Ford and Kale Pervan, 2006.
Many families involved in juniors went on to make significant
years ahead, particularly leading up to the Australian championships being held in Perth in 2007.
contributions to the broader club – Ford, Smith-Gander,
Ironman coach Mark ‘Fini’ Finucane inspired many of the
Maffescioni, Barwood, Bennett, Johns and Weber, to name
cadets to train with him weekly at both North Cottesloe and
a few.
Scarborough beaches. Fini, a former ironman champion (moved from Cottesloe SLSC to North Cottesloe around
Shellabear, Kale Pervan, Matt Johns, Matt Bailey, Cam
In season 2004/05, North Cottesloe had record entries
Dimsey, Katherine Bennett, Ben Barwood, Tegan Maffescioni,
in junior carnivals, culminating in a team of nearly 60
competitors from various surf clubs since 2001. Ultimately,
Anna Speirs, Mathilda Lipscombe, Emily Wray and Ellie
competing at the junior State championships. North
Fini had a core group of committed cadets who trained
Weber, among others. Typically it was those children and
Cottesloe won the handicap trophy and picked up five gold
together and pushed each other, but competed for their
teenagers whose parents were actively involved in the club
medals, four silver medals and eight bronze medals, finishing
respective clubs. Despite the cadets coming from different
who stuck around.
sixth overall. White caps were everywhere and the club was
clubs, there was a real squad mentality, which helped retain
292 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
2003), had been running ironman training squads for
under-15s competing at senior carnivals. Anna Williams (under-13), Kale Pervan (under-13) and Matt Johns (under-14) were selected in the WA State surf life saving team to compete at the interstate championships in NSW in January 2006. The following year, all three athletes were again selected in the State team, while Andrew Ford was selected to compete in the SLSA centenary carnival at Bondi, Sydney. After competing at the 2006 interstate championships at Queenscliffe Beach, Anna, Kale and Matt, along with Georgie Monro, Phoebe Power, Nichola Foster, Jemma Ford, Zach Wood and Will Johns, also competed in the Manly and Freshwater carnivals. Jenny Ford chaperoned Jemma, Nichola and Phoebe to NSW for the carnivals. The journey from the airport to their accommodation in Manly was as memorable as the excitement of going to their first interstate carnival. The girls and Jenny crammed into a van with North Cottesloe sweep Steven ‘Stiffy’ Petrie and his under-23 male boat crew, all jammed in with the girls’ competition boards. The junior State championships in 2006 were again a success and although the club could not repeat the previous year’s performance of winning the handicap trophy, the club improved one place on the overall standings to finish fifth (66 competitors). The medal tally was also improving
Cadet competitors with Michael Silbert, 2007.
each season, particularly in the swimming. The results in
the members of this group. The key North Cottesloe juniors who benefited from the squad were Matt Johns, Kale Pervan and Anna Williams, all of whom represented WA.
ahead to 2018 and many of these competitors continue to achieved huge success over the past 14 years.
However, the club had no male competitors in under-12s
Impressive and promising performances were being seen from other cadets, including swimmers Rose Mark, David Alston and Georgia Walter, beach sprinters Tegan Maffescioni, Sasha Pol, Lilli Cook, Hilary Carter, Grace Bosisto, Alanna Barwood, Anna Speirs and Kitty Gunzburg and board paddlers Cam Dimsey, James Walter, Michael Ford, Louise Cook, Jemma Ford, Phoebe Power, and Georgie Monro. However, the call was made that much more work needed to be done in the area of cadet competition. Jump
Early in season 2005/06, senior competitors held
and Matt Johns was the only one waving the flag (albeit very
compete for the club as senior athletes, some of whom have
competition skills clinics on Sunday mornings for the nippers and cadets. The clinics aimed to provide a skills base and give captains and coaches early opportunities to identify talented individuals and invite them to squad training. Higher goals had been achieved across the junior section, including
under-11 and under-13 boys were outstanding, thanks to the performances of two of the Ford clan, Andrew and George.
capably) in the under-14s. The club had creditable efforts by the girls in each of the age groups. The champion junior competitor for the season was Andrew Ford. At the junior States, Andrew won medals in almost every event that he competed in, from beach sprint to surf race.
the establishment of a high performance program, managed
The number and variety of people dedicating themselves
by sprinter Sonja Belle. Elite juniors had started training
to the club’s junior section was growing at a great rate. They
in winter, and during the season there was an increase in
were mostly parents with children who were developing into
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 293
outstanding competitors and whose first exposure to the club was when their children started nippers. Increasingly they were also second-generation families – mum and dad who were rediscovering the club through their children. They were the club’s young adult members finding satisfaction in educating and training the juniors. They were also the club’s new breed of paid, professional coaches who were bringing an entirely new dimension to training methods. And they were, of course, all the children who were swamping the club not only on Sunday mornings but at regular training sessions on summer afternoons. The impact the junior programs were having was seen in the number of timid, wave-wary newcomers who were confidently attacking the waves later in the season. When Steve ‘Coobs’ Coote took over the role of chair of juniors from Goose in 2006/07, he had already been working on a youth development and retention plan. This included identifying talent and putting in place coaching and improved management structures and equipment. Through the support of age group managers such as David Andrew, Cliff and Jenny Ford, Alec O’Connell and others, and with continued support from other youth-oriented coaches such as Nat Benjanuvatra, Nick and Marian Taylor and march past pros Chris Shellabear and Brian and Wendy Sierakowski, the junior section was getting some new wheels. The club was seriously underequipped with surf gear to cater for the numbers of juniors and with support at board level from club president Craig Smith-Gander and treasurer Keith Johns, Coobs began to rattle the tin for some serious funding. It was at a time when there was significant financial strain because of the major building redevelopment that was getting under way. When Keith secured a new three-year $150,000 partnership with the Bendat Family Foundation and the Perth Wildcats, specifically for the juniors, it was a watershed moment. Ultimately, the sponsorship continued for nine years. Clipping from Western Suburbs Weekly, January 2006.
294 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
The sponsorship resulted in a new budget, new gear and upgrades to equipment, including a new board trailer, new board cans, a new beach plan and signage. The sponsorship allowed the club to buy a large number of boards – enough so that kids could learn board skills and get a taste for the sport without a big financial investment. The club purchased several sizes of soft boards and invested quite heavily in quality fibreglass competition boards, which opened up both training and competition to more kids. It also enabled the club to train big groups of nippers and cadets in board and surf rescue skills all at once, without kids shivering on the beach while they waited their turn. Down the track it allowed cadet officer Michael ‘Silbs’ Silbert and the cadet managers to take large groups of cadets on paddle-powered ‘raiding parties’ up to Swanbourne or down to Cottesloe beaches, and run the Sunday program away from the main North Cottesloe beach. This gave the older kids a sense of freedom and independence, which they loved and contrasted with the more tightly controlled nipper environment. The sponsorship also funded gear for the new under-7 minnows program. As opposed to more than two decades earlier when Ron Sheen introduced the surflings program for under-7s, the minnows program was formally recognised by SLSA and was available for five to seven-year-olds who had an elder sibling in the nipper program.
Maddy Smith-Gander, Lauren Witherow and Mathilda Lipscombe, 2006.
Matt Johns, Perry Short, Gordon Smith-Gander and Kale Pervan, 2005.
80 per cent of the program qualified for their respective
Cottesloe and Fremantle finishing on the beach at 11.30am
age group certificate, with the remainder receiving only
instead of the typical late afternoon finishes at the larger
a participation certificate. Of course this resulted in the
State-run junior carnivals. The concept of local area carnivals
periods between competing for the individuals and most parents hated it. The idea was to have tighter competition over shorter periods of time, managed by the local club without lots of officials and without any disqualifications to give kids competition experience in a more relaxed environment.
Some other initiatives came to fruition in season 2006/07. The club elected that only those children who completed
occasional parent complaining that their child only got a participation certificate rather than the ‘qualified’ certificate.
for nippers came from the SLSWA surf sports committee, chaired by Craig Smith-Gander, who was now president of
North Cottesloe hosted the inaugural local area carnival,
North Cottesloe. Large carnivals had become difficult to run.
which saw young competitors from North Cottesloe,
Kids were spending all day in the sun. There were very long
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 295
The inaugural event at North Cottesloe was a great success
a business left little time for the surf club. Nick’s legacy
and led to some years of local area carnivals being added
remains in the program that continues today.
into the State sports calendar. Floreat was later included in
The success of the club’s junior programs continued to
the carnivals (Swanbourne-Nedlands didn’t have nippers at
be reflected in the significant membership growth, which
the time). It was a great initiative from those who had obvious
by 2007/08 had reached more than 500 nippers and 100
passion for surf life saving and a long-term commitment to the
cadets. The club was managing to retain more cadets by
sport. In 2018, Craig is president of SLSWA and James O’Toole,
offering them a stimulating and challenging beach program
who was SLSWA surf sports manager at the time, is CEO.
with good social activities, and plans were being put in
Interestingly, the idea of local area carnivals had been
place to strengthen this program with a focus on leadership
flagged many years before when North Cottesloe member
development. Cadets were also achieving some great
and nipper parent Richard Lang pointed out to then
competition results.
president Jerry Knowles that the amount of time in the sun
At the 2007 senior States, North Cottesloe won its first State
was an impediment to participation. Jerry tried to get Richard
title in the cadet ranks since the 1990s. Matt Johns, Kale
to take on the task but he was unable to because of his work
Pervan, Liam McRae and Harrison McCleary won gold in the
commitments. Richard was happy to point out that someone
under-15 male surf teams. It was one of 10 medals won in the
did eventually take on the job, albeit years later.
under-15 and under-17 age groups and a huge improvement
The 2006/07 season ended with another successful junior
on the two medals won in these divisions the previous
State championships. North Cottesloe won roughly the same
year. The success in these age groups continued, with nine
number of medals as the previous year and again finished
medals in 2008, 10 in 2009 and eight in 2010 and 2011.
fifth overall. It was achieved with a few more competitors (68)
Standout competitors over these years included Matt
and certainly quite a few more adult helpers.
Johns, Kale Pervan, Anna Williams, Jemma Ford, Katherine
Behind the scenes was nipper patrol officer Nick Hayler,
Bennett and Sam Burke – all winning multiple individual
who since 2005 had been managing the special nipper
medals. On the national stage, Will Nolan won bronze in the
water safety patrol that was in place every Sunday during the season. Nipper patrols had been operating in basic form since 1999 but Nick had been brought on board to take the program to another level. Nick recruited two patrolling members for each age group – one in the water and one on the beach, both tasked with keeping their eyes out for sharks and for any children getting into trouble in
under-17 male beach flags at the 2009 Aussies. It was North Don’t look back, 2008.
How could their kids be learning the correct skills if they were not trained by the surf lifesavers? Nick’s response was
Cottesloe’s first Australian medal in the cadet ranks since Sharlyn Sarac won silver in the under-16 female board race in 1996.
pretty blunt and shut the parents up pretty quickly: “It’s very
After gaining steady momentum since the early 2000s,
hard to train dead children”.
the nipper program reached a high in season 2008/09. After finishing fifth at the junior State championships for
the water.
It took about four weeks for the program to be accepted
Nick made it clear to the surf lifesavers that they were
as the new way and from there, the patrols ran smoothly.
fourth place. North Cottesloe finished with an upset third
responsible for keeping the children safe – they were not
The surf lifesavers loved having something to do during
place overall behind Trigg and Mullaloo, managing a big
responsible for training them. This copped flack from some
their patrols and would sign up for as many nipper patrols
improvement to get over the top of Scarborough and City
of the parents. They thought the surf lifesavers should be
as they could. Nick managed the patrols for many years,
of Perth. And on handicap points, the club finished second.
providing training for the kids, rather than providing safety.
until the commitments of having a young family and running
Ninety-two of the club’s youngest members had competed
296 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
the previous three seasons, the club had set out to gain
and it was a credit to the competitors and coaches/ managers in all age groups from under-11 upwards, who had all worked hard at additional training sessions. In terms of overall placings, it remains the best result the club has had. The following year North Cottesloe’s junior State championships team numbers cracked 100 for the first time (101) and the club finished fourth. In 2011 and 2012 North Cottesloe finished fifth, with 133 competitors and 121 competitors respectively. As the program continued to grow during these years, so too did the amount of support it attracted in terms of parent helpers. Other clubs did not seem to be as lucky in this aspect. North Cottesloe’s parent helpers were a happy and courageous bunch. They varied in experience from firsttimers to seasoned professionals, all working together with the children to ensure everyone had a fun time. The club had been offering special bronze and SRC classes for nipper parents since 2008/09. The idea behind these courses was to offer parent helpers an opportunity to learn new skills as well as connect with the club in a more meaningful way. It went a long way to building parents’ confidence – even though they may not have been expert surf lifesavers themselves they still had a lot they could offer by becoming active on the beach with their own children.
Green caps enjoying Sunday morning at North Cottesloe Beach, 2008.
Parent Bob Hunter first completed his bronze in 1986 at
chair of juniors, a role he would remain in for three seasons
Under-11 age group manager Mark ‘Ando’ Anderson had his
Bateman’s Bay Surf Club, NSW, while at Royal Military
before handing over to Bob.
own tactics. He asked the green caps to put up their hand if
College Duntroon and under the guidance of then staff cadet Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander. When Bob’s eldest daughter Lucy started nippers at North Cottesloe in 2003, he assisted as a parent helper. By 2005 this evolved into age
Over these years Alec O’Connell took on the role of competition coordinator and Gary Grimes was junior coaching coordinator. They remember it as a strong period
they had ever spewed. When the kids described the feeling as awful, Ando said: “I don’t care if you come first or last but that’s how I want you to feel when you finish your race”.
group manager and in 2008 he again completed his bronze
for juniors, with great helpers and a great leader in David.
Retaining junior members after they finished nippers
medallion. When Bob took on the role of nipper officer in
With a big focus on encouraging the kids to compete, they
continued to be a challenge, not just for North Cottesloe but
season 2009/10, numbers were again being capped in some
sponsored a range of competition vests. The blue vest
for all clubs across the country. From the under-14 age group
age groups. Bob credited David Andrew for establishing such
was seen as a badge of honour – given to those kids who
there is less parental involvement and the cadets are looking
a positive, vibrant and well-organised program while he was
competed in ironman. And it achieved the desired result – an
for a different experience. A clear distinction also emerges
in the nipper role the previous few years. David was now
increase in competitor numbers.
between those who are keen to compete, those who want to
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 297
patrol and some who are involved for the social experience. These age groups also need to pass their SRC or bronze medallion and begin active patrols, so there is a completely new expectation placed on these young members. The club set about tackling this challenge in a more significant way, firstly with the appointment of a cadet officer in 2009/10. Michael ‘Silbs’ Silbert became the first cadet officer since Jasmine Lamb/Jamie Coote in 2005/06. Silbs stayed in this role until 2013, establishing various initiatives during this time. Cadets were started later than nippers on a Sunday so they could be part of a different and more sustainable program. In addition, the section was structurally adjusted to start at under-15 to coincide with the first year of senior competition. As a result, cadets regularly contributed more than 20 per cent of the club’s points at senior carnivals. The aim wasn’t
I
n 2007, North Cottesloe cadet Lockie Cooke (front left) established Indigenous Community Education and Awareness (ICEA) Foundation, a charity aimed at facilitating educational opportunities for young people in remote Aboriginal communities. Lockie’s passion was stirred when he went on a Christ Church Grammar School leadership camp to the Kimberley. He developed great friendships in the Aboriginal communities and wanted to give something back. Lockie launched into fundraising activities and North Cottesloe hosted the first community fundraiser outside of CCGS. The Sunday morning ‘fun day’ raised more than $5000, which went directly to the remote community program of enhancing school resources and facilities on the Dampier Peninsular. North Cottesloe Surf Club became instrumental in the establishment and, ultimately, the sustainability of ICEA. The club quickly became ICEA’s second home – a training and development centre for ICEA’s leaders. When ICEA established a youth surfing competition, the ICEA Classic, North Cottesloe hosted the after-
party, which was a huge drawcard. The ICEA Classic, which has grown into one of the largest youth-run events in the country, raised the awareness of ICEA. It was cool to be involved with ICEA. The surf club became involved in ICEA’s remote communities program, through which young people in the western Kimberley were educated about water safety and first-aid. ICEA also established the ICEA Waves program. Indigenous students who were boarding in Perth were invited to the surf club to learn basic surf skills and first-aid in a fun and inclusive environment. As ICEA continued to evolve, the relationship with North Cottesloe Surf Club continued to grow. Over the past decade, many young clubbies have been involved with ICEA in some capacity, all the while becoming more aware of indigenous history and culture. And they have been sharing that awareness with others. After all, ICEA’s overarching purpose is achieving reconciliation through mutual respect for all Australians.
just to train elite athletes, but to provide cadets with the confidence to participate in carnivals at a senior level and exceed their expectations of themselves. It also ensured they felt welcome and that there was something for them to do in addition to fulfilling their patrol hours. Silbs was great at connecting with the cadets and at communicating with them on their level. A new cadet section of the North Cottesloe website helped identify them as a specific and important cohort within the club community. A new weekly e-newsletter provided constant feedback and encouragement, along with great photos and advertising of events and achievements. This evolved into a dynamic Facebook page, ‘North Cott Cadets Webbed Feats’, with all the benefits that social networking could offer the management of the cadet demographic. This social side was key to the success of cadets during these years. The introduction in season 2009/10 of the junior age group manager program was a great success that has continued through until today. Cadet coordinator Silbs summed it up in his 2012 annual report: “The continuation of the junior age group manager program for cadets is also a major
achievement. Several cadets are attached to each individual
their surf and safety skills without them even knowing it. It
nipper group and serve as mentors, teachers, coaches,
was not uncommon for cadets who loudly protested that
demonstrators, friends and crash-test dummies for our
they didn’t want to spend time in the water during formal Sunday training, to find themselves in the water with their
littlest beach goers. Every week, these relationships grow
friends on boards for an hour or more after the training
and it’s hard to say who loves it most. Senior age group
session finished. Silbs liked to think of it as “skills-by-stealth”.
managers love it, because it gives them multiple arms, legs
The cadets also responded particularly well to supporting
and voices; parents love it, because it gives them a bit of a
the ICEA Foundation, which facilitates educational
break; cadets love it, because our nippers look up to them
opportunities for young people in remote Aboriginal
and want to emulate their every move (and they get to
communities and promotes reconciliation through mutual
earn their patrol hours and have fun at the same time); and
respect for all Australians. North Cottesloe hosted Aboriginal
nippers love it, because it shows them very clearly the route
kids at the beach, teaching them some basic surf survival
by which they can grow their skills and confidence. This is
skills as well as having some friendly competitions.
an all-round winner and just a joy to watch every Sunday
Various other initiatives and events were held during this
morning”.
period. The Barchetta North Cottesloe Gold multi-discipline race and the Ocean Zone’s Amazing Beach Race, hosted by
Maddy Smith-Gander, who had come through nippers
Cottesloe Surf Club, were both successful, but neither event
herself, was involved in the junior age group manager
continued.
program for several seasons as a cadet. She enjoyed encouraging the younger kids to become more aware
By 2010/11, cadet retention was unprecedented and Silbs
and confident in the water. She also enjoyed helping them
was named club member of the year for his work with the cadets and his dedication to providing activities that met
engage with surf sports, by way of navigating the surf and
their social, community and competitive needs. The focus
getting them to try something new. A lot of the parent
for cadets continued to be on the core areas of community
helpers lacked the surf sports knowledge so Maddy found the involvement of cadets who knew the specifics for
service, personal development, health and fitness and Abbey O’Connell, 2008.
competitions was of great benefit to the nippers.
retention. The whole program was intended to provide North Cottesloe’s cadets with a variety of opportunities to be
‘Sunday super sessions’ involved senior coaches giving their
engaged with the club and to find a place where they were
time to showcase their section, with the aim of encouraging
happy, active, involved and useful. The aim was to build and
the club’s junior athletes to develop their skills to senior
cadets during their Sunday beach sessions. A constant
grow these teenagers to become the backbone of the club
level. And with structures put in place by inaugural director
for years to come.
stream of North Cottesloe’s younger senior members
of coaching Derek Knox, cadets had opportunities to be
volunteered to share their skills and experience with
involved with coaching and development squads outside of
the cadets, giving them aspiration, encouragement and
their normal Sunday program.
providing huge fun for the entire group. Cadets had an
Silbs introduced “post-cadets lazy North Cott reef break surf-
overseen by chair of juniors Bob Hunter. He wrote in his
opportunity to sample new senior surf sports, such as ski
and-socialise sessions”. They were great fun and yet another
annual report that year: “It is easy to point to achievements
paddling and surf boat rowing.
way to have a big bunch of kids out on the water practising
for the program in terms of numbers of nipper participants
The next initiative was the regular inclusion of ‘junior-senior’ members as trainers, demonstrators and mentors for the
Season 2011/12 remains the largest number of nippers. Nearly 800 nippers were looked after by more than 60 parent and cadet age group managers and helpers,
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 299
Matt Bailey, Tom Joyner, Charlie Foster, Isaac Weber, Joe Chaney, 2008.
Age group manager Mark Anderson giving the blue caps some tips, with cadets looking on, 2009.
who qualified and were awarded in the various levels of the
As for cadet competition, 2011/12 proved to be more
them long term. The challenge was to bide time and make
SLSWA junior surf certificates for their age group – last year
challenging than others, with a large number of cadets
sure they were fully engaged in patrols and other activities,
379 and this year 479 awards. However, the real achievement
having to make difficult choices between very demanding
with the hope that when the pressures of their school sports
is in the building of the confidence of so many young nippers
school sport programs and the opportunity to compete for
were through, they would turn to the surf club to find the
who when they first come down to the beach are accosted
the club. North Cottesloe’s demographic is of course to the
by a dumping beach break. They can be hesitant and
club’s advantage. However, it is also a disadvantage. One
camaraderie, competition and challenges that they needed.
nervous in the water, but by the end of the season they are
issue is the amount of kids going on long family holidays
The cadets who did compete in the 2012 senior State
confident and cavorting around in the surf, like seals”.
over summer. The other issue is that the private schools offer
championships achieved some great results. Standouts were
so many extra curricular activities and also put high demands
Olivia Marsh winning gold in the female under-17 2km beach
on the students both academically and through sport. The
run (she repeated this the following year), Nicola Ferguson
pressure on these kids is extremely high.
bronze in the same event (she won bronze in the under-15s
kids do something out of their comfort zone – swimming
Some cadets chose to concentrate on their school
the previous year) and Elliott Goldstone silver in the male
around the buoys for the first time, or completing a full iron
sports commitments. Others used their North Cottesloe
event. Georgie Siciliano won silver in the under-17 beach
course, absolutely exhausted but with huge smiles on their
membership as a welcome balance from the stresses
sprint and beach flags, bringing North Cottesloe’s medal tally
faces. They spoke of accomplishments at all levels and
of study. The club took the philosophical approach that
in these age categories to five. North Cottesloe’s under-15
building resilience in surf.
pressuring cadets into competition was no way to retain
and under-17 competitors then won five medals in 2013,
It was a familiar comment. Even those age group managers who were more competition focused spoke of confidence rather than results. What stuck in their minds was seeing the
300 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Yellow caps warming up with some stretches, 2009.
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 301
George Ventouras had taken over as chair of juniors that year. George had joined the club in 1991 in the footsteps of his father Jerry who had been a junior member and surf boat rower and remains a member today at 81. George did his bronze and then rowed surf boats for a season. When George enrolled his son in nippers at age five, there was no age group manager in charge of the group so George put his hand up. His son lasted three Sundays. George lasted five years as age group manager for purple caps. George then became nipper officer for a year, followed by chair of juniors for three years, relinquishing his role in 2016. For George, it was always a family affair. When there was a barbecue, it was George’s parents Jerry and Chrissy Ventouras spinning the sausages while George made sure the nippers worked up an appetite on the beach. George’s highlight from his time in juniors was working with the kids from a young age and watching them grow and mature Future 2km beach run champion Olivia Marsh, 2008.
Rosey Marsh and Hannah Crute, 2008.
and seeing their skills develop and improve. He is still friends with many of the parents and regularly sees many
followed by four in 2014 and 2015 and two in 2016. Sprinter Ellie
Back on the home beach, nipper numbers remained strong
of the kids.
Weber and swimmer Adam Sudlow were standouts during
and the core goals continued to be achieved: improving the
In season 2013/14 Marian Taylor, who had taken over as
this period, continuing the success they had achieved at junior
safety knowledge and confidence of the nippers; maintaining
director of coaching from Derek Knox in 2011, kicked off a
States over previous years. Their tally included four individual
beach coordination and age group organisation to ensure
new junior coaching and development program. The main
junior State titles for Ellie and four junior State titles for Adam.
safe and effective activities; fostering the family and
objective of the program was to inform and educate juniors
community aspect of the club environment so the children
on the importance of gaining their appropriate awards,
feel comfortable; and providing opportunities for children to
becoming proficient if they did not require an award, and
As for the junior State championships, 2012 was the last year that North Cottesloe had a team of more than 100 competitors. It was also the most successful year for march past at a junior
participate in surf life saving or competition activities.
participating in patrols to complete the required number of hours. The other objective, of course, was to encourage the
States, with the girls winning gold and the boys silver, both in
Safety remained a priority and in season 2013/14, North
juniors to participate in the Sunday morning training program
the under-14s. The previous year North Cottesloe had more
Cottesloe became one of the first clubs in Australia to
and compete for the club at local carnivals and State and
than 100 juniors march in the colour party at the junior States.
introduce fluorescent vests for all junior members to wear
and Australian championships.
In opening the championships, WA Sports Minister Terry
while participating in nippers and cadets. These safety vests
Cadets were invited to join the club’s Sunday morning sports
Waldron commented that the North Cottesloe white caps
had been compulsory for competitors in SLSA and SLSWA
program with the assistance of junior coaches including John
were everywhere. Gold medal success in the march past was
events for the previous two years and North Cottesloe
Lishman (board and swim), Tegan Maffescioni/Maddy Smith-
repeated six years later by the mixed nippers team, which won
believed they were an obvious and easy safety precaution
Gander (sprint), Nat Benjanuvatra/Jess Reynolds (swimming),
the title at the 2018 junior State championships.
to implement for the club’s youngest members.
Nick Taylor/David Beckett (ski paddling) and Curtis Spencer/
302 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Matt Johns on the start line for the under-17 ironman race, 2009.
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 303
Red caps diving for beach flags, 2009.
304 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Jade Bevan, Eliza Rakich, Eleni Tsaknis and Ellie Weber and the under-15 female beach relay of Clara Lipscombe, Katelyn Preston, Courtney Preston and Juno Sertorio. Katelyn Preston and Ellie Weber had been outstanding nipper competitors. Katelyn won six junior State titles in two years, including the under-12 sprint, flags and relay in 2013. Ellie won four medals in three years, including the under-12 sprint/flags double in 2010. Another outstanding beach competitor during this era was Rory O’Sullivan, who won five junior State titles in four years, including three consecutive beach flags titles from 2009 (under-11) to 2011 (under-13). Through the mid-2010s, both the nipper and cadet programs continued to evolve, with the vision to provide a pathway from nippers through to adult ranks and encourage all junior members to continue their association with the club. This was done by providing a unique environment for the club’s young members to learn, have fun, compete and socialise in a safe and positive environment. In 2014, Sandy Harvey took on the role of nipper officer. Sandy’s active involvement in nippers had started in the mid-2000s when her daughter Samantha was in white caps. Sandy, who had joined the club in 2002, quickly became one of those parents who helped out every week. Two more children followed Samantha, and Sandy’s dedication to juniors has continued through until today. However, she is Junior marchers including Will Brogan (with flag), Andrew Ford (beltman), Jack Teague, Matt Bailey and Jeremy Andrew (on the reel) and Tim Andrew (on the inside spindle), 2009.
no longer nipper officer as she missed being on the beach coaching and mentoring the children. Over the past few years Samantha’s enthusiasm for the club and dedication
Zac Vinten (life saving). For those who did not wish to
their life saving skills. Following the swim the cadets
to juniors has mirrored that of her mother’s. In 2018 Sandy
compete, which was most, life saving skills and fun activities
participated in surf sports activities with their coaches. By the
was named North Cottesloe age group manager of the year,
were offered. Some of these cadets quickly became
end of the season the club had cadets compete at senior
while Samantha was named cadet age group manager of
educators and/or gained their advanced resuscitation
State championships and the Australian championships in
the year for the third consecutive year.
technique certificate.
the under-15 and under-17 age groups in sprint, swim, ski,
Over these years various members have given their time to
The Sunday morning club swim became compulsory for
board and 2km run. North Cottesloe cadets won two bronze
junior carnival coordination and logistics, including Andrew
cadets to ensure they practised their swimming to assist
medals at the Aussies – the under-17 female beach relay of
Moore, Dave Reynolds, Karl Paganin and Kirsty Hayden.
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 305
The idea of a youth committee had first been mooted back in 2004/05. In her annual report that season, cadet officer Jasmine Lamb wrote: “As we look to the future, we aim to formally establish a youth/junior committee, a youth forum, a youth captain, outline incentives for youth to participate in competition and produce an orientation guide for cadets”. It might have taken more than a decade, but a youth committee did eventually get off the ground. As for nippers, momentum that had built up in the competition arena during the 2000s – peaking with a third place overall at the junior State championships in 2009 – had waned. Since the 2012 junior States, competition numbers have dropped. They fell to a low of 55 in 2014, while the biggest number has been 84 in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Needless to say, success in the overall standings has also waned, with North Cottesloe finishing sixth in 2013, ninth for the next three years, then seventh in 2017 and eighth in 2018. However, North Cottesloe’s medal tally since 2000 provides a more promising story. The best result at a junior States was 26 medals in 2013, followed by 24 in 2009, 2012 and 2018, and 22 in 2006. As for gold medals, the club won nine in 2012, and eight in 2006, 2007 and 2013. In 2018, the club won seven gold medals among its second-highest medal tally at a junior States. This proves that, although North Cottesloe’s competitor Cadets Yasmin Tucchai, Maddy Smith-Gander, Eliza Noske, Jason Ponsonby, Ruby Van Beem, Abbey O’Connell and Hannah Crute with Michael Silbert, 2010.
numbers and overall standings are not as high as they have been in some years, success is building. The club’s standout performer at the junior States in recent years has been Megan
In the cadet space, Mark ‘Ando’ Anderson has been involved
North Cottesloe sprinter Tegan Maffescioni, a select group
McCaffrey, who won the sprint/flags double in 2016 (under-10)
for a number of years, starting when his son Joseph reached
of young members created and delivered the weekly cadet
and 2017 (under-11) and the under-12 beach flags in 2018.
the cadet ranks. New initiatives continued to be developed,
program. Contributing their time in the face of their own
For each of these years she was awarded SLSWA champion
aimed at bridging the gap between nippers and senior
educational and sporting commitments was a fantastic
competitor for her age group. In 2016, under-10s were
membership and providing the youth and future of the
display of commitment to the club. These young members
included in the junior States for the first time and under-14s
club with a defining pathway for competition, community
are the club’s future. As for Tegan, she had long been a
were elevated to the senior States.
involvement and a pursuit of excellence.
tireless contributor in her own right and a great example of a
As for cadets, at the past two senior State championships, the
In 2015/16, the club developed a youth committee to drive
club member who had successfully progressed from cadets
club recorded its highest medal tallies ever in the cadet ranks
much of the season content. Led by highly-successful
into seniors.
– 16 medals in 2017 and 11 in 2018 across under-14s, under-
306 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
S
ince Pete Rossen joined North Cottesloe in 2006 as a nipper in brown caps, his Down syndrome has never held him back. Pete progressed through the nipper levels to the best of his ability and with the encouragement, good humour and support of the junior club members and families. The best way for Pete to improve his independence was through peer support. Pete’s parents, Paul and Sally, worked with David Andrew (nipper officer 2006 to 2008, chair of juniors 2008 to 2011) in coordinating buddies to swim, run and paddle alongside Pete each Sunday morning. This system of junior volunteers developed into the club’s junior age group manager program that has become an essential part of Sunday mornings at North Cottesloe.
I
n the mid 2000s, when the Elias family relocated to Perth from over east, they thought the children should learn about beach safety and swimming in the sea. So when a father at one of the children’s schools invited them to join a nippers group that he coached, they joined North Cottesloe. The early classes did not go well. Michael Elias shouted at his son to get into the water, but Sam continued to play in the sand dunes. It was frustrating. The coach assured Michael that Sam would work it out for himself, as long as he continued to be given the opportunity to be involved. The coach was right. By the end of that first summer, Michael couldn’t get Sam out of the water. Something magical had happened.
Meanwhile, Pete continued to participate in activities and education programs alongside his peers. An adapted surf rescue certificate enabled him to learn the theory and skills commensurate with his own level of understanding and ability. Pete has been a fantastic and tireless volunteer for the club, assisting in the organisation and running of nipper groups and a multitude of club activities. He takes part in many activities and is mentored by associate member Ray Boffey. Pete also works at the club one morning a week. He is universally acknowledged by club members as a hard-working inspirational bloke, good humoured and forever looking after his mates.
Siblings, Annabelle and Edward, followed their older brother and soon the whole family was involved on Sunday mornings. Michael also became more involved. With support and encouragement he did his SRC, bronze, trained as IRB crew and then became an IRB driver. He was welcomed into several different parts of the club and made a number of good friends.
Subsequently, all three of the Elias children earned their bronze. Michael no longer manages any groups, but he greatly enjoyed ‘passing on the magic’ to other children and their parents in the under-8s over the past few years, assisted by a number of very competent and enthusiastic cadets, including Annabelle and Edward.
Michael increasingly helped the nipper age group managers and, soon after Annabelle became a nipper, he was asked to be an age group manager for her group. He was paired with a more experienced parent who coached the content while Michael managed the group.
North Cottesloe has been a significant part of the Elias family’s sporting and social life since they moved to Perth. They are so glad they took up the invitation to try nippers and that they persevered through the first difficult weeks. As for Sam, who wasn’t interested when he first came to nippers, he now trains bronze classes.
15s and under-17s. Beach competitors Dominic Banks-Smith, Zaide Moxham and Jaxon Hayden, and water competitors Adam Sudlow, Josh Lynn and Bella Pol were among the club’s top cadet competitors. On the national stage, Jaxon won silver in the under-14 2km beach run at the 2017 Aussies, and the under-17 mixed march past team won bronze at the 2018 Aussies. The success comes off the back of a renewed enthusiasm in nipper and cadet competition over the past couple of seasons. Although initiatives had been undertaken previously in the competition space, it wasn’t until season 2016/17 that there was a noticeable change in the amount of structured and consistent surf sports training opportunities available for the younger members. Kate Carbone took over as chair of juniors in 2016. As daughter of former club captain, president and club stalwart Jerry Knowles, Kate had grown up around the club. Her earliest memories of North Cottesloe include late afternoon picnics on the beach and playing in the water for hours. She did just one year of nippers as a five-year-old but returned when she was 11 and started competing. She continued competing for the club through her teens and as a senior competitor until she moved over east, where she remained for the bulk of her 20s. Kate never lost her connection with North Cottesloe and actively re-engaged with the club in 2015 when her daughters started nippers.
Gary Grimes coaching nippers on the board, 2011.
Kate didn’t have the best start as chair of juniors, managing
a buoy. It went smoothly until a large set came through as
as their little ones were dumped. Needless to say, the group
to scar the under-8s group, of which her daughter was a
they were nearing the shore. Kate, the cadets and the dads
was significantly down in numbers the following week. The
part. Under-8s are required to complete the proficiency
were yelling at each other to grab as many kids as they
following year Kate refused to run the proficiency swim until
could as they were wiped out by a wave. There were some
it was dead calm. There was also a better turn-out at the pre-
pretty fearful looks on the mums’ and dads’ faces as the
season pool session.
swim before they can participate, but most of them hadn’t attended the scheduled pre-season proficiency swim in the pool. In her haste to get all the under-8s through the swim, Kate thought it was a good idea to get everyone through on
group staggered in with crying kids clinging to them.
As chair of juniors, Kate initially worked with the club’s
the first week irrespective of the less than ideal conditions.
Of course there was nothing funny about it but looking back
inaugural surf sports development officer Shannon
Kate rounded up some cadets and a couple of dads and
Kate can’t help but find humour in the faces on the mums in
MacLachlan, to give the Sunday nipper program more
together they took about 15 seven-year-olds out around
designer sunnies and kaftans, standing paralysed with fear
structure and ensure it was feeding the club’s competitor
308 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Katelyn Preston, Lily Wall and Jolie Sertorio at the 2015 junior State championships.
online registration, the club held a fun registration day with barbecue, bongo drums and information packs explaining the background of nippers and the training that was available. The club started running its own proficiency swims (previously they were run by SLSWA) and briefings for age group managers were introduced at the start of each nipper session. In addition, experts from each of the club’s sections started training the age group managers in the specifics of David and Tim Andrew, Mark and Joe Anderson and Charlie Benson, 2011.
ranks. Shannon had been employed to help set up the club’s
western suburbs and where surf life saving fitted into
high-performance sports academy that would develop and
that hierarchy.
retain talent within the younger age groups.
surf sports and education to get continuity on the beach. Shannon and Kate then targeted the cadet program. Retention during the 2015/16 season had been disappointing with numbers dropping from about 100 at the start of the
A first step was splitting juniors into three separate time slots
season to about 30 by the end. During the following season,
After research into some of the more successful clubs on
(under-6 to under-9, followed by under-10 to under-13 and then cadets). The cadets’ session started with the club swim and it
over a 20-week program, representatives from each of the
the east coast, Shannon established that it was imperative
surf sports sections were rostered to attend each Sunday
to get the Sunday program right if the club wanted more
was hoped the under-10s to under-13s would also take part.
competitors and better quality competitors. The main
Splitting the juniors into three sessions resulted in much
of retention, with 60 to 80 cadets staying for the season.
challenge North Cottesloe continued to face, and still
better use of the beach. It also allowed parents to participate
However, it put significant strain on the sections due to time
does, was the huge choice of sports available to kids in the
with multiple children. Rather than relying on the impersonal
and the conflict with competition.
to coach skills to the cadets. It was a great success in terms
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 309
Coaching from professional ironwoman Elizabeth Pluimers, 2012.
310 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Cadet group with Michael Silbert (fourth from left) and (far right) Brendan Peters, Joe Anderson and Sue Collins, 2018.
Champion beach competitor Megan McCaffrey, 2017.
In season 2017/18 the program was scaled back. Each section
Michael ‘Silbs’ Silbert had come back on board with the
was responsible for running just one race day, at which
cadets that season following a few years as age group
cadets raced alongside senior competitors in handicap races.
manager with his own children. Just like when he was cadet
Education days, held on carnival days, included skills such
officer from 2009 to 2013, Silbs pushed the importance of
as deep water rescues, CPR and theory. Champion beach
fun and engagement. While he supported the surf sports
competitor Tom Nolan had been the most popular choice
push, he wanted to make sure North Cottesloe involved
cadet program provides so many different opportunities and outcomes, including helping teenagers through challenges. He likens the role of cadet leader to being a school teacher, sports master and mentor, providing another encouraging, supporting voice and helping the cadets do and achieve things they might be wary about.
on Sundays, with most cadets wanting to do sprinting. Kate
anyone and everyone – so that even those who gave up the
wasn’t sure if it was because the teenagers didn’t want to get
surf club because of other commitments would likely come
into the water or because they wanted to be with Tom.
back later in life when they had the time. Silbs believes the
Over the past couple of decades, there have been various initiatives to boost competition participation and performance in nippers and cadets. This has included, in some seasons,
Chapter 6 Future lifesavers | 311
aim now is to ensure the correct surf skills are being taught from under-6 upward. Going hand in hand with all this were initiatives at a State level. In 2016 SLSWA undertook a review of the nipper program. SLSWA had come to the realisation that the material distributed to clubs for lessons was inadequate and set out to create a program of a similar standard to AUSkick, which is recognised across Australia as one of the best-run sport programs. The new nipper program, which SLSWA developed with North Cottesloe and implemented across all clubs, included a formal program of weekly activities for age group managers to follow. The idea was to create a more standardised approach among clubs and that any parent (whether familiar with surf or not) would be able to run the lesson. SLSWA research into nipper retention showed that if kids competed for their club there was a much better chance of retaining them in surf each year. Most clubs had more than 50 per cent of their (eligible) nippers competing, whereas North Cottesloe didn’t have anywhere near that rate. The SLSWA nipper program is now based around activities that use surf sports skills, with the aim of retaining the kids.
Nipper board paddlers training at Trigg Beach, 2019. (photo Hannah Jones)
Dan Peters, Steve Bird, Alex Marsden and Kate Carbone with nippers at a Trigg Beach training session, 2019.
coaching sessions in the weeks leading up to State
led to the creation of the surf sports development officer role
championships. However, North Cottesloe had never really
and the establishment of the club’s surf sports academy,
had any ongoing, consistent training for youth. Since 2016,
which is detailed in chapter two.
juniors have had dedicated coaches for board and sprint training as well as opportunities in ski development. Recently, the partnership with Kirby Swim, which was originally just for cadets, was expanded to include nippers from under-8.
By all reports the nippers and cadets are loving the training opportunities and the new structure of the programs. The coaching has ensured kids have the necessary skills to compete. It has also resulted in far fewer disqualifications at
These opportunities have been thanks to sponsorship from
carnivals. It was found that some kids had been making it
long-time club patron Tim Roberts. Tim’s vision and funding
through to under-13s and still couldn’t paddle a board. The
312 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
With other states now looking at implementing the same program, SLSWA has provided all of its information property to enable them to do so. SLSWA has also developed a similar program for cadets. This will also be offered to other states. In addition, in season 2017/18 SLSWA introduced the little nipper competitions for under-8s and under-9s. The thought was that because kids didn’t start competing until under-10s, the movement was losing kids to other sports. The numbers registered for these competitions were huge, with more than 400 little nippers competing at each carnival. This included up to 40 North Cottesloe kids competing in each of the three competitions and State championships.
7
7
Champion ski paddler Jack Trail, 1960s.
Chapter 7 North Cottesloe in competition | 313
Tom Nolan wins second consecutive gold medal in the open male beach flags at the Australian championships, North Kirra, Queensland, 2015. (www.harvpix.com) 314 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
7
Chapter
NORTH COTTESLOE IN COMPETITION
N
1942 to 1945 (during World War II) no State championships
a see-saw battle between Cottesloe and North Cottesloe.
were held.
The six-member R&R was the prestige team event for
There have been only two years (1946 and 1989) that North Cottesloe has not won at least one State title. Until 1973, the club regularly won as many as nine or 10 titles. For the rest of the 70s and throughout the 80s, the best
State championships was named champion. In 1936 North Cottesloe won its sixth championship and the last for another five years.
performance was six gold medals in 1982. At the 1992 State
North Cottesloe beach sprinters won gold seven times
championships the club was back up to 10 gold medals,
between 1930 and 1940 and dominated the beach relay,
which included the club’s first open men’s surf boat State
winning the State title from 1930 to 1934 and 1936 to
title since 1961. In 1996, the club won a whopping 14 gold
1941. Victory in the swimming events was almost evenly
medals, a result that was repeated in 2009. For the past
distributed between North Cottesloe and Cottesloe, with
decade the club has won at least 11 State titles each
Scarboro and City of Perth scarcely getting a look-in.
year bar one (in 2015 the club won seven). In 2018 North Cottesloe won an outstanding 18 State titles.
If there was one field of competition in which North Cottesloe indisputably dominated in the early years, it was surf boat
The first Australian Surf Life Saving Championships were held
racing, winning every year for the first seven years, before
in 1915 with just two events – open male surf race and open
surrendering in 1933 to Scarboro. North Cottesloe won titles
six-person rescue and resuscitation (R&R). World War I put
again in 1949, 1950, 1959 and 1961 but it wasn’t until the
a halt to the championships until 1920, when the number of
1990s that North Cottesloe again dominated this event.
events was expanded to nine. The championships have been held every year since, except between 1942 and 1945 (during World War II), and the program of events has expanded to
orth Cottesloe competitors have been in action on the sand and in the water for the bulk of the past century, initially on local beaches and increasingly on beaches all over Australia and even across the globe.
many years and the club that won the event at each year’s
223 (including youth events) in 2018. There were no female events until 1985 when the open female beach sprint, surf race and Malibu board race were added to the program.
As detailed in chapter four, women weren’t welcomed on an equal footing into the surf life saving movement until 1980 when they were able to do their bronze and become active surf lifesavers – patrolling and competing alongside the men. However, North Cottesloe women had always had the opportunity to train in all the same competition areas as
Up until 1979, North Cottesloe had won 23 Aussie medals.
the men, except surf boat racing, which would remain an
Ski paddler Jack Trail won 11 of those medals, either on the
exclusively male event for many years. There was a parallel
single or double skis or paddling in the ski relay or taplin
inter-club competition for women, though the results of
relay. After 1979, the club didn’t win another medal until
these events were never as religiously recorded as those
1995. Between 1995 and 2018, the club has won at least
of the men and the women’s competitions were denied
one medal each year except for two years (2004 and 2005),
official status. Following the war, the North Cottesloe women
totaling 75 Aussie medals. The most successful year was
dominated the prestigious R&R event, with the senior female
2014, with North Cottesloe winning 10 medals at the Aussies
R&R team winning the State R&R title eight times between
Saving Club.
at Scarborough Beach. The club won seven medals in 2008
1950 and 1966.
State championship carnivals began in WA in 1926, initially
(Scarborough) and 2012 (North Kirra).
with three participating clubs – Cottesloe, North Cottesloe
In WA during the pre-war period, the premier event was the
Australian championships for the first time ever – as opposed
and City of Perth – and then in 1928, Scarboro joined in. From
senior R&R championship. During these years the R&R was
to travelling by train – the club claimed WA’s first national
Competitor numbers have ebbed and flowed. Success has ebbed and flowed. Areas of strength have changed and competitors have become more specialised, typically competing in only one arena. But one thing has remained. Those who don the North Cottesloe white cap do it with pride and give their all for North Cottesloe Surf Life
In the 1950s, not only did the North Cottesloe team fly to the
Chapter 7 North Cottesloe in competition | 315
a gradual change that would eventually transform it into the slick, quasi-professional competition seen today. The slow-paced R&R suffered a gradual decline from the 1960s onwards. Faster-moving and more spectacular events such as the ironman, taplin relay and surf boat racing were more popular with the crowds. The ironman eventually surpassed the R&R as the premier surf life saving event. During this era North Cottesloe won its last Australian R&R medals, with a silver in the senior R&R in 1966 (Jerry, Peter Driscoll, Michael MacDermott, Ron Day, Alan ‘Herbert’ Charleston and Bill Anderton), bronze in 1970 (Peter Driscoll, Michael MacDermott, Bill Anderton, Bill Russell, Peter ‘Spud’ Kidman and John Storrie) and bronze in the junior R&R in 1969 (Simon Martin, John Moncrieff, Kel Pallott, Peter Davis, Don Drabble and John Storrie). Throughout the 1960s and 70s, North Cottesloe enjoyed success in all competition arenas except surf boats. Despite low member numbers, there were some very talented individuals and North Cottesloe was still making its mark in competition. Jack Trail was winning State surf ski titles every year from 1961, when he won the double with Ron RankineWilson. Jack dominated the single and double ski for the
R&R competition, 1930s.
decade and was a constant member of the club’s taplin relay
title. In 1952 the team of Ron Hinchliffe, Bill Kidner, Graham
inaugural victory, hinting at the success to come. Ron went
Russell, Laurie Russell, Ken Caporn, John Meadmore and
on to win two more State titles in 1959 and 1960. The 1950s
Terry Merchant (reserve) won the senior men’s R&R. It
was also a period of dominance by North Cottesloe in the
followed an extremely controversial silver medal the previous
beach relay, winning nine consecutive State titles from
Miller, David Russell, Simon Martin, Mike Flower and, in later
year (Bill Kidner, Ron Hinchliffe, Graham and Laurie Russell,
1949 to 1957. Laurie Russell and Alan Rich ran in all nine
years, Nick Taylor, Robin Slattery and Ian Brown. Michael
Dave Dohnt, George Williamson and Terry Merchant as
State-champion teams, Max Carter ran in eight and Tom
MacDermott was a dominant force in the board during this
reserve), as detailed in part one of this book. North Cottesloe
Stewart ran in four. In 2010 the North Cottesloe beach relay
period with six State titles. He was selected in the Australian
went on to win bronze in 1956 (Bill Kidner, Graham and Laurie
team (1949 to 1957) was inducted into the SLSWA sporting
team in 1968.
Russell, Ken Caporn, Tony Rigoll and Herb Williams) and 1957
hall of fame.
(Graham and Laurie Russell, Ken Caporn, Tony Rigoll, Herb
team that won eight championship titles from 1968 until 1982. Other members of the winning teams were Larry Pullen, Jerry Knowles, Michael MacDermott, Peter Driscoll, Graham
In 1970 Jack Trail became the first North Cottesloe member
The ironman rose to prominence in the 1960s. Jerry Knowles,
to win an individual Australian title when he won the open
who was a member of the R&R team that won the State
men’s single ski at Ocean Grove, Victoria. It followed Jack’s
Surf skis were included in the State championships in 1952
title in 1966, turned his attention to ironman and won the
bronze medals in this event the previous two years and
with North Cottesloe’s Ron Rankine-Wilson winning the
State title in 1969. Surf life saving itself was going through
silver in the double with Larry Pullen in 1969. In addition
Williams and Graham Lowe).
316 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
The 1980s was a period of stagnation and low membership numbers at North Cottesloe and this was reflected in the minimal success in the senior ranks at State championships. Skis continued to be a strength with a young Nick Taylor partnering with the older and more experienced Jack Trail to win the men’s double in 1982 and with Stan Davies to win the same event in 1984. North Cottesloe won the ski relay in 1983 (Jack Trail, Nick Taylor and Jerry Knowles) and again in 1985 (Nick Taylor, Stan Davies and Andrew Brown). North Cottesloe also won the taplin relay in 1982 (Jack Trail, Nick Taylor, Rob Slattery, Ian Brown, Andrew Brown and Stan Davies) and the team was set to defend its title the following year. Andrew had the first leg in the swim but lost his competition cap when he was dumped by a City Beach wave. At that time, competitors were disqualified if they crossed the line without their cap on their head. To this day, two sights stick in Andrew’s mind from when he was looking for his white cap in the white froth – City of Perth’s Barry Armstrong swimming straight past him and Jack Trail picking up his ski and walking out of the arena. The guys still remind Andrew that he owes them a gold medal. As it turned out, it would be another quarter of a century
Senior surf teams, 1937/38.
to his historical win in the single ski, Jack also won silver in
Jerry. In 1976 at Clifton, Tasmania, Simon won bronze in the
the double ski with David Russell and bronze in the taplin
ironman and in 1979 at Trigg Island, WA, he won silver in the
relay with David, Jerry Knowles, Simon Martin and Michael
over-24-years surf race. North Cottesloe has since had only
MacDermott. In 1971 Jack won silver in the single ski, bronze
one more member join this small and illustrious group to win
in the ski relay with Jerry and David and bronze in the double
an individual Australian open title – sprinter Tom Nolan in the
ski with David. David won silver in the junior ski and John
2010s – but for 36 years, Jack and Simon were alone in
Storrie won bronze in the open surf race. Jack was selected
this feat.
on the Australian team in 1971 and 1972. At the 1973 Australian
before the club won another State taplin title. After winning bronze in 2002 (James Knowles, Al Nixon, Will Bird, Tim Bird, Andrew Moullin and Jacob Church) and 2005 (Al Nixon, Tom Flower, Tim Bird, Will Bird, Bill Kirby and Jono van Hazel), North Cottesloe won gold in 2008 with the team of Marcus Brockhurst, Mark Finucane, Matt Johns, Stuart Reside, Andrew Stevens and Jono van Hazel. The competition cap rule that had gone against the 1983
Indeed, after Simon’s silver in 1979, it would be another 16
team worked in favour of the 2008 team, which had actually
years before the club won any Australian medals at all. In 1995,
finished third across the line. Trigg was disqualified for a
the club won bronze in the open men’s surf boat and young
dubious tag and one of the City of Perth swimmers had
beach competitor Martin Toohey won bronze in the under-18
taken off his cap before the finish line so his team was
In 1974 at Glenelg, South Australia, Simon Martin won the
beach flags. Since then, there have been only two years that
disqualified. Aside from the young Matt Johns, the rest of the
Australian ironman title and silver in the ski relay with Jack and
the club has not won a medal at the Australian championships.
North Cottesloe team was what one of them described as
championships in Burleigh, Queensland, Jack again won silver in the single ski. North Cottesloe has not won an Australian ski paddling medal since.
Chapter 7 North Cottesloe in competition | 317
in the team again, this time with Nick Taylor who, although a strong swimmer and competing in ironman at the time, was more focused on ski paddling. The Brown boys and Andrew Taylor were out fast and in the lead bunch. At the cans, Andrew Taylor hung back for a few strokes to sort out a couple of the opposition swimmers – in particular one of the City of Perth guys whom he played water polo against. The Brown boys finished one and two. City of Perth’s Greg Mickle, Greg Naylor and Barry Armstrong finished three, four and five and the Taylor boys placed in the top ten. The little assistance from Andy had resulted in the last City of Perth swimmer finishing in the 20s. North Cottesloe won the title. The 1990s shone as an era of depth across all of the club’s surf sports sections. It came on the back of a surge in club membership and financial strength that has continued over the past quarter of a century. It was the start of a dominance in surf boats and beach sprints/flags that has continued until today. It also heralded a new era of strength in ski paddling that has also continued until today. The 1990s also stand out as a period of strength in areas that are not so strong today – board, swim and ironman. Some of the standout individual competitors in these disciplines during this period were ironmen Stephen ‘Hoppy’ Hopkins and Michael ‘Liggo’ Liggins, ironwomen Jacqui McKenzie, Sharlyn Sarac, Sharon Stacey and Briohny Callaghan and swimmers Ian Brown and Grant Stoelwinder. 1952 Australian R&R champions Terry Merchant (reserve), Ron Hinchliffe, Ken Caporn, Bill Kidner, Graham Russell, Laurie Russell and John Meadmore.
“past their prime”. They might have won on a technicality but
As for the bad luck that toppled the 1983 team, perhaps it
they were more than happy to claim North Cottesloe’s only
could be said that what goes around comes around. Earlier
taplin State title since the early 1980s. Since that 2008 win,
in the 1983 championships, North Cottesloe had won its
North Cottesloe has won silver in 2014 (Tim Bird, John Wilkie, Michael Ford, Ben Mercer, Andrew Ford, Kris Taylor) and
second consecutive senior male surf teams title. In 1982 it was Phil Gorey, Australian water polo representative Andrew Taylor and the Brown brothers who won the title ahead of
silver in 2018 (Steve Bird, Jesse Phillips, Harry Hewitt, Adam
City of Perth and Cottesloe. Defending the title in 1983 was
Sudlow, Pat Norton and Jeremy Doney).
looking tougher. The Brown brothers and Andrew Taylor were
318 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
At a State level, Ian Brown kicked off the decade with wins in the surf belt and surf race. Then in 1992, Ian had further wins in the surf belt and the surf teams with Grant Stoelwinder, John Scott and Stephen Hopkins. In 1992 Hoppy won the open male board for North Cottesloe and backed it up with silver the following year. He ruled the 1994 State championships, winning gold in the open ironman, board, surf teams (with Grant Stoelwinder, Jamie Edelman and Charlie Liggins) and over-24 surf race. It was Hoppy’s fourth State ironman title but his first with North Cottesloe. He was
In 1998 Hoppy won silver in the open ironman and Sharon Stacey silver in the open and under-18 ironwoman races. In 1999 Briohny won silver in the open ironwoman and open women’s board and, in 2000, silver in the open ironwoman and gold in the open women’s board and mixed double ski (with Krede Wright). The turn of the century marked the end of North Cottesloe’s strength in the ironman and ironwoman, with no State open medals won in these events since. The only medals in this arena at senior State championships have been won by underage competitors – Matt Johns (bronze in under-15s, 2007), Kale Pervan (bronze in under-17s, 2009, silver in under-19s, 2011) and Anna Williams (bronze in under-17s, 2009). At a State level, it has since been the beach, surf boat and ski paddling sections that have brought home most of the medals for the club. Standout moments in State competition include North Cottesloe sprinters taking out the first five places in the open male beach sprint final in 2000, paddlers winning a clean sweep of medals in the open male single ski in 2001, beach competitors winning a clean sweep of medals in the open
Lyn Girdlestone coaches the female R&R team, 1960s.
male beach flags in 2011, rowers winning a clean sweep of
awarded the Bernie Kelly medal for the most outstanding
teams with Emily, Marian Taylor and Catherine Moore. That
performance by a competitor at the State championships.
year, Jacqui was awarded the Bernie Kelly medal.
The following year, Michael Liggins took the ironman title, as
Sharlyn also had a fantastic championships in 1996. In addition
brother Will) and ski relay (with Will and James Knowles).
well as silver in the senior male board, while Hoppy finished
to her gold medals in the board rescue and board relay,
In 2018, North Cottesloe finished third overall at the State
with bronze in the ironman. And for the only time in the club’s
she won the senior female board, under-16 board and the
championships. It was the club’s best result in nearly five
history it was a State title iron double, with Liggo’s partner
under-16 and under-18 ironwoman races. The following year
decades. Events and age categories have expanded over
Jacqui winning the ironwoman, as well as the surf race. At the
she won gold in the senior female cameron relay with Briohny
the decades so actual results can’t be compared. Suffice to
1995 Aussies, Liggo and Hoppy made the final of the men’s
Callaghan, Margot Ferguson and Karen Heagney, senior
say, North Cottesloe hadn’t been this competitive across
female board rescue with Briohny, senior female and under-18
the board since the early 70s. At the 1970 senior State
double ski and Liggo was a semi-finalist in the ironman and board.
medals in the open female surf boat in 2013 and, in 2014, Tim Bird winning gold in the single ski, double ski (with
female board and the under-18 ironwoman, while Briohny
championships the club won the Glowery Trophy (senior
Jacqui won a second State ironwoman title the following year
won bronze in the open ironwoman. Sharlyn, Briohny and Kate
events), the Caris Bros. Trophy (senior and junior events),
(1996) and also won gold in the board rescue with Sharlyn
Knowles won silver in the open women’s board relay and then
the A.D. Scott Cup (junior events) and finished second in the
Sarac, board relay with Sharlyn and Emily Heitman and surf
in 1998 took out the State title.
Cadet Cup (cadet events).
Chapter 7 North Cottesloe in competition | 319
Nationally, of 75 medals won since 1995, 36 have been in beach sprints and flags, 21 in surf boats, eight in the 2km
Champion competitors of the past century 1919 – 1940 Men 1960 – present Mick Bemrose Gus Graham Robert Irvine Edward Jaggard Hugh McKenzie Lou Oberman D. Palmer Gwyther Sanderson
1940 – 1960
Beach Boat Boat Boat R&R/Swim R&R/Swim Boat Boat
Ken Caporn Ron Hinchliffe Bill Kidner Sam Law Graham Russell
R&R/Boat R&R R&R R&R R&R
Laurie Russell Ron Rankine-Wilson
R&R/Beach Ski
Women 1960 – present Sonja Belle-Wood (nee Belle) Elizabeth Carson Tegan Maffescioni Jacqui McKenzie Patricia Rock (nee Nicholas) Louise Roberts Rebecca McLaughlin (nee Sattin)
Beach Boat Beach Ironwoman Swim Boat Boat
Jack Alliss Timothy Bird Will Bird Peter Charles Ian Clarke Peter Driscoll Todd Edwards James Gatti Kim Greville Derek Knox Jerry Knowles Michael MacDermott Simon Martin Richard Meadmore Thomas Nolan David Porzig
Boat Ski Ski Boat Boat Swim Beach Boat Boat Boat Ski Board Ironman Boat Beach Boat
Nicholas Rea Ben Rosser David Russell Jack Trail Patrick Walsh Thomas Warner
Beach Boat Ski Ski Boat Boat
All these athletes received the Graham Russell Award in 2019. By assessing North Cottesloe competitors against the champion competitor criteria, the club will continue to identify and recognise champion competitors who have demonstrated the values that the club honours.
beach run, three in under-19 surf board riding and six in the underage march past. There are some standout competition highlights from the past couple of decades. In 2001 the female beach relay team (Nicole Skelton, Sonja Belle, Renee Winteridge and Annette Margaret) won the club’s first (and only) open female Australian title. It was the club’s first Aussie gold medal in 27 years and the first ever gold in the beach arena. Between 2006 and 2009 the J crew (Jono Fievez, Dave Porzig, Kim Greville, Pete Charles, Shaun Coulton, Derek Knox and sweep Jack Alliss) won four consecutive open men’s surf boat Australian titles. North Cottesloe is the only club to achieve this feat. Tom Nolan has won a swag of individual Australian medals, including gold in the open male beach sprint in 2010 and two consecutive gold medals in the beach flags in 2014 and 2015. He is just the second athlete in SLSA history to hold Australian titles in both sprint and flags. As for North Cottesloe’s overall performance at Australian championships, in 2006 the club finished 40th, in 2007 29th and in 2008 19th. In 2010 North Cottesloe achieved its highest ever placing of 12th. However, it was with a limited number of events following the cancellation of all water events. In 2012, North Cottesloe finished 19th and recorded its highest ever away-from-home point score. Over recent decades, North Cottesloe has had minimal participation in some of the traditional surf life saving events such as R&R, champion patrol and champion lifesaver. In the 1998 annual report, North Cottesloe president Richard Meadmore said the club was aiming to improve its performance in competition: “To achieve this we want to encourage participation in all events offered by State Centre, which means competing in events such as R&R, march past and IRB – events that we have not done for many years or at all. The goal is that by season 2000/2001
open male champion lifesaver and in 2017, Jess Reynolds won the open female champion lifesaver. In 2013 North Cottesloe’s team of Robbie Benson, Curtis Spencer, Jemma Ford, Dave Kordic, Tim Gregg and Pete Wood won silver in the open champion patrol. The club repeated this result in 2016 with the team of Jemma Ford, Jess Reynolds, Matt Shepherd, Jennifer Taylor, Jason Ponsonby and Isabel Kordic. In 2014, North Cottesloe won its first R&R medal in decades with Nat Benjanuvatra, Curtis Spencer, John Lishman, Tom Carmody and Ryan Hawkins taking silver. While these more traditional areas of surf life saving continue to flounder, North Cottesloe can boast huge growth in masters competition across the surf sports arenas. This is largely thanks to the efforts of John Lishman and Niall Warren. The masters State championships was first held in 1983, following a number of years of veteran events being held as part of the senior State championships. The first masters Australian championships was held in 1993. Masters events had been held in the few years prior but were not run by SLSA. During the 1980s and 90s, North Cottesloe had a core group of competitors who achieved great results in masters events. Simon Martin, Jerry Knowles, Jack Trail, Alex McKenzie, Peter Driscoll, Stan Davies, Marian Taylor, Nick Taylor, Stephen Hopkins, Michael MacDermott, Graham ‘Tuppy’ Lahiff,
Marathon team, 1968.
the club is represented in every event offered on the State
arena for the first time. Juniors and cadets have had years of
championship program”.
higher participation and success and surf board riding has
Club captain Sam Knowles backed it up in his report that
had intermittent success, including three under-19 Australian
Malcolm McCusker, Julianne Simmons and Jenny Rutter are among those to win multiple State masters titles or Australian masters medals during this period.
year: “We are looking now to make up teams for march
medals (James Woods silver in 2008 and 2009 and Jemma
Malcolm, for one, got a real kick out of competing in State
past, R&R, champion lifesaver, champion patrol, first-aid
Ford bronze in 2009). As for the other events, participation
and Australian championships. One season he and Jerry
championships, IRB championships, surf board riding, junior
has been patchy or not at all.
paddled a double together. They trained hard, especially
Laurie Russell won the State senior male champion lifesaver
thought they had perfected it but once they got to the
However, it would be another eight years before North
in 1953. More than half a century later, North Cottesloe again
Aussies at Kurrawa, they did their usual ‘one, two, three, on’
Cottesloe re-entered the march past arena and hit the IRB
won State titles in this event. In 2015, David Ulbrick won the
and Jerry went straight over the other side of the ski.
and cadet events”.
at jumping on the ski, which Jerry found a struggle. They
Chapter 7 North Cottesloe in competition | 321
team, Lisho had rounded up some team mates for relays
showing at Scarborough Beach for the Australian masters
so he could compete in the 10 events he typically aimed
championships. Since 2006, North Cottesloe has won at
for. On the back of some golden success and grass-roots
least one medal at each Australian masters championships.
encouragement, North Cottesloe’s competitor numbers
Not surprisingly, the biggest hauls have been in the years
slowly increased in 2014 and 2015. The club’s point scores
the Australian championships have been in Perth – in 2007
grew accordingly. The best the club managed for those
the club won six medals, 2008 four medals, 2009 eight
years was fifth but the gap was narrowing.
medals and in 2014 it was 14 medals. At the 2018 Australian
After the 2015 masters States, Niall Warren pledged to round up some troops and a three-year plan was established to win the State point score. Anyone from age 30 can compete
While areas of strength have changed throughout the decades, one thing that has remained fairly constant for
the club could hold up, the better – it didn’t matter if they were
North Cottesloe’s athletes is the importance of competing
masters titles. It would all help with publicity and sponsors. But
away from home – of touring as a team. Be it to country
at North Cottesloe, masters was not its own category and had
carnivals up and down the coast, or to other states for
never had a brand, so Niall said it was pretty much just a case
Australian championships and other competitions, touring
of talking it up and giving it more structure so more people
has long been an important part of North Cottesloe’s
would get involved. And then there was over-delivery on
competition culture. The Aussies is of course the pinnacle.
easy and enjoyable experience for everyone who competed.
social side as for the competition. Until the 1970s, teams were small and often travelled to the east coast by train. A large team travelled to Ocean Grove, Victoria, in 1970 and it
of third), with 44 competitors, and the plan was coming
was likely the last time the journey was made by train. It was
together. Unexpectedly in 2017, North Cottesloe won the
a big trip, not just in North Cottesloe numbers – Jack Trail
point score ahead of the Trigg Island juggernaut. The club’s
won the single ski title.
62 masters competitors had achieved the plan ahead of schedule. The point score included results not just from
In 2004 North Cottesloe had two competitors in the masters
surf board riding and pool rescue State championships
State championships. That jumped to 26 in 2007 and 2008
that were held in the winter months. Pool rescue had been
but then it was back down to seven in 2010, followed by 17
a successful hunting ground for medals in recent years
increase in the number of competitors was largely thanks
The Aussies has long been an institution – as much for the
In 2016 North Cottesloe finished fourth (just one point short
the traditional masters State championships but also from
State championships, with a team of 31 competitors. The
point score.
masters anyway. The call was made that the more State titles
tables and chairs and eskies with fruit and drinks, it was an
in 2011. In 2013, North Cottesloe finished fifth at the masters
a whopping 44 medals and finished third on the overall
in masters so many of the club’s senior competitors were
expectations for those who did get involved. With marquees,
Simon Martin wins gold in the ironman at the 1974 Australian championships in Glenelg, South Australia.
masters championships, North Cottesloe’s team of 67 won
with the likes of Nat Benjanuvatra and Alicia Anderson spearheading North Cottesloe’s results, not just in masters events but in open as well.
With the Aussies being held at beaches all over Australia until the mid-1990s, there was often a road trip in addition to the air travel. On many occasions the club managed to borrow a 4WD from a car yard to tow the surf boat and other gear. During the 70s and 80s, teams of up to 40 competitors and supporters would regularly travel to the Aussies. On occasion during this era, the club had Aussies contingents of up to 100. Many were just on holidays and taking advantage of the student discounts the club
to John ‘Lisho’ Lishman, who had recently moved from
North Cottesloe won the masters State championships
managed to wrangle on airfares. At 50 per cent of the
Cottesloe Surf Club. In the absence of any organised
again in 2018 with a team of 84. The club also had a huge
normal fare, it made for a cheap holiday.
322 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
In 1976, through contacts, North Cottesloe chartered a TAA
that protected the fishing boats, the swell reformed for a five-
Everyone remembers their first Aussies or has at least one
plane to Tasmania for the Aussies at Clifton Beach. North
foot shore break. After racing skis in the harbour, Nick Taylor
Aussies story to tell. Champion nipper competitor from the
Cottesloe had a large contingent and got other clubs on
returned to Bancoora to watch the boats and remembers
late 1970s/early 80s, Rob Hodby, went to his first Aussies in
board to fill the plane. The flight was direct from Perth to
watching Goose’s junior crew pass a bottle of scotch around
1984 as a 14-year-old. He had been in four junior State teams
Hobart – something Perth travellers have only been offered
before they went out to race. Nick was actually worried about
by then but described the Aussies at Kurrawa, Queensland,
commercially since 2018. This trip was also remembered for
them. It remains the only time he felt sorry for a boatie.
as a huge event – awe inspiring and overwhelming. In
the complicated carnival logistics. The previous year a cargo ship had struck the Tasman Bridge and the main road south across the Derwent River from Hobart was still out of action. It resulted in a 40km detour to cross the Derwent up-river on an army-installed portable bridge. On the final day of the championships, the long drive from beach to hotel required
There was Kingscliff in northern NSW in 1978. The boat was towed over with a Range Rover the club had borrowed
Jamie Edelman was in three junior State teams during the
in Queensland. The buying yard in Queensland lent the
80s and remains one of North Cottesloe’s most successful
club a couple of Triumph sedans for the duration of the championships. The trip back from the carnival location to the
including Nick Taylor, were told to stay in the car. Needless
Gold Coast on the Sunday was memorable. Thirteen in the
to say, they didn’t stay in the car. The place was “going off”
Range Rover, with the junior boat crew being turfed out and
and Nick witnessed his first “flaming asshole”.
forced to sit in the surf boat for the drive back – on rations with
who was a junior rower, still shudders thinking about that
senior State teams.
from a used-car dealer in Perth to be delivered to a yard
a stop at a pub to get a few roadies. A group of 16-year-olds,
In 1977 it was Bancoora, Victoria. Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander,
subsequent years, Rob went on to represent WA in two
just half a carton of beer for the trip. This Aussies was also the last time the pillow fight was held as an official event.
nipper competitors. Jamie’s first Aussies at Wollongong in 1990 remains one of his favourite surf club memories. Jamie had missed out the previous year because, although he had won several State titles, North Cottesloe didn’t send a team to the Aussies. In 1990, it had again been a small competition group and just four competitors travelled to the Aussies. Jamie, who was still at school and competing as a junior, travelled with Nick Taylor, Rob Hodby and Rob Wall. Jamie
surf. It was the first Aussies he’d rowed at and it remains the
During the 1980s, North Cottesloe’s Aussies numbers
remembers the surf being huge, around 12 foot. There were
biggest seas he’s ever been out in. Only the surf boats stayed
dwindled. Competitor numbers were low anyway and the
broken skis and boards all over the beach, including Jamie’s
at Bancoora, with the rest of the carnival being moved to the
discounted fares were no longer available. It wasn’t until the
ski, which he broke in the under-18 ironman. Jamie reached
harbour. The swell was so big that after breaking on a reef
early 1990s that the club started sending big teams again.
the final of the under-18 surf race but came in on a wave with
Stephen Hopkins and Michael Liggins, finalists in the double ski at the 1995 Australian championships.
Under-16 and under-18 State ironwoman champion Sharlyn Sarac and open female ironwoman champion Jacqui McKenzie also win gold in the open female board rescue, 1996.
2001 Australian beach relay champions Nicole Skelton, Sonja Belle, Renee Winteridge and Annette Margaret.
Chapter 7 North Cottesloe in competition | 323
in NSW and Queensland could drive, which dramatically increased the number of competitors. The ease of getting to the Gold Coast by flying direct to Coolangatta resulted in other interstate contingents also increasing. And above all this, Tourism and Events Queensland did a significant deal with SLSA, which was also supported by the Gold Coast City Council, to pay to have the Aussies there every year. The cash contribution was well in excess of $1m per annum and continues to be so to this day. Kurrawa had it all – accommodation, hospitality venues and shops. Typically, it also had big surf. However, some competitors felt it was a shame to no longer have the opportunity to travel to different beaches each year. North Cottesloe life member Adrian ‘Ridders’ Ridderhof said competing at the Aussies let him see Australia. He went to places he would never otherwise have gone. Travelling the country competing with your mates – some say there was nothing better. Others didn’t know any better, with Kurrawa becoming the only venue at which they ever competed. Certainly the place became familiar. The Ocean Royale at Broadbeach became the club’s Queensland home. The championships were visible from many of the balconies of the 14-storey apartment building. Many North Cottesloe competitors remember lying in bed listening to the roar of the surf wondering just how big it would be for competition the following day. They learnt that it was difficult to appreciate the scale of the surf from high up in an
Double ski partners Will and Tim Bird, strategising, 2001.
apartment building. What looked like a small rolling wave from 10 other competitors and was trampled in the run up the beach. Jamie, now a justice of the High Court of Australia, remembers the week to be nothing short of spectacular. It was not an uncommon story. The Aussies often turned on big, messy surf that chewed up many competitors and a lot of equipment. In 1995 the Aussies moved to Kurrawa, on Queensland’s Gold Coast and stayed there for the next 12 years. While the travel intrigue was diluted, the stories of
324 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
big surf continued. Most stories were entertaining. But three were tragic. There were many arguments for holding the Aussies at the same central beach on the Gold Coast each year. There was plenty of accommodation close to the beach. Set-up costs were reduced – for example, media operations, once in place, could be used each year. The biggest clubs in Australia (on the Gold Coast) didn’t need to travel and those
the 10th storey, was in fact a huge pounding wave once they were down on the beach. And they learnt not to be fooled by beautiful clear mornings with a clean swell. On many occasions it turned into wet, wild and gnarly conditions. Certainly, the second year at Kurrawa showed some of the beach’s wildest conditions. They came courtesy of a cyclone that had travelled down the coast. The masters championships had been held on the Wednesday at North
S
ki paddler Jack Trail is North Cottesloe’s most successful athlete in the club’s 100-year history.
Between 1963 and 1983, Jack won 32 open State titles, including 10 in the single ski. On the national stage, he won 11 open Australian medals for North Cottesloe, including five in the single ski (gold 1970, silver 1971 and 1973, bronze 1968 and 1969). He won his other medals in the double ski, ski relay and taplin relay. Jack won North Cottesloe’s first individual Australian title in 1970 and remains just one of three North Cottesloe competitors to win an Australian individual gold medal in open events, along with Simon Martin (ironman 1973) and Tom Nolan (sprint 2010, flags 2014 and 2015). Jack joined North Cottesloe in 1961. The previous year he had been in the winning Scotch College first XIII crew that won the Head of the River in record time. He likes to point out that it broke the record held by Jerry Knowles’ Scotch College crew. At North Cottesloe, Jack’s rowing experience was called on for a few sessions in the surf boat. However, he quickly realised his passion was leading him in a different direction – surf skis. When Jack started paddling, surf skis were flat bottom craft made out of plywood. They had no rudder and no seat well – just a couple of plastic loops for feet. As skis evolved, hulls were rounded and the decks were shaped to include foot wells and seat wells. They started to be made out of fibreglass and then, eventually, carbon fibre. From the outset, Jack was right into the construction and won numerous single and double titles on skis he had built himself.
Training up to 13 times a week, Jack set a new standard in the commitment to surf sports. But he always had someone to train with. A favourite session was a paddle from Freshwater Bay in Mosman Park, down the river, through the heads and up the coast to North Cottesloe. Fellow North Cottesloe paddlers David Russell, Larry Pullen, Jerry Knowles, Alex McKenzie and Simon Martin were regulars at these training sessions. Still, to this day, Jack, Alex and Simon continue to paddle together three times a week. When Jack won the single ski at the 1970 Australian titles at Ocean Grove, Victoria, he was relieved. He had been knocking on the door for a number of years, regularly making finals. The sweet smell of success was set to continue at the 1971 Aussies at City Beach, WA, where he hit the sand in first place. However, the flags that marked the finish line were still in front of him and a paddler came through from behind on some surging water and Jack was given second place. Jack was not the only one to be upset. One of the marshals also complained that the flags had been set in the wrong position – but to no avail. Jack was given the silver medal. He was, however, recognised as the fastest paddler and selected on the Australian team. It was the first of two Australian teams for Jack. In 1971, the team competed against South Africa in Victoria, Queensland and NSW. In 1972, the team competed against New Zealand in New Zealand.
Jack then focused on paddling kayaks and had no time to train for the surf. However, he still managed to win silver in the single ski at the 1973 Aussies at Burleigh, Queensland, and bronze in the ski relay at the 1974 Aussies at Glenelg, South Australia (with Jerry Knowles and Simon Martin). At the 1975 Australian championships, Jack competed for Sydney surf club Maroubra, winning gold on the double ski (with kayak partner David Heussner) and silver in the ski relay. He had been travelling to Sydney for a period to train with the Australian kayak team. Ultimately, Jack won 11 Australian kayak titles and was selected on the Australian team for the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, where he finished 11th in the K4 1000m. Jack is a legend within North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club. He is also a legend within the Western Australian surf life saving movement, where his determination and success lifted the profile of not just ski paddling, but surf sports as a whole.
It’s a ‘life saving’ body so by its very name it should be a safe environment. But the surf is unpredictable and never consistent, which means there can’t be a one-size-fits-all answer. Are the conditions dangerous or are the practices in place dangerous? The Aussies have not been held at Kurrawa Beach since, but in 2019 are scheduled to return to the north end of the Gold Coast at Broadbeach – in other words, Kurrawa. Most of the stories from Kurrawa are happy ones. They often include huge surf accompanied by huge disappointments, but they’re told with a smile. They also often include postcompetition antics, which are told with a few details left out. Masters competitors Malcolm McCusker and Graham ‘Tuppy’ Lahiff at the 2001 masters Australian championships at Kurrawa, Queensland.
Post-Aussies ‘mad Monday’ fun at Byron Bay, 2004.
Kirra and had resulted in a beach strewn with damaged
competitor in the semi-final of the under-19 ironman event.
the arena where they started the race. In some surf boat heats,
bodies and craft. A spectacular crash involving a Mullaloo
Following his death, all water-based events were cancelled
no crews were qualifying for the next round – either they didn’t
surf boat crew appeared in the news section of The West
that year.
complete the race or they didn’t complete it within the time
Australian the next day, with an appropriate caption and story about how mad surf boat rowers are.
2001 was another year with big surf. Some paddlers were finishing in the northern boat arena – 500 metres away from
Just two years later at the 2012 Aussies, 14-year-old Maroochydore competitor Matthew Barclay drowned during
limit, despite extensions to 12 minutes for the open men and 15 minutes for the open women. Capsized boats were washed up towards Surfers Paradise, about a kilometre north.
Sweep Richard Meadmore, who swept North Cottesloe’s
the under-14 board race. Championship officials decided to
open men’s white crew to a bronze medal that year,
continue with the titles, but all events were moved from the
For some, partying at the Aussies was as important as the
described the surf as massive, as big as he had ever seen.
treacherous Kurrawa Beach to the more placid North Kirra
competition. For a few years, Kurrawa was known for the ‘pig
It was North Cottesloe’s second consecutive Aussies bronze
further south.
pen’. It was a fenced-in drinking area just back from the main
medal in the open male surf boat, with Jack Alliss sweeping the blue crew to the club’s first ever Australian surf boat medal the previous year.
It was North Cottesloe’s best ever Aussies, with the club winning seven medals. North Cottesloe won silver medals in the open male beach sprint (Tom Nolan), open male beach
competition beach and was the go-to place as competitors were knocked out of competition, particularly boaties. It was set up to replace the unofficial ‘boaties conventions’ which took place at a designated venue on the Monday following
Tragically, however, the 1996 Aussies are remembered
relay, open female surf boat, under-23 female surf boat and
for the death of Kurrawa SLSC junior surf boat rower
surf boat relay and bronze medals in the open female 2km
Robert Gatenby. It was the first death at an Australian
beach run (Erika Lori) and open male surf boat. However, the
championships.
medals were won under a dark cloud.
Fourteen years later, in 2010, the Aussies were back
The deaths at the Aussies have had a profound effect on
became an increasingly festering mess of very drunk (mostly
at Kurrawa after three years at Scarborough Beach in
the surf life saving movement. Many people were watching,
male) competitors, many releasing frustration at their early
WA. Under-19 Queenscliffe competitor Saxon Bird died
many with their own kids involved. Surf Life Saving Australia
exit from the competition. It was phased out in the early
after being struck by a ski that had been lost by another
still battles with how to deal with these kinds of tragic events.
2000s after being deemed too unruly.
326 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
the final Sunday of competition. They were mass gatherings of drunken boaties from all over Australia, full of debauchery, and had been getting out of hand. The ‘pig pen’ quickly got out of hand as well. Day-by-day and then hour-by-hour it
Nimbin and Byron Bay were regular destinations on the Monday, with the bus of North Cottesloe competitors often stopping at an op shop in Tugun to find the obligatory attire, including dresses for the guys. 2006 Australian championships, Kurrawa, Queensland.
Many competitors have pig pen stories to tell. At the height of
The North Cottesloe team got to know the broader area
day nearly offered enough sincerity for people to believe he
the pig pen era in the late 90s, ski paddlers Nick Taylor and
around Kurrawa rather well. Be it Billy’s Beach House,
got the black eye from falling down the stairs. Among other
Tim Bird walked into the crazy scene and quickly got amongst
Cocktails and Dreams and Crazy Horse in Surfers Paradise
things, Crazy Horse was the meeting place when all else
the action. From up on Tim’s shoulders, Nick wrestled others
(and most of the pools and spas south to the Ocean Royale),
failed. One night, when he couldn’t get in anywhere else,
off the shoulders of their mates. They were a force amidst the
or Nimbin and Byron Bay over the border in NSW.
Stuart ‘Tubs’ McLaughlin went in and sat at a bar table by
madness, undefeated to the point that no one else would
himself. He finally looked around to find a lone Dave ‘Baz’
challenge them. But it fell to pieces when they fell – Nick
For a number of years, Billy’s was the go-to venue following
breaking his hand and Tim breaking his wrist. Things got ugly
the club’s wind-up dinner. It also became the starting point for
and they were thrown out by security. Despite their broken
the ‘spa-fari’. Cocktails and Dreams is remembered for many
bones, they managed to dig a tunnel under the fence, only to
things but for James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin it was for receiving
Nimbin and Byron Bay were regular destinations on the
be thrown out again as soon as they were back in.
a black eye. His priest outfit for Mad Monday the following
Monday, with the bus of North Cottesloe competitors often
Humphry at another table – and Mark ‘Macca’ McDermott alone at another.
Chapter 7 North Cottesloe in competition | 327
North Cottesloe J crew (Derek Knox, Kim Greville, Dave Porzig, Pete Charles and sweep Jack Alliss) wins third consecutive open male surf boat Australian title, Scarborough Beach, WA, 2008. (www.harvpix.com)
Caption
328 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
stopping at an op shop in Tugun to find the obligatory attire, including dresses for the guys. There are plenty of stories of feeling obliged to appraise some of the local produce in Nimbin, where the friendly townsfolk liked to offer homemade cookies and green-leaf tea on arrival. There are plenty of humorous memories. Travis Sheehy chasing cows through a paddock. Ryan Swan hanging out the bus window wearing a mask and snorkel, riding a kid’s body board. The North Cottesloe touring team walking into a pub and being silent for the 10 minutes they were in there. Or all sitting on the floor in unison.
Australian representatives Kim Greville, Pete Charles, Dave Hunt, Derek Knox, Tom Nolan and Dave Porzig in Durban, South Africa for the International Surf Rescue Challenge, in which Australia won every event.
Competitors showcase just some of the medals they won at the 2017 masters State championships.
I
was lucky to be among the cheering crowds at Kurrawa and Scarborough, urging on North Cottesloe’s J Crew to their four epic victories. Milling around in the packed boat arena were dozens of old rowers from almost every WA club. King’s Cup oarsmen, present and past, were there too, all hoping to see this mountain climbed, to see history made. . . all cheering the J Crew to victory. They were confident crowds too, aware of the formidable presence of the four tall and powerful rowers who – in their white caps, navy rashies and striped bathers – jogged along the beach. At every stride their body language said: ‘We are the ones to beat’. Swept by the vastly experienced Jack Alliss they rowed in the same assertive way, visibly controlling their races. And so we, the lucky ones, watched Australian sporting history being made. Afterwards, when the fourth victory had been confirmed, someone asked me about the J Crew’s place in Australian surf life saving’s century-long history. Many people knew that in the past no crew had won more than three consecutive titles, so the J Crew were unique. But how many crews had come close, that is performed the hat trick of wins? In fact only three had done so before North Cottesloe – Cronulla (1933-35), Ballina-Lismore (1967-69) and Warriewood (1979-81). Equally impressive, but in a different way, was the achievement of North Steyne in the 1920s. Swept by Harold (‘Rastus’) Evans, between 1921 and 1930 they won seven titles, but never more than two in a row.
In the 90 years of competition the open men’s surf boat title has been won by a non-NSW crew on 16 occasions. Ignoring Queensland clubs only Port Lonsdale (Vic), Grange (SA), Trigg Island and North Cottesloe have managed this, so interstate victories are very rare. That is why the J Crew’s feats are beyond what anyone else has accomplished. Then remember that today the number of entries and the level of competition are far higher than 30 years ago when Warriewood won, and the J Crew’s achievement is even greater. Finally, what about the ‘tyranny of distance’ and other factors that the J Crew had to contend with? There has been the constant summer trans-continental travel to compete regularly in the eastern states, plus the various logistical problems needing to be successfully overcome. No top-level crew has travelled further and more frequently to test themselves against the best competition, thereby overcoming the comparative lack of depth at local carnivals. So, how good? That’s easy to answer. The North Cottesloe J Crew are alone on a sporting pinnacle. Their amazing consistency is unique in surf life saving competition. Furthermore, their four victories against such high standard opposition outrank any of the so-called breakthrough sporting achievements in WA’s sporting history – such as the 1961 Australian Rules Interstate Carnival win, or the 1968 Sheffield Shield victory. What the J Crew have done has set new standards of sporting greatness, for all of us to celebrate and admire. Ed Jaggard
T
he Gold Coast ‘spa-fari’ evolved around 1999. When James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin, Matt Hawtin and a few others were kicked out of numerous venues, they started jumping into spas, clothed, on their way back to North Cottesloe’s Kurrawa home, the Ocean Royale. The next night they decided to do as many as they could – nude or clothed. Other clubs eventually got involved. Security guards often made chase down to the beach. And it wasn’t uncommon for dedicated ‘spa-fari’ participants to still be going when the sun was coming up. Chocks and Ben Cole reached 30 one year. It had been too much for Nigel Burrows. When Chocks and Coley reached the park just near the Ocean Royale, Nigel came past in a taxi, nude. He had been left behind and had given up.
When the pool at Billy’s became the starting point, the guys stashed their clothes down at the beach, jumped into the pool together and by the time security could work out how to get to the pool from inside the bar, the guys were long gone. There was the time a group had just reached the Ocean Royale after a hard ‘spafari’ innings and found a guy lying under a car. They snapped into surf lifesaver mode, pulled the guy out from under the car and checked his vitals. The patient awoke to find a bunch of nude guys leaning over him. There’s only one story of serious injury. Tom Flower and Brendan ‘BD’ Downes had reached about 15 when BD skewered himself on a fence spike. He said he was fine but soon started lagging – dizzy and losing a lot of blood. Tom helped him to the Ocean Royale and, with Nick Taylor’s help, put him to bed. Nick remembers what looked like a murder scene the following morning with the huge amount of blood. They took BD down to first-aid at the championships and he was stitched up.
330 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Team for the 2018 Australian championships at Scarborough Beach, WA.
And then there was the pistol incident at the airport. It had been a ‘cowboys and Indians’ Monday pub crawl and when the bus pulled in to Coolangatta Airport to drop Chocks and Macca off, Warwick Michael jumped out of the bus shooting off toy guns. The Australian Federal Police tracked him down and he found himself before a magistrate. Plenty more fun could be had but, after 12 years at Kurrawa, the location was becoming stale and there was a groundswell of support to move the event around. The problem for SLSA was that no one else would put up the same sort of money as Tourism and Events Queensland. Then along came Tourism WA’s Eventscorp, which paid to bring the championships to Scarborough Beach for three years from 2007. Having the Aussies at home certainly changed the experience for North Cottesloe competitors. There were the positives of not having to transport equipment and pay for flights and accommodation. But many agree that not travelling and staying together as a team diluted the club/
team spirit. Conversely, it gave Gold Coast competitors an opportunity to experience the Aussies away from home. It was summed up by Australian ironman champion Shannon Eckstein who said it was fantastic to travel with his club team for the first time. As for the WA surf life saving movement, having the Aussies at Scarborough for three years was a huge highlight. It lifted the profile of surf sports and with that came a rise in membership, competition and general growth in the movement. People wanted to be part of it. WA has held the titles twice since (2014 and 2018), with relatively declining numbers on each of those years. The quality of competition hasn’t decreased, but the quantity has. Notwithstanding, the 2018 Aussies at Scarborough was universally acclaimed for the venue, the excellent surf and the organisation of the event. There is now a general view in SLSA that the trip back to Perth in 2022 will be very successful.
2KM BEACH RUN
T
he 2km beach run is one of the newest surf sports events. Since being introduced at the Australian championships in 2005 and included on the WA State program in 2006, North Cottesloe has had consistent success at a State level and some standout success at a national level. North Cottesloe has won at least one medal in the 2km event at every State championships since 2006. The majority of the club’s State medals have been won in underage events, from under-14 through to under-19. In 2010, a hat-trick in the under-19 female event contributed to what was the club’s biggest haul of 2km medals at a State championships – seven. The next best was six in 2017.
Chapter
It would take seven years for the club to win a medal at the Australian championships, with Erika Lori winning silver in 2012. Since then, the club has won at least one medal every year except for 2015. In North Cottesloe’s inaugural 2km season of 2005/06, a small group of runners trained and competed under the watchful eyes of Pete Steele and Chris Price. It was largely thanks to Daniel Pilsneniks, who had been one of the main initiators of the 2km beach running group. Daniel had joined the club in 2001 and, after five years of heavy involvement in education, he was keen to compete at the Aussies. With so many accomplished athletes at the club, Daniel found it difficult to find a niche where he could be competitive. He heard about the 2km soft sand event and, knowing he wasn’t too bad at distance running, hoped it was something he could be competitive at. Club member and prominent local physiotherapist, Pete Steele, had done a lot of distance running and offered to provide some training tips.
Chapter 7.1 2km Beach Run | 331
obviously worked because the following year, 2009, Liz became the club’s first 2km State champion, winning gold in the open female race. North Cottesloe also took out the first two places in the under-17 female race, with Kath Dawes winning gold and Mel Smith silver. Amy Banks won silver in the under-15 female event and James Woods became the club’s first male 2km State champion, winning gold in the under-19 race. Liz went on to win silver at the 2010 State championships and bronze in 2011. Liz competed at one Aussies during this period, finishing 11th. She discovered the Queensland sand made for a more difficult run. In 2018, Liz won gold at the masters States in the 30-34 years age group. In 2010, Sandra Samarin won bronze behind Liz in the open female race and North Cottesloe managed to take out the top three places in the under-19 female race. Jemma Ford won gold, Mel Smith silver and Maddy Shellabear bronze. Louis LeMessurier won gold in the under-15 male race. The club also won its first open male 2km medal, with Chris Syme taking bronze. It would be another five years before the club won another medal in the open male division. In 2011, in addition to Liz Lang’s bronze in the open female race, North Cottesloe also won bronze medals in the Jo Clucas, Jess Reynolds, Eliza Rakich, Maddy Shellabear, Olivia Marsh, Christie Lori and Erica Lori, 2014.
under-17 male (Evan Ferguson), under-17 female (Hannah
Subsequently, a small group became interested and started
2006. She backed it up with silver in the under-17 race the
went on to win bronze in the under-17s the following year,
training. North Cottesloe to the Cottesloe groyne and back,
following year.
behind North Cottesloe’s Olivia Marsh, who won gold. Elliott
then up to the Grant Street rocks and back, became the regular 2km training course.
At the 2008 State championships the club won three medals in the 2km beach run. Jemma’s brother Michael won silver in
Daniel achieved his goal of competing at the Aussies in 2006
the under-19 male race, with David Bryant taking bronze. Liz
in what he remembers as a very tough competition. Daniel
Lang became the club’s first open 2km medallist, winning
had got the ball rolling but it would be another decade before
silver in the open female event.
the club had a consistent sizeable squad training for the 2km.
Crute) and under-15 female (Nicola Ferguson) events. Nicola
Goldstone won silver in the under-17 male race. In the open female race, Erika Lori won silver and Georgie Monro bronze. Erika backed up her State silver medal with bronze at the 2012 Aussies on the Gold Coast, becoming North Cottesloe’s first Australian medallist in the 2km beach run. It was Erika’s first season with the club and she certainly hit the sand
By now the training group had all but faded away. With
running. In the absence of a 2km squad at the time, Erika
Jemma Ford was the first to win a State 2km medal for North
no consistent group to train with, Liz trained on her own,
credited the Monday, Wednesday and Friday night fitness
Cottesloe, winning silver in the under-15 female race in
or sometimes with a couple of the boys. Self-motivation
classes, run by Mark Familton and Guy Moritz, for training
332 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
2017 State championships.
her well for beach running. She had been involved in surf life
fitness to a point that she could be competitive in the 2km
cyclones played havoc with the timetable and at midday
saving when she was younger and when she was introduced
beach run.
on Friday, the call came that the race was in two hours.
to the fitness classes that season she was reminded how great the surf life saving community was. She enjoyed the people and place so much that she became a member and started competing. Erika had always liked running longer distances so was glad the competition program now included something longer than a sprint. Erika went on to win State titles in 2013 and 2014 and bronze at the 2014 Aussies at Scarborough. At the 2015 State championships, Erika won silver. Erika remains the club’s most decorated 2km athlete.
Olivia Marsh was also achieving great success which, ultimately, spanned two age groups and into open. In 2013, she won a second consecutive under-17 State title. In 2014, she won gold in the under-19 race and backed it up with
Emily didn’t let the last-minute change get to her. She just got down to the beach, ran and won. It was a fantastic performance by Emily, who had been training for both the 2km beach run and surf boats .
silver at Aussies. Then in 2016 and 2017, Olivia won silver in
In 2018, Sophie Hogan won gold in the under-19 female
the open female event at States.
race at the State championships followed by gold at the
Olivia’s Australian medal was the first of four medals for North Cottesloe in the under-19 female event at the Australian championships. Emily Wray won bronze in 2016
Aussies at Scarborough. Sophie had barely missed training or a carnival all season. State and Australian titles were the reward for her consistency. However, there was no time for Sophie to celebrate her Australian title as she had to sprint
Meanwhile in 2013, Jo Clucas won the club’s second Aussie
on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. The following year, after
medal, with bronze in the open female event at North
taking out the State title, she won gold at the 2017 Australian
Kirra, Queensland. Like Erika, Jo also credited the Monday,
championships at Queensland’s Kirra Beach. Emily had been
Meanwhile, in 2017 Jaxon Hayden became North Cottesloe’s
Wednesday and Friday night fitness classes for building her
prepared to race on the Saturday of the Aussies. However,
first male to win an Australian medal in the 2km beach run.
off to an exam.
Chapter 7.1 2km Beach Run | 333
After winning gold in the under-14 race at States, he won silver at Aussies. In 2018, Bec Griffin and Zack Bowles came close to the medals at the Aussies, finishing fourth in the open female and under-19 male respectively. Bec had won bronze at the 2018 States and Zack had finished fourth. Other State medallists during the past five years were Janet Ferguson (silver in the open female in 2013), Zac Vinten (bronze in the under-19 male in 2013), Christie Lori (bronze in the open female in 2014), Lockie Cooke (silver in the open male in 2015 and bronze in 2017), Tim Andrew (silver in the under-17 male in 2015), Eliza Rakich (bronze in the under-19 female in 2016), Mathilda Lipscombe (bronze in the open female in 2017) and Matilda Morfesse (bronze in the under-19 female in 2017). While there has been some great success since the 2km was introduced, it wasn’t until the past couple of years that North Cottesloe has become a hub for 2km beach running. A regular training squad finally got going around 2012, thanks to the involvement of new masters competitors Paul Robinson and Gunnar Vikingur. Paul and Gunnar were associate members of the club when Brian Sierakowski and Chris Shellabear suggested they could achieve good results in the 2km beach run as masters competitors. In Paul’s words, he was urged to “get off his corporate arse and do some competing”.
Fluro fun, 2017.
Not only did Paul and Gunnar take the challenge to do their
2012 Aussies and then started competing herself. Pete Wood
When Lockie Cooke took on the role of captain in 2015, it was
bronze medallion so they could become active members
had been the club’s first official 2km beach run captain in
still only a small group of up to five runners, but with Olivia
and start competing, they cajoled others into joining in. At
season 2012/13, followed by Bec Shellabear the following
Marsh as his co-captain they really started pulling people
that stage, there was no formal 2km running squad so they
season. Christie then took on the role for a season until she
together. They got the squad training twice a week from
formed a training group and took on the job of coaching. It
had her first baby. A highlight for Christie was sharing the dias
October and momentum started to build. The squad gained
was an inspiring, albeit small, group of passionate runners.
with her sister Erika at the 2014 State championships. Erika
some great talent in new regulars including Dave Kordic, who
When Erika, and then her sister Christie, subsequently got
won gold and Christie won bronze.
had been competing in 2km for many years, Fran Endersby,
involved, more young runners were drawn to the group.
As for Paul, he won gold in the 55-59 years age group at
Claire Jordan, Sam Rowe, Patrick Hazard and Laura O’Brien.
Like her sister, Christie had also been involved in the evening
the masters States in 2014 and 2015 and gold in the masters
The following season, training started in September and
fitness classes. Christie had watched Erika win bronze at the
Aussies in 2014.
was upped to three sessions a week. The inclusion of a
334 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
sound system not only picked up the tempo, but also participation. Lockie credited the leadership of Fran, Claire and Laura for creating an inclusive culture and fun attitude. Others credited Lockie for pulling in the numbers and boosting the energy of the squad with his ‘super frothy vibes’. Dave, Sam, Patrick and Andris Blankenburgs were also key drivers of the squad. The 2km squad became a great introduction to training and competing for clubbies who were perhaps scared of the surf, or felt intimidated by some of the other surf sports disciplines – any one can run. And not only did the training sessions cater for all abilities, they offered a great social aspect and became a great source of camaraderie. Additionally, the sessions were short, high-intensity and low impact. Typically, sand running has low injuries if people are introduced to the training sessions in a measured, steady way. Lockie’s ‘super frothy vibes’ didn’t extend to the administration side of things so, during 2016/17, Fran took on the administration. She helped round up the troops for racing and coordinated entries so the club had numbers on the sand for carnivals. By the end of the season, more than 50 people were turning up to some sessions and at the 2017
Maddy Shellabear, Claire Jordan, Fran Endersby and Sophie Flynn on the start line at the country carnival in Albany, 2017.
State championships, North Cottesloe had 32 competitors race in the 2km beach run. When the 2016/17 surf season finished, many members of the squad were training for other longer running events so the squad kept training over winter. Sessions became more focused and structured and running the Cottesloe hills and ovals helped boost interest from runners who weren’t too keen on soft sand. However, they found a love for the squad and remained there once training moved back to the beach. In season 2017/18, the squad boasted a minimum of 20 runners per session, with a core group of 12 to 15 each session. Lockie had moved to the east coast to pursue his career and Fran and Dave Kordic took on the captaincy together. Along with Claire, they remained the key drivers of
Clare O’Connor and 2018 Australian under-19 female 2km beach run champion Sophie Hogan, 2018.
2017 State under-14 male 2km beach run champion and Australian silver medallist Jaxon Hayden, 2017.
Chapter 7.1 2km Beach Run | 335
the squad. Fran’s enthusiasm for life, the club and 2km was infectious and Claire’s session planning kept the squad on track, motivated and together. Meanwhile, Patrick Hazard played an important role keeping the front group motivated with his quick pace. The season also marked the arrival of the first official merchandise for the 2km squad. PROmotion physiotherapy, owned by club member Graeme ‘Graz’ Teasdale, assisted with sponsorship to kit the runners out in matching ‘2km Turbo’ training and race singlets. At the end of the season, North Cottesloe boasted a team of 35 2km competitors at the 2018 State championships. Thirteen raced at the masters Aussies, two at the youth (under-15) Aussies and 17 at the senior Aussies.
2km competitors, 2018.
336 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Tom Nolan dives to snatch his second consecutive gold medal in the open male beach flags at the Australian championships, North Kirra, Queensland, 2015. (www.harvpix.com)
BEACH
N
orth Cottesloe has a strong history in the beach arena at a State level but it wasn’t until the past quarter of a century that the club started achieving success at a national level. It’s been huge success, with the club’s sprinters playing a significant role in putting North Cottesloe on the map. Around Australia, North Cottesloe Surf Club has increasingly become known for its professional and successful beach squad.
Chapter
At the Aussies in 1995, young sprinter Martin Toohey won the club’s first national medal in the beach arena, a bronze in the under-18 male beach flags. It capped off a season of dominance by North Cottesloe locally. At the 1995 State championships, the women won gold in the senior female beach relay (Karen Heagney, Susan Stewart, Kathryn Heaton and Margot Ferguson) for the first time since 1963 and only the second on record. The girls went to the Aussies but, with no female beach relay yet included on the program, they raced against the guys in the open category and finished seventh. The male beach relay team (Nick Rea, Matt Keys, Steve Gibbs and Simon Pratten) won silver at the States and went to the Aussies with high hopes. However, the silver medal slipped from their grasp following a hotly-disputed disqualification for breaking. The men had to wait two more years before winning their first Australian relay medal, a silver, which became the first of nine medals to date (all silver and bronze) in the open male beach relay. At the Aussies in 2001, the North Cottesloe women (Nicole Skelton, Sonja Belle, Renee Winteridge and Annette Margaret) won the club’s first Australian gold medal in 27 years, the club’s first ever gold in the beach arena and the club’s first female Australian title in history. The girls backed it
Chapter 7.2 Beach | 337
up with silver the following year (with Chelsea Frost in place
guided by track coaches who shared the latest techniques
of Annette). Since then, the women have won four more
and strength regimes. They also started travelling east for
Aussie relay medals. That first gold remains North Cottesloe’s
competition, with the Manly and Freshwater Australia Day
only relay gold for men or women.
carnivals becoming a staple on the calendar. The success and organisation attracted other sprinters to the squad and
On many occasions both the male and female teams have
through external coaches and training on the track, there
had the combined talent to win. But success in the beach
was access to athletes otherwise unknown to the North
relay comes down to much more than simply having four
Cottesloe squad.
fast runners. Those four runners all need to be firing at the same time. Then there are the baton changes – a challenge
The first really significant victory was winning the open male
that was highlighted at the Aussies in 2004. Three relay
beach relay (Stinga, Matt ‘Keysey’ Keys, Steve ‘Gimp’ Gibbs and
teams competed. Three dropped batons. Then there’s soft
Wade Jarvis) at the 1996 World Life Saving Championships in
sand versus hard sand, random draws all the way through
Durban, South Africa. The win was made sweeter after huge
to the final, harsh cuts and often some rather dubious judging decisions. On the other hand, a relay team can achieve success in unlikely circumstances. The team may not be made up of
fundraising efforts to get there. Winning a world title was an North Cottesloe takes the first five places in the open male beach sprint at the 2000 State championships, Nick Rea (fourth), Mark Peters (fifth), Steve Gibbs (bronze), Todd Edwards (silver) and Matt Keys (gold).
achievement the men later realised was easier than winning an Australian title. The following year, the men picked up their first Australian medal, with Stinga, Keysey, Gimp and David Cooper winning bronze. It followed a State championship result that
the four fastest runners, but if they gel they can achieve
highlighted the emerging depth in the open ranks – Stinga
something pretty special. This was highlighted at the 2012
(bronze), Keysey and Gimp all made the open sprint final.
Aussies when North Cottesloe won an unexpected silver medal in the male relay (Tom Nolan, Todd Edwards, Sam
At the following two Australian championships the men won
Burke and Steve Choate). Todd is the first to admit that, on
silver in the relay, with Sam ‘Barney’ de Vries in place of David
paper, they should not have finished second compared with
Cooper. Barney was the result of a recruitment drive for top
the other teams.
runners outside the beach arena.
Martin’s bronze in 1995 was the first of North Cottesloe’s 36
Recruitment drive sounds rather formal. In fact, Stinga tapped
Australian medals in the beach arena to date, a tally that
Barney on the shoulder in the post office and asked him to
highlights the consistent depth of the section and towers
join the North Cottesloe squad. The guys knew Barney from
over the surf boat section’s 21 Australian medals.
the track and thought he would be a great person to join the club – not just for his sprinting ability, but for his personality.
The path to such consistent success started in the early
He wouldn’t be someone who just turned up for the big
90s. When Nick ‘Stinga’ Rea took on the roles of captain
competitions without getting involved in club life. Gimp was a
and coach in his second season at the club, he quickly
bronze instructor at the time and was putting a group of girls
realised he was unable to do both roles well. The club
through their course before the January cut off. Barney was
supported Stinga’s push for funding for an external coach
added to the group but struggled to get to the first couple of
and the scene was pretty much set. Although the coaches were hit and miss, the structure and professionalism of the sprint group grew from there. The sprinters became semielite level athletes, training up to eight sessions a week,
338 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Beach relay bronze medallists Todd Edwards, Matt Keys, Nick Rea and Steve Gibbs and gold medallists Nicole Skelton, Sonja Belle, Renee Winteridge and Annette Margaret, 2001 Australian championships at Kurrawa, Queensland.
sessions. When he finally turned up and met his class, Barney suddenly became a very enthusiastic member of the group.
party he met sprinter Stacey Ellwood who was really friendly and encouraged him to join sprint training. Gimp turned up to the next session and realised he was ok at it. As for Stacey, Gimp reckons she didn’t show up to a single session in the nine years he sprinted at North Cottesloe. Keysey, who was actually a successful pool swimmer, had joined North Cottesloe in 1993 with a handful of fellow swimmers because they needed a gym. Keysey had been keen to join City of Perth as it was a more convenient location, but the others were keen on North Cottesloe. Once he got down to the club Keysey found he really wanted to be involved. However, the swimming events were too long and no one knew how to do the belt race so Pete Wall convinced him to try beach sprinting. Keysey’s first training session at Allen Park was only 40 minutes long, with a lot of sitting around, so it suited him better. It was a professional outfit on the track that won silver at the 1998 world championships in New Zealand. Off the track they were a bit of a motley crew, namely for the efforts of their team manager Craig ‘Fairy’ Fairhall. Fairy not only took hours to find a car in Auckland, but proceeded to hand out the sponsor clothing (tracksuit and speedos), which was clearly just surplus stock. Determined to show the clothing was ok, Fairy put on some tracksuit pants that were way too Sonja Belle, Tegan Maffescioni, Anna Ek and Lucy Chaffer battle it out in beach flags at the 2006 State championships.
The approach of sourcing runners outside the club had
outstanding individual sprint performances from Gimp
raised some eyebrows, but the sprint squad believed it
(finalist at worlds) and Keysey (finalist at Aussies).
needed to be considered in light of its competition goals
tight, splitting them from front to back when he bent over. He bettered this on one of the competition days. While driving home and pulling in for some fuel he managed to clip one of the bowsers. After that trip Fairy wasn’t seen again for years.
Gimp had joined North Cottesloe in 1994 at the suggestion
At the State championships the following year, Stinga won
of his university friend Jamie Edelman – a long-time North
gold in the sprint and Keysey won silver. North Cottesloe
to maintain the club’s culture, but believed sourcing from
Cottesloe water competitor. Gimp had wanted to get into
displaced Mullaloo as the dominant team, winning gold in
outside was occasionally necessary to lift and renew the
kayaking and Jamie convinced him to join North Cottesloe
the relay. With a second relay team also running in the men’s
team’s performance. With silver in the men’s relay at both
and paddle surf skis. After buying a yellow and purple surf ski
final the call was made that if the squad kept training hard
Aussies and worlds in 1998, it could be said the approach
from champion ironman Stephen Hopkins, Gimp realised it
the men would win two medals in the relay before too long.
was vindicated. The relay success was backed up by
was really hard to paddle a ski. At his first president’s cocktail
However, it wouldn’t be until 2004 that they achieved this.
– to win world and national titles. As sprint captain, Stinga recognised that developing talent from within was essential
Chapter 7.2 Beach | 339
The men went to the 1999 Aussies aiming to go one up on
Nicole led the way with silver at States, bronze at the Aussies
the previous year’s result and bring home the elusive gold.
and fifth at the worlds in the open female sprint. The men’s
But it wasn’t to be. Running the last leg, Keysey managed to
relay won gold at States but couldn’t quite get it together on
hold onto second place despite his hamstring giving way at
the bigger stages, letting opportunities go begging at the
the 50-metre mark. With Stinga running the carnival of his
Aussies and the worlds. A spectacular sprint final at the 2000
life to take out bronze in the sprint, it went down in history as
State championships saw five North Cottesloe competitors
the first Aussies at which North Cottesloe won more than one
line up against three Mullaloo competitors. In a display of
medal in the beach arena.
total dominance, North Cottesloe picked up the first five
Fast forward to today and there have been numerous Australian championships at which North Cottesloe beach athletes have won more than one medal, including five medals in 2010 and 2014. By the end of the 90s, the North Cottesloe sprinters had been training at the track for a number of years, learning more than just running techniques. When a long-haired Keysey made the final at the State championships Fun times for Steve Choate, Todd Edwards, Travis Sheehy and Sam de Vries, beach relay bronze medallists at the 2006 Australian championships at Kurrawa, Queensland.
he decided to treat the beach crowd to some track showmanship during the pre-race announcements. As the commentator introduced him, Keysey exploded out of the blocks in a practice start. With his shirt off and long hair flowing, Keysey was set for a huge cheer from the crowd –
the open belt race which saw him subsequently named ‘Amphibian’ – followed by Todd, Gimp, Stinga and Mark Peters for the clean sweep. Having been put in the B relay team that year, Keysey and Todd certainly gave the selectors a hard time after the result. Nearly two decades later Todd points out that they were in the B team because he didn’t – and still doesn’t – train hard enough and Keysey only trained in sandals. Todd continued his good form at the 2000 States to win gold in beach flags. At both the Aussies and worlds, Todd just missed out on finals, confirming a top-10 national ranking. Todd had moved to North Cottesloe that season from
pants dropped, became tangled around his legs and over he
Cottesloe where he had already won a swag of State and
went. It wasn’t quite the explosive perfection he was after but
national sprint, flag and relay medals as an underage
he got a great reaction from the crowd – even if it was more
competitor, including four individual Australian medals. He
laughter than the cheer he was hoping for.
had also won bronze and gold in the open male beach flags
1999/2000 season with both novice and experienced sprinters joining, including an unprecedented number of transfers from other clubs. Nicole Skelton, Mark Peters and Todd Edwards added a wealth of talent, experience and numerous national surf medals. While Keysey decided to concentrate on pool swimming for the Olympic year, stalwarts Gimp and Stinga stuck it out for another year in the hope of achieving something great with all the new talent. It
340 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
took his second gold at the championships – the first was
until his thumb got caught in his button-up track pants. His
The makeup of the squad underwent a change in the
The beach gang, 2008.
places, with Mullaloo left to pick up the scraps. Keysey
resulted in a successful season.
at the previous two State championships. Todd has had a long and illustrious career at North Cottesloe, winning 11 State medals in the open male beach flags (most recently bronze in 2014) and bronze in the open male flags at the world championships in 2008. He has also been a key member of the men’s relay team during this time, winning nine State medals (most recently gold in 2015), seven Australian medals (most recently silver in 2012) and two world championships medals.
who had moved the previous season from City of Perth. It
Then at the Aussies, the girls were beaten into silver
was also thanks to a lot of persuasion from Gimp as beach
by about 30cm. It followed outstanding performances by
captain and the opportunity to train with athletes more their
Sonja and Nicole who both made the sprint final – a first
own age – training was scheduled around work hours rather
for North Cottesloe.
than school hours.
Travis Sheehy takes a successful dive at the 2008 State championships.
Sonja was no stranger to the Australian championships dias,
Under the watchful eye of Lee Derby, the girls trained
having won a medal in the women’s relay every year since
strongly and won every relay event for the domestic season.
it was included on the program in 1996. But to win gold had
Sonja, Renee and Annette combined with Nicole for a
been a dream come true for her. However, it wasn’t until the
convincing win at States, followed by the historic gold medal
girls attempted to defend their title the following year and
at the Aussies. Individually, the strength of this team showed
finished with silver, that Sonja really appreciated the moment
at States with all four girls making the sprint final and finishing
of standing on the dias and being presented with a gold
second (Nicole), third (Sonja), fifth (Renee) and sixth (Annette).
medal. And then it wasn’t until 2003 when she came home
Sonja backed it up with bronze in flags at States.
from an Aussies for the first time without a medal that she
After a frustrating season of injuries and other commitments,
realised just how hard it was to win one, let alone a gold.
the men (Stinga, Gimp, Todd and Dave Wood) narrowly By now, funding and sponsorship were starting to play an important role in the success of the North Cottesloe beach squad. Funding through the management committee and sponsorship from the Redrock Hotel not only enabled the team to compete at world championships and the highlycompetitive Freshwater and Manly mid-season carnivals, but to also take a team manager/physiotherapist to the Aussies. Champion City of Perth beach competitor Brett Slocombe provided great advice and support to the team and certainly played a role in Nicole winning North Cottesloe’s only national medal that season.
Sonja’s story of season 2005/06 sums it up. Julie Choate
missed gold at States. With Keysey back in the team for the
had transferred from Cottesloe, Tegan Maffescioni had
Aussies (in place of Dave), they managed to step it up a gear.
progressed as a junior and was running strongly in the open
Inspired by watching the girls win gold, the men ran their way
division and they had recruited a national junior sprinter
The historic season of 2000/01 kicked off with North Cottesloe gaining some quality recruits including Sonja Belle, Annette Margaret (both experienced runners from Sorrento SLSC), Renee Winteridge and Paula Charlton, who added a great amount of depth to the female squad. It was the lure of training with athletics track coach Lee Derby and the professionalism and support of the North Cottesloe management committee that influenced Sonja Belle and Annette Margaret to join North Cottesloe and form a potentially winning combination with Nicole Skelton,
At the 2002 States, the women again made up four of the
to a bronze, making it four medals in five years for the men’s relay. The following year, 2002, the men again won silver at the States (Stinga, Gimp, Barney and Travis Sheehy) and in the sprint, Stinga won silver and Gimp bronze. At the Aussies, Stinga finished fifth in the men’s sprint final.
from Sweden, Anna Ek, to take up surf life saving while she was working in Perth as a nanny. The team dominated the beach arena, winning gold at the State championships, silver at the world championships and achieving results that almost predicted a repeat of the 2000/01 efforts. They
Travis had moved to North Cottesloe that season from
had a clear win in their semi-final at the Aussies, but were
Fremantle Surf Club where he had competed as a young
disqualified on one of their changes. Despite the technology
surf boat rower and then as an open beach sprinter. Travis
that could have been available (but wasn’t used), in the
had a strong social connection with the North Cottesloe guys
blink of an eye (literally) their Australian championships was
and it didn’t take much for them to convince him to move up
over. Their efforts to protest – based on the subjectivity of
the beach to their club. Travis’ first president’s cocktail party
the disqualification – failed and they were not allowed to
confirmed he had made a good decision. By the following
continue into the final. Sonja remembers being absolutely
season, Travis was sprint captain.
devastated. Powerless, angry, deflated, sick, are all words she used to describe the day.
eight finalists in the sprint. Sonja pipped Nicole on the line
With some strong runners leaving the squad after 2002, the
and Renee and Chelsea Frost finished sixth and seventh
following season was looking a little shaky. Steve and Renee
respectively. The four of them combined to win the relay by
Gibbs (Winteridge) headed overseas and Nicole Walsh
more than 20 metres, while the B relay team finished fifth.
(Skelton) was starting a family. But with some newcomers
Chapter 7.2 Beach | 341
Steve Choate on his way to a silver medal in the open male beach relay with Todd Edwards, Tom Nolan and Harold Walden at the 2010 Australian championships at Kurrawa, Queensland.
Beach relay silver medallists Harold Walden, Steve Choate, Tom Nolan and Todd Edwards and bronze medallists Tegan Maffescioni, Chelsea Frost, Julie Choate and Katherine Bennett with Mark Nolan, 2010 Australian championships.
and solid training, the season proved to be a success,
Second-year runner Pete Willing was refused entry to his
Cottesloe won gold and silver, with the B team (Stinga,
including Sonja being selected in the State team for the
events with organisers claiming his entry had not been
Barney, Aggs and Matt Irvin) pipping the A team (Todd, Travis,
second year in a row and some strong results in the Manly
received. It was very disappointing, not only for Pete but
Steven ‘Choatey’ Choate and Ben White) on the line. The
and Freshwater carnivals. At the 2003 State championships
the entire running team as he was in great form. The North
Aussies was a story of dropped batons, with one female
the women (Sonja, Kirsty Ashworth, Paula Charlton and
Cottesloe runners handled all the obstacles professionally
and two male relay teams all having the same fate. It was
Bianca Alliss) won silver. Stinga finished with bronze in the
and this was reflected in performance.
also the end of an era for the best runner North Cottesloe
beach sprint despite an obvious disadvantage in his lane and Todd won silver in the flags. The men had two teams in the relay final to finish with gold and a fourth place. The gold-
Todd won gold in the flags and Stinga silver in the open male sprint, while Julie Choate took bronze in the open
had seen up until then, with Stinga moving to London to further his career.
female sprint and Sonja bronze in the flags. North Cottesloe’s
Meanwhile, it was an exciting time with some promising
running strength was demonstrated in the relays. In the
youngsters coming through. Aged 16, Tegan Maffescioni
women’s relay the club won a convincing gold medal
was the junior of the squad but was already an important
Season 2003/04 finished with what the sprinters remember
(Julie, Sonja, Kirsty Ashworth and Tegan Maffescioni) and a
member. Tegan was a member of Scarboro Surf Club
as a very poorly-run State titles that was full of dramas.
fifth place. In the men’s relay, for the first time ever, North
when she met the North Cottesloe sprint squad at the
medal team (Stinga, Todd, Travis and Andrew ‘Aggs’ McLean) went on to win another silver at the Aussies.
342 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
him he was in the team and should step up his training. Over two days of relay racing, 150 teams were whittled down to a final in which the North Cottesloe boys won bronze. Todd finished fifth in the final of the beach flags. Graeme ‘Graz’ Teasdale, who paid his own way to be the team physiotherapist, was kept busy. While the male sprint team was still away touring Europe, the State team selection trials for 2004/05 had begun. The previous year Sonja and Travis had been in the team. North Cottesloe continued its representation with Julie selected as the open female beach competitor and female team captain. At States that year, Tegan was the standout competitor, winning bronze in the under-17 sprint, bronze in the under-17 relay (with Hilary Carter, Sasha Pol and Lilli Cook) and silver in the open relay (with Julie, Tenneille Trigwell and Kirsty Ashworth). Tegan also made the final of the under-17 flags. Meanwhile, the guys had one of those weekends where nothing went right, getting disqualified in the relay by what they called a very dubious judge’s decision. They travelled to the Aussies with no pressure or expectations but got faster and faster to finish fifth (Todd, Travis, Choatey and Barney). The female relay team had a shock early exit. For a decade now the sprinters had been the most consistent performers in the national arena. Club captain Julie Choate and Chelsea Frost dive for flags at the 2010 Australian championships.
James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin summed it up in his 2005/06 annual report: “The beach sprint section was one of the
track in 2003, noting it was a really professional outfit. North
After competing in their first world championships a decade
Cottesloe needed a fourth runner in the open female relay
earlier, the North Cottesloe sprinters became regular
team so Tegan transferred, did her bronze and that was that.
competitors at the international event which was held every
Aside from a successful couple of seasons in Queensland,
second year in various parts of the world. In September
Tegan has remained a core member of the North Cottesloe
2004 the worlds were to be held in Viareggio, Italy, and
squad through until today. The gold medal in the open relay
the trip was going to mark the return of one of the club’s
that 2003/04 season was the first of six State open relay
best runners. Keysey was finally hanging up his swimming
medals. She has also won 11 individual State medals, three
goggles and returning to the sand to join Todd, Barney and
Travis had taken over as sprint captain in 2002 following two
Australian relay medals and two world championship medals
Travis in the team. Stinga, in London, was set to be reserve.
seasons with Gimp at the helm and Stinga for the previous
for North Cottesloe. She won a further two Australian medals
Less than a month out, Keysey snapped his achilles, which
three seasons. Travis put the 2005/06 season’s success
and one world title with Kurrawa Surf Club.
was a huge blow to the team. The boys called Stinga to tell
down to a number of factors, including the return of some
high performers this season. Under the leadership of Travis Sheehy, both the men and women won a stack of medals at the State, national and world championships. The professionalism and enthusiasm, as well as consistent results (over several seasons), shown by this group of members are something to take note of”.
Chapter 7.2 Beach | 343
Toohey’s more than a decade earlier and only the second on record. Two years later, North Cottesloe started winning consistent medals in the underage categories. The States that year showcased North Cottesloe for its depth in the beach arena. While most clubs struggled to get one relay side together, North Cottesloe had two male and two female teams in the final – and all runners had been considered for spots in the top teams. The female A team of Sonja, Julie, Tegan and Anna won gold, while the B team of Chelsea Frost, Lucy Chaffer, Tenneille Trigwell and Deirdre O’Donoghue finished fifth. The male B team of Ben, Duncan Pugh, James Nolan and Barney finished sixth. The A team of Todd, Choatey, Pete and Travis dropped the baton and finished seventh. They redeemed themselves at the Aussies with another bronze Tom Nolan and Tegan Maffescioni controversially strip to their bathers at the Pyramids in Egypt after the 2010 world championships.
2012 Australian beach relay silver medallists Sam Burke, Todd Edwards, Steve Choate and Tom Nolan, Kurrawa, Queensland.
senior runners with the right attitude and the recruitment of
Two of the best individual performances at the 2006 State
some new members with a wealth of running knowledge.
championships were from two young sprinters who had joined
There was also the excitement of very talented junior runners
the North Cottesloe sprint squad in unusual circumstances.
coming through, putting pressure on the senior runners
Ben Barwood, who won the under-19 male sprint, had been
and injecting enthusiasm into the whole squad. Travis also
found at a team competition at Cottesloe in January. North
credited the club’s coaches for the squad’s consistent
Cottesloe had needed an under-19 male runner and club
performances. Lee Derby was still coaching many of the
captain Chocks had suggested Ben. Travis had asked Chocks if
sprinters on the track, while new member Duncan Pugh had
Ben could run. Chocks didn’t know but said he would definitely
started coaching a few of the older sprinters on the grass
turn up. In his first race and with no training, Ben stumbled
to avoid the hard track at Perry Lakes. Mark Nolan, who had
most of the 90 metres but still finished second.
moved from Fremantle Surf Club in the mid-2000s, used his
Travis convinced him to start training and he was soon a
extensive beach sprint experience to give positive feedback
State champion.
during beach training and carnivals.
medal (with Barney in place of Pete). 2006/07 was a standout season for the North Cottesloe sprinters with representation in an unprecedented seven finals at the Aussies. Tegan finished fifth in the final of the under-19 female sprint and Ben Barwood seventh in the under-19 male sprint (where five of his fellow finalists also made the open final). Todd and Chelsea finished fifth and seventh respectively in flags in what was their first Aussies individual open finals appearance. Todd was credited with fourth because an international competitor placed in front of him. The open women (Tenneille, Julie, Chelsea and Lucy) and under-17 women (Phoebe Power, Jemma Ford, Maddie Adams and Maddy Shellabear) finished eighth. The open men (Travis, Choatey, Duncan and Todd) grabbed another bronze. The following season marked the start of the dominance of
Anna Ek, who won gold in the under-19 female beach sprint
young sprinter Tom Nolan who, at only 18 years of age, was
The 2006 world championships were held in February in
at States and followed up with bronze in the same event at
selected in the Australian team as the open competitor for
Lorne, Victoria. The women’s relay team (Sonja, Julie, Tegan
the Aussies, was a Swedish teenager working in Australia as
the 2007 International Surf Rescue Challenge – a three-test
and Anna Ek) cruised into the final to grab silver. The men
a nanny. She thought she would do the most Australian thing
series in Bondi, Sydney. Across the three tests, Tom finished
(Todd, Choatey, Travis and Pete Willing), after sustaining some
she could and join a surf club. It turned out that she was one
with two firsts and a second in the sprint, a second, third and
injuries in the semi-final, relied on lots of rubbing and strapping
of Sweden’s promising track stars. It was North Cottesloe’s first
fourth in both the flags and the relay and three firsts in the
to run in the final where they managed a very close fourth.
Australian underage medal in the beach arena since Martin
taplin relay.
344 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Tom Nolan takes off in the open male beach sprint at the 2013 Australian championships, North Kirra, Queensland.
Tom had been training with the North Cottesloe squad for
dad Mark has continued to compete and coach. His siblings
sprint), silver in the open flags and bronze in the open relay.
a couple of years before he joined mid-2007. His dad Mark
Will, James and Emily have competed for North Cottesloe,
Another new member, Sam Burke, performed exceptionally
and brothers Will and James had moved from Fremantle
along with cousins Seamus Nolan and Liam Windsor. Even
well winning gold in the under-17 flags and under-19 relay,
the previous season but Tom had remained at Fremantle
Travis is a second cousin.
silver in the under-17 sprint and a bronze in the under-17
because the club had a good relay side and he was reluctant to swap clubs. However, Fremantle didn’t have a strong competition focus and competitors continued to dwindle until Tom was virtually the last competitor left in the beach arena. In fact, he felt like he was virtually the last competitor left in the whole club. Tom had already been training and socialising with North Cottesloe – to the point that some assumed he was a member – so it was an easy move. He
In the 2007/08 season, Tom was selected in the State team as the under-19 competitor and Tegan was selected as the open competitor. It was the first of numerous State teams for both of them over the past decade. Most recently both Tom and Tegan were selected as the open beach competitors to represent WA at the interstate championships in 2017 and 2018. Tom was selected as team captain in 2018.
had already been getting lifts to and from training at Perry
Tom dominated the 2008 Manly and Freshwater carnivals,
Lakes Stadium with Travis. And between Travis, Todd and
winning the under-19 and open sprint and flags at
Sam Burke, this continued well after Tom was old enough to
Freshwater and the under-19 and open flags and the open
get his driver’s licence.
sprint at Manly. North Cottesloe won the trifecta in the open
Tom went on to become the club’s third ever individual Australian champion in open events. His dominance
male flags at Freshwater, with Travis second and Todd third, and Tegan finished fifth in the open sprint at both carnivals.
relay. In the flags arena Julie won silver in the open female event and Todd bronze in the open male. Young competitor Katherine Bennett won bronze in the under-15 sprint. North Cottesloe showed off its depth in the relays with bronze in the under-17 men, gold in the under-19 men and bronze in the open men, which saw the return of stalwart Stinga, who combined with Travis, Tom and Duncan Pugh in one of the closest races seen all carnival. At the 2008 Aussies, North Cottesloe was represented in nine finals and the championships marked the start of consistent success in the underage categories. North Cottesloe had two men’s relays in the final. The A team was just pipped to finish fourth and the B team finished seventh. The open women also fielded two relay teams. The ‘tiger’
continues today after a decade of results that the club has
At the State titles Tom dominated the weekend with four
team of Lucy, Julie, Chelsea and Tegan finished with silver,
never seen before. And it’s been quite the family affair. Tom’s
gold medals (under-19 sprint, flags and relay and open
narrowly missing out on the gold. Sam Burke made two
Chapter 7.2 Beach | 345
finals and turned some heads along the way with a fifth in the under-17 sprint and a seventh in the under-17 flags. Tegan also performed strongly in her first year as an open competitor, making the final of the open sprint where she finished seventh. Tom went into the championships with a lot of talk about him being the favourite for all the events he had entered. And he delivered. Tom won gold in the under-19 beach sprint and beach flags and finished a very close fourth in the open beach sprint. It was an even more impressive feat than what it already sounds. Back then, the under-19 and open programs were run consecutively. Tom completed his under-19 semi-final, walked/ jogged back to the line for the open semi-final, then went straight back for the under-19 final and again straight back for the open final. The programming has since been changed. The 2008/09 season brought with it not only 10 finals appearances at the Aussies but another world championship. The open men’s relay team (Ben Barwood, Choatey, Tom and Todd) won gold at the 2008 world championships in Warnemunde, Germany. Todd won bronze in the beach flags and Tom finished fourth in the sprint. Tom also competed in the international event as a member of the Australian team. He finished third in the sprint, ninth in flags, fifth in the relay and first in the taplin relay. Tom again dominated at the 2009 States, winning the open male beach sprint and flags double. Todd won bronze in the flags and the world champion men’s relay team won silver.
Anna Speirs, Mathilda Lipscombe, Sarah Power and Tegan Maffescioni, bronze medallists in the open female beach relay at the 2014 world championships, France.
Chelsea topped off a great season by winning a bronze in
deserved bronze medal in the under-17 male beach flags. Big
the open female flags. The under-19 male beach relay team
brother Tom, again, had a great carnival, picking up silver in the
of Dale Mitchell, Seamus Nolan, Sam Burke and Will Nolan
open male sprint and a fifth in the flags, with Todd sixth in the
won silver.
flags. The male beach relay team again made the final, finishing
At the 2009 Aussies North Cottesloe had two teams in the final
with a strong fifth. Sam Burke finished seventh in the under-19
of the open female beach relay. Sonja, Chelsea, Julie and Tegan
male flags and Katherine Bennett came home like a bullet
won bronze and the team of Emily Nolan, Lucy Chaffer, Jacqui
train to just be pipped out of a bronze medal in the under-17
Cook and Dee O’Donoghue finished seventh. After two seasons
female sprint final. It was an exciting effort from Katherine who
of bad injuries, Will Nolan finally had some luck and won a well-
had another year of under-17s ahead of her. And with more
346 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
great promise for the future of North Cottesloe’s beach arena, Emily Salih finished sixth in the under-15 female beach flags. Emily was actually an under-14 competitor and it was her first Australian championships. It was a fantastic effort not only for her age, but for the fact she only turned up to training half a dozen times. Tom was selected in his third Australian team to compete in the 2009 International Surf Rescue Challenge in Durban, South Africa. He finished the three-test series with two firsts and a
Relay teams excelled at the State championships at Secret Harbour, winning gold medals in the open male relay (Tom, Todd, Sam and Harold Walden), open female relay (Katherine, Julie, Chelsea and Tegan) and under-19 male relay (Will Nolan, Sam Burke, Liam Windsor and Andy Nicholson) and silver in the under-15 male relay (Matt Bailey, Lachy Andrew, Jack Nasi-Gossage and Andrew Ford). Impressive individual results included Tom winning the open sprint and flags double, with Harold Walden finishing second in the sprint and Todd third in the flags. In the open female flags Chelsea finished a close second and in the open female sprint Tegan finished third. In the under-19 male flags Sam Burke edged out Will Nolan for North Cottesloe to take out the quinella. New runner Matt Bailey won the under-15 sprint and finished second in the under-15 flags. The 2010 Australian championships started with some great results in the masters events. Mark Nolan won the 45-49 years male sprint and Bart Staines finished second in the 30-34 years male flags. It was Mark’s second masters Aussie gold in the sprint and came on the back of medals in the flags the previous two years. By 2018 he had won 10 Australian masters medals across sprints, flags and the beach relay. Bart’s silver was one of four Australian masters medals in flags between 2007 and 2013. Female beach relay medallists (back) Georgie Siciliano, Mathilda Lipscombe, Katherine Bennett, Tegan Maffescioni, Ellie Weber, Jade Bevan, Eleni Tsaknis and (front) Clara Lipscombe, Courtney Preston, Juno Sertorio, Katelyn Preston and Eliza Rakich, 2014 Australian championships at Scarborough Beach, WA.
At the main event in 2010, the club’s representation in finals was upped to 11. However, it was under a gloomy cloud following the death of a young competitor and the
second in both the sprint and flags and three firsts in both the
In 2009/10, Tom and Tegan were again selected in the State
subsequent cancellation of all water events. The beach
relay and taplin relay. A clean sweep in the third test was quite
team, competing in Sydney. Tom won both the sprint and
competitors questioned whether they should be racing
the achievement from the Australian team – which included the
flags in the interstate carnival, as well as the relay and taplin
when everyone else was unable to. However, their events
North Cottesloe J crew – especially because the previous night
relay. He won the sprint at both the Manly and Freshwater
were scheduled so the North Cottesloe beach competitors
the team had been guests at the Super Rugby where the hosts
carnivals and finished first and second respectively in the
turned up to their races. The field was huge, with many late
were extremely hospitable and most of the team went on to the
flags. Tegan finished second in the interstate sprint and fifth
entries from other arenas. The crowd was also huge, with just
nightclub until the wee hours of the morning.
in both the Manly and Freshwater carnivals.
the beach events to focus on.
Chapter 7.2 Beach | 347
Tom won the open male beach sprint. Despite the “strange vibe” of the championships, he got in his groove and actually found it a surprisingly easy win. Tom also finished a very close third in the open flags and teamed with Todd, Choatey and Harold Walden to win silver in the open relay. It was a rare feat – a competitor winning three medals in the beach arena at one Aussies. Sam topped off a great year by finishing second in the under-19 male flags and the open female relay of Katherine, Julie, Chelsea and Tegan again came home with a bronze medal. Julie and Chelsea both made the final of the open female flags, finishing sixth and ninth respectively, while Tegan made the sprint final and finished sixth. Will Nolan overcame another injury to finish seventh in the under-19 sprint and teamed with Sam Burke, Andy Nicholson and Liam Windsor to run fifth in the under-19 relay. Matt Bailey, at his first Australian championships, finished eighth in a very close race in the under-15 male sprint.
Tegan Maffescioni battles for the final flag to take silver at the 2016 State championships.
The 2010/11 season started a little earlier for some with Tom, Sam, Ben and Tegan travelling to Alexandria in Egypt for the
received funding for the trip. Harold was expelled from North
finished the three-test series with a first and two seconds in
2010 world championships. Tegan finished eighth in the open
Cottesloe and banned from SLSA for two years.
the sprint, a second and two thirds in the flags, a first and two
female sprint and Tom was crowned world champion with a win in the open male sprint. As for the male relay, they were short a runner. Harold Walden hadn’t turned up. Harold had been a member of the team that had won gold at the States and silver at the Aussies the previous season. He was a great sprinter. But he just didn’t turn up. And no one could get in touch with him. By the time the competition was starting, the guys had made friends with Fraser Eaton from Queensland. Fraser became Harold. Not only did the team make the final, but was in silver-medal position. Unfortunately – or maybe fortunately – ‘Harold’ dropped the baton, twice. Needless to say, North Cottesloe finished out of the medals – and out of any potential controversy. Meanwhile the real Harold
Tom and Tegan followed the championships with some touring
thirds in the relay and a first in the taplin.
and thought it would be pretty cool to get a photo at the
At the 2011 States, North Cottesloe managed a clean sweep of
pyramids wearing their bathers. They found the most secluded
medals in the open male beach flags with Tom winning gold,
spot, quickly took off their clothes, had a photo and got
Todd silver and Sam bronze. Mullaloo had managed the same
dressed again – all within about 30 seconds. They were pretty
feat in the late-90s/early-2000s but it was a first for North
happy with themselves until security guards grabbed them
Cottesloe. Tom won his fifth consecutive open male beach
and wanted to know why they had been in their underwear.
sprint title, with Sam taking bronze, and the open male relay
The security guards demanded the cameras and deleted the
(Tom, Todd, Ben and Sam) won gold. It was a clean sweep
photos, though Tegan managed to hide her camera. Tegan later realised the security guards didn’t understand the girls were actually wearing bathers, not underwear. Egyptian women typically didn’t wear bathers in public – or underwear.
of gold medals for Tom. Lucy Chaffer, who had just returned from another skeleton season (see story on page 350), won silver in the open female beach flags. Katherine won gold in the under-19 female beach sprint and silver in the flags.
had become famous throughout the entire village. It was a
As for Tom, he then took his good form to New Zealand
In the under-19 male beach flags Andy Nicholson and Will
running joke: “Where’s Harold?” Apparently he had made it
where he competed in the 2011 International Surf Rescue
Nolan finished second and third respectively – with about five
as far as Dubai and then turned back, despite having already
Challenge as a member of his fifth Australian team. He
training sessions between them.
348 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
At the Aussies Katherine showcased her trademark fast finish
with Andy Nicholson and Choatey to finish fourth in the relay.
to win a silver in the under-19 beach sprint. Tom, just two
The open female beach relay (Tegan, Ellie Weber, Anna
months after returning from six months in Sweden, won silver
Speirs and Maddy Smith-Gander) finished sixth and Ellie was
in the sprint after leading for 89.9m of the 90m race. Though
eighth in the under-15 female flags.
this is debatable. Tom and others believe that, according to the rule book, he actually won because he crossed the line chest first while the other competitor set the gates off with his head. It was just one of the many examples of titles being won and lost because of timing gates and why beach committees have fought so hard to get rid of the gates, as detailed later in this section. Tom won silver again the following year, in what was remembered as one of the closest finishes of any race at the 2012 Aussies. Tom, Sam, Todd and Choatey won an unexpected silver in the men’s relay, Katherine finished sixth in the under-19 female sprint and Todd finished eighth in the open male flags. With the beach program squashed from four days into two days following the tragic death of a young competitor, sprint team physiotherapist Graeme ‘Graz’ Teasdale had a big job keeping everyone in one piece. Graz had first provided physio services to the sprint team for the 2004 world championships in Italy when he was still a student. After nearly a decade – rowing surf boats for North Cottesloe, living in Melbourne and travelling – Graz was back as physio for the sprint team at the Aussies in 2012. In more recent years, Graz’s physio services have expanded to the whole club for States and/or Aussies and what started as a love job is now part of the sponsorship
In season 2013/14 Sam Burke took over the captaincy from Todd, who had dedicated seven years to the section, following four years with Travis at the helm. In his first – and what ended up being his only – season as captain, Sam credited Tegan’s tireless work with the younger athletes for single-handedly tripling the size of the squad and giving the club a fantastic new crop of athletes. A season highlight was the strength in the relays at the 2014 Aussies at Scarborough Beach. Not only did the club make it through to the final in every division entered, but medalled in every female relay category from under-15 to open. North Cottesloe was the first club to achieve this feat. Queensland club Currumbin has since also done it.
Todd Edwards, 2016.
tough and draining so Tom just tried to keep his mind on the task. The Japanese competitor racing for Kurrawa was playing a few games including, in Tom’s opinion, deciding
It remains Tegan’s most memorable moment as a sprinter at
to suddenly not know any English when given technical
North Cottesloe. “I had my two nieces in the under-15 team
warnings by officials or corrected in his start position. He was
so it was really special to see them pick up a medal. And
also more physical in the field, which Tom found distracting
then the under-17 girls got one, then the 19s,” Tegan said.
and annoying, though he wasn’t going to give the Kurrawa
“The pressure was then on for me and the open team. I got
competitor the satisfaction of distracting him.
the baton in fifth place on the last change, but there was no way I was going to let us fall short. The moment we won bronze and all the teams came together was super special and it wasn’t just because we had all won a medal, but because of how hard the girls had worked all year.”
Tom was in a good groove. He described it as being “hyper alert and also calm”. Tom continued to turn well, including on the run for gold when he was clear and managed to run around the Kurrawa competitor who tried to push him wide. Those who watched the final from the packed Scarborough
Tom won gold in the open male beach flags. He felt like he
amphitheatre remember it as an exceptional moment. As for
just scraped through to the final, but those watching thought
Tom, he found it very special to win the Australian title in WA
he looked like he was on form and in control the whole
in front of family and many familiar faces. It also made him
way through, while plenty of others looked like they were
just the second competitor in history to hold Australian titles
stumbling. Tom went back to the tent before the final and,
in both flags and sprint. The first competitor to achieve this
feeling so tired, he was just happy to have made the final.
feat was Warren Peters, from NSW’s Ocean Beach SLSC, in
In the final he focused on his reaction speed and turns. He
the 1980s. Warren still competes as a masters competitor
At the 2013 Aussies, Tom finished sixth in the sprint and fifth
was then one of four left, with just one round to go before
and Mark Nolan has beaten him in both sprint and flags in
in the flags, with Todd seventh in the flags. They combined
he would be racing for a medal. Beach flags is mentally
recent years, continuing a rivalry that goes back decades.
package provided by Graz’s physiotheraphy clinic, PROmotion. Tom was the only North Cottesloe beach competitor at the 2012 world championships in Adelaide, where he finished fourth in the sprint and sixth in the flags. Running for Australia in the national teams event, he finished second in the sprint and third in the flags, fifth in the relay and second in the taplin.
Chapter 7.2 Beach | 349
I
n the 2000s, a bunch of adrenalin-fuelled North Cottesloe beach sprinters swapped the sand, surf and sun for the ice, snow and mountains. Fogging up their goggles with
fear, they put their explosive speed to the test on the ice as they launched themselves down the skeleton and bobsled tracks. Of course they attracted plenty of humorous comparisons to the Jamaican bobsledders in the 1993 movie ‘Cool Runnings’. In 2006, the Australian Institute of Sport invited female beach sprinters to take part in a national talent search to identify athletes for its new skeleton program. North Cottesloe beach competitors Lucy Chaffer and Chelsea Frost were among six athletes who were ultimately invited to go to Calgary, Canada, where they tried sliding head first down the ice on a small sled. Lucy remembers hitting a lot of ice walls on the way down but at the bottom when asked if she wanted to do it again it was an easy answer. She likened it to a rollercoaster mixed with a water slide. After just two weeks on the ice they had their first international race. Ranked number one in Australia after subsequent races, Lucy was one of four athletes selected to continue in the development program. She continued to compete in skeleton for eight years. After just missing out on the 2010 Winter Olympics, Lucy went on to record her best season in 2011/12 with numerous top-six finishes, including a second in the world cup at Whistler, Canada, and a highest world ranking of eighth. She was selected for the 2014 Winter
themselves, picking the brain of a former Olympic bobsledder
first heat of the two-man left him concussed and unable to
and taking themselves off to Melbourne for a testing camp,
compete in the four-man.
followed by a stint at an international bobsled school in Innsbruck, Austria. They quickly achieved times that bettered teams with years more experience.
It marked the end of the ice track for all of the North Cottesloe bobsledders. By then they had qualified to compete on the world cup circuit, but they couldn’t afford to keep going or
Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where she finished 14th.
The boys competed in the second-tier American and
had lost motivation to put in the required training. It had been
In 2007, Duncan Pugh, Travis Sheehy, Sam ‘Barney’ de Vries,
European cup circuits. They didn’t have enough points to
an amazing experience for all the guys but there had never
Todd Edwards and Beau Lewis started training for the
compete in the top-tier world cup circuit and couldn’t afford
been much chance of success. The costs involved were huge,
bobsled. Just like the girls with the skeleton, their explosive
the required equipment to get there. Duncan, Travis and Beau
Australia had no track and there was little to no funding.
beach sprint training gave them an edge running on the
competed through until 2010, achieving good results on very
They were constantly being beaten by teams that weren’t
ice in the all-important push start. But, unlike the girls,
average equipment. Ultimately Duncan was selected for the
physically any better than them, but had huge budgets and
there had been no talent identification. The boys drove it
2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. A crash in the
subsequently much better equipment.
Tom backed it up with another gold the following year.
Another season highlight was the open female beach flags
It was in tougher circumstances with the pressure of his
at the State titles in which North Cottesloe finished second
own expectations and also being a target in the field as
(Tegan), fourth (Lucy Chaffer), fifth (Ellie Weber) and sixth
the defending champion. The circumstances got tougher
(Jess Hayes). Tegan won the open female beach sprint,
when Tom was involved in a protest and the final was
which she had been trying to do since she was an under-19
controversially suspended. The final re-started the following
competitor. Tegan went on to win a second consecutive title
day with a rather angry field of competitors. Tom wasn’t
the following year, but was unable to make it three in a row,
popular but he managed to keep his composure in what
finishing with silver in 2018.
was described as an “electric” final. Winning gold proved the
In 2015/16 some youthful enthusiasm boosted the squad
previous year’s win wasn’t a fluke and also that the protest
following the move of Callum Tuffield and Josh Hartley from
was vindicated.
Busselton Surf Club. These boys, along with Steve Vincent
North Cottesloe had a strong presence at the 2014 world
and Matt Lloyd in the under-19 male relay team, didn’t win a
championships in La Grande Motte, France. The female youth (15 to 18 years) relay team won silver, the open female relay team took bronze and Tom won silver in the open male sprint.
medal but sprint captain Todd pointed out that if they turned up to training more regularly their results would go through the roof. Meanwhile, the female under-19 beach relay team called on under-23 boatie Kate Mannolini to help them to a bronze medal at States. Kate went on to win silver in the
After just one season out of the captaincy, Todd came back
under-23 female surf boat at the Aussies on the Sunshine
in 2014/15 and stayed for two seasons before Tom Nolan
Coast, Queensland.
took over in 2016/17. Mark Nolan provided great support to Todd during his second stint as captain, as did Lucy Chaffer, who stepped up to coach. Duncan Pugh had finished as coach at the end of season 2012/13 following four or five years as coach while he was also competing. The 2015/16 season kicked off with a rare event of the first round of the beach series being held at North Cottesloe. Todd was probably the only one on the beach to have previously run a carnival at North Cottesloe but said it was
Tegan was the only North Cottesloe competitor to travel to Noorwijk, the Netherlands, for the 2016 world titles where she finished fifth in the open female sprint and eighth in the flags. In the 2016/17 season, North Cottesloe put more focus into junior surf sports across all disciplines and, thanks to funding from long-time club member and supporter Tim Roberts, employed a surf sports development officer for the first time. In the beach section, Tom, Tegan, Sonja and Lucy embraced the new focus and put much time into coaching and
run very efficiently due to the help from the entire beach
engaging with the juniors and encouraging them to compete
squad and chair of surf sports Jessie O’Mahony. The carnival
in carnivals. When the juniors realised competing could also
was repeated at the home beach the following season.
be fun and social, numbers snowballed. The effort over the
During 2015/16 Tom placed in the top two in sprint and flags across the whole season and was again selected in the State team. Anna Speirs had been away the previous two seasons
season was no small undertaking for the senior athletes but will no doubt pay dividends in later seasons as those juniors come through the ranks.
but returned with some great results early in the season and
By the business end of the season North Cottesloe managed
was selected in the high performance squad.
to field its biggest State championships contingent in several
North Cottesloe open men were a formidable team. They had great success on the beach and were fantastic rivals over many years when City of Perth open men’s team were at our best. They were fast, fair and fun. Brett Slocombe, City of Perth SLSC, WA (Australian and world champion)
North Cottesloe sprint squad was a great bunch of people who got along with everyone. They meant business at the carnival, but liked to socialise when the carnival was over. You always knew you had to be at your best to beat them. What set North Cottesloe apart was similar to us at Mollymook – everyone in their squad got along really well, like a second family. There were no individuals. Everyone was a team and not many other clubs are like that. My standout moment would have to be Nick Rea taking bronze in the 1999 Australian beach sprint final – behind two of the greatest sprinters of all time and in front of three future champions. Glenn Beveridge, Mollymook SLSC, NSW (Australian and world champion)
Chapter 7.2 Beach | 351
enjoyed great support on the beach from the rest of the club as they pushed into the finals, where Tom won silver in the flags and bronze in the sprint. More new faces joined the ranks in the 2017/18 season, continuing the rejuvenation of the beach squad that had started the previous season. Most of these new faces were young, some coming through the club’s surf sports academy. A lengthy winter of long runs, tyre pulls and sand hills had the squad in good form when racing started in November. Solid results throughout the season firmly stamped North Cottesloe as a top club on the coast in the beach arena. The introduction of surf league to the competition calendar not only increased racing opportunities, it provided a great platform from which to embrace the ‘one club’ philosophy, with a team racing format that is usually not experienced outside of representative teams. Surf league also provided fantastic exposure for some of the club’s younger and developing athletes. Tom and Tegan were again selected to pull on the black and gold and represent WA as open competitors at the interstate Jess Gillibrand, Tom Shenton, Tegan Maffescioni, Sam Burke, Georgia Gillibrand, Matt Lloyd (hidden), Tom Nolan, Josh Hartley, Teresa and Mark Nolan and Beck and Steve Gillibrand at Freshwater, NSW, 2018.
championships, while Dominic Banks-Smith was selected in the youth category. Mixing with the best in the country, and helping propel WA to a bronze medal, Tegan came away
years, with relay sides in all age groups except the under-14s. The ‘one club’ philosophy was evident with several of the club’s relay sides drawing club members from other sections – particularly from the 2km squad – to maximise club points. This enabled North Cottesloe to field 10 relay sides in the open and under-19 age groups, which was more than double the next club. In a show of depth, North Cottesloe had five finalists in both the open male and female flags (including Jade Bevan after dislocating her shoulder in the rounds). The 2017 Aussies at Queensland’s North Kirra Beach, was a non-event for most surf sports, with all water events cancelled in the wake of Cyclone Debbie. However,
352 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
following a few lay-days, senior members of the beach squad were fortunate enough to race their full program. Athletes from other disciplines took the opportunity to pull on their white caps in the beach arena, ensuring ‘North Cottesloe’ was regularly called over the PA. The throw-together open male beach relay side of Matt Lloyd, Dominic Banks-Smith, Peter Holliday and Tom ran their way into the final, with under-17s Matt and Dom stepping up and running strongly when it counted. Another highlight was the exclusive North Cottesloe flags event run on the Sunday ‘finals day’ in a competitive, jovial spirit as the rest of the beach arena watched on. As usual the North Cottesloe beach competitors
with a third in the sprint and second in the flags and Tom a second in the flags. Shortly after the interstates, North Cottesloe sent its largest contingent in many years to Sydney for the Manly and Freshwater carnivals over the Australia Day long weekend. At Freshwater the club won the open female (Tegan), open male (Tom) and under-19 male (Matt Lloyd) sprint, as well as the open male (Tom) and under-19 male (Matt) flags. North Cottesloe also took the open male relay (Tom, Matt, Tom Shenton and Josh Hartley). The competition was tougher at Manly the following day but the club managed to produce some strong results.
in the under-15 flags and Lachlan Frankel made the semis in the under-15 sprint, just missing out on the final. In the senior competition, the open females finished fifth in the relay, the open men sixth and the under-17 females also made the final. Matt Lloyd progressed through the largest and strongest under-19 sprint field in memory to make the final and finish sixth and Tegan made the final in the open female sprint. It was just the third year since 2006 that the North Cottesloe beach squad hasn’t brought home a medal from the Aussies. But it’s an exciting time in the beach section, with a strong group of cadets coming through and the continued dedication of the core group of older, experienced athletes. In 2014 there had been a big surge in underage competitors, particularly females and largely thanks to Tegan for bringing them together. But these numbers then dropped off and just two years ago the number of regular Tom Nolan, Josh Hartley, Matt Lloyd and Tom Shenton win silver in the open male beach relay at the 2018 State championships.
Ingrid Ledger, Georgia Gillibrand, Kate Silipo and Lily Wall win bronze in the under-15 female beach relay at the 2018 State championships.
competitors was down to less than 10 athletes, none of them underage. In 2018, North Cottesloe had a squad of up to 30, with about 15 training regularly, and was able to field a team of competitors in almost every event except for
Tegan finished third in the sprint and second in the flags and
Banks-Smith winning the under-17 male sprint, Tegan winning
Tom finished third in the sprint and fourth in the flags. Sam
silver in the open sprint and flags, Tom bronze in the open flags
made the flags final and Matt made the under-19 flags final.
and Todd again showing the young ones how it’s done with
Promising performances from the club’s youth athletes saw
a fifth in the open flags. Lily Mather won silver in the under-14
Jess (under-17s) and Georgia (under-15s) Gillibrand make
female sprint, while the under-15 males finished third (Zaide
finals at both Freshwater and Manly.
Moxham), fourth (Jaxon Hayden) and sixth (Lachlan Frankel) in
The club again had a strong presence at the State titles,
the sprint and Georgia Gillibrand fifth in the under-15 female
fielding relay sides in every division except for under-14 male.
flags. Matt Lloyd won bronze in both the under-19 sprint and
Almost all age groups had multiple teams and the club came
flags, followed by Brayden Frankel with a fourth and sixth.
away with a bunch of medals – gold in the under-15, under-17
Taking advantage of having the Aussies just up the beach at
and under-19 male and under-17 female relays, silver, bronze and sixth in the open male relay and bronze in the under-15 female relay. It is hoped the strong results in the underage events is a sign of future North Cottesloe dominance. Individual results of note among a long list included Dominic
under-14 male individual events. Tom Nolan continues to lead the section but is thankful for his gang of helpers who continue to assist in keeping the veneer of control and organisation over the many moving parts. He describes it as an “all hands in operation” and gives specific thanks to sous-coaches Tom Shenton, Lucy Chaffer and Sonja Belle-Wood for helping with the juniors, his dad Mark for providing advice, technical assistance and being the best team manager on the beach and Todd Edwards for flags and relay guidance and tips.
Trigg and Scarborough, North Cottesloe fielded its largest
North Cottesloe beach squad continues to be known for
Aussies beach contingent in years. The under-15s led the
its strong social side, just as the club is across all sections
way at the youth championships with both the male and
and overall. For many years now, the North Cottesloe squad
female relay sides making their respective finals. Individually,
has also been central in the beach community off the sand.
Kate Silipo and Georgia Gillibrand progressed to semi-finals
In particular, Tom has been playing a strong hand in trying
Chapter 7.2 Beach | 353
Beach squad, 2018.
to improve programming and how events are run at both State and national level. Tom has been on the SLSWA sports advisory committee since 2015 (chair the past couple of years) and, since 2017, he has been on the national surf sports committee as a beach representative. Tom has also been on the Australian Beach Federation committee since its inception in 2011 (chair since 2012). It’s been Tom’s most informal role, yet the one that has had the most impact. The federation started as a bit of a rant page against SLSA and its officials who resisted change. It was a time when national events were run so badly that many athletes were talking of boycotting, in particular in the flags at the 2011 Aussies. Timing gates for the sprint weren’t accurate. There was a high rate of injuries in flags because three competitors were being knocked out at once. The federation evolved into a group forum to advance athlete engagement – for those competitors who believed change was needed in the beach arena.
354 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Engaging with SLSA via this forum has involved years of arguing and negotiating SLSA’s minefield of committees and sub-committees. But it has resulted in improvements in programming, finishing line cameras to replace inaccurate gates, race marshalling and set-up, access to warm-up areas and amenities, competition rule changes, and even change in Aussies locations, such as the move to Trigg for the beach events at the 2018 Aussies at Scarborough. SLSA has gone from making decisions in a vacuum to having receptive officials who are actually keen to engage with the athletes.
The North Cottesloe sprint squad always stood out, especially at Aussies. Along with amazing competitors, they were always such a friendly and high-spirited team. It was always a pleasure to compete along side them. As a member of the Anglesea beach team our open women’s relay team always loved the rivalry we had with such a dominating non-NSW/QLD team. We have shared many podium finishes together and I always love seeing the girls perform so well each year. I remember most recently lining up against my dear friend Tegan Maffescioni in the semifinals of the open flags with one final run through to qualify. She was next to me and broke, sadly being eliminated, but I remember how gracious she was in defeat and still able to hold her head high. Abby Lewtas, Anglesea SLSC, Victoria (Australian and world champion)
Joe Anderson and Nat Benjanuvatra, 2018.
BOARD PADDLING
S
trength in board paddling from North Cottesloe athletes was last seen in the 1990s. From 1992 to 1998, the club’s open male board paddlers won two State titles in the board race, as well as one silver and one bronze medal. In the board relay
they won a silver and two bronze medals, and a gold and silver in the board rescue. From the mid-90s, North Cottesloe’s female paddlers were perhaps even more impressive. From 1995 until 2000, the club’s open female competitors won two gold and four silver medals in the board race, two gold and one silver in the board rescue and two gold and one bronze in the board relay. The bulk of these results came from the club’s iron competitors, who shone in the board arena. From 1992 to 1994, Stephen ‘Hoppy’ Hopkins won the State title in the board race twice and silver once. In 1995 Michael
Chapter
‘Liggo’ Liggins won bronze, while Ben Mercer won silver in the under-18 race. In 1997 North Cottesloe had five finalists in the open board race. North Cottesloe won bronze in the open male board relay in 1995 (Hoppy, Liggo and Sam Knowles) and 1997 (Hoppy, Ben Mercer and Brad Downs) and silver in 1998 with the same team. In the open male board rescue, North Cottesloe won gold in 1996 (Liggo and Pete Wood) and silver in 1997 (Hoppy and Brad Downs). During their years of dominance in the board relay, Hoppy, Ben and Brad trained a lot, made possible by their jobs. Hoppy was a beach inspector at City Beach, where Ben also worked as a lifeguard. With the beach typically very quiet, they managed to train while on duty. One of them would watch the swimming area while the other did a soft sand time trial. Then they would each take their turn in the gym.
Chapter 7.3 Board Paddling | 355
They would do the same with boards. Brad lived nearby and would come and join them for many of the sessions. At the 1998 Australian championships they made the final of the board relay in big, choppy surf conditions. It remains one of the few times a WA club has made a final of the board relay at Aussies. And it was the last time North Cottesloe has made an open board final at the Aussies. In 1995 Jacqui McKenzie won silver in the open female board race at the State championships. The following year young star Sharlyn Sarac, who had already won gold in the under-16 board race, won gold in the open board race. Sharlyn and Jacqui teamed up to win gold in the board rescue and, with Emily Heitmann, won gold in the board relay. Sharlyn went on to win silver in the under-16 female board race at the 1996 Australian championships. It remains North Cottesloe’s only individual board medal at an Australian Championships. At the 1997 State championships, Sharlyn again won the open board race. She also won the under-18 board race and the
Champion board paddler Briohny Callaghan, late 1990s.
Al Nixon, 2000.
events. However, medals in open events remained elusive
Another struggle for the board section at North Cottesloe
for North Cottesloe paddlers.
is the fact that there are three very dominant and well-
open board rescue with Briohny Callaghan, who had recently moved from Cottesloe. The girls won bronze in the board relay with Kate Knowles and the following year they won gold, with Sharon Stacey in the team in place of Sharlyn. Sharon won
established sections of the club – ski paddling, surf boat
bronze in the under-18 female board race and teamed with
The club’s board paddlers have, however, contributed to open
Briohny to win silver in the open board rescue. Meanwhile,
medals in the taplin relay. North Cottesloe won bronze in 2002
Briohny won silver in the open board race, a result she backed
with Al Nixon and James Knowles as the board paddlers,
up for the following two years before moving to the Gold
bronze in 2005 (Al and Tom Flower), gold in 2008 (Matt Johns
Coast to train for the national ironwoman series.
and Mark Finucane), silver in 2014 (Michael Ford and Ben
found momentum over the past couple of decades, it hasn’t
Mercer) and silver in 2018 (Pat Norton and Jeremy Doney).
been sustained.
board paddling was coming to an end and in 2001 the club
Lack of surf at North Cottesloe certainly plays a part in in the
In season 1999/2000, the club employed Greg Tate as board
won its last open board medal, with James Knowles and
club’s lack of strength in the board arena. Board paddling is
paddling coach. Having raced in board finals at the Australian
Al Nixon winning bronze in the open male board rescue.
hard work and that is made harder with the lack of regular
championships and won many State medals in both
Indeed, there wasn’t another board medal at the senior State
surfing waves. As many paddlers will attest to, flat water
boards and skis, Greg brought a wealth of experience and
championships at all until 2007 when Matt Johns won silver
paddling just isn’t fun. But North Cottesloe isn’t alone. WA has
knowledge to the North Cottesloe board squad, which was
in the under-15 male board race and Matt and Kale Pervan
produced only a handful of A-list board paddlers in its history
in need of a boost. At the time, youngsters Jacqui Cook and
won bronze in the under-15 male board rescue. It was the
and North Cottesloe is just a reflection of that on a
Lea ‘Loops’ Ridderhof were the only female board paddlers
first of many medals for Matt and Kale in underage board
smaller scale.
training regularly among the small squad. They had fun
By the turn of the century North Cottesloe’s strength in
356 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
rowing and the beach arena. Crowds and success attract attention and participation, and strength continues to grow in those sections. Meanwhile, when the board section has
training with the boys and loved paddling in the ocean, even when it was particularly messy conditions – they simply wore goggles to keep the water out of their eyes. And they got a great boost from Greg’s coaching. By Greg’s second year as coach, the North Cottesloe board squad doubled in size. However, with results lacking, the club’s management committee decided the funds for board coaching should be cut. Jacqui Cook, who at the 2001 States won silver in the under-19 female board rescue with Paula Charlton, took it upon herself to try and change the decision. She wrote a letter to the club’s management committee suggesting that the board squad funds should not be cut because there were secondary gains to investing in the board team. The board squad was not the most competitive. However, it was full of cadets and was a good way to bridge the gap between nippers and seniors, a transition which had long been a weakness for the club. Jacqui pointed out that with Greg coaching, the board squad was larger than it had been in a few years and was a popular sport for new club members, even if they ended up transitioning to skis or boats. Jacqui’s letter had the desired effect and at budgeting time the decision was made not to cut the funds. Greg was employed for another year and Jacqui was asked to be board captain. Greg ended up coaching through until 2005 and, in hindsight, it was a solid decision as many of the cadets who trained with him during these years are still recognised in 2018 for their competition success and contributions in the club, in particular Cam Dimsey, Michael Ford and Lea ‘Loops’
Stuart Reside and Stuart ‘Tubs’ McLaughlin, 2007.
been ski and board captain in the early 90s, was then back
of the season had been Al’s effort in the taplin relay. Although
as board captain in 2002/03.
North Cottesloe finished out of the medals, Al proved that he could mix it with the best on the coast.
Ridderhof. Michael later became board captain and Loops
During the 2002/03 season, Al Nixon, Tom Flower, Tubs
chair of surf sports.
and Loops were consistently making finals throughout the
Al went on to be board captain for the following two seasons.
The board section had had a dedicated captain since
season in the board race, board relay and board rescue. At
With Al leading by example in his commitment, enthusiasm
season 1995/96. Previously it had been a joint ski and board
the 2003 State titles Al, Tubs and Tom finished fifth in the
and performance, and with Greg as coach, the board squad
captaincy. Sam Knowles, Ben Mercer, James Knowles and
board relay and Loops and Paula Charlton finished fourth in
experienced significant growth and development. In addition
Stuart ‘Tubs’ McLaughlin had all been captains before Jacqui
the board rescue. Al, Tubs and Loops made the final of the
to board sessions, Greg’s training program also included
took on the role for season 2001/02. Nick Taylor, who had
board race, all finishing mid-field. The standout performance
running and swimming. The program ranged in complexity,
Chapter 7.3 Board Paddling | 357
Swan) and 2005 (Al, Tom and Dave Foyster). In the open male board rescue North Cottesloe finished fifth in 2004 (Al and Ryan) and fifth (Al and Bill Kirby) and sixth (Tubs and Stuart Reside) in 2005. Also in 2005, Al made the final of the open male board race, finishing sixth. In 2006 the male board paddlers contributed strongly to the club’s fourth place in the taplin relay. Jacqui made the final of the open female board race in 2004 and 2005, and finished fifth in the board rescue both years, with Paula in 2004 and Sarah Davis in 2005. Meanwhile, the cadets and junior paddlers continued to be outstanding in their commitment to training and competition – no matter how big or rough the seas were – and had many finals appearances. Names of note over these years were Lilli and Louise Cook, Hilary Carter, Cam Dimsey, James Walter, Jemma Ford, Georgie Monro, Phoebe Power, Matt Johns and Kale Pervan. By 2004, North Cottesloe board paddlers were again having a presence at the Australian championships. At the 2004 Aussies, Al and Ryan reached the quarter-final of the open male board rescue. In 2006, under-17 competitor Cam Dimsey was the only one of North Cottesloe’s paddlers to get through the stiff competition and progress to the second round of the board race. Champion ironman Mark ‘Fini’ Finucane, who moved to North Cottesloe from Cottesloe in 2003, had taken up the coaching Michael Ford, Mathilda Lipscombe and Jemma Ford, 2013.
catering for squad members who just wanted to participate, through to competitors who were keen to train up to eight times a week. In addition, the implementation of the club’s first strategic plan in 2003 put a new focus on competition results across all sections. In 2003 and 2004 the board paddlers got the seasons off to a great start with strong participation in the first race of the season – the 5km Swan River Classic Paddle, more commonly known as the ‘Bridge to Bridge’. North Cottesloe
358 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
won a Malibu board in 2003 and cash in 2004 for having the most board paddlers in the event. Over these seasons the squad also had a strong presence at carnivals and State championships, regularly making finals with a few top-five finishes. It was a big step up from previous years where the club struggled to field board teams at some carnivals. The State titles saw North Cottesloe turn up with a large team of competitive board paddlers. The open male board relay finished fourth in both 2004 (Al, Tom and Ryan
With the waves breaking out past the turning cans, none of the North Cottesloe paddling squad had seen anything like it.
Boardriders Maurice Dalle-Nogare, Susannah Wilson, John Lishman and Nat Benjanuvatra, 2013.
I
n 2000, Charlie Liggins won gold in the open male surf board riding at the State championships. It wasn’t until later that decade that North Cottesloe started regularly participating
in surf board riding and achieving success.
male surf board riding and Jeremy Andrew took silver in the
female short board riding in 2014 and gold in the long board
under-15 male surf board riding.
riding in 2017, with Rachel Loughlin taking bronze. In 2018
2012 marked the start of ongoing success for John ‘Lisho’
Mathilda again won gold in the short board.
Lishman in masters long board riding. Competing in the 40-49
In 2017 Joe Anderson won gold the under-19 male surf board
James Woods won back-to-back silver medals in the under-19
years, Lisho won silver in 2012, followed by bronze in 2013 and
riding and Tom Van Beem won bronze in the open male event.
board riding at the 2008 and 2009 Aussies, both held at
gold in 2014 and 2015. In 2018 he won silver in the 50-54 years.
They combined with Charlie Benson and James Simpson to
Scarborough Beach. It was two surf board riding medals for
Meanwhile, in 2014 Nat Benjanuvatra (30-39 years) and Steve
win silver in the open mixed teams event.
North Cottesloe at the 2009 Aussies, with Jemma Ford also
McConkey (50+ years) both won bronze medals in the short
winning silver in the under-19 female event. It followed her
board riding. Stuart ‘Tubs’ McLaughlin won silver in 2014 and
The following year, North Cottesloe won silver in the open
silver in the same event at the 2009 States.
gold in 2015 in the 30-34 years long board riding.
In 2010 Lachy Andrew won silver under-15 male surf board
Susannah Wilson won gold in the open female long board
short board, silver in the open short board and Sam Rowe won
riding. In 2011 Tom Van Beem won gold in the under-17
riding in 2013. Mathilda Lipscombe won gold in the open
silver in the 30-49 male short board.
male board riding teams with Joe Anderson, Sam Rowe and Sam McGovern. Sam McGovern also won gold in the under-19
reins in season 2005/06 and a number of young board paddlers took advantage of his high-performance sessions.
D
uring the late 2000s and early 2010s, North Cottesloe achieved some great board paddling results at the junior State championships, winning numerous State titles. In 2006 George Ford, Kale Pervan and Andrew Witherow won gold in the under-13 board relay and Andrew Ford won gold in the under-11 board race and board rescue (with Charlie Foster). In 2007, Andrew won gold in the under-12 board race and again teamed with Charlie to win the board rescue and, with Lachy Andrew, they won gold in the board relay. This success was on the back of mid-week training sessions in the sea breeze with Cliff and Michael Ford and Saturday iron training with Mark Finucane at Scarborough.
In 2010, Angus Gilbert, Connor O’Sullivan and Elias Grimes won the under-11 board relay and Jeremy Andrew won the under-14 board race. Garry Grimes had taken over as mid-week board coach for the nippers and a new wave of paddlers came through. In 2012, Beau Bevan won the under-11 board race and Michael Paganin won the under-12 board race and teamed with Tom Corrie and Rory O’Sullivan to win gold in the board relay. In 2013, Michael Paganin and Tom Corrie won the under-13 board rescue.
The following season Matt Johns was the standout competitor. In the under-15 board race, Matt placed first at all interclub carnivals, won silver at the 2007 States and finished eighth in the final at the Aussies after wining his semi-final. Matt teamed up with Kale Pervan at several carnivals in the board rescue and with George Ford and Harrison McCleary in board relay events. In 2008, after winning silver in the under-17 board race at States, Matt went on to make the semi-finals at the Aussies. George made the semi-finals of the under-15 event at Aussies. It was a fantastic result by the young paddlers, both paddling in extremely competitive fields of around 180 starters. At the 2009 States, Kale combined his board paddling with a strong swim to win bronze in the under-17 male ironman, while Anna Williams took home silver in the female arena. Matt Johns continued to paddle strongly. After winning silver again in the under-17 board race at the 2009 States, he was disappointed to not make the final at the Aussies. At the 2010 States, Matt was robbed of bronze in the under-19 board final when he got stuck in dead water while others came through from behind, leaving him out of the medals in fourth. Paddlers who made it to the 2010 Aussie titles on the Gold Coast were confronted by a huge swell generated by a cyclone off the coast. With the waves breaking out past the turning cans, none of the North Cottesloe paddling squad had seen anything like it. Despite the challenging conditions, everyone was keen to go out for a wave. Although half of the team did not get to compete following the cancellation of water events, all paddlers gained valuable experience from paddling in the huge surf. Fini’s high-performance training sessions had continued in season 2007/08, with Michael Ford and Mark Anderson
Training, 2016.
360 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
also taking some sessions. The following season Matt
Phyland and Matt Bale worked with Fini to put the board paddlers through their training. Matt Phyland had taken over the captaincy for the 2008/09 season, following two years with Cliff Ford in the role and one year with Peter Hinds as captain. Apart from fun sessions and great coaching on both the river and ocean, another key factor in the growth of the board section over this period had been access to quality equipment, with the club adding 12 new senior boards, 20 new mini-Malibus and three board trailers to the shed. The club also replaced all the nipper foamies with 100 soft-top boards and purchased new nipper racing boards. Michael Ford took on the captaincy in 2009 and led the squad for the next four years. By season 2010/11 it was a fairly young squad,following the departure of a number of senior paddlers. Training continued to include river and ocean sessions, including surf sessions up at Scarborough Beach. Initially challenged by the dumpy conditions typical of Scarborough, most of the squad pushed through and
Board paddlers, 2018.
became comfortable in the conditions. A highlight that season was a rare cyclone swell at North
adapted well, winning silver in the under-19 ironman final and
Cottesloe. Cyclone Bianca produced the best waves North
progressing through to the under-19 board race final where
Cottesloe reef had seen for years with the left, in particular,
he finished a credible sixth. In the open male division Michael
pumping out hollow barrels all morning. Seasoned North
progressed to the final where he finished in the top 10.
Cottesloe reef performers Stuart ‘Tubs’ McLaughlin, James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin, Mark ‘Ando’ Anderson and Michael Ford, as well as young guns Jeremy and Lachy Andrew and
Kale and Mathilda continued to be the most consistent paddlers the following season. At the 2012 State
Andrew Ford, made it a memorable session. It remains one
championships the most notable performances were Kale
of Michael’s best North Cottesloe memories.
and Kris Taylor finishing fifth in the open male board rescue
A new competition format in 2010/11 resulted in more racing opportunities for competitors, with less time sitting
and Kale combining with new recruits James Triplett and Cesare Scalise for sixth in the open board relay.
around on the beach. The standout performer was Mathilda
By the end of season 2012/13, a squad of eight to 10
Lipscombe who took out one of the under-17 female board
paddlers of varying abilities was training consistently and
races in what was her first year as an under-17 competitor.
North Cottesloe’s numbers in open male events at the State
The State titles were held at Scarborough in tricky conditions
championships had again improved. The club was able to
with a consistent wave breaking on the bank. Kale Pervan
field two board relay teams and four board rescue teams.
The surf conditions made racing tricky and there were no standout performances. The best results came from the open male A board team in seventh, Mathilda 10th in the under-19 female board race and Andrew Ford, in his first competition of the season, finishing sixth in the under-19 male board race. The following season, 2013/14, the club made the decision to run the board and swim sections in alignment with a view to encouraging swimmers to compete on boards and vice versa. The goal of getting more competitors in the board section was achieved and, perhaps more importantly, the flow-on from bringing the two sections together created a larger bond across all the sections of the club. The club’s board usage policy now included a lease option and more boards were being made available for both experienced and inexperienced paddlers. New paddler Maurice Dalle-Nogare
Chapter 7.3 Board Paddling | 361
Like all sections of the club, retention of competitors from juniors to seniors has historically been very low. But nippers is where the grass roots for surf racing are formed and the hope is that the nipper board paddlers continue in the club to become senior paddlers. With a shed full of quality boards, there is no shortage of equipment. The battle is finding a group of kids who don’t have a hundred other choices and distractions from consistent, hard work on a board. One of the most recent young stars is Josh Lynn, who at the 2017 State championships won silver in under-17 male board race. In a display of strength across arenas, Josh also won silver in the under-17 rescue tube race, under-17 single ski and under-19 surf teams. At the 2018 senior States the only paddling medal in the board arena went to Pat Norton and Jeremy Doney as board paddlers in the silver-medal-winning taplin team. It was a different story at the masters States with paddlers contributing to the club’s huge medal haul and first placing overall. North Cottesloe had a fantastic showing in all arenas at North Cottesloe 2018 junior athlete of the year Bella Poll competing at the 2018 State championships.
the 2018 masters Aussies at Scarborough, including board.
had taken on the board captaincy in 2013 and remained in the role until Joe Anderson took over in 2016.
rescue, John ‘Lisho’ Lishman gold in the 45-49 board race and
Between them, North Cottesloe board paddlers Amanda
Lisho and Paul Blackbeard gold in the 45-49 board rescue.
Nitschke, Mary-Anne Paton, John Lishman, Lee McGovern,
In season 2015/16, board training was increased to four sessions per week. Upping it from the previous season’s typical two or three sessions provided more of an opportunity for the varying levels of paddlers to build confidence and skills, while also encouraging competitiveness. There was strong participation at the State championships, but it was the masters States that produced the best results for the club with former champions jumping back on the board and finding they still had some great skills. Mark ‘Fini’ Finucane, Sam Knowles and Ben Mercer won gold in the 110+ board relay, Ben Mercer silver and Nat Benjanuvatra bronze in the 35-39 board race, Sam and Jeremy Knowles gold in the 40-44 board
With growing participation in masters events, the 2017 masters
James Triplett and Jenny Ford won four medals.
State championships produced even better results, again with
The masters results from States and Aussies provided
Lisho spearheading the team.
inspiration for the club’s younger paddlers. Board paddling
Lisho had moved from Cottesloe in 2012 and, as well as
is unique to surf life saving. Having a vibrant board squad is
competing across arenas in open and masters events, he
an important part of getting cadets and juniors to have that
started coaching the nipper board squad until 2015. Numbers
identity as surf life saving athletes. North Cottesloe’s focus
at the coaching sessions could be anything from two to 12 and
moving forward is to do just that – create the environment,
he found there was a strong correlation between the strength
promote it, and hopefully they will come. With structured
of the south-westerly wind and lack of boards on the water.
training programs now in place for the paddling squad, from
John Gallagher took over in 2015 and numbers continued
nippers right through to masters, there is plenty of optimism in
to grow.
the board section as the club heads into its second century.
362 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Dave Kordic (driver) and Joel Burke, 2006.
IRBS
I
n the early 1990s North Cottesloe became the last club on the WA coast to get an IRB. However, it wasn’t until season 2006/07 that North Cottesloe became involved in IRB racing. The club continued competing for the next decade, winning one State medal and competing in two Australian Championships. Much credit goes to Dave Kordic for getting North Cottesloe into IRB racing. Dave, who was a member of the team that won the club’s only State medal, was IRB captain from 2006 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2015. However, it was former captain Dan Pilsneniks who had got the ball rolling.
Chapter
Daniel had joined the club in 2001 and saw that, although the club had an IRB, the section was virtually non-existent. IRBs were used for patrolling, bronze classes and requalifications, but there was no hint of racing. Daniel saw IRBs as a great way to get involved in the club and potentially compete for the club. In 2003 he took over as IRB captain. Daniel and Phil Curtis had completed their driver training in fun surf conditions at Scarboro Surf Club during winter. With fresh enthusiasm, they set about building the IRB section. The following winter Daniel took it upon himself to train a group of North Cottesloe IRB drivers who eventually got through their assessment up at Scarboro Surf Club. Among those was young North Cottesloe member Dave Kordic. Daniel was shortly afterwards sent overseas for work and Dave took on the section in 2006. Daniel had never got to race but he had certainly set the racing wheels in motion. IRB racing is a true crossover of life saving and sport, with the drive coming from members who are lifesavers first and competitors second. Races are essentially variations on the standard format of running to the boat, driving out to a buoy,
Chapter 7.4 IRBs | 363
turning the buoy, picking up a patient at the next buoy and then racing at the greatest possible speed to shore and crossing the line on foot. It was a small but enthusiastic group that started racing in season 2006/07. It was all about learning the rules and having fun. The fun included taking the North Cottesloe four-wheeldrive ‘Rhino’ to competitions and hooking up a sound system. In July 2007 Dave Kordic, Cam Dimsey, Cal Shelton and John Louden competed in the State championships. Dave and Cam teamed up with their mechanics from Sorrento – Trent and Cam Rapley – to win silver in the teams rescue. Dave remembers it being a great feeling winning North Cottesloe’s first IRB medal. And as a result, he thought that IRB racing was a lot easier than subsequent results would suggest. Points are accumulated over the season for the teams rescue. In following years, North Cottesloe continued to be up in the top two or three for the season. However, the club has never won another medal at the State championships. Boat speed has typically been the downfall. North Cottesloe has been up against clubs that dedicate more money to IRBs and have better mechanical skills. Mechanics play a huge part in IRB racing. Motors are tweaked to perform to their absolute maximum capabilities. In the early years North Cottesloe outsourced the maintenance. It was too expensive, so gradually the IRB drivers up-skilled themselves so they could carry out all necessary maintenance. However, they still didn’t have the knowledge and experience to be able to tweak the motors
Dave Kordic, Sarah Power, Emma Cummuskey and Erin Hookey prepare for a training session.
to the ‘Nth’ degree, which would lift them to their racing
In 2009, North Cottesloe raced in the Australian IRB
potential.
championships for the first time ever. Nine members took two
The IRB racing season is in winter, making IRB competition a
IRBs to Queensland’s Kawana Waters where they competed
tough gig. Most of those who compete are typically involved
against the more-experienced eastern states clubs. North
in surf life saving over summer – as officials or as competitors
Cottesloe held its own, reaching the semi-finals in the teams
in other disciplines. Racing IRBs makes surf life saving a year-
rescue and finishing with mixed results in other events. Dave
round commitment.
Kordic and Joel Burke also competed as part of the State team.
364 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Dave remembers the big surf and the fantastic experience that the championships provided. In one of the races the North Cottesloe team picked up their patient at the crest of a wave and then surfed down the wave all the way to the beach. There were also plenty of non-competition memories, including the invention of the ball bra as an alternative use of the competition cap.
North Cottesloe continued to compete locally and, in season 2011/12, the club fielded four racing teams. Effort was then put into getting some of the girls racing. In season 2013/14, Sarah ‘SJ’ Power (driver) and Emma Cummuskey (crew) were the first girls to race IRBs for North Cottesloe, with Zac Vinten as their patient. In their first race at their first carnival SJ and Emma were disqualified in four different ways. During the entire season they were disqualified in every race, until they reached the States where they progressed through to a final. Disqualification was common, not just with the girls. At one State championships it was particularly miserable weather and no one wanted to be patient. Zac Vinten managed to convince Izzy Kordic to be patient – there were only three teams competing in the final so they would be sure to get a medal. However, they were disqualified. By 2015/16, the club again fielded four racing teams and, this time, two of them were female – SJ (driver) and Kate Bonner (crew) and Shakira Durrant (driver) and Claire Jordan (crew). SJ and Kate made it through to two finals at the States. Over these years, the female racing teams were reliant on a number of girls who put their hands up to be patients. As patients, Maddy Smith-Gander, Clare O’Connor and Martha Cornwell became valuable members of the racing team. With the equipment requiring a lot of maintenance, the girls were also reliant on the kindness of Nathan Fitzgerald, who had been heavily involved in IRBs since moving to North Cottesloe from Coogee SLSC in 2009. Sarah Power, Maddy Smith-Gander, Kate Bonner, Kim Wallis and Claire Jordan, 2016.
North Cottesloe competed in the Australian championships again the following year, this time in the tiny town of Penguin, Tasmania. Whereas Kawana Waters was remembered for the huge surf, Penguin was remembered for the flat conditions. And the cold. It was also a long beach run to the boats, which favoured the young and fit Dave. However, in the flat conditions North Cottesloe struggled to keep pace with the
other clubs as the racing became more about boat speed than team skill. The team won the encouragement award and was presented with a new racing engine for the club. The award was inspiration for North Cottesloe’s IRB team but the club is yet to compete at another Australian championships.
Over the past decade, Nathan has been integral to improving the mechanical capacity of North Cottesloe’s IRB section. Nathan took over from Dave Kordic as IRB captain in 2015. North Cottesloe hasn’t raced IRBs since 2015/16. Certainly the plan is to start racing again when there are enough members with the time and enthusiasm to put into it.
Chapter 7.4 IRBs | 365
Key competitors over the years since racing was introduced include Dave Kordic, Cam Dimsey, Greg Thompson, David Ward, Joel Burke, Zac Vinten, Kim Wallis, Nathan Fitzgerald, Dave Louw, Sarah Power, Emma Cummuskey, Kate Bonner, Claire Jordan, Shakira Durrant, Izzy Kordic, Maddy SmithGander, Clare O’Connor and Martha Cornwell. Key memories include training trips to surf beaches each season. A favourite was Yallingup’s Smiths Beach, where the IRB drivers and crew were faced with “real waves”. When they were on a collision path with a five-metre wave they wondered if it was a good idea to be there. But everyone always came back in one piece and it continued to be great training. However, the IRB section has been far from injury free. In the past five or so years incidents have included a patient being hit in the face by a motor, a driver (wearing a helmet) sustaining concussion after hitting their head on the motor and a driver breaking their nose after going vertical up a wave and hitting their face on the floor while their hand was still on the motor.
When they were on a collision path with a five-metre wave they wondered if it was a good idea to be there. Nathan Fitzgerald (driver) and Pete Wood, 2011.
366 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Under-23s marching to a bronze medal at the 2014 Australian championships at Scarborough Beach, WA.
MARCH PAST
M
arch past is one of surf life saving’s original events, representing the traditional discipline of a surf lifesaver. Teams of 12 march in formation – in time to music – around a set course carrying a surf reel, line and belt,
following their flag bearer. It is a precision event with points awarded or deducted for timing, arm and leg swing, dress, body carriage and presentation. Marching at North Cottesloe has seen several phases over the century. From the 1920s to 1960s, men’s and women’s teams marched in the grand parades – the women in the separate female carnivals. In the 70s and 80s competitors from various sections combined on the day to march, proudly flying the club banner. There are no records of North Cottesloe marching in the 90s, but by the mid-2000s North Cottesloe was back on parade. Since 2007, North Cottesloe
Chapter
has won six bronze medals in the under-17 and under-23 march past at the Australian championships. Brian ‘Siera’ Sierakowski was the driving force behind the reintroduction of march past to the club’s competition program in the mid-2000s. Between Siera’s enthusiasm and the coaching of Lyn Girdlestone, Alex McKenzie and Peter Driscoll in the early years, march past became a respected section of the club. From the moment march past was reintroduced to the club program, club member Malcolm McCusker was on board as a sponsor, initially through McCusker Wines and later The McCusker Charitable Foundation. This sponsorship enabled the club to provide first-class equipment for the march past teams to compete at carnivals.
Chapter 7.5 March Past | 367
Open, under-23 and under-17 teams continued to compete in march past over following years and, in 2009, North Cottesloe’s open team led 40 march past teams onto the arena at the Australian championships at Scarborough Beach. North Cottesloe’s colours and brand were paraded with pride, in what was a history-making event for the club. It was during this season, 2008/09, that march past was offered to North Cottesloe’s nippers. Chair of juniors David Andrew and cadet officer Michael Silbert, along with many parents, were extremely supportive and presented the teams with great uniforms. Fantastic results followed and a decade later North Cottesloe’s under-13s and under-17s are among the most successful march past teams in WA. March past is offered to both nippers and cadets as a Sunday morning activity during the lead-up to the junior and senior State championships. In 2018, North Cottesloe had a large cohort of under-23 marchers who learnt the skill as nippers or cadets. The hope is that these young members will continue the discipline into the future. By 2009/10 there was no doubt that North Cottesloe was now one of the largest competing march past clubs in the State behind Trigg Island and Sorrento. The senior team continued to benefit from inspirational leadership and coaching by Siera and Alex McKenzie. It was a season of
Brian Sierakowski leads the junior girls, 2007.
The club’s open and under-21 teams competed honourably at
team won bronze in the inaugural under-17 event at the
the 2006 State championships, where the under-21 team won
Australian championships at Scarborough Beach. North
a bronze medal. It was a taste of the success that would follow
Cottesloe also marched in the under-23 event, finishing
over the next decade in the underage events. The following
seventh. North Cottesloe was certainly one of the best-
season, the club was extremely proud to have its colours
supported teams in the competition and it was an enormous
paraded at the Australian championships. Finishing fifth at the
thrill for the club to have three teams march in front of a
State championships, the open team had qualified for the final
massive home crowd.
20 teams to contend the Australian title, where they performed
abandoning dignity, with North Cottesloe marchers donning the blue-and-white striped ‘bananas in pyjamas’ uniforms, designed by Bec Shellabear. Marching uniforms had taken different forms over the century. In the early decades North Cottesloe marchers wore the traditional navy one-piece swimmers or R&R bathing costumes with a stripe. There was an era of yellow, white and blue diagonal-striped ‘butcher bathers’ and then the more
That season there was talk of fielding an all-female team the
recent uniform of shorts and club t-shirt. The blue-and-white
following year. Despite much talk that there was already a
‘jammers’ introduced in 2010 have since held their own and
That year, under-17 and under-23 age groups had been
battle for positions, it never eventuated. To this day, there has
in 2018 continued to be the distinctive uniform of North
created to replace the under-21s. North Cottesloe’s under-17
not been an all-female senior team.
Cottesloe marchers.
well. However, it was the under-17 team that bagged a medal.
368 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
North Cottesloe had a solid season and at the 2010 State
Cottesloe to its highest ever away-from-home point score
championships the open team finished fifth. It was a huge
and an overall placing of 19th.
improvement on the team’s placing of seventh for the previous
The 2014 Aussies marked the start of an impressive medal
six years.
haul for the under-23s. With tireless enthusiasm from
The following season, 2010/11, marchers stepped up their
Chris, North Cottesloe packed two reels and the smart
training. But they also had fun. Tom Carmody provided a
‘bananas’ uniforms to ensure the club would do its best in
music system that blew everybody out of the water. His
the march past arena at North Kirra. Training was again well
Johnny Cash music was the call to duty. Liz Lang brought
attended every afternoon. The flow on from this was a great
The Blue Duck coffee set to a standing ovation for her
camaraderie among the touring team. On one afternoon
bagpipe performance in her bikini.
there were more than 40 people training. More than ever, competitors were wanting to train for marching, even if
Under the professional coaching eye of Alex McKenzie, the
they were unavailable to compete because of finals in
open team recorded its best ever result – fourth at States.
surf sports events clashing with the march past parade on
The result was not a fluke. North Cottesloe finished fourth
Sunday morning. The coach of the Sorrento team assisted,
in 2012, 2013 and 2016 and fifth in 2015, 2017 and 2018. The
offering valuable insights into the mysteries of march past.
margin between places is often only half a point. Judging
Senior members of the team stepped up to help, with Miles
the event requires 24 officials so results often take up to an
Ponsonby, John Lishman, Nick Taylor and Ali Robson helping
hour to collate and release. Marching is not a sport for the
with coaching and organisation of the open team and Tim
impatient competitor.
Gregg with the under-23s.
The 2010 Aussies had marked the start of enthusiastic
The open team, which included the open men’s boat crew,
participation in march past by the club’s surf sports
finished in the top 20 in Australia. The under-23s marched
competitors at the Aussies away from home. Under the
magnificently against some fancied opposition and won
leadership of Chris Shellabear, the team marched at Kurrawa
bronze – the club’s second ever Aussies march past medal
Beach in 2010 and again in 2011. Chris encouraged the
and first at an Aussies away from home. After finishing fifth
club’s athletes to march, to show that as well as competing
the following year, the under-23s were back on the dias in
in surf sports they could also proudly march for their club
2016 and 2017, winning a bronze medal both years.
and pay homage to the spirit and tradition of surf life saving. Enthusiasm was infectious and there was rigorous training on the beach at 4.30pm every afternoon just a short walk from the club’s home at the Ocean Royale. In 2011, the open team finished 23rd overall. North Cottesloe was the second best WA team and finished ahead of Trigg Island – the first time this had occurred in the club’s recent march past history. The under-23s excelled and finished sixth. Many say they were robbed of a medal.
Open marchers at the 2012 Australian championships, Kurrawa, Queensland.
strong push for march past participation at the Aussies. At the 2012 Australian titles there were three teams representing WA at North Kirra – the event had been moved from Kurrawa due to the severe weather conditions – and two of those teams were from North Cottesloe. The under-23 team finished fifth, while the open team finished 21st. North
The following season, 2011/12, Chris Shellabear took over
Cottesloe was the highest-ranking WA club. The marchers
from Siera as march past captain and he continued his
earned 12 points for the club, which helped propel North
Miles Ponsonby took on the role of march past captain for season 2013/14. In 2014 and 2015 he coached the open team to a sixth and fifth respectively at the States. Jenny Ford coached the under-17s and under-23s and, taking on the coordination of all marchers, was instrumental in keeping the troops informed and together. Meanwhile, Siera coached the juniors, with assistance from Melissa Fitzgerald who coordinated all the juniors for marching on Sundays and teams for carnivals and the State championships.
Chapter 7.5 March Past | 369
Siera was back as march past captain in 2014. At the 2016 State championships the juniors were just half a point off the gold medal. When Siera retired at the end of that season, he commented that there was a lot of potential in the juniors but the lack of a junior march past coordinator and lack of regular training meant they weren’t being developed as they should be. He suggested the club needed professional coaching to take the march past teams to the next level – that march past should have the same focus as other surf sports sections in the club. When Jenny Ford took over the captaincy in 2016, she continued Chris Shellabear’s inclusive approach – that march past should be open to everyone. Bob Hunter volunteered to coach the open team for 2017 and 2018, with help from Ray and Liz Maffescioni leading into States and with Chris Shellabear and Cliff Ford always helping with coaching or equipment. The team finished fifth both years. At the 2017 senior State championships, North Cottesloe won silver in the under-17s, bronze in the under-23s after
bronze medal. It was one of just two medals won by North Cottesloe at the 2018 Aussies. Over the past decade, while participation and success was building at the senior level, North Cottesloe’s nippers were winning medals at the junior State championships. At the 2010 junior States, North Cottesloe’s boys won the bronze medal in the all-age mixed march past. The girls would have won silver but were disqualified for marching outside the arena. In 2012, North Cottesloe won silver and, in 2013, North Cottesloe took out the top two places in the all-age mixed march past. The girls, coached by the late Wendy Sierakowski, won the gold medal and the boys, coached by Siera, won the silver medal. At the 2016 junior States, North Cottesloe’s under-13s again won silver. There was so much enthusiasm from the club’s nippers that the under-11s and under-12s enjoyed marching in the largest colour party on the beach. At the 2018 junior States, the under-13s won gold. Over the past 13 years, march past has etched its way back into the fabric of North Cottesloe thanks to the enthusiasm
and passion of many members including Brian Sierakowski, Chris Shellabear, Miles Ponsonby and Jenny Ford and the technical expertise of Alex McKenzie, Peter Driscoll and Lyn Girdlestone. Consistent marchers over this period include Chris Shellabear, Andrew Bremner, Craig Smith-Gander, Mike Rigoll, Karie Liggins, Lesley Scogna and Cliff Ford. While the club has celebrated numerous State and Australian medals in the nipper and underage march past, another part of the success story of North Cottesloe marching over the past decade is the coming together of competitors on the day, with minimal preparation, to march with their team mates. Many members are proud the club can boast a strong involvement in this surf life saving tradition. Others don’t give it much thought. Either way, march past has played a role in building team spirit at both States and Aussies. And with the enthusiasm of the under-23s, cadets and nippers, there is confidence the club’s colours will be paraded in this event for many years to come.
being disqualified from second place on a technicality, and finished fifth in the open. In 2018, North Cottesloe march past participation was at its peak, with five teams marching at the States. The under-17s and under-23s both took bronze. Four North Cottesloe teams marched at the 2018 Aussies at Scarborough Beach and the event will likely stay etched in the minds of all those who were there. It was the final day of the Aussies and with wild weather looming all other events had been wrapped up the previous day. Since predawn, march past captain Jenny Ford had been receiving messages asking if the marching would go ahead with such a huge electrical storm forecast. Of course it would. North Cottesloe made up four of the 30 teams. Many of the marchers were unable to hear the music over the wind, rain and wild ocean but it was a colourful and memorable spectacle and North Cottesloe’s under-17 team won the
370 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Open and under-17 march past teams at the 2018 State championships. Under-17s went on to win bronze at the 2018 Australian championships.
Jane Ponsonby, Ray Maffescioni and John Barwood at the club championships, 2018.
OFFICIALS
O
ver the past decade, North Cottesloe has grown from a club that showed little recognition for officials to one that embraces its officials as highly-valued members of the surf sports team.
This is largely thanks to John Barwood. John had joined the club in 1998 and by 2004 was doing some ad hoc officiating for junior carnivals. Like most officials, John had become involved in officiating through his kids, who had started to compete in beach events as nippers. He remembers the nippers being run almost singlehandedly by Alan Tietzel. John offered to assist with the kids at the carnivals and Alan asked if he would consider volunteering as a competition official as that was his biggest headache. John qualified as a level one official in May 2007 and has served continuously as a competition official since then (appointed level two official
Chapter
in January 2011). John was selected to read the officials’ oath at the 2011 State championships – the only time a North Cottesloe official has been given the honour. When John started officiating, the club had no regular officials, particularly for the junior carnivals, and was under constant threat from SLSWA. It turned out that North Cottesloe, like many other clubs, did actually have a number of qualified officials. However, changing personal circumstances meant that none of them had any ongoing interest in officiating. Back then, all competing clubs were expected to provide officials. However, today’s competitor/ official ratio of 15:1 was yet to be formalised. North Cottesloe had a particularly poor reputation in this regard. A significant part of North Cottesloe’s problem of having no regular officials was that not much importance was put on
Chapter 7.6 Officials | 371
their role. It seemed they were only important when their
meeting at which they agreed on the strategy for including officials in mainstream club activities, plus a recognition structure via incentive rewards.
absence became a problem – make the problem go away and officials were out of mind again.
Around that time SLSWA had toughened up its requirements on competing clubs to provide carnival officials, including ‘punishments’ for those that failed to meet their quotas. This helped with a key plank of North Cottesloe’s strategy – that officials were not some little-known peripheral group, but an integral part of the club’s surf sports team. This was formalised when ‘competition officials’ was included as a section under the chair of surf sports, alongside the surf sports disciplines. This inclusion recognised the place the officials had been seeking within the North Cottesloe sports family.
Early in his involvement as an official, John encountered open hostility towards North Cottesloe among the carnival officials from other clubs and he nearly didn’t go on with it. North Cottesloe was seen as aloof, arrogant and not prepared to do its bit towards the running of carnivals – a club of silvertails. Having not been involved with the club for very long, John found this quite intimidating. However, he believed it was his ‘newness’ to North Cottesloe in the end that saved him from the full blast of invective, as people came to know he didn’t have a club history. From his long involvement since, one of his greatest achievements has been overcoming that negative view of North Cottesloe and establishing recognition and respect for the club among officials from other clubs. His proudest achievement, however, is changing the status and acceptance of officials
Ashley Dry, Jane Ponsonby and Liz Maffescioni at the club championships, 2017.
within North Cottesloe. From around 2009 John took on the responsibility of coordinating officials in the club. In the early years this was a frantic effort to generate more North Cottesloe officials for the competitions. It then involved looking at strategies to retain them and develop their officiating careers. A strong focus was on recruiting new officials from the ranks of the nipper parents, as well as lifting the profile of officials in
In 2013, North Cottesloe had an unprecedented five officials (John Barwood, Ray and Liz Maffescioni, Ashley Dry and Miles Ponsonby) at the Australian championships at North Kirra in Queensland.
the club. In an email to general manager Kelly Moss, John wrote: “The more I think about it, the more I believe that club representation is one of the aspects we should push when ‘recruiting’ more officials for next year. And for that to be reinforced, the club needs to recognise that representation”. Kelly was a great early supporter of raising the profile of officials in the club, backed by president Craig ‘Goose’ SmithGander and the board of management. John, Kelly and the inaugural director of coaching, Derek Knox, had a significant
372 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
By around 2012 the club had developed a dozen or so committed officials who formed the nucleus of the ‘new wave’. Trevor Gibb and Jasmine Lamb had long been valuable officials, specifically as judge-in-boat officials. When Nathan Fitzgerald joined the club in 2009, he also became a valuable contributor in this area. On some days, being a judge-in-boat official can be an enjoyable gig. More often, however, it is a cold, wet and long commitment. These officials are usually the first on the beach and the last off. Often they are largely unseen and many competitors would have no idea of the commitment these three have shown over many years.
John Barwood at the 2013 Australian championships, Kirra Beach, Queensland.
Ray and Liz joined North Cottesloe in 2003 when their daughter Tegan was recruited as a sprinter. In 2010 they began officiating to give back to North Cottesloe and the surf life saving movement that they had enjoyed for so long. Prior to North Cottesloe, Ray and Liz had been with Geraldton Surf Club for many years followed by a stint at Scarboro.
(until his untimely death in 2004). Ashley remembered Craig often bemoaning the many members who were social but not active in the club. So when John asked if she was interested in becoming an official for carnivals, she felt it was a role she would enjoy, while doing her bit to help the club. In 2013, John was one of three officials from Australia and New Zealand to officiate at the International Surf Rescue Challenge in Japan. In 2014 John, Liz, Ray and Ashley officiated at the world championships in France and were joined by Deb O’Mahony at the 2015 Australian championships at North Kirra. Miles and Jane Ponsonby, 2016.
Just like the others, Deb had become involved through one of her children. Jessie was a surf boat competitor and suggested to her mum that WA clubs were less represented
Miles and Jane Ponsonby joined North Cottesloe in 2007 and
in major competitions. Deb took it on board and became
Miles began officiating the same year. The club was short of
an official. She quickly realised that tight judging decisions
officials and with both his sons competing, Miles felt it would
typically went in favour of clubs from the east. Deb hoped
be a good way to support the club. Jane followed suit in 2013.
her involvement would make a difference. She stuck at it and
Ashley remembers being cornered by John Barwood while she was watching her kids at nippers in 2011. She had only
eventually made it to the tower as a finish line judge for the surf boats – typically the domain of men.
joined the club in 2010 but her brother Craig ‘Belly’ Bell had
John and Trevor Gibb were appointed for the 2016 world
been very actively involved in the surf club for many years
championships in the Netherlands, where John was deputy
At the 2014 world championships in France, the hosts failed to provide a pistol for the officials to start the beach sprints and relays. Luckily, one of Australia’s specialist starters had brought an old cap pistol with him, which worked well for the first few days. But by the fourth day of competition, it was starting to jam. Phillipe, the French ‘go-to’ man for the beach events, had been trying to source a pistol since day one. He eventually turned up with a five-chamber revolver and took the starters down to the other end of the beach for a practice. The starters had to change their position to cater for the weight of the revolver and adjust to the recoil. Competitors in all arenas quickly realised that the beachies finally had a starting gun. Sprinters nearest the starter were unfortunate – having a revolver firing just a few metres from their head. Needless to say, there were never any complaints about not hearing the gun. Ray Maffescioni starting the beach flags at the 2016 Australian championships, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Chapter 7.6 Officials | 373
beach referee for two of the three competitions. And in 2017, Ray Maffescioni’s status as a leading starter for beach events nationally was confirmed when he was one of two starters for all beach flag finals and exhibition pit competition at the Australian championships. A personal ambition of John’s had been fulfilled in season 2013/14 – distinctive shirts for active North Cottesloe officials. John, Liz, Ray, Miles, Jane, Ashley and Deb continued to form the strong nucleus of North Cottesloe’s group of active officials, which by season 2014/15 had swelled to around 20. By 2018 the number had shrunk to 13 active officials and the club was back to new recruitment. Numbers of officials seem to be cyclic in most surf clubs. However, there’s been a change in status of officials in clubs over the past five years and North Cottesloe has been one of the leaders of this change. When John was appointed section captain for officials at North Cottesloe, it was a first among WA clubs. However, most metropolitan clubs now use a similar structure, with someone responsible for establishing plans and strategies for recruiting and developing their officials. North Cottesloe officials appreciate the recognition and inclusion they receive from the club but some believe there could be a better understanding of the long hours that officials spend at the beach or beside the pool throughout the year. At times, recognition has included a reduction in membership fees and other benefits, but this has been a grey area and has not been consistent among officials. Certainly the suggestion was that more associate members could be encouraged to become officials – but not when they are paying a $500 membership fee. This was recently addressed and there is now a membership category for officials.
Liz and Ray Maffescioni, 2018.
374 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
SKI PADDLING
S
ince ski paddling was added to the surf sports program in 1952, North Cottesloe has achieved consistent success at a State level. During the first three decades of surf ski racing, Jack Trail was the standout competitor. Between 1963 and
1983 Jack won 32 open State titles, including 10 on the single ski. Over the past couple of decades, Tim Bird has been the most successful ski paddler for North Cottesloe, winning 10 State titles (single ski, double ski, ski relay and taplin relay) followed by Will Bird with seven State titles (double ski and ski relay). At national level, Jack remains the only North Cottesloe ski paddler to win an open single ski medal at the Australian championships. Jack’s podium finishes also included double
Chapter
ski, ski relay and taplin relay. The only other paddlers to have won Australian open ski paddling medals for North Cottesloe are those who either partnered Jack on the double ski, or teamed with him in the relay – Larry Pullen, David Russell, Jerry Knowles and Simon Martin. David Russell won a silver medal in the junior single ski and Simon Martin won an Australian title in the open ironman. Tim and Will Bird won silver at the Aussies in the double ski when they were competing for Queensland clubs. However, as North Cottesloe competitors, the closest they have come is fourth in the double ski in 2012. Tim also finished fourth in the ski relay in 1997 with Krede Wright and Stephen Hopkins. Never winning a double ski medal at the Aussies for North Cottesloe remains Tim’s biggest disappointment. He calls it not much of a performance compared with Jack Trail.
Chapter 7.7 Ski Paddling | 375
Nick remained a member of North Cottesloe but competed
At the States that year, Rob had also won the mixed double
in triathlons for a couple of years. Unfortunately his bike was
with his wife Julie Jenkinson, who also won the open female
stolen and when club captain Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander told
single ski. Julie backed it up with another single ski State title
Nick he had a sponsor for him, Nick returned to competition
the following year, but she and Rob were beaten into silver
on his new sponsored surf ski.
in the mixed double by Michael ‘Liggo’ Liggins and Shelley
Never winning a State title in the single ski remains a disappointment to Nick, who says four silver medals were hard to swallow. But he is very proud of representing
However, North Cottesloe is extremely proud of the Bird brothers’ success over the past couple of decades. The club is also extremely proud of the size, strength and diversity of the ski squad today. At the 2018 State championships, North Cottesloe boasted its largest ever contingent of female ski paddlers and won not only its first female ski medal since the 90s, but its first mixed double ski State title in nearly two decades.
Wright won silver in the under-21 male ski and combined with Liggo and Rob to win bronze in the open male ski relay.
Western Australia numerous times in the 1980s and winning
Julie won silver in the single ski in 1995 and bronze in the
15 State medals, including single ski, double ski, ski relay
mixed double with Liggo. At the Aussies, Liggo and Stephen
and taplin relay, as well as swim and board medals. Nick
Nick Taylor and Jack Trail win the Bridge to Bridge race, 1981.
Jesney. Shelley won silver in the single ski, while Jason
‘Hoppy’ Hopkins made the final of the men’s double ski and
is also proud of being a loyal North Cottesloe competitor
Ben Mercer made the final of the under-18 male ski.
and refusing offers during the tough years to go east or
Season 1995/96 saw a boom in the number of ski paddlers
to northern WA clubs to race with the best. Nick used his
at North Cottesloe but the club won no medals at the States.
experience and passion for the sport to become the driving
The following year, Liggo won silver in the open male single
force of North Cottesloe’s ski paddling squad for more than
ski at the State championships and the B team of Nick
two decades.
Taylor, Jamie Edelman and Tim Bird finished with bronze
In 1992 Jamie Edelman and Dan Bunning won the junior male double ski State title and reached the final at the Aussies in South Narabeen. It was described in the annual report that they were robbed of an opportunity to win a medal when they “won the start only to be called back for a re-start after some eastern states official decided that they were doing too well”. It was nearly two finals appearances that year for North Cottesloe. After winning the open male double ski
in the ski relay. It was the start of two decades of success for Tim Bird and, ultimately, his brother Will. Interestingly, when Tim joined the club he initially had no encouragement from ski captain Nick Taylor. It was club president, Richard Meadmore, who saw Tim’s potential and, despite Nick’s objections, bought Tim a ski. Andrew ‘Pek’ Stevens took Tim under his wing and Tim became one of the greatest ski paddlers the club has seen.
The 1990s kicked off with Nick Taylor winning silver in the
State title, Rob Jenkinson and Jason Wright made it through
With the improving results of some other paddlers such as
State open male single ski in 1991. It was Nick’s fourth silver in
to the final at the Aussies but were unable to start. Craft were
Sam and Jeremy Knowles, Andrew ‘Pek’ Stevens and Ben
the single ski and came off the back of a tough period for Nick,
scrutineered after the semi-final and Jason and Rob’s double
Mercer, it was anticipated ski paddling at North Cottesloe
who had been the club’s only competitive paddler during his
ski was found to be 250 grams underweight. They were
peak in the early to mid-1980s. It meant no team events for
disqualified. Jason and Rob put it down to the ski drying out
Nick and it also resulted in him being dumped from the State
during the long trip across the Nullarbor Plain on a trailer.
team one year. He was the best ski paddler in WA but a claim
Not only did they miss out on a crack at an Australian medal,
that all State team members had to compete in R&R in normal
they were also suspended for 12 months. However, with the
carnivals cost Nick his place. He couldn’t do R&R because
help of club members and lawyers Jerry Knowles, Brian
In season 1997/98 Tim Bird finished first in the single ski in
there was no one to form a team with at North Cottesloe.
Sierakowski and Malcolm McCusker, the suspension was
the long-distance Bridge to Bridge race and won a trip to
Disillusioned with SLSWA and its antiquated selection criteria,
overturned pretty quickly.
Sydney to compete in the 20 Beaches Single Ski Series,
376 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
would go from strength to strength. And so it did with the men. As for the female paddlers, they became virtually nonexistent and for the next two decades there would be only three medals won by female paddlers at the States, all in the mixed double ski.
of her age category. Tori teamed up with David McKeown to win gold in the under-18 mixed double ski. David finished fourth in the under-18 single ski and fourth in the under-18 double with Tom Flower, who won bronze in the under-18 single ski. Nearly two decades later, with six State medals under his belt, Tom remains a core member of the North Cottesloe ski paddling squad. Will Bird finished fourth in the under-21 single ski and teamed with his brother Tim and Pek to win silver in the open single ski relay. A small team travelled to the Aussies with disappointing results. It was in the late 90s that the ski paddlers went to the Aussies without Nick for the first time. Without their chaperone, the paddlers were a bit too relaxed, kicking back at the Ocean Royale while marshaling for the male single ski event got under way. They missed the marshaling by about three minutes and were told they couldn’t race. The North Cottesloe paddlers protested and the officials deliberated for about an hour but eventually upheld their decision. It certainly would have been quicker to just tick a few names off. There were early signs that season 1999/2000 might be the year North Cottesloe would yield its first Australian ski paddling medal in 26 years. However, 18 years on and the club still hasn’t had that yield. A few hard-core paddlers were training from July, braving the chilly mornings on the Swan Will Bird and Nick Taylor finish behind 2000 State bronze medallists and Australian finalists Krede Wright and Tim Bird.
River. Eighteen years on and the bulk of the squad paddles
where he finished eighth in the first race and sixth in the
single ski and in a great display of depth, North Cottesloe had three other paddlers in the final – Jamie Edelman, Jeremy Knowles and Ben Mercer (who won silver in the under-21 event). But the results were short of what they perhaps could have been. The State championships clashed with the kayak nationals, leaving the club without Tim Bird and Krede Wright. However, Tim and Krede were back in their white caps for the Aussies and with Hoppy finished fourth in the ski relay.
almost year round, switching to the river over winter. The
At the 1999 State championships, young paddler Tori Vidler finished sixth in the open female single ski, racing well out
the event was never held again. The mid-season Manly and
second race for an overall sixth placing. In his annual report that season, ski captain Nick Taylor wrote about the increase in depth of the squad: “In the past when selecting relay teams it has only been a formality with the team virtually picking itself. But this year with so many guys paddling well it didn’t make the job an easy task and I’d like that to be the trend in future”. The three selected relay teams all made the final at the States, finishing fourth, fifth and sixth. Hoppy won silver in the
early season Bay to Beach race was now locked in as one of the main long-distance races on the calendar, along with the Bridge to Bridge race, which continued to produce great participation levels and results for North Cottesloe. The 1999/2000 season was also the inaugural Rottnest Assault, a race from Leighton Beach to Rottnest Island. North Cottesloe paddlers made up a quarter of the top 16 placings and looked forward to it becoming an annual event. However Freshwater carnivals by now held an important place on the
Chapter 7.7 Ski Paddling | 377
the past couple of years that consistent strategic initiatives have been in place to develop young paddlers and provide pathways into the senior squad. The club might not have come through with the goods in terms of junior paddlers, but the following season, 2000/01, it certainly performed remarkably in the senior ranks. It was the first season the club had employed a coach. Champion ski paddler Pete Leaversuch was from Cottesloe Surf Club but was no longer competing. He saw a lot of talent in the North Cottesloe paddling group and was happy to provide advice and programs to fast-track their development. Pete coached through until 2007, but plays down his coaching role, saying the North Cottesloe paddlers were the ones who did the work – he just helped with a few sessions per week. “The Birds, Pek and Nick Taylor really took things to another level,” Pete said. “They are the ones who made a real difference to the ski squad at North Cottesloe.” The new professional approach showed very promising and consistent results all season, starting with the Bay to Beach and Bridge to Bridge long-distance races where Will and Tim Bird took first and second in the single ski and Nick Taylor and Pek won the double ski. All these results were race records. With strong participation from social paddlers in the Bridge to Bridge, the club achieved the highest overall points and won a new surf ski for the second year running. Will Bird (bronze), Tim Bird (gold) and Andrew ‘Pek’ Stevenson (silver) win the hat trick in the open male single ski at the 2001 State championships.
competition calendar and North Cottesloe produced strong performances at these carnivals. However, the 2000 State championships and Aussies performances, overall, were disappointing. There were a couple of standout results. At the States, Krede Wright and Briohny Callaghan won the mixed double ski. Krede and Tim Bird won bronze in the double ski at States and reached the final at the Aussies. At the end of that season, ski captains Tim and Pek made the comment: “As we look towards next season it is apparent the
378 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
club is in urgent need of a junior presence in the ski squad. We will do everything possible to encourage young, athletic and enthusiastic members who are serious about competing to join the squad. We have a program in place and hope that an Australian medal will be with the club soon”. Over subsequent years various efforts were made to develop younger paddlers. Development squads achieved the result of getting some non-paddlers on a ski but didn’t have a strong flow into the competitive squad. It is really only in
North Cottesloe paddlers dominated surf carnivals throughout the season and at the 2001 State championships they won the hat trick in the open male single ski. In an almost blanket finish, Tim had the last-ditch power to get over the line for gold, with Pek taking silver and Will bronze. It remains a highlight for all three guys and was proof that North Cottesloe was a force in ski paddling. The club has remained a force through until today but has typically been unable to match the might of Trigg. Tim and Will won the double ski and, with Pek, finished second in the ski relay after winning at every carnival during the season.
who the following season made some finals in the open female single ski. After no medals at the 2003 States, North Cottesloe was back on the dias in 2004, a highlight being Pek and Liz winning bronze in the open mixed double ski. It was the club’s first medal in the open mixed double ski since Krede and Briohny won the title in 2000. It would be another 14 years before the club won another medal in this event, taking gold and silver in 2018. Will had moved over to Queensland the previous season to join Tim. After achieving fantastic results for North Cottesloe on the east coast during the 2003/04 season, the Bird brothers returned for the States where they won the double ski and again combined with Pek to finish with silver in the ski relay. Tim won bronze in the single ski, with Will fourth, Pek sixth (following his fifth place the previous year), and Brocky had also made the final. In a great show of depth, the club had a second ski relay in the final that year (Nick Taylor, Jamie Edelman and Brocky). At the 2004 Aussies at Kurrawa, Tim, Will and Pek finished ninth in a very tight ski relay final, while Tim and Will finished fifth in the double ski. After dominating this event and being considered one of the favourites to take out the final, they were very unlucky not to finish on the podium after leading the first section of the race. Liz Lang and Nick Taylor, 2006.
The results at the 2001 States stand out as some of the best on record for North Cottesloe. It was an era of strength and numbers in the open male single ski, which boasted around 80 starters, many of them knocking on the door of the Australian kayak team. It was the first and only time North Cottesloe has managed the hat trick. Tim was just shy of taking all three State titles (single, double and relay), something he would finally achieve 11 years on. In the meantime, he would move to Queensland to train with the Australian kayak team and paddle skis for Kurrawa and then North Burleigh.
A development squad had been started that year, coordinated By the 2002 State championships Tim had already been away training with the Australian kayak team. He returned home for the States where he and Will won the double ski and the two of them teamed with Pek for the relay, going one better than the previous year to take gold. Pek finished with bronze in the single ski, with Tim fifth and Will seventh. During the season there were some great results and promise from some of the club’s newer paddlers such as James ‘Knowlesy’ Knowles, Marcus ‘Brocky’ Brockhurst, Scott Nicholls, Damian Cox, Beau Harvey and Jeremy ‘Moona’ Marsh, as well as a few females, namely Liz Lang
by Richard Lang and aimed at developing a pathway for cadets and/or inexperienced paddlers to progress into the senior competitive ranks. Ski paddling has a few barriers to participation. Equipment is expensive and, in contrast to other disciplines in the club, few people come to the club with a skill base in paddling. Unlike swimming, running and rowing, not many schools offer kayaking as a sport. With help from club members Peter Gardner and Mike Rees, novices were given an opportunity to paddle plastic skis on Sunday mornings – plastic skis because they were more stable than the standard spec skis and also because the club
Chapter 7.7 Ski Paddling | 379
male single ski, Will finished third, Tim fourth and again Brocky made the final. The three of them combined in the ski relay to win silver. It was promising to have a female ski relay (Vanessa Whitehand, Davinia Finucane and Liz Lang) in the final but unfortunately a female ski relay wasn’t seen again until 2016 (Emma Cummuskey, Caitlin Hunt and Jess Reynolds). At States the following year, 2006, the club won just one medal. Pek and Brocky won bronze in the double ski, with Tom and Moona fourth. Brocky finished fourth in the male single ski and teamed with Mark Finucane and Pek for fourth in the ski relay. At both the 2005 and 2006 Aussies, quarter-finals were the best result. In 2005, the Bird boys reached the quarter-finals of the single, double and ski relay with Brendan ‘BD’ Downes. Pete Leaversuch was still coaching the squad and top paddlers from other clubs had also started joining some of the training sessions, which was helping to raise the standard of the North Cottesloe paddlers. James Knowles and Lockie Cooke, State bronze medallists and Australian finalists, 2011.
Marcus Brockhurst, 2006.
season sticks in the minds of those who went – for the fun, the
had been winning them pretty much every year for its huge
for the club at the time were focused on people who could
success and participation in the long-distance Bridge to
compete successfully. Those driving the development squad
Bridge race. Once novices could balance and control plastic
took the view of first building a threshold level of activity
skis they progressed to ‘spec’ skis which were allocated to
across the whole pathway so that there was a positive
the development squad from a collection left unused in
environment to offer an aspiring, potentially elite competitor.
the shed by slack or forgetful members. Several times per
This rich environment would take time to develop.
season the coach of the senior squad, Pete Leaversuch, would come as an expert coach and review the program
In the first couple of years the development squad attracted
and the individual skills of the paddlers.
up to 10 people each session, including Paul Evershed and
At the time there was a tension between the opposing strategies of a ‘wide base’ versus ‘narrow base’. The
A ski paddling camp in Lancelin at the start of the 2006/07
David Kordic who competed in under-18 events during season 2004/05, with Paul making the final at the States in 2005.
huge surf and the resulting carnage. Numerous double skis were smashed and Tom Flower probably faired the worst, not from getting pummelled by the surf but for climbing inside one of the smashed skis and getting fiberglass shards all over him. He was itchy for the rest of the day. Ski development continued, now under the captaincy of Olympic rower Stuart Reside who had been paddling with the North Cottesloe ski squad for a number of years. Paddling surf skis had become more accessible and less daunting to club members who may have long thought they wouldn’t mind giving ski paddling a go. Richard Lang had
development squad was built on the wide-base model.
Meanwhile in the senior ranks, Tim and Will again came
moved east but Mike Rees and Peter Gardner continued
Anyone who turned up was welcome and encouraged to
home from Queensland to win the double ski at the 2005
their quest to drive future talent into the senior ski paddling
become as good as they could. The competitive paddlers
States, with Tom and Moona finishing third. In the open
ranks. Of special reward was seeing one of their protégés,
380 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
The 2008 Aussies at Scarborough saw the hottest field of ski paddlers WA had ever seen. The Olympic trials had finished two weeks earlier and all the Olympic kayak hopefuls were hitting out on the ocean with something to prove. The finals were a showcase of Australia’s ‘who’s who’ of ski and kayak paddling. However, in the single ski final Clint Robinson still managed to give the rest of the field a lesson in surf ski paddling, cruising home to win by a couple of lengths, taking his Aussie gold medal tally to 36. Pek and Brocky had both made it as far as the quarter-finals in the single ski. A few of North Cottesloe’s younger paddlers were starting to be named as ones to watch out for in the future – Mike Bingemann, Lockie Cooke, Mike Ford and Matt Johns. At the 2009 State championships, Lockie and Matt won silver in the under-19 double ski and Lockie went on to make the final of the under-19 male single ski at the Aussies. It was an outstanding result for Lockie at his first Aussies and he celebrated by finishing off a bottle of Boronia at the club’s end-of-Aussies dinner. Unfortunately he spent the rest of John Lishman, Will Bird, James Knowles, Tom Flower, Matt Rowett, Nick Taylor, Robbie Benson and Tim Bird at the 2013 Australian championships, Kirra Beach, Queensland.
the night in the bathroom. It was the start of what looked to be a successful paddling
Nat Benjanuvatra, progress from being able to part paddle/ mostly swim to Cottesloe and back, to mixing it up with seasoned competitors at the 2007 State championships. North Cottesloe was well represented at the States that year with four open male double combinations, three open mixed doubles, three open male relay teams, ten open male singles, six open female singles, one under 19-female single and one under-19 male single. However, ski captain Brocky bagged the club’s only medal – silver in the single ski. Brocky had taken on the captaincy in 2005 from Nick Taylor who had jumped back into the role for one year following three years with Pek as captain and two with Pek and Tim Bird as joint captains. Nick had captained the ski section from the late 80s into the 90s. After stints by Rob Jenkinson,
Sam Knowles and Stephen Hopkins, Nick was back in the
career for Lockie, who came through North Cottesloe’s cadet
role for three seasons before Pek and Tim took over. Marcus
ranks. Lockie had been inspired to paddle when he finished
remained captain for four seasons and in 2009 Nick was
Year 12 and saw the likes of Brocky, Pek and Nick finishing
back in the role for another four seasons.
their training sessions. Brocky lent Lockie his paddle and,
By season 2007/08 much of the squad was now putting in
as ski captain, gave him a club ski to use and Lockie started
the hard yards and braving the cold winter mornings to gain a
turning up to training with Michael Ford. The first race for
good base for the season to come. North Cottesloe achieved
the young guys was a downwind paddle from Fremantle
good results during both the long-distance ocean racing
to Trigg. Lockie remembers passing North Cottesloe about
series and surf season, culminating in a highly-competitive
1km off-shore. With no other paddlers in sight, Lockie
State titles where the open male relay team of Pek, Mark ‘Fini’
thought he was displaying such natural talent that he was
Finucane and Brocky won bronze and Pek and Brocky won
beating everyone. When he finally arrived at Trigg he realised
silver in the double. North Cottesloe’s male taplin relay team,
everyone else had finished about 45 minutes before him. It
with Pek and Brocky paddling, won gold. It was a lucky gold
didn’t take him long to start keeping up with the pack. And
and the story is highlighted in chapter seven.
he was soon passing some of them.
Chapter 7.7 Ski Paddling | 381
Double ski race, 2013 Australian championships.
At the 2010 State championships, Lockie combined with Will
Meanwhile the development squad, with a lot of drive and
was playing a significant role off the water, setting and
and Fini to win silver in the open male ski relay and paddled
enthusiasm from Lockie and others, gained eight young men
coordinating the strength and conditioning training.
with Will to win silver in the double ski. It was a great display of
at the beginning of the season. Matt Rowett, Robbie Benson,
Meanwhile, Brendan ‘BD’ Downes was setting and calling the
depth for the club with four double ski combinations in the final.
Will Dennis, Sean Carter and Sam Rowe finished the season
paddling sessions.
In season 2010/11 Tim returned from Queensland. Tim and Will were back on the double together and won silver at the States, ahead of Knowlesy and Lockie in bronze in a final
as competitors at the State and Aussie titles. Matt, Robbie and Sam continued to become strong members of the open squad through until today.
BD had come from Swanbourne-Nedlands Surf Club in 1997. He had already been training with the North Cottesloe squad on the river for a few years. With BD training and socialising
that again boasted four North Cottesloe combinations. Both
As for Lockie, his paddling career was cut short. After starting
more with North Cottesloe than Swanny (where he was
these combinations also made the final at the Aussies – the
in the surf, Lockie went on to paddle kayaks. He represented
treasurer at the time), Nick suggested he come to North
first time the club had ever had two double skis in the final.
WA in the State kayak team, gained himself a WA Institute
Cottesloe. So he did. BD still remembers his first training
Tim and Will paddled a great race to end up on the same
of Sport scholarship and ultimately raced for Australia in the
session at the club. He was having a shower under the hose
under-23 team. In 2012 he got thoracic outlet syndrome and
and Nick said: “You’re a member now, have a hot shower
had to stop training immediately. The condition later created
inside”. BD quickly became an integral member of the squad
a permanent clot in his arm and ended his paddling career.
and the club became a way of life for him. He has been ski
wave as eight other combinations racing for the bronze medal. The ski relay team of Tim, Will and Fini finished third at the States. Trigg had the gold medal in the bag going into
captain since 2016.
the last leg with North Cottesloe and Scarboro fighting for
The North Cottesloe paddling squad continued to develop
silver and bronze. On the way home Fini put his foot down
in size and quality and this had been recognised by top
At the end of season 2011/12, ski captain Nick Taylor
and dropped the Scarboro competitor only to see him pick
paddlers from other clubs who had joined the squad for
described it as the most successful season for the ski section
up a wave on the bank and push back into second.
training. By season 2011/12, Nick’s wife, Marian Taylor,
since the late 1970s. Tim Bird won all three State titles –
382 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
single, double and relay – for only the second time in the
Long-distance ocean racing had been building since the mid-
club’s history. The only other competitor to ever achieve this
2000s and the inception of the Indian Ocean Paddlers Club in
was Jack Trail in 1972. North Cottesloe won the hat trick in
2008 had added a variety of longer-distance races in the pre-
1973 but with a mix of competitors. Jack Trail won the single
season, giving the paddling squad a solid fitness base coming
and combined with Jerry Knowles and Alex McKenzie to win
into the surf season. By season 2011/12 ocean racing had
the relay. Jerry and Alex won the double.
really gained momentum and the North Cottesloe paddlers’ training program was essentially split into two parts. The focus
Interestingly though, it was actually Will who, along with
for the first half of the season was the long-distance events,
Trigg Island’s Dan Humble, was winning the single ski race
targeting The Doctor (Rottnest Island to Hillarys) in mid-
that year. From behind, Tim managed to pull onto the same
January (since changed to November). Then from mid-January
wave as Will and Dan and, with more momentum, forced
to the Australian championships the sessions focussed on
himself into the front, pipping Will on the line. Will finished
sprinting, start skills and course work. By 2018, ocean racing
second and Dan third. Knowlesy paddled the best race of his
was no longer such a focus for the North Cottesloe paddlers
career to finish fifth, while Michael ‘Bingers’ Bingemann and
and training was targeted towards the shorter surf races.
Matt Rowett made their first single ski final. With Tom Flower also in the final, North Cottesloe had five of the 14 finalists.
At the 2013 State championships North Cottesloe showed great depth with four teams in the final of the ski relay. The A
The double ski race was not as exciting as the single but
team of Tim Bird, Tom Flower and John Lishman had a great
certainly showed just how good the Bird brothers are as
race to finish second, pushing Trigg Island throughout the race.
a double ski combination. The pack was equal until about
The B team of Knowlesy, Fini and Stuart Reside raced hard for
100m out from the finish line. Tim and Will seemed to find
bronze, but the waves didn’t roll their way on the last leg and
another gear and just paddled away – not on a wave – from
they finished fifth. Tim and Will won bronze in the double ski in
the rest of the field to take the gold medal. Knowlesy and
a final that included five North Cottesloe combinations.
Bingers just missed out on the medals in fourth.
Nick Taylor, who finished fifth with Stuart Reside, reckoned
There was plenty of excitement in the relay, with the Bird brothers
Tom, who finished sixth with Matt Rowett, needed counselling
and Knowlesy beating the reigning Australian champions from
after the race as he had trouble coming to terms with the fact
Trigg. The guys still get excited when they talk about it. Trigg
that a 53-year-old had pipped him on the line. Tom, on the
had won every State title for the previous 10 years, since North
other hand, was quick to point out that he and Matt had been
Cottesloe had won in 2002. North Cottesloe’s B team of Matt
a comfortable three lengths ahead of the “old man” but when
Rowett, Bingers and Fini paddled the race of their lives to be
they realised they wouldn’t make the podium they backed
racing for bronze on the last leg but unfortunately they were hard done-by in the wave zone and had to settle for fourth.
Brendan ‘BD’ Downes, 2016.
The tragic events of the 2012 Aussies at Kurrawa put a
bronze. Tim had pushed through the entire week with pain from an abdominal injury and Will had been trying to take the pressure off Tim by working harder going out through the break. It was an amazing effort by both paddlers. Getting through the week and having an amazing result displayed the calibre of the pair.
somber mood over the titles. North Cottesloe’s best result was again the Bird brothers in the double ski final. Tim and Will finished a very close fourth in an extremely exciting race – 13 of the 18 double skis on the same wave racing for the gold medal. Everyone thought the boys had grabbed the
right off to allow the old fossil some enjoyment. “We all know Nick is at his finest when the banter is high so we did everyone else at the after party a big favour,” Tom said. Meanwhile, Fini had the best result in the single ski, finishing sixth in a final that included six North Cottesloe paddlers. Jacqui Cook and Georgie Barker (Walsh) had joined the squad that season and achieved their goal of competing in
Chapter 7.7 Ski Paddling | 383
Scott Nicholls and Marcus Brockhurst make light work of the three-metre swell at a Scarborough carnival, 2014.
The Doctor and making the final of the mixed double ski at
squad and his enthusiasm was a huge asset. The squad grew
ski relay North Cottesloe had five teams in the final. John,
States. However, the lack of female involvement in the squad
in numbers and provided the platform for paddlers to go
Knowlesy and Tim beat the defending State and Australian
meant they didn’t continue the following season. It would
from novice to competitor including, by the following season,
champions Trigg, to win gold.
be another four years before the squad finally gained some
a couple of females.
consistent female paddlers.
After great success at the States, expectations were high for
Trigg paddler and Australian representative kayaker Reece
the Aussies where John Wilkie, Knowlesy and John Lishman
The best results at the Aussies that year were double ski
Baker was employed as the coach of the senior squad
kicked things off with medals in the masters events. North
semi-finals berths for the Bird brothers and Tom and Matt. It
and over the next couple of seasons he provided a new
Cottesloe ski paddlers had been achieving fairly consistent
was a case of bad luck for both combinations. The Bird boys
edge to the squad with his insights into the latest paddling
success at the masters Australian championships since 1993.
were sitting in fifth and would have easily made the final had
and training techniques that all members benefited from.
Alex McKenzie, Stan Davies (now competing for Cottesloe),
they not been squeezed out at the last can. Tom and Matt
Meanwhile, BD continued his tireless commitment to calling
were hampered by a slewed ski when the combination in
all the morning sessions, even managing to call sessions
Rob Jenkinson, the late Graham ‘Tuppy’ Lahiff, Michael
front of them fell off. With no room to go around, Tom and
from the IRB while injured. Marian continued to work with the
Matt tried to paddle over the top of the slewed ski but ended
paddlers on strength and conditioning.
up getting stuck half way.
MacDermott, Malcolm McCusker, Simon Martin, Nick Taylor and Stephen Hopkins all won national masters ski paddling medals during the 1990s and 2000s. Since 2014 Aussie
Depth in the squad continued to show in results at the States.
masters medals have been won by James Knowles, John
The following season Mike ‘Bingers’ Bingemann took on
In 2014, four combinations made it through to the final of the
Wilkie, John Lishman, Nick Taylor, Tim Bird, Sue Collins,
the role of captain, with a number of paddlers stepping up
open male double ski, with Tim and Will finishing with silver.
Kate Carbone (Knowles), Amanda Bowman, Amanda
to share the leadership. Dave Beckett led the development
John Wilkie won bronze in the single ski and in the open
Nitschke and Ben Mercer.
384 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
from his dad and then the likes of Tim Bird, John Wilkie and Reece Baker, it was a recipe for success. In Kris’s first session he fell in like most other first-timers but by the end of the session he was staying on the ski. Within six months he was hanging on to the pack at training. By the end of the year he started beating some of the lead paddlers. The 2015 and 2016 State championships were again a great show of North Cottesloe’s depth. The club had multiple paddlers/teams in most finals but won minimal medals. In 2015 Tim won bronze in the single ski and bronze in the double ski with brother Will. The Bird boys backed it up with another bronze the following year and, with Tom, won bronze in the ski relay. The best result at Aussies over these two seasons was a semi-finals berth for the Bird boys in the double ski in 2016. Season 2015/16 had seen a changing of the guard with BD stepping up as captain after Nick had been back in the role for a year. The squad continued to grow, but now also included a few regular females. Another boost for the squad was the inclusion of Olympic kayakers Jesse Phillips and Steve Bird. Steve joined the club late in 2014 for a fresh mental approach to paddling after an intense kayaking schedule that year. Trigg paddler Reece Baker had been trying to convince
Tim and Will Bird (left) and John Wilkie and Kris Taylor (right), 2015.
Steve to join Trigg, but Steve decided on North Cottesloe
The masters success at the 2014 Aussies didn’t flow through
Cottesloe, Kris knew he had well and truly done enough
to the open competition. North Cottesloe’s best result was in
swimming. Nick hadn’t encouraged Kris to paddle but the
knew how to train hard”. Jesse joined a year later and by the
the male double ski with John Wilkie and Kris Taylor reaching
influence had been there in the time Kris had inevitably
2016/17 season they were not only sharing their skills at
the quarter-finals.
spent with the paddling squad while swimming. “They were
training, they were leading by example in competition.
Kris, son of paddling stalwart Nick Taylor, had started paddling in 2013. He had been a nipper at North Cottesloe and rejoined following a very successful pool swimming career which included multiple State titles, a WAIS
and are an amazing group of people who are great to train with, hang out with – especially the banter under the tent – and to have a beer (or 12) with,” Kris said. “I knew I wanted to be a part of that group and that culture.”
for the “friendly, relaxed and laid-back paddlers who also
At the 2017 States, Steve and Jesse won gold in the open male double ski, with Tim and Kris taking bronze. Steve won bronze in the single ski and combined with Tim and Kris to win silver in the open male ski relay. For the first time in many
scholarship and representation in the Australian squad. After
Kris quickly applied the same discipline and commitment he
years, North Cottesloe won an under-age medal, with Josh
just a couple of seasons swimming in the surf for North
had given swimming. Combined with great tuition and advice
Lynn winning silver in the under-17 male single ski.
Chapter 7.7 Ski Paddling | 385
The participation numbers and results at the 2018 State championships reflected the growth of the ski squad over the previous couple of seasons. Growth in numbers, growth in female participation and growth in professionalism. The squad had gone from strength to strength. Paddlers were transferring from other clubs to be part of it and some of the younger members had got their university years out of the way and were realising that the structure of training and the mateship that could be gained was something that was really important as they moved into their careers. Steve and Jesse’s involvement had driven a fundamental change in the program, taking training to a higher level both mentally and physically. But the social aspect and fantastic camaraderie remained. While there were elite paddlers in the squad, the squad wasn’t elite and those who wanted to train for enjoyment could still be involved. There had been a cultural shift of greater inclusion, of females and also of younger paddlers, by way of different tiers. The squad wasn’t just for the top competitive paddlers. It was for everyone and
Amanda Bowman, 2018 State championships.
Meanwhile in the senior squad, while BD has continued to
under-21 single ski and bronze in the open female double
call the sessions, Steve and Jesse have been sharing the
ski with Madelline Shaw, who finished fifth in the under-21
development of the program, through coaching, setting
single. North Cottesloe had two other combinations in the
The development squad that Richard Lang started back in
programs, putting more focus back on the sprint component
final of the female double ski. Amanda Bowman and Tara
2003 and had ebbed and flowed over the years, was finally
and simply pushing the level of effort that is put into training.
Smith finished fourth and Samantha Schilperoort and Rachel
a structured program driven from a club level and with a
They have also been holding video sessions and creating a
Withoos finished sixth.
specific focus on the cadets. This was largely a result of the
feedback loop so everyone can have input into what can be
club’s surf sports academy, which had been launched in 2016
done better. Strength training is done over winter and as soon
North Cottesloe took the top two places in the open mixed
thanks to funding from long-time member and supporter
as the mornings become light enough, paddlers hit the ocean.
a pathway was created so young paddlers and development paddlers could get there.
Tim Roberts. Steve Bird has also been heavily involved in the development of younger paddlers, creating a pathway for them and urging senior paddlers to acknowledge the
The 2018 State championships showcased some of the biggest and most consistent surf in memory at a WA State
double ski, with Amanda Bowman and Jesse Phillips winning gold and Tara Smith and Steve Bird taking silver. Madelline Shaw and Pat Norton finished seventh. North Cottesloe had an unprecedented 11 entries in the mixed double, with six
impact they could have on young people simply by engaging
championships. North Cottesloe paddlers achieved 70
making the final.
with them. Steve also set up a relationship with Swan Canoe
points, compared with 38 the previous year. Of particular
Pat Norton won gold in the open male single ski and Tom
Club and Olympic kayaker Amanda Simper to get some
note were 26 female competitors, compared with two the
finished fourth – his best ever result. Steve and Jesse won silver
of the younger cadets paddling on guppies so they could
previous year. Not only was it high participation from the
in the double ski, with Tom and Matt fifth. Jacob Fitzgerald and
transfer onto skis as soon as they were old enough. Husband
females, it was high success. Young paddler Asa Nowell won
Eamon Walker won bronze in the under-19 double ski and
and wife team Mark Peters and Sue Collins have also been
silver in the open female single ski. It was North Cottesloe’s
Josh Calvert finished fourth in the under-21 single ski. North
instrumental in developing some of the younger paddlers.
first medal in this event since 1995. Asa also won gold in the
Cottesloe had a huge showing in the relays with the men
386 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
2018 State championships.
Chapter 7.7 Ski Paddling | 387
Steve Bird and Tom Flower, 2018 State championships. Asa Nowell and Madelline Shaw, bronze medallists in the open female double ski at the 2018 State championships.
finishing third, fifth and sixth, the females fourth and fifth and the under-19 men fourth. And in the taplin relay, Jesse and Steve strongly contributed to the club’s silver medal. Following the great results at States, and after the disappointment of the 2017 Aussies where all the water events were cancelled, North Cottesloe was set for a fantastic showing in the ski paddling arena at the 2018 Aussies in Perth.
Samantha Schilperoort, Madelline Shaw, Asa Nowell, Rachel Withoos, Amanda Bowman and Tara Smith, 2018 State championships.
388 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
There were no medals but it was probably North Cottesloe’s best ever overall result in ski paddling at an Australian championships. Three North Cottesloe combinations reached the open male double ski final – more than any other club. They were Tom Flower and Pat Norton, Steve Bird and Jesse Phillips and Kris Taylor and Dan Peters. Steve, Pat and Tom made the final of the ski relay, where they were in second position after two legs but their finals hopes were shattered when Tom’s ski malfunctioned after being hammered by big surf on the way out.
Two combinations made the final of the open female double ski – Asa Nowell and Rachel Withoos and Amanda Bowman and Tara Smith. Rachel, Asa and Amanda made the final of the ski relay and Tara reached the final of the open female single ski. Three mixed double ski combinations also made the final – Amanda and Jesse, Tara and Steve and Samantha and Tom Schilperoort. The results indicated that perhaps some Australian paddling medals aren’t far away. BD, who continues as ski captain, believes the increased female participation has been a positive influence across the board. “Training participation was up, banter was up, gym sessions were up,” BD said. “It just took the squad to a new level and has no doubt had an impact on increasing the interest other members now have with joining the squad.” BD is also excited that the club has a core group of under-17s who will compete and will help build numbers in that age group.
Pete Charles (bow), Kim Greville, Dave Porzig, Jono Fievez and Jack Alliss (sweep), gold medallists at the 2006 Australian championships at Kurrawa, Queensland, the first of four consecutive Australian titles for North Cottesloe in the open male surf boat. (photo Adrian Broughton)
SURF BOATS
T
here’s no doubt surf boat success over the past couple of decades has played a big part in putting North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club on the map. Any surf boat rower in Australia will know of North Cottesloe. They will know it’s the
home of a highly-professional and successful surf boat outfit, which on four occasions has proved itself to be the best boat club in the country by topping the point score in the surf boat arena at the Australian championships. And, of course, it’s the only club in history to have won four back-to-back open men’s surf boat Australian titles. Since 2006 North Cottesloe has been represented in at least one final at the Australian championships every year and
Chapter
an impressive five finals at two championships. Up until the end of 2018, the club has won 21 Australian championship medals (not including masters), seven world championship medals (not including masters) and has represented Australia on three occasions. In State competition, since 1992, the open men have won 19 State titles and the club has won 22 surf boat relay State titles. Since the introduction of women’s rowing in 1995, the club has won 16 State titles in the open female event. One feat that continues to elude North Cottesloe is gold in every division at the State championships. The club has been one gold shy on several occasions but the clean sweep remains elusive and is only becoming harder to achieve with the ever-growing number of divisions. In 2007, an under-23 female category was introduced, followed by a reserve female category in 2016 (in WA and 2017 for
Chapter 7.8 Surf Boats | 389
This led to not only technical know-how but also the recruitment of UWA rower Ben Rosser and former Swan River Rowing Club rower Paul Page. Former UWA rower Dave Barber, who rowed at North Cottesloe in the late1980s, also returned to the surf club following a few years working overseas and on the east coast. These rowers, along with long-time North Cottesloe member Craig Smith-Gander and sweep Jack Alliss, won that first State title in 31 years and formed the nucleus of the champion North Cottesloe crews to follow. Others to come from UWA during the 1990s included Ian Clarke, Dave Clarke, Pat Walsh, Tom Warner, Merome Hall and Liz Carson. The recruitment of river rowers continued. Surf boats provided a good transition from the high-pressure environment of elite river rowing. Surf boats were a step down in intensity but still professional. And as it turned out, more opportunities came out of surf boats for the river rowers than expected. Their motivation was all about rowing with mates, being in a social environment and keeping fit. But what they found was a very high level of competition. Over the next couple of decades, North Cottesloe was blessed with a steady flow of highly-credentialed still-water
Surf boat relay State champions, 1992.
rowers turning up to row surf boats. This included Olympians
the Australian championships). The cancellation of the
boat success North Cottesloe is known for today, started
2017 Australian championships resulted in 2018 being the
back then. 1992 was also the first year North Cottesloe won
inaugural race for reserve females at the Aussies. Under-19
the boat relay, demonstrating the growing depth across
Fievez, Jess Harker, Steve Fletcher, James Gatti, Libby Gatti
females were included in 2017.
divisions.
(Alderman) and Tom Gatti.
North Cottesloe showed early dominance in surf boat rowing
It largely came about by learning to row. In the 1980s a
Just three years after winning that first open State title, North
in WA back in the 1920s, winning the first seven years of
top eastern states sweep, Ross Jorgenson, swept North
Cottesloe rowed in its first ever open surf boat Australian
carnival racing. However, success then waned and, although
Cottesloe’s A crew while he was visiting the west. He told
final. The Blue crew of Ian Clarke, Pat Walsh, Ben Rosser,
there were some wins, it wasn’t until the early 1990s that the
the crew that if his own rowers were in a dugout canoe,
Tom Warner and sweep Jack Alliss went into the Australian
club started showing signs of the dominance that has carried
they’d still beat the North Cottesloe crew. They needed to
championships as one of the favourites to win following their
through until today. North Cottesloe won its first reserve
learn how to row. And eventually they did. In the early 90s, at
performance in the Uncle Tobys series that year.
grade State championship in 1991 and then the following
the suggestion of North Cottesloe club member and UWA
They won bronze.
year the club won its first open men’s State title since 1961.
Rowing Club member Andrew Brown, Richard Meadmore
The club backed it up the following year with another
It was the culmination of years of hard work. All the surf
took a bunch of guys to UWA to learn how to row.
bronze medal, this time to the White crew of Greg Kerr,
390 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Shaun Coulton, Bec Sattin, Rachael Taylor, Jeremy Stevenson and Australian representatives Dave Porzig, Jono
subsequently, the controversy that newspapers dubbed the ‘cereal wars’. This story is well-documented in part one of this book. The Uncle Tobys series played a significant role in developing North Cottesloe’s assault on surf boat rowing at a national level and the club’s subsequent and continued success. Not only did the series provide consistent high-level competition and exposure to surf typically not experienced during racing in WA, it also lifted the profile of surf boats. Future member of the history-making J crew, Dave Porzig, saw the Uncle Tobys series on TV and thought he wanted to do that after he finished rowing still water. The 90s are also remembered for the introduction of women to the surf boat arena. North Cottesloe’s leap into women’s surf boats is documented in the earlier chapter on women. In 1995 female surf boats became an official competition event Australia-wide. Across the country, women’s surf boat competition took off, with strength demonstrated in participation numbers. At North Cottesloe, strength was seen not just in numbers, but also in success. North Cottesloe won the inaugural State championship and has been the dominant club in WA for most of the years since. And just once, North Cottesloe managed the hat trick. At the 2013 State championships, North Cottesloe won gold, silver and bronze in the open female surf boat final. North Cottesloe’s first ever female rowers in 1994 included Drivers of North Cottesloe’s surf boat success, Tony Beard, Richard Meadmore, Adrian Ridderhof, Steve Coote and Jack Alliss, 1992.
Paul Crockett, Simon Nutter, Alan Evans and sweep Richard Meadmore. In cyclonic conditions, the crew crossed the line second but was given third following a protest by Lonsdale. The Blue crew had again been one of the favourites to win gold at the Aussies that year, but North Cottesloe showed its depth as a boat club with the second open crew medalling. Despite consistently being up there with the top crews in the country, it was another 10 years until the open men won another Australian medal. During this time, they managed to
contest two finals, finishing fourth in 1997 and 2004. In 2007, the Blue crew was leading comfortably with 80m to go but finished with fourth after three crews came from behind on a wave. The surf boat success of the 90s was unprecedented for North Cottesloe – and WA surf boats – and set the scene for what the club was capable of achieving. The 90s are remembered for the big-money televised events sponsored by Kellogg’s and Uncle Tobys and,
Alli Gould and Lou Roberts, who both became important members of the women’s squad for many years to come. They both won numerous State titles and Lou was a member of North Cottesloe’s first ever women’s crew to medal at an Australian championships. Such a love they found for the sport that they are still rowing today in a reserve/ masters crew. Rowing with them is Liz Carson, who started rowing surf boats in 1998 and was also a member of that first Aussie medallist crew. For Liz, it’s the laughs, banter, fitness and friendships that keep her rowing surf boats at North Cottesloe 20 years after she first started. As she says: “What better way to start the day than coming down to North
Chapter 7.8 Surf Boats | 391
surf boat calendar since 1997 and had steadily been growing in prestige. Typically the top crews from around Australia would compete at the event, which was held a couple of months before the Australian Championships each year. In season 2001/02 North Cottesloe started to show signs of real depth in the boat section, including a renewed dominance in the open men. Towards the end of the 90s the open men had lost a bit of dominance, with City of Perth winning three State titles in a row. North Cottesloe’s women again represented WA in the Kellogg’s series and on the same weekend that the crew of Liz Carson, Naomi Hough, Sally Glen, Michelle Butler and sweep Gary ‘Willow’ Williamson were winning in Coolum, QLD, four other North Cottesloe crews were powering to great results at carnivals in NSW. In calm conditions at Freshwater, the club had crews in the finals of the open, reserve and under-21 male divisions. The best results were the open J crew (Ian Clarke, Dave Porzig, Bruce Wells, Tom Warner and sweep Jack Alliss) and the under-21 Travellers crew (Kieran Artelaris, Ben Cole, Andrew Pears, Scott Featherby and sweep Macca), both finishing second. At Manly, in huge eight-foot surf, North Cottesloe had crews in the finals of the open male and female North Cottesloe’s first female surf boat crew, Lou Roberts (bow), Kate Scott, Alli Gould, Karen Kearns and Richard Meadmore (sweep), 1994.
divisions. The J crew again finished second and the women (Fiona Murray, Alli Gould, Kelly Moss, Lou Roberts and
Cottesloe and going for a row”. Similarly Lou says, in short,
women at the Australian Surf Rowers League (ASRL)
she’s addicted to the activity and the environment.
Open in Sydney.
These ladies are not alone in their love of the sport. Others
When women were included in the Kellogg’s series in
continued to come back season after season, taking a break
season 2000/01, the North Cottesloe Purple crew of
to travel or have children but eventually finding themselves
Michelle Butler, Naomi Hough, Sally Glen, Alli Gould and
addition to his open men’s crew. After thinking he had made
back in a boat – either to row for a season or by being
sweep Mark ‘Macca’ McDermott won the selection event
it out over the main break with the reserve crew, a huge
coaxed out of retirement part way through a season to fill in
at Secret Harbour to represent WA as the inaugural female
wave stood up and they were pounded. The boat hit the
when a crew has been hit by injury – Georgie Barker (Walsh),
Western Stingrays crew, competing in rounds in Queensland
bottom of the ocean with such force that Jack’s foot went
Kelly Moss and Jess Flower (Harker) to name a few. Georgie
and NSW. Later in the season the crew finished fifth in the
through the back deck. The boat shot up vertically and
started rowing in 1998 and in early 2018, after a few years
final at the ASRL Open at Fingal Bay, NSW, the best result of
everyone came out of the boat. They all quickly surfaced
off to have children, found herself filling in with the reserve
all North Cottesloe crews. The ASRL Open had been on the
except Anthony ‘Morph’ Kearns, who finally burst through the
392 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
sweep Jack Alliss) finished a strong fourth after getting the worst of the break on the way out to sea. Because of the huge conditions, Jack had ended up sweeping the open female and reserve male crews in
division in 2014 (Jess Hayes, Courtney Aylett, Jess O’Mahony, Camilla O’Shea and sweep Tim McFarlane). As for other medals, the open men won silver in 2016, open women bronze in 2015, under-19 men bronze in 2004, under-23 women silver in 2012 and bronze in 2011 and 2016 and the reserve women silver in 2018. In 2002, the Eels crew went on to win silver at the Australian championships at Kurrawa, following a third place in a preAussies competition at Surfers Paradise. The girls rowed brilliantly over the Australian championships weekend, winning almost all of their heats. Anyone who watched the final on television will know that the coverage did not do the North Cottesloe girls justice, even though they had the surf-cam in their boat. Looking back on that moment, Liz Carson says: “I couldn’t be prouder, that after all the years North Cottesloe had put into developing women’s surf boats, that finally we got a medal at the Aussies for the club. . . It was an amazing feeling and a very memorable moment in my life”. As for Lou, she was 1995 Australian open male surf boat bronze medallists Jack Alliss (sweep), Ian Clarke, Pat Walsh, Ben Rosser and Tom Warner. (photo Stan Davies)
proud of her crew and pleased she had done her job. “Winning, or doing well, was the best way to thank the North Cottesloe family that raised girls’ surf boats and made us good enough to
water screaming: “I can’t breathe”. Jack’s response was: “Of
in Australia. The J crew also won the overall ASRL grand prix
win Aussie medals,” Lou said.
course you can, you’re screaming your lungs out”. They turned
series and were presented with a trophy the size of a small
At the end of that season, with the club now having won three
the boat over and made it back to the beach – a bit shaken and
building. Points for the grand prix series were calculated from
Australian medals and rowed in four finals, North Cottesloe
looking like drowned rats. Jack didn’t have any time to recover
a crew’s three best results from local carnivals combined with
boat captain Jack Alliss made the call that a gold couldn’t be
because he had to hightail it to the start of the open race.
results from the State championships, Manly carnival and the
that far away.
By now, it was standard practice for crews to travel east to
ARSL Open. Winning the series was a significant achievement
Like the men, it would be another 10 years before the women
compete, made possible through sponsorship and fundraising.
and consolidated North Cottesloe’s position as a leading boat
The fact that North Cottesloe was winning finals all over
club in the nation.
Australia was extremely significant and after all these years it is
It remains the only time the club has won the open male and
and 2008), making the top eight, just one race shy of the final.
female double at an ASRL Open. In fact, the women haven’t
Members of these crews included Lou Roberts, Liz Carson,
At the 2002 ASRL Open at Scarborough Beach, the open
won since and the men just once in 2005 (Jono Fievez, Dave
Georgie Walsh, Sophie Kilpatrick, Bec Sattin, Jess Harker,
men’s J crew (Ian Clarke, Dave Porzig, Bruce Wells, Tom
Porzig, Kim Greville, Derek Knox and sweep Jack Alliss). North
Warner and sweep Jack Alliss) and the open women’s Eels
Cottesloe won gold in the under-23 male division in 2012
crew (Fiona Murray, Sally Glen, Liz Carson, Lou Roberts and
(Gordon Smith-Gander, Simon Ponsonby, Breff O’Shea, Matt
At the 2003 Australian championships, the women’s Eels
sweep Willow) both won gold against many of the top crews
Turner and sweep Dave Hunt) and gold in the under-23 female
crew of Liz Carson, Sophie Kilpatrick, Georgie Walsh and Lou
something Jack still talks about.
won another Aussies medal or indeed, even made a final. They came agonisingly close on three occasions (2003, 2007
Annika Naughton, Fiona Murray and sweeps Willow and Dave Hunt.
Chapter 7.8 Surf Boats | 393
didn’t make it past the warm up. After a fantastic season that included fifth at the ASRL Open and gold at the States, the crew had high expectations for the Aussies. After Naomi hurt her leg when they were pounded in the warm-up, the officials delayed their heat until the last round to give her a chance to recover. Needless to say, Naomi’s broken leg did not recover in 20 minutes so they had to withdraw from the competition. Time limits were hugely extended that year and if a crew made it back to the beach before the flag was raised they were pretty much through to the next round. Certainly in some races no crews were making it back to the beach within the time limit. The women’s Green crew of Liz Carson, Merome Hall, Kelly Moss, Georgie Walsh and sweep Tony Pat Walsh with son James, Ian Clarke, Greg Kerr, Jack Alliss and Tom Warner, 1997. James became a surf boat rower in the 2010s.
Stuart Cross, Paul Webster, David Gibson, Damien Kelly and Colin Chalmers (sweep) win North Cottesloe’s first State under-21 surf boat title, 1997.
Beard claimed the most spectacular wipeout with the boat standing vertically on a back-shoot and Kelly and Georgie managing a synchronised dive out of the bow. In a gutsy
Roberts would never have made the final eight if it weren’t
The second reserve men’s crew of James ‘Chocks’
effort the crew climbed aboard and (nearly) completed
for their sweep Willow putting himself out there – literally.
McLaughlin, Patrick Golden, Michael McCartney, Ian Gargen
the race, only to roll on a small wave just before the finish
After snapping their sweep oar on the way out in one of
and whichever sweep was available, had gone from novice
line to be disqualified. This was back in the days when a
their heats, Willow hung off the back of the boat and used
rowers to the semi-finals of the reserve division at the
his body as a sweep oar to successfully steer the girls out
1999 States. They then went to the Aussies for the social
to the turning cans and safely back to the beach. Willow
opportunity and, swept by Goose, proved to be the only
had previously told Jack about the possibility of such a
North Cottesloe crew to not only make the entire course
manoeuvre if a sweep oar snapped, but Jack didn’t give it
twice but also make it to the second round. Meanwhile, the
much credence until he saw it with his own eyes. It certainly
open men and open women were eliminated in round one
Meanwhile, the open men’s J crew of Tom Warner, Tristan
summed up Willow’s dedication to the sport and remains
in very trying conditions. When the open men came to grief,
Pascall, Chris Ratajczak and Lee Barker (who had been
a great example of not being defeated by the elements
Paul ‘Davey’ Crockett had a quicker trip back to the beach
pulled up into the top crew following an injury to Ian Clarke
even in the face of breakages. Willow was last seen doing
than most of his crew, though he can’t remember it. After
before the States) made it through to the final eight only to
this manoeuvre at a country carnival in 2018 (sweeping for
taking off on a wave, slewing and rolling, Jack remembers
be eliminated by the clock. The crew had been one of the
Geraldton SLSC, where he had moved in the late 2000s).
Davey, who wasn’t a confident swimmer, being glazed over
It wasn’t always the top crews who did the best at Aussies. In 1979, the reserve crew of Brian Dawson, Adrian Ridderhof,
and not making any sense. Needless to say, Davey took the offer of a lift back to the beach in the IRB.
roll on the way back to the beach resulted in an immediate disqualification. Today, it doesn’t matter what happens on the way in, as long as the boat stays in its alley and crosses the finish line with a minimum of three oars and three crew members in control of it.
fastest throughout the championships. In the semi-finals their sweep oar cracked going out through the first break and Jack made the decision to return to the beach for a new one. The crew managed to row themselves back into
Johnno Miller and Craig Smith-Gander finished fourth at
In 2001, the Kurrawa Aussies were again a battle against
qualifying position but the clock was against them. The flag
Trigg. At the 1999 Aussies at Kurrawa it was a social crew that
huge seas and the women’s Purple crew of Mish Butler,
went up when they were just metres from the finish line and
had the most success.
Naomi Hough, Sally Glen, Alli Gould and sweep Macca
their hopes of racing for a medal in the final were shattered.
394 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
crew that then formed the nucleus of the history-making J crew. In 2004 the club achieved a record result at the States, winning five of six available gold medals – open male J (Kim Greville, Ben Hopkins, Derek Knox, Dave Porzig and sweep Jack Alliss), open female Booties (Alli Gould, Lou Roberts, Jackie van der Peyl, Georgie Walsh), under-19 Sanchez (Richard Cargeeg, Hugh Dight, Matt Jewkes, Dominic Sinagra and sweep Macca), reserves T-Bone (David Gibson, Michael Gibson, Graeme Teasdale, John Templeman and sweep Coley) and the relay (R, J and W crews). Jocks (Campbell Paterson, Andrew Pears, Andrew Pullinger, John Zimmermann and sweep Chocks) won silver in the under-21 division. This record result was achieved again the following year. Gold medals were won by the J crew in the open men (Kim Greville, Jono Fievez, Derek Knox, Dave Porzig and sweep Jack Alliss), Freckle in the open women (Michelle Butler, Naomi Hough, Mary Petrie, Kylie Symons and sweep Stiffy), Time for a new tent, but welcoming enough for Lee Barker (right) who soon moved from Cottesloe, 1999.
Stiffs in the under-21 (Nigel Burrows, Campbell Paterson, James Stewart, Matt Wilson and sweep Stiffy), Violator in the
Devastated, the boys were already drinking beer in the tent when Jack heard that only five crews would be rowing in the final. He told his crew to stop drinking beer in case they were given the sixth position in the final. It didn’t happen and the final went ahead with just five boats.
back in. So much for partying every night. The crew made it through to the semi-finals on the final day of competition. The surf was still huge and Jiggers was still petrified, but now he did want to do well. They made the top eight and then finally got their night of partying, plus the Mad Monday.
The under-19 Choc crew of Andrew ‘Aggs’ McLean, Jamie ‘Jiggers’ Ridderhof, Scott Featherby, John Templeman, James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin and sweep Willow also made the final eight. Not bad for a crew that was more interested in the social side of the Aussies. Jiggers had just wanted to get over to the Aussies for the partying. The surf was huge and Jiggers was petrified. But with Willow on the long oar, the crew kept progressing through the rounds. They finally got eliminated, to the relief of Jiggers, only to have boat captain Jack Alliss inform them he had put in a protest and they were
The open men and women rarely had the same full crews from one year to the next. Rowers came and went and there was typically a squad system to select the best crew. One thing the men had over the women was a consistent sweep in Jack Alliss, who swept the top crew from 1991 through to 2010. After the success of 2002 there was then a full crew change following the retirement of the stalwarts Clarkey and Tom. Jack still talks of his 2003 crew of Lee Barker, Kim Greville, Derek Knox and Paul Webster being red hot and very unlucky not to race for a medal at the Aussies. It was this
reserves (Derek Cross, David Gibson, Matt Stroud, Graeme Teasdale and sweep Macca) and J, OC and Stiffs in the relay. It was a great success for sweep Steven ‘Stiffy’ Petrie in his first season with North Cottesloe, winning both the under-21 male and open female divisions at the 2005 States. Stiffy has had many successes since but his favourite memory remains the first training session in the boat following the women’s win at States that year. During a rest, Kylie revealed that there were in fact seven ‘persons’ in the boat for that race. Both Naomi and Kylie were pregnant. And they were actually due on the same day. Jump forward 13 years and those little ‘persons’ are themselves competing for North Cottesloe. Naomi and Jack Alliss’ son Harry competes in swim, board and ironman and in 2018 he won the SLSWA junior achievement award.
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The following year in Wollongong the Js (with Jono Fievez replacing Hoppy as stroke) were unbeaten throughout the qualifying rounds and won the 2005 ASRL Open final in a dominant display of surf boat rowing. At the 2004 Aussies the J crew rowed brilliantly, winning almost all of their 10 elimination heats and then winning their semi-final, by more than 50m. However, they could not repeat the performance in the final, where they finished a credible fourth after the luck of the surf deserted them. In 2005 the Js went into the Aussies as the top-ranked crew in Australia. They qualified first through to the quarterfinals in extreme surf conditions but, again, the notoriously unpredictable surf of Kurrawa prevailed and pounded the crew out of contention. Results from the Aussies that year indicated the club was competitive across all divisions. Surely the elusive gold medal was imminent. And so it was. It came in 2006 when the J crew of Jono Fievez, Dave Porzig, Kim Greville, Pete Charles and sweep Jack Alliss allayed the reputation of being ‘the best crew never to win an Australian title’ by beating quality opposition in a very close competition at Kurrawa. It capped off a remarkable season for the J crew, which also included gold Gary ‘Willow’ Williamson (sweep), Fiona Murray, Sally Glen, Liz Carson and Lou Roberts on their way to a silver medal in the open female surf boat at the 2001 Australian championships, Kurrawa, Queensland.
2005 open female State champions Steven ‘Stiffy’ Petrie (sweep), Mary Petrie, Kylie Symons, Naomi Hough and Michelle Butler enjoy a trail.
medals at the State and world championships. The Aussie title was the first of what ended up being four in a row. In his annual report, club captain James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin wrote: “One of the highlights for me this season was seeing
Despite a lack of competitors his age at North Cottesloe, Harry has a deep loyalty for the club and refuses to move to another club where he would have more opportunities to compete in team events. Kylie and Adam Moore’s daughter Ivy has been competing since under-10s and has several junior State medals in swimming, march past, board rescue and pool rescue. Harry and Ivy (and Ivy’s older sister Lily) are members of the club’s surf sports academy, which was launched in 2016.
396 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Over these two years there were also some fantastic results at the ASRL Open. In 2004 at Southport, South Australia, the under-19 Sanchez crew of Richard Cargeeg, Hugh Dight, Dominic Sinagra, Matt Jewkes and sweep Macca got better with every row all the way through to the final where they collected a bronze medal. The open men’s J crew of Kim Greville, Derek Knox, Ben Hopkins, Dave Porzig and sweep Jack were on fire all the way through to the final only to be disqualified when they missed their turning buoy.
the J crew win a gold medal at the Australian championships. The race itself was a heart-stopper but what I will always remember is how our touring team of about 60 stood on the beach cheering them on”. In a first for the club, North Cottesloe had a second crew in a final that year, with the Fuel crew of Will Johnson, Sam Rowe, Alex Stewart, Cal Shelton and sweep Macca making the under-19 male final. It was the club’s first final in this division, from a crew in its debut year and the early signs of
what would become real strength in the club’s underage categories. Unfortunately, gear failure prevented the Fuel crew from contesting the medals. As they were going out
T
he Albany Whaleworld Challenge has been a staple on the North Cottesloe surf boat calendar since the event’s inception in 2004. Mark ‘Macca’ McDermott
the years and the event is now recognised as a wellorganised and fun weekend for all surf craft enthusiasts. While June is cold, there has been just one year when the
and his under-19 boys won the inaugural race, which
weather was so extreme that the race was held inside the
snapped off. Will untied the string that held the oar in the
started at the old whaling station and tracked across King
harbour on a triangular course. During Macca’s victory
rowlock, threw the oar out and dived into the surf. Macca and
George Sound, through the heads and finished in front of Albany Surf Club at Middleton Beach – a distance of about
speeches he would always encourage the other clubs to
the lads had talked about various scenarios should someone be thrown out of the boat or become incapacitated and
10km. As inaugural winners, the boys were compelled
Will had obviously taken it on board. Macca didn’t actually
to return the following year to give back the locally-
command him to evacuate. In fact, he would have preferred
sculptured whale tale trophy. And so it continued for the
Will had stayed in the boat for balance. As it was, Macca had
next 13 years. North Cottesloe would take the trophy back
to stand on the starboard gunwale to counterbalance the
down, win the race and bring the trophy home again. The
boat. The crew managed to finish the race with three rowers
club remains undefeated in the race. After a few years the
– and some crowd-pleasing antics as they trailed on a wave
course changed. It now starts in the port in front of the
to the beach.
maritime building, tracks east around the shipwreck, then
through the first break, Will’s oar hit the wave and the blade
Antics by these under-19 rowers earlier in the season hadn’t been quite as pleasing. One Friday night they were on their way to the Albany country carnival with Coley at the wheel of SLSWA’s 4WD and towing all the carnival gear required for set-up at first light. On the outskirts of Perth they managed
north through the headland to a turning can, finishing in front of the surf club at Middleton Beach – a distance of
send more crews to the event. They should support Albany SLSC and also take the opportunity to wrest the trophy from North Cottesloe’s grasp. Macca’s encouragement must have been mistaken for cockiness one year when a Fremantle boatie poured a can of baked beans over his head at the after-party. The Fremantle boatie also had his nose out of joint because not only had a North Cottesloe crew of mostly girls beaten his crew that day, the North Cottesloe sweep, Steve ‘Coobs’ Coote, had cut him off at the shipwreck. Fortunately Macca was more
13km. Many North Cottesloe boaties have rowed in the
intent on not spilling the beers he was carrying rather than
Albany Whaleworld Challenge. The club has managed
throwing a punch. Once he put the beers down he rubbed
to assemble at least one crew of ‘decent’ rowers each
most of the beans in the bean pourer’s face and over his
year but in some years there have been multiple crews
shirt. Fortunately the incident didn’t escalate too far and
to fill the diesel ute with unleaded petrol and ended up
entered, including mixed and masters crews and crews
between security – and later Coob’s hand – the bean
stranded on Albany Highway. A tow truck came to the
with imported river rowers. Participation has grown over
pourer and his sidekick were ejected from the party.
rescue and the under-19s were dropped at a bikie-affiliated establishment while Coley and the vehicle were delivered back to Perth, the SLSWA trailer left on the side of the road. Late in the night Coley returned with a new vehicle, collected the boys, who had been ‘carbo-loading ‘ for racing the next day, the trailer and resumed the trip. They could still have arrived in Albany in time for the dawn carnival set-up had they not assumed the petrol station of a small town would be open 24-hours. On arriving to a closed petrol station, different versions of the story have them sleeping in swags or playing croquet at a truck stop. When the petrol station opened at 4.30am, they filled up and again resumed the journey. Needless to say, they arrived at the beach late, facing the rather angry carnival officials, who obviously had no idea of the trauma they had endured to get the race equipment to
Matt Norton, Tom Gatti, Phil Lazzari, Jeff Hegarty (sweep) and James Gatti notch up another win for North Cottesloe in the Albany Whaleworld Challenge, 2017.
Chapter 7.8 Surf Boats | 397
A
s a young surf boat builder, Nathan Perry was scared of doing work for North Cottesloe. He thought the club was a bit posh and intimidating. He knew it was a quality club and he wanted to impress. In 1998 North Cottesloe trialled one of Nathan’s surf boats. It didn’t run as well as everyone would have liked and the club called it the banana boat. Nathan spoke to Jack about where he was heading with his boat-building and Jack agreed to give him one more go. The boat Nathan built in 2000 had a different shaped hull and North Cottesloe was happy with it. By then Nathan and Jack had become good friends and Nathan had relaxed a bit. It was the start of a great relationship – working together to build the boats North Cottesloe wanted. The hull shape has remained virtually the same since and North Cottesloe has ordered a new one pretty much every year. Nathan has built close to 20 boats for North Cottesloe – nearly double that of his next best customers. Whether it’s been good for his business – aside from having the reliable order – it’s hard to know. North Cottesloe and Perry surf
boats are synonymous. Has the success of North Cottesloe promoted Perry surf boats? Probably. As for Nathan, he’s glad he’s had an opportunity to get to know the North Cottesloe boaties. He’s made great friends. He’s looked to North Cottesloe for guidance when trying to improve things at his own club, Mona Vale. And he’s been able to see that the impression other eastern states clubs typically have of North Cottesloe is wrong. They are not elitist and arrogant. They are focused on the job at hand – winning races. In 2013 Nathan towed a new North Cottesloe boat to the world championships in Adelaide. On handing it over he told Macca the weight should be ok. Or it could be a little bit under. So they took it to a car wash and did the standard trick of giving it a good soak – taking advantage of the fresh porous fiberglass. During scrutineering, the officials saw the boat was wet inside and asked what had happened. There were some perplexed looks when Macca said they’d had a rollover – the ocean was dead flat. Touring, 2005.
the beach. They did, however, manage to win the under-19 race and place in the open male division. As for their finals appearance at the Aussies, it demonstrated the success that the club was starting to have with the underage crews, largely thanks to the energy being put in by Macca and Chocks over recent years. A decade earlier Goose had swept the club’s first under-18 crew in many years and Colin Chalmers had taken on a group of under-21 rowers. The under-21 lads were a little wild and difficult to manage but Colin took up the challenge of fostering them and the result was the club’s first under-21 State title in 1997 with the crew of Stuart Cross, Paul Webster, David Gibson and Damien Kelly. Paul Webster later returned to the club as an open rower and was an early member of the J crew. Mark ‘Macca’ McDermott, Nathan Perry and his life/business partner Kelly Marsh with a new Perry surf boat for North Cottesloe.
The under-18s, which had always been known simply as
knee while on a snow-skiing holiday. But it was his incredible talent that kept him there. That first season, with Pete in place of the injured Knoxy, the J crew won the State title, the world title and the Australian title. Pete didn’t know what it was like to lose. Four years later, he still didn’t. Ask Jack Alliss how hard it is to win an Aussie gold medal and he’ll give a completely different answer. “It’s a huge mountain to climb, given the level of competition and up to 100 boats in the event,” Jack said. “The conditions on the east coast are foreign to competitors from the west. And there are the logistics to get there. There are so many things to overcome, apart from skill and fitness. You have to get all your ducks in a row. North Cottesloe’s open crews since 1992 all played their part in building up to an Aussie gold medal.” Of course the majority of surf boat rowers around the country have never made a final, let alone won a medal. Many try for years and years. They say it’s an addictive sport and think they might try for just one more year. But so much has to come together at the one time. For one, Alex Stewart, Sam Rowe, Cal Shelton (and sweep Mark ‘Macca’ McDermott) finish the race with some entertaining antics and without fourth rower Will Johnson in the under-19s final at the 2006 Australian championships at Kurrawa, Queensland. (www.harvpix.com)
getting the right rowers in a crew together. And that doesn’t necessarily mean the four rowers who have the best history on paper or can pull the best ergo. It’s about a crew gelling
‘juniors’, changed to under-19s in 2001. Then in 2007, under-21s
race, though sometimes repecharges were held. With the
together, rowing the same way, having fantastic surf skills
became under-23s. Macca had started building momentum in
round-robin format, crews making the cut then proceeded to
and complete confidence in each other, as well as the same
the early 2000s and Chocks also became a real driver of the
the elimination rounds before the quarter-finals, semi-finals
level of commitment. And of course they need a dedicated
younger guys. His enthusiasm and passion were perfect for
and final. Crews could often race up to 10 times to reach the
and competent sweep who can be both a technical coach
keeping the younger guys engaged and he became a great
final. This, combined with the uncertainty of surf conditions,
and a surf sweep. Then there’s also an element of luck. With
mentor for them. Later in the 2010s, Stephen ‘Coobs’ Coote
requires a combination of consistent intense effort and good
many of the same crews making final after final in national
continued to work with recruiting and coaching the under-19s.
fortune to achieve success at a national level. In 2006 the J
competition, there is a certain level of luck crews make for
Since 2009, Dave Hunt has been the key driver behind the
Crew won the gold medal from 117 starters, while the under-
themselves, but there is also the added luck – or back luck
continued success of the under-23 men.
19s qualified for the final from 58 starters.
– that they can’t do anything about. The old surf god ‘Huey’
The large numbers of crews at major interstate carnivals
Just how hard it is to win a gold medal at the Australian
necessitate two boat arenas to operate simultaneously. By
championships depends on who you ask. Ask J crew
Like the Uncle Tobys Super Series of the 90s, the Ocean
the mid-2000s, the racing format had changed to a round
member Pete Charles and he might say it’s quite easy. He’s
Thunder Pro Surf Boat Series, which was launched in the
robin (three races per crew) with points awarded for first to
rowed at four Australian championships and won four gold
2005/06 season, gave North Cottesloe crews fantastic
sixth. Previously it had been elimination from round one,
medals. Pete had been in the right place at the right time
exposure to top national competition. The four-event series
meaning crews that didn’t qualify wouldn’t even get a second
to be given a chance in the J crew when Knoxy injured his
initially featured Australia’s 24 top men’s crews competing for
can be cruel or kind.
Chapter 7.8 Surf Boats | 399
with the level of competition bringing out everyone’s best. Pete said Ocean Thunder was critical to determining where the crew was placed compared with the competition. “We were often shown up for our lack of surf skills and pace off the beach,” Pete said. “Ocean Thunder gave us an opportunity to work on these areas and try again in another four weeks.” The first year of Ocean Thunder also marked the start of North Cottesloe storing a boat on the east coast. The club considered borrowing a boat but with a new boat on order, the plan was made to leave it in NSW once it was finished. It was a logistical concept that has continued until today. But whereas then there were four boats in the shed back at North Cottesloe, there are now five boats in the shed – the result of a plan outlined by Jack in 2008. Today the club maintains five boats in Perth during the season while a new boat is built in Sydney. When the new boat arrives at North Cottesloe after the Aussies, the oldest boat is sold. The exception has been the 05 boat, which didn’t get sold when its numeric shelf life expired. There was Jack Alliss (sweep), Jono Fievez, Dave Porzig, Pete Charles and Kim Greville win gold at the 2006 Australian championships at Kurrawa, Queensland, the first of four consecutive Australian titles for North Cottesloe in the open male surf boat. (www.harvpix.com)
prize money in modified sprint races, telecast on Fox Sport
in the last round, bringing home $10,000 for the club and,
for local and overseas audiences.
subsequently, securing the sponsorship of Pure Blonde for
The J crew raced at the inaugural event as the only crew with
future series.
no sponsor. All crew tents were branded with the sponsor’s
Ocean Thunder gave North Cottesloe consistent exposure to
name except for the North Cottesloe tent which read: ‘North
top competition. The crew would travel on a Friday and race
Cottesloe J Crew’. The club had been convinced to take a
up to 13 races on the Saturday, some of them double races.
gamble. Richard Meadmore had reminded president Alex
It was tough. But proof was in the fact that the bulk of finalists
McKenzie of what had happened after being involved in the Uncle Tobys series in the 1990s – the club had won two Australian medals. Ocean Thunder would cost the club around $40,000 in the first year and Alex supported
at the Aussies had competed in Ocean Thunder – just like in the 90s when the bulk of finalists at the Aussies had competed in Uncle Tobys.
a lot of sentiment around the Js winning the first of their four titles in the 05, even though they won it in 2006. So the 05 was kept and it remains a great boat in surf, even though it was one of a number of boats built specifically for the tall guys. Typically the sale of the four-year-old boat covers half the cost of a new boat and the other half is provided by an ‘anonymous benefactor’. At the 2007 Australian championships at Scarborough Beach, the J crew took home its second Aussie title (with Shaun Coulton in place of Jono Fievez). Currumbin Barbarians were beaten into silver for the second consecutive year. It was a time of a sweet rivalry between the Js and the Barbarians. At the start of that season former J crew member Ben Hopkins,
it. Against quality opposition, the crew strived to repay the
Jack and the J crew rowers, who competed in Ocean
who moved to Queensland in 2005, had replaced one of
club’s faith but managed to finish only in the minor prize
Thunder for four years from the 2005/06 season, believe
the Currumbin crew members. The replaced crewman was
money in the early rounds. However, they managed a win
Ocean Thunder had a significant impact on their success,
Shaun Coulton. Shaun had moved to Perth and stepped into
400 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
to stroke to replace Shaun) won a third
Cottesloe worked out by allocating points to clubs that won
consecutive open men’s Australian title.
medals in each division. But it was an achievement all the same
Winning a title with Knoxy in the boat
and it was the first time a WA surf club had taken the honour.
was really special for the crew, especially
North Cottesloe repeated the feat in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
for Pete. “Knoxy had given me so much support when he was ruled out during the 2005/06 season with a knee injury,” Pete said. “I think we celebrated the third harder than the first two combined.”
had gone travelling with his family (a year later than originally planned but with an Australian title to his name). Basically, there had been a seat swap between the crews. It made the win that year at the Aussies particularly sweet.
Pete Charles and Jack Alliss won the State title, finished second in the Ocean Thunder series and finished a very close second at the Australian championships in the final year at Scarborough. The women’s Blonde crew of Sophie Kilpatrick, Lou Roberts,
The under-19s Pass crew of Steve Martin,
Annika Naughton, Fiona Murray and sweep Dave Hunt made
Steve Ponting, Anthony O’Mahony, Pete
the second semi-final (top eight) for the second year in a row.
Holliday and sweep Tim McFarlane won
the stroke seat that had been vacated by Jono Fievez, who
In 2009 the J crew of Kim Greville, Dave Porzig, Derek Knox,
the club’s first under-19 Australian title
A year later the J crew’s silver medal was upped to gold. The
and both crews teamed up with the open
unprecedented fourth title in a row was announced at the 2010
women’s Blonde crew (Sophie Kilpatrick,
Australian championships after 12 months of arbitration and
Bec Sattin, Jess Harker, Lou Roberts and
legal wrangling following a positive drug test by one of the
sweep Dave Hunt) to win bronze in the
rowers from the first-placed Currumbin Barbarians. Needless to
relay. It was the first year the relay had to include a female
say, the rivalry between the J crew and the Barbarians was no
crew and under-19 crew. Other crews to make semi-finals
longer sweet.
were Blonde in the open women, Willow (Megan Willis, Amy Suckling, Lea ‘Loops’ Ridderhof, Helen Humphrys and sweep Willow) in the under-23 women and Bon Scott in the reserve men. The Bon Scott crew of Ben ‘Coley’ Cole, Steve Parks and
Three clubs had previously won three titles in a row – Cronulla (1933-35), Ballina-Lismore (1967-69) and Warriewood (1979-81) – but this fourth Australian title put the J crew in a field of their own. In 2010, historian Ed Jaggard wrote: “The North Cottesloe J
To win one Australian championship is significant, but only
Chocks stuck together as a crew for a few seasons but were
five crews had ever won back-to-back championships,
always short one rower. That year at the Aussies, Ian Clarke and
making the J crew’s second title even more of an
Braad Sowman rowed with Parksy and Chocks, while Coley
accomplishment. North Cottesloe was excited to have two
swept.
to celebrate and admire”.
Perhaps equally important to the medals in specific events
The 2009 Aussies also marked the start of North Cottesloe’s
was the club’s overall standing at the end of the Australian
continued success in the masters championships. Tom Warner,
titles. In early 2006 several senior members of the boat section
Ian Clarke, Adam Moore, Craig Smith-Gander and sweep Tim
discussed the future of surf boats at North Cottesloe. They
McFarlane won silver in the 170 years male surf boat in some
set some goals for the next three years, including for North
of the biggest surf seen at Scarborough Beach for a surf boat
Things got even better the following year at the Aussies in
Cottesloe to be the best surf boat club in Australia. The club
carnival. Since then, the club has won another eight medals
the second of three years at Scarborough. Five crews made
accomplished this goal in 2008 by winning the most points in
at the masters Australian championships. But at the time,
semi-finals and North Cottesloe bagged three medals. The J
the boat arena at the Aussies. It wasn’t an actual award, or even
it was just the third surf boat medal at a masters Australian
crew (with Derek Knox back in bow and Pete Charles moving
announced at the championships. It was something North
championships.
other crews reach the semi-finals that year – the under-19 Pool Boys (Steve Martin, Nick Strickland, Steve Ponting, Pete Holliday and sweep Chocks) and the Willow crew (Lea Ridderhof, Amy Suckling, Carlie Jones, Megan Willis and sweep Willow) in the new under-23 female division.
Crew are alone on a sporting pinnacle. . . What the J Crew have done has set new standards of sporting greatness, for all of us
Chapter 7.8 Surf Boats | 401
Steve Parks flies the Australian flag from the bow after trailing off in a race with James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin, Mark ‘Macca’ McDermott (hidden), Steve ‘Coobs’ Coote and sweep Willow in at the end of a race in Denmark on Australia Day, 2008.
Pete Holliday, Steve Martin, Tim McFarlane (sweep), Steve Ponting and Anthony O’Mahony win North Cottesloe’s first and only under-19 Australian title at the 2007 Australian championships, Scarborough Beach, WA. (www.harvpix.com)
In 1991, the crew of Steve Coote, Richard Meadmore, Tony
charge the main break. We are here for a gold medal.” And
Michael, Anthony O’Mahony, Steve Martin and sweep
Beard, Adrian Ridderhof and Jack Alliss won gold in the 35+
that’s what they got, winning by a huge margin.
Chocks) won silver in the under-23 men; and in the under-19
event at Cottesloe Beach. In 2000, Ian Clarke, Tom Warner, Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander, Greg Hogan and Jack Alliss won gold in the 120+ at Kurrawa.
Tragedy at the 2010 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Kurrawa brought a disappointingly early
men, the B crew (Declan McGill, Dane Strickland, Jack Thomson, Reif Myers and sweep Coley) won gold.
end to the 2009/10 surf boat season, leaving the State
In January, the Js (Knoxy, Mike Raisbeck, Pete Charles,
In 2000, Goose had been pulled into the open crew to bring
championships as the final hit out for most crews. The lack of
Shaun Coulton and sweep Jack Alliss) and Wahoos (Lisa
the age up so they qualified for the masters event. The
surf at Secret Harbour for the States was disappointing and
Ferrie, Anna Foster, Alli Gould and Bec Travaglione filling in)
Kurrawa surf was huge and with the open crew planning to
North Cottesloe won just one gold medal. North Cottesloe
had been selected in the Western Suns team to compete
have a red-hot crack at the main event later in the week,
fielded two relay teams, with the J crew, Blue Angels and
in the interstate championships at Colloroy, NSW. With no
Jack didn’t want any injuries or broken gear. In preservation
Bear Grylls taking out the bronze medal. In the divisions, the
transport, no race caps, no beach shelter and no food or
mode, they picked their way out through the surf and
club won four medals – the Js (Shaun Coulton, Pete Charles,
drinks, the WA rowers may have been forgiven for thinking
continued to get through the rounds and the semi-finals.
Mike Raisbeck, Derek Knox and sweep Jack Alliss) won
they weren’t part of the State team. Jack Alliss took matters
Once they reached the final, Jack’s attitude changed. “It’s an
silver in the open men; the Wahoos (Lea Ridderhof, Anna
into his own hands and hired a bus that also served as a
Australian final boys,” Jack said, when asked about the race
Foster, Lisa Ferrie, Alli Gould and sweep Goose) won silver
beach shelter. They went for a trip to North Steyne – not for
plan. “We go from the gun, hard through the shore break and
in the open women; the Merkins (George Garnett, Warwick
the traditional social activities but to buy black and gold caps
402 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Ben Cole, Mo Jaggard, Susannah Wilson, Jess Flower (Harker) and Georgie Barker (Walsh) about to be hit for the second time (Georgie in bow already minus a blade), at the 2011 Aussies at Kurrawa, Queensland.
Mark ‘Macca’ McDermott, Stephen ‘Coobs’ Coote, Sam Rowe (back), Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander and Steven ‘Stiffy’ Petrie, 2008.
to race in. NSW ironwoman Naomi Flood supplied bananas
harsh cuts once competition finally resumed. As a result,
two sets of large breaking waves to be in the middle of the
during racing as she was keen on a North Cottesloe boatie –
the interstate challenge, for which Tim McFarlane’s T crew
field of six. With no time to ponder, Chocks screamed: “Boys,
great for the rowers but apparently a little terrifying for Pete.
and Steven ‘Stiffy’ Petrie‘s Blue Angels had been selected to
we are going”. The crew remained focused, keeping eyes on
represent WA, was cancelled.
their oars as they powered out toward what Gordo (stroke)
Highlights of the weekend were the WA men winning the
described as a wall of water. Meanwhile, the other crews
surf lifesaver relay against the heavies of the east coast –
The third trip was even worse. Similar oceans were on show
something WA had never done before – and the Wahoos
at the Aussies, which were back on the Gold Coast after three
winning gold at the Freshwater carnival, where the Js finished
years at Scarborough. It was carnage all round during the first
fourth. Anna Foster woke to find “Winner winner chicken
couple of days of competition at Kurrawa, before surf boats
diner (sic)” written on her cheeks courtesy of North Cottesloe
(bow) experienced a nasty three-metre drop onto the gunnel
were moved to Kirra Beach. Facing large conditions at Kirra,
as the boat landed. They made it to the turning can and
sweep Chocks made the call that helmets were necessary
realised the rest of the field, all of which had backed down,
for his under-19 male crew. (It was another five years before
were now overturned in the breaker area struggling to right
the helmet policy was introduced, in which carnival officials
their boats. North Cottesloe made it to shore in first place by
The second trip east that season wasn’t quite as successful.
could make a compulsory helmet ruling under conditions of
a five-minute margin. It was to be the last race of the carnival.
Crews that travelled to Wollongong, NSW, for the ASRL Open
heightened risk). The under-19 crew of Gordon Smith-Gander,
All water events were cancelled due to the tragic death of
in February were faced with major storms, major delays and
Will Dennis, Alex McMillan and Robbie Benson made it over
under-19 Queenscliffe ironman Saxon Bird back at Kurrawa.
sprinter and fellow State team member Tom Nolan. The two crews finished the trip off in the Old Manly Boatshed drinking warm fish milkshakes.
(including the hot Currumbin, Kurrawa and South Curl Curl crews) had all backed down. The North Cottesloe boys made it over the wave by the nearest of margins, though Robbie
Chapter 7.8 Surf Boats | 403
Silver medallists Bec Travaglione, Tim McFarlane (sweep), Jessie O’Mahony and (front) Jess Hayes and Nat Whiteside and gold medallists Matt Turner, Gordon Smith-Gander, sweep Dave Hunt and (front) Breff O’Shea and Simon Ponsonby in the under-23s at the 2012 Australian Surf Rowers League Open at Stockton Beach, NSW.
Silver medallists in the surf boat relay at the 2012 Australian championships at North Kirra, Queensland, (back) Steve Fletcher, Jeremy Stevenson, James Gatti, Mike Raisbeck and Tim McFarlane (sweep), (middle) Rachael Taylor, Bec Sattin, Meg Chute, Jess Flower, and (front) Alex Davies (sweep), Archie Cooke, Tim Gregg, James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin (sweep), George Haggett and Andrew Harford.
It was a disappointing end to months of training and
Season 2011 was certainly more successful all round, with
A similar hat trick was achieved by the under-19 male Oz
dedication from North Cottesloe rowers. For some, the
North Cottesloe winning six of seven gold medals on offer
crew of Reif Myers, Declan McGill, Jack Thomson, Dane
season had already been marred by injury and interruptions,
at the State championships. It was a particularly successful
Strickland and sweep Chocks, who won gold in the under-
especially in the open women’s squad. In the Wahoos
season for the club’s younger rowers. North Cottesloe gained
19s, gold in the reserves after sharing a wave with North
crew, Wendy Townsend had broken her foot in big surf at
a new crew during the season with the under-23 Indiana
Cottesloe Wolf Pack (Mike O’Shea, Martin Edwards, Stuart
crew of Bec Smith, Meg Chute, Angie Coote, Nat Whiteside
‘Tubs’ McLaughlin, Cal Shelton and sweep Ben Noble) and
and sweep Alex Davies moving up from Cottesloe Surf
gold in the relay. The sixth gold medal of the championships
Trigg, then Megan Willis broke her leg while skiing in Japan, resulting in Bec Travaglione filling in for the interstate/Manly/ Freshwater trip and then Lea ‘Loops’ Ridderhof jumping in the boat for the last few weeks of the season. Meanwhile in the Blue Angels crew, Kelly Moss was dragged out of
Club. It was a win for North Cottesloe with the young crew demonstrating just what could be achieved with hard work and commitment. At the States they won gold in the under-23s in a tight race against North Cottesloe Thunder (Jessie O’Mahony,
was won by the men’s under-23 Persuaders crew of Steven Martin, Simon Ponsonby, Gordon Smith-Gander, Breff O’Shea and sweep Dave Hunt. The open men’s crew Haul n’ boats was the third crew in the gold-medal relay team.
retirement after Bec Sattin was forced to pull out because of
Emma Wynne, Jess Watts, Bec Travaglione and sweep Tim
work commitments. Taryn Langdon then broke her foot four
McFarlane), gold in the open women, just nudging out North
For the first time in more than a decade, there was no J
days before the States, resulting in Jess Harker rowing at the
Cottesloe Diva (Georgie Walsh, Jess Flower (Harker), Susannah
crew. The open men’s crew now had a new name and a
States and Bec jumping back in for the Aussies.
Wilson, Mo Jaggard and sweep Coley) and gold in the relay.
new sweep – Haul n’ Boats swept by Tim McFarlane. Dave
404 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
In the under-23 female event Indi made it through to the semifinals and Thunder progressed through to the final after an eventful first semi-final. In six-foot surf, the Thunder girls were slow to trail and get back when they took a wave, resulting in the boat slewing and rolling. Jess Watts wasn’t the greatest swimmer, but luckily Emma Wynne was. Emma retrieved all the oars as the rest of the crew worked on getting Jess back in the boat. They managed to catch another wave and qualify in first place. The girls had learnt their lesson and in their second semi-final they were quick to trail and get back. Tim held a straight line into the beach for an easy win and a place in the final, where they finished sixth. It was the first of four finals in a row for Tim and his under-23 female crews, with the girls winning silver the following two years and finishing fourth in 2014. Wolf Pack was the second North Cottesloe crew to make a final that year, finishing sixth in the reserves. But like the James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin (sweep), George Haggett, Oliver Bradley, Andrew Harford and Archie Cooke, 2013 under-19 State champions and top eight at the Australian championships. (www.harvpix.com)
Jess Flower, Libby Gatti, Bec Sattin, Rachael Taylor and Alex Davies (sweep) compete in Ocean Thunder during the 2012/13 season before winning silver in the open females at the 2013 Australian championships. (photo John Wiseman)
under-23 girls, it was to be onwards and upwards for Wolf Pack in following years. And the open women. And the open men. Four years after North Cottesloe’s excitement at having five crews making semi-finals at Aussies, excitement found a
Porzig remained from the J crew and joining him were Mike
The 2011 Aussies at Kurrawa were again in big seas, resulting
Raisbeck – who had been a reserve for the J Crew over the
in postponements and delays in racing. Diva raced in one of
previous couple of seasons – and former Australian still-water
the first heats of the open women and after being involved in a
representatives Steve Fletcher and Jeremy Stevenson. As well
three-boat pile up, racing was called off for the day. However,
as winning gold in the relay at States, they won bronze in the
Diva’s win in that heat was a sign of things to come. When
open men and at the ASRL Open in Wollongong they finished
racing finally got under way again a couple of days later, the
in the top 12.
girls won most of their heats and made it through to the top
It was the club’s younger crews that achieved the most
sweep Coley hadn’t called the girls down before the line in
impressive results at the ASRL Open. Indi won bronze and
their semi-final, thinking they were out of contention. Four
Thunder finished fifth in the under-23 female division and Oz
crews progressed to the second semi-final and Coley thought
finished fourth in the under-19 male division. A few weeks
they were battling it out for the insignificant fifth and sixth
earlier Indi had picked up another couple of under-23 medals
positions. However, they were actually racing for fourth. Coley
It was a controversial result for the open men. They were
in NSW, winning gold at the Manly carnival and silver at the
hadn’t realised there was still a crew just turning the cans after
winning the final by a couple of lengths until they stopped
Freshwater carnival on Australia Day.
rolling on the way out.
on a sand bank, thinking they’d won. They were celebrating
12. Who knows if the result would have been any different if
different level in 2012 with the club making five finals. Grape Smugglers (Archie Cooke, Andrew Harford, Tim Gregg, George Haggett and sweep Chocks) finished sixth in the under-19 male division and Kwik Cranes (Nat Whiteside, Jessie O’Mahony, Jess Hayes, Bec Travaglione and sweep Tim McFarlane) won silver in the under-23 female division. Mermaid Marine (Jess Flower (Harker), Meg Chute, Bec Sattin, Rachael Taylor and sweep Alex Davies) won silver in the open women and Euroz (Steve Fletcher, Mike Raisbeck, Jeremy Stevenson, James Gatti and sweep Tim McFarlane) won bronze in the open men.
Chapter 7.8 Surf Boats | 405
as another couple of boats passed them. Euroz slewed into Batemans Bay, who was given silver. Mona Vale won gold, which was to be the second of three gold medals in a row for the club. In a great show of club strength, North Cottesloe had two relay teams in the final of the surf boat relay with the A team (Euroz, Mermaid Marine and Grape Smugglers) winning silver and the B team finishing fifth. With such an amazing club effort, North Cottesloe again topped the points for surf boats at the Australian titles. The local season had also ended on a high with North Cottesloe again winning six of seven divisions at the 2012 State championships. In the open male division, Euroz won gold and the under-23 Notts crew (Gordon Smith-Gander, Simon Ponsonby, Breff O’Shea, Matt Turner and Dave Hunt) won bronze. North Cottesloe had five crews entered in the open female division and all five crews made the six-boat final, with
North Cottesloe has been competing in surf boats for many years but it was during the second half of the 90s that the club announced to the sport that it had grown into a real force. Reaching the Australian final in the open division is never easy but North Cottesloe achieved this in the 90s and heralded the start of a great era for surf boats in the club. By the early to mid-2000s North Cottesloe became the benchmark for all racing crews. To win an Aussie gold medal you had to firstly beat the J crew and that was no small feat. During this period North Cottesloe won four Australian open male surf boat championships and set the bar way above where it had ever been before. The reign and dominance of the North Cottesloe boat crews during the mid-2000s has done much to lift the training and speed levels of many surf boat crews around Australia. It always takes that one individual or crew to step up and lift the bar to make others take notice and reach higher. During my time as president of the Australian Surf Rowers League I had great support from the North Cottesloe surf boat rowers. I, like many others, have wondered at their professionalism and applauded their achievements. Bert Hunt, ASRL president 2006 – 2018
Mermaid Marine winning gold and the under-23 Kwik Cranes taking silver. After a late start to the season Chocko’s Grape Smugglers crew won gold in the under-19s. The under-23 men and women both won gold in their divisions, while the
and they had to perform for each and every stroke – any
the time I took on the Mermaid Marine crew in 2012, I’d only
Wolf Pack took bronze in a tight finish in the reserves. And
mistake was capitalised on by other crews.
been sweeping competitively for two years,” Alex said. “The
stamping its dominance, North Cottesloe won gold and silver in the boat relay.
Sweep Alex Davies had driven the crew hard and, combined
The season had also marked the return of North Cottesloe to
Olympic rower Bec Sattin had returned to surf boats after a
Ocean Thunder. WesTrac was introduced as the club’s team sponsor and for the first time ever, North Cottesloe sent a women’s crew in addition to the men. The men struggled with injury and availability, resulting in eight rowers being involved over the four-round series. The women’s Mermaid Marine crew had great success, winning the first and fourth rounds and finishing the series second overall. Going on to win two Australian silver medals and appear in two other Australian
with raw talent, the team was a dominant force. Former
highest result I’d ever achieved rowing at Aussies was only a semi-final, so I was acutely aware of how difficult it is to be successful in surf boats.”
couple of years off and fellow Olympian Rachael Taylor had
The whole crew had shown incredible guts and
joined the club after moving from Queensland where she
determination to reach the finals. In one of their qualifying
rowed for Currumbin. Former world junior medallist Jess Flower
races, they just made it over the lip of a wave on the outer
(Harker), who had been rowing surf boats at North Cottesloe
break, only to have Alex’s sweep oar crack and Jess’s heel
since 2004, was back to full training after having two children
cups break. Without full use of the sweep oar and with a
and Meg Chute continued training with the commitment that
rower unable to row at full capacity, they still managed to
had led her to great success with her under-23 Indi crew.
scrape through in fourth place and progress through to finals day and, ultimately, win a silver medal.
finals in the space of five years (with crew changes), the crew
Despite the calibre of rowers and their level of commitment
is quick to confirm the impact of Ocean Thunder on their
Alex still remembers being shocked at their results “I’d rowed
Season 2012/13 will no doubt go down in North Cottesloe’s
success. The competition was hot, the pressure was relentless
surf boats for eight years before I took up sweeping and at
history as one of the most successful for the boat club in
406 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
was really good. “We played our part in achieving five boats in seven finals and winning four medals out of five finals – a big year.” Sweep Alex Davies had been shocked at Mermaid Marine’s first Aussie silver medal. The second was what he described as bittersweet as the expectation had been gold. “In 2013, we’d managed to take another step up to be the dominant crew in the country,” Alex said. “We’d won States, we won Ocean Thunder and we were fortunate enough to represent Australia against New Zealand in New Zealand (which coincided with the ASRL Open). We went into the Aussies with the expectation – not only from ourselves and the club, but probably also from those around the country – that we would take gold. We’d had an excellent Aussies campaign and we went into the final confident. Unfortunately, as is so often the case with surf boats, Mooloolaba had an excellent race and they managed to pull onto a runner that we missed. So despite an almost flawless season, the record books will only show a second silver for the Mermaid Marine crew in 2013.” At the 2013 States, North Cottesloe had again won gold in all but one division, including gold and silver in the boat relay. For the first and only time, the club won a clean sweep of medals in the open female division, with Mermaid Marine winning gold, Kwik Cranes silver and Never Deads (Meg Under-23s Breff O’Shea, Max Gould, Dave Hunt (sweep), Alistair Stolz and Gordon Smith-Gander, silver medallists at the 2013 Australian championships at Kirra Beach, Queensland.
Chute, Tam Challenor, Georgie Barker (Walsh), Angie Coote and sweep Alan Gibbons) bronze. And it was an eighth
terms of results – five world championship medals (including
Dave Hunt) won silver in the under-23 men and Wolf Pack
straight win for North Cottesloe in the under-19s, with the
a masters medal), nearly a clean sweep of gold medals at
won bronze in the reserve men. These medals remain the
Spartans (formerly the Grape Smugglers but with Oliver
the States and four medals at the Aussies to top the points in
only Australian medals won by the club in the under-23 male
Bradley in place of Tim Gregg) winning gold.
the surf boat arena at Aussies for the second year running.
and reserve male divisions.
Mermaid Marine (with Libby Gatti in place of Meg Chute)
Six months prior to the Aussies Al Stolz had never rowed.
of a possible seven finals North Cottesloe was represented
won silver in the open women for the second consecutive
He was actually a water polo player but became the most
in five. The club finished third and fourth in the relay. The
year. Kwik Cranes (with Jess Watts back in the boat in place
coachable athlete Dave Hunt has ever had. It was a very
Boontas (Carl Eiselen, James Heath, Charlie Hutton, Kit
of Jess Hayes) won silver in the under-23 women for the
fast crew. At the Aussies the crew was last off the beach but
Strickland and sweep Macca) won silver in the under-19
second consecutive year. The Persuaders (Breff O’Shea,
managed silver. Dave said the medal was great but being
men, Mermaid Marine (with Chocks sweeping in place of
Gordon Smith-Gander, Max Gould, Alistair Stolz and sweep
part of a club that was pushing to have a crew in every final
Alex) finished fourth in the open women, the Persuaders
In 2014 the Aussies were back at Scarborough Beach and out
Chapter 7.8 Surf Boats | 407
season Tubs was amazed at how quickly the boys were willing to pull the pin. Craig ‘Goose’ and Fiona Smith-Gander caught wind of the situation and started calling the airlines, booking them on the first available flight, which wasn’t until 8pm that night. The support from the tent was overwhelming and the crew decided to keep rowing as it could be a good distraction. Tubs remembers being on the line for their first race of the day, still with tears streaming down his face, and being hugged by Richard Meadmore who was also crying. The crew had a shocking start and rowed from last to finish second. This happened each race through to the final. Word trickled down the beach and more and more people came from other areas to the boat arena to check on Chocks and Tubs and watch their races. The hugging, tears and support from pretty much every North Cottesloe competitor/supporter on the beach really helped keep them going. The start in the final was Wolf Pack’s best of the day but they still got to the cans in fourth or fifth position. Macca started calling the crew onto non-existent runners to get the pace up and they started moving through the field. Just before the gate cans they heard wolf howls coming from the beach, which helped them make a final push to the finish line where they were pipped for second. It was certainly an emotional bronze medal.
T
he Wolf Pack story from season 2012/13 highlights the strong bonds that are formed within surf boat crews – and within the broader surf boat section and the club as a whole. North Cottesloe is a family. On the first day of the reserve surf boat competition at the 2013 Aussies, the Wolf Pack crew of James ‘Chocks’ and Stuart ‘Tubs’ McLaughlin, Derek Knox, Mike O’Shea and Mark ‘Macca’ McDermott, finished top-two in all their races. Just before their
first race on finals day, Chocks and Tubs received a call from their mum to tell them that their dad, who had been battling cancer, had taken a turn and they needed to get home as soon as they could. The boys were hugging and crying. Knoxy, Mike and Macca came over to see what was happening and soon joined in with the hugging and crying. They all said immediately that they should withdraw from the competition and go and sort flights to get home. After a very long and hard
out on the first day of competition. It was a disappointing finish to what was otherwise a successful season. The crew represented WA at the national short-course championships in South Australia, won gold at the Manly carnival and WA State championships and bronze at the ASRL Open in Shellharbour, NSW. The Persuaders (Breff O’Shea, Mike O’Shea, Dave Prosser, Gordon Smith-Gander and sweep Goose) also made the final at ASRL, finishing fourth in the reserve division – three of the rowers in their first year out of under-23s – and, representing WA, they won their interstate race. The Stormers (Charlie Hutton, George Cunningham, Will Moore, Jimmy Heath and sweep Macca) also finished first in their under-23 interstate race (with Kit Strickland in the crew) and at the State championships won gold in the under-23 men and silver in open men. At the Aussies in Tugun, after a bit of controversy on their way through to the final, the crew finished fourth. The controversy involved North Cottesloe’s other under-23 crew, Carnage (Jack Sinclair, Carl Eiselen, Kit Strickland, Tim Gregg and sweep Richard Meadmore). A close finish in the quarter-finals had the judges unable to determine which North Cottesloe crew finished third and which finished fourth. Tom Gatti (bow), Matt Norton, James Gatti, Pete Holliday and Jeff Hegarty (sweep) racing at Manly, NSW, 2016.
But they knew which sweep, so Macca and Richard were asked to do a line up in the middle of the arena so the judges
(George Cunningham, Breff O’Shea, David Prosser, Gordon
performances locally and interstate. The club’s depth in
could determine which of them finished third and qualified
Smith-Gander and sweep Craig Smith-Gander) placed fifth
the arena continued, with gold in the relay at the State
for the semi-final. North Cottesloe was told to change the
in the under-23 men and Westerfeld Engineering (Courtney
championships and bronze in the relay at the Aussies – open
colour on the bow of one of the boats rather than having
Aylett, Jess Hayes, Jessie O’Mahony, Camilla O’Shea and
men Battlers (James Gatti, Tom Gatti, Pete Holliday, Derek
them all orange. Needless to say, this was never done.
sweep Tim McFarlane) were sixth in the under-23 women
Knox and sweep Ian Clarke), open women MMA (Jessie
It was still a promising performance from the Carnage crew,
(after winning gold at the ASRL Open). It was Jess O’Mahony
O’Mahony, Rachael Taylor, Courtney Aylett, Jess Flower and
which hadn’t formed until January and had won bronze at the
and Tim McFarlane’s fourth straight final in the under-23
sweep Jeff Hegarty) and under-19 men Pufferfish (James
State championships. The Pufferfish won gold in the under-
women and Rachael Taylor, Jess Flower and Bec Sattin’s
Walsh, Luke Gollschewski, Nick Wynne, Cam Schoonakker
19s at States.
third straight final in the open women. North Cottesloe was
and sweep Steve Coote).
again the top surf boat club at the championships.
The standout crew the following season, 2015/16, was
For the first time since Mermaid Marine formed in season
the under-23 female Kwik Cranes of Kate Mannolini, Ella
The following season, 2014/15, crew numbers were down
2011/12 (albeit with several changes since), the crew didn’t
Wallwork, Jessamy Burton, Rachel Withoos and sweep Tim
on previous years but there was no shortage of respectable
make the final at the Aussies. In fact, the crew was knocked
Gregg. After winning bronze at the ASRL Open they headed
Chapter 7.8 Surf Boats | 409
crew that won bronze in the reserve division at the Aussies in 2013. Chocks had long been involved in surf boats as both a rower and sweep but Tubs had been a relative newcomer when the Wolf Pack crew formed. Breff and Mike O’Shea had been rowing for North Cottesloe for a number of years – at times in the same crew – and, more recently, their younger sister Camilla had also joined in. There was Craig ‘Goose’ and Gordon Smith-Gander – Goose an open crew rower in the 1990s and more recently a sweep (and masters rower) and Gordon a successful under-23 and reserve rower. Goose swept Gordon and his reserve crew for the 2014/15 season. And the Ridderhofs – Adrian ‘Ridders’ had rowed in the 70s and then swept for a long time, his children Jamie ‘Jiggers’ and Lea ‘Loops’ jumping in surf boats in the 2000s. Pat Walsh and his son James were also rowing – Pat in a masters crew and James as a junior rower. James was a baby when Pat was coming to the end of his stint in the champion open crews of the 90s. Nearly two decades later, both father and son won medals at the 2015 Australian championships. Pat won bronze in the 200+ at the masters Australian championships with Greg Hogan, Steve ‘Moofa’ Penrose, Steve Coote and sweep Macca. A few days later in the open championships, Under-23s Rachel Withoos (bow), Kate Mannolini, Jessamy Burton, Ella Wallwork and Tim Gregg (sweep) racing to silver at the 2016 Australian championships on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. (www.harvpix.com)
James and his under-19 crew won bronze in the boat relay. A similar story in season 2017/18 saw champion open
into the Australian titles as a red-hot chance. They won all
Another highlight for the season was the Boatmen (James
rower of the 90s – and current club president – Ian Clarke
their races through to the final, where they were narrowly
Gatti, Tom Gatti, Pete Holliday, Matt Norton and sweep Ian
sweeping his daughter Hayley in the new under-19 female
beaten by a very fast Palm Beach crew. Winning silver was
Clarke) winning silver at the ASRL Open in Shellharbour,
division. Funnily enough, Clarkey had always been quite
a massive effort for the crew and for Tim in only his second
NSW. It was the best result the open men had achieved
adamant that Hayley would not row surf boats until she left
year as a competition sweep.
at national level since their bronze at the 2012 Australian
school, or was a little older and stronger to handle surf boats
championships. James Gatti, a former Australian still-water
and surf rowing. This all went out the window when Hayley
representative, was now the veteran of the crew, having
was dragged into a surf boat at a club competition fun day.
Other crews to row in finals at the Aussies were the reserve men Bulls (Mike Raisbeck, Derek Knox, Wes Dose, Steve Fletcher and sweep Steven ‘Stiffy’ Petrie) and open women Westerfeld Engineering (Jessie O’Mahony, Rachael Taylor,
been rowing since that 2011/12 season. James’ brother Tom, also an Australian representative, had joined him in 2014/15.
One of Clarkey’s best moments was taking Hayley and her friends to the 2018 ASRL Open in Elouera, NSW, where they
Jess Flower, sweep Jeff Hegarty and eastern states rower
The Gatti brothers – and James Gatti’s wife Libby – were
represented WA as the under-19 female State team crew in
Katrina Larson, as a late substitute for a pregnant Libby Gatti).
not the only family in the North Cottesloe boatshed. Chocks
the interstate challenge. “After being in many State teams
Both crews finished fifth.
and Tubs McLaughlin had rowed together in the Wolf Pack
over the years, it was awesome to be on the start line with
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The following year, North Cottesloe represented seven out of the possible eight divisions in the interstate competition at the 2017 ASRL Open, which was again held in Shellharbour. The WA team won the interstate relay for the second year in a row. At the State championships that year, North Cottesloe won six of nine available gold medals. In a fantastic show of depth, the club again won gold and silver in the surf boat relay. It was the seventh year straight that the club had won gold in the relay and the fourth time in seven years the club had won gold and silver. The States ended up being the last racing for the season, with the extreme weather conditions bringing an early end to the 2017 Aussies before the boat crews even hit the water. It was nothing short of devastating for all crews involved. The first major hit-out for the 2017/18 season was the 2018 ASRL Open in large seas at Eloura, NSW. It was dubbed one of the best surf boat carnivals in memory with big surf continuing for the full three days of competition, no shortening of the program and some spectacular racing. North Cottesloe represented six out of the eight crews in the State team. However, WA’s results in the interstate challenge weren’t as successful as the previous couple of years. The under-23 Jeff Hegarty (sweep), Courtney Aylett, Holly Child, Tara West and Georgie Barker on their way to a silver medal in the reserve females at the 2018 ASRL Open at Eloura, NSW.
2018 under-23 and open female State champions Mackenzie Huggins, Kat Welborn, Mark McDermott (sweep), Emily Wray and Jessamy Burton.
Resolute crew of Mackenzie Huggins, Kat Welborn, Jessamy Burton, Emily Wray and sweep Macca showed the rest of the WA representatives how it should be done by winning their interstate race. In the main carnival the only North Cottesloe
Hayley, lining up with some nervous girls to face some pretty
represent five out of the six crews in the Western Suns State
decent surf,” Clarkey said. “Hayley has such trust in me that
Team. For the first time ever, WA finished first in the interstate
she wasn’t nervous, she was just super excited. The first race
challenge – albeit on a tie with NSW. WA had actually finished
didn’t end as we would have liked (after many attempts the
a point ahead of NSW but following a protest from NSW on
crew didn’t get out past the first break), but the second race
one of the finishes, the two states were even on points. A
was great, with a trail-off and coming home on a wave.”
count back was conducted. NSW had won more races than
North Cottesloe had long been making up the bulk of the
WA so thought they should win overall. However, the rules
State team for the ASRL Interstate Challenge, which had
state there is no count back on a final so it ended up a draw
replicated by the under-23 men Yeah the Boys (Henry Gillett,
been part of the ASRL Open since 2004. Shellharbour in 2016
for gold. WA finally got their medals a year later and it remains
Matthew Mann, William Moore, Jack Varney and sweep Dave
was particularly memorable. Not only did North Cottesloe
the only time WA has won gold.
Hunt) who won gold in the under-23 and open male divisions.
crew to make it through to the final was the 7-foot Jiffs in the reserve female division. Courtney Aylett, Holly Child, Tara West, Georgie Barker (filling in for Angie Coote) and sweep Jeff Hegarty finished with silver. The under-23 girls continued their good form through to the States where they took out not only their own division but also won gold in the open women. Their impressive feat was
Chapter 7.8 Surf Boats | 411
Both under-23 crews went into the Aussies at Scarborough with confidence. The girls were knocked out in the semi-final while the boys not only made the final but for the bulk of the race looked like they were going to win. However, the crew hit dead water and got crunched between a wave from behind and the backwash from in front, slewed before the finish line and were left out of the medals. The only other crew to make a final was the 7-foot Jiffs (Courtney Aylett, Holly Child, Tara West, Angie Coote and sweep Jeff Hegarty) in the reserve female division. A bad call by the starter left the crew behind from the start. The crew had won bronze in the open female division at the States but made the call to contest the reserve female division on the national stage. Aside from the male and female under-23 crews, the only other crew to win gold at the States was the reserve women (Liz Carson, Katie Andrew, Alli Gould, Lou Roberts and sweep Ian Clarke), making it three gold medals in a row for North Cottesloe in this division. Or put another way, North Cottesloe – with largely the same crew – has won the reserve female division every year since it was introduced at the 2016 State championships. Lou Roberts, Alli Gould and sweep Ian Clarke have been in the crew each year, which had a name
2018 reserve female State champions Ian Clarke (sweep), Liz Carson, Alli Gould, Katie Andrew and Lou Roberts.
change from Kittens to First Ladies. Other members of the
Cottesloe gets to carnivals so organised, but to get to that
captain while sweeping the open men and travelling a lot
crew over the three years were Liz Carson, Jodie Forlonge,
point is a lot of hard work”.
for competition. Macca, who had already been helping with
Katie Andrew and Jackie Bakkers (van der Peyl).
It’s probably a big reason that from 2009 there was a new
logistics and equipment, stepped up and captained for two seasons and remained heavily involved in the background
Largely the same crew also won medals at the masters
captain each year for the next six years. Up until then there
Australian championships in 2013, 2014 and 2018. These
had been periods of relative consistency. Richard Meadmore
three medals contributed to North Cottesloe’s total of 11
was captain for three seasons from 1994, followed by Victoria
certainly left a hole.
surf boat medals won at masters Australian championships
Anderson for one year. It would no doubt have been a tough
Steve Parks, who had joined the club in season 2002/03
since 1991. With North Cottesloe’s increased representation
job for a female at a time when females were relatively new
in masters competition over the past decade, there will likely
to the section and probably a surprise to many of today’s
after moving from the United States, took on the captaincy
be many more medals to come.
rowers that the boat section had a female captain two
North Cottesloe’s surf boat section is a huge portfolio to
decades ago, albeit just for a season.
through to 2018 when he moved to Melbourne. Macca has
for the next two seasons. Parksy loved being boat captain but admits there was a lot to look after – coordination of pre-season boat repairs, selling the oldest boat in the fleet to
manage. Any of the surf boat captains will be quick to admit
Paul Crockett was then captain for a season, followed by
fund a new boat, Ocean Thunder planning, race entries, crew
it. As Macca said recently: “It’s a bloody hard job. People don’t
Jack Alliss for five seasons from 1999 through until 2004. It
selection and so on. With no committee behind him – unlike
realise you’re actually running the show. . . It looks like North
all became a bit much for Jack to keep up the role of boat
latter years – Parksy relied on the good will and volunteerism
412 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Plenty of medals for North Cottesloe at the 2018 State championships.
of the team. In particular, he found Macca and Jack to be tremendous mentors, sharing a significant amount of the workload and providing support. From 2008/09 was a season each for James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin, Derek Knox, Jimmy Stewart, Tim McFarlane, Lee Barker and then Chocks and Macca for another season each. Jeff Hegarty, who had moved from South Australia, then took on the role for two seasons before Jodie Forlonge took over – the first female boat captain in two decades and only the second female ever to take on the role. Jodie found the role more challenging than she thought it would be, describing
it as a huge beast with a lot of moving parts and needing a “perfectly-timed plan executed in majestic mayhem”. However, she loved the role and still loves the sport. She planned to go back for a second season as captain, but work and study commitments became too much and Dave Hunt jumped into the role.
don’t appreciate just how much work has gone into the gear and how good it is – arguably the best gear in Australia. And certainly for the past decade or so, the gear would not be in such good condition if Macca hadn’t been overseeing it all. Similarly, Tim McFarlane played a huge role in organising logistics during the years he was at the club.
The boat captain might be “running the show”, as Macca pointed out, but typically there are others in the background helping make it all possible – helping with logistics, equipment maintenance and budgets. Macca himself, has been consistently active behind the scenes. Many rowers
Many have been passionate and dedicated to North Cottesloe’s surf boat section but few would argue that the commitment of Richard, Jack, Macca, Chocks and Tim – visibly and also in the background – during relevant periods over the past couple of decades has been second to none.
Chapter 7.8 Surf Boats | 413
While North Cottesloe’s number of quality rowers is probably
language. Colin passed away in 2005. The lads from his 1997
something most other clubs wish for, North Cottesloe has the
under-21 crew were his pallbearers.
same problem as most clubs in not having enough sweeps to cater for the number of crews.
Twelve years later, the boat section lost another great mate Mark ‘Lumpy’ Davis. Lumpy had rowed boats for North
At North Cottesloe, and most clubs around Australia,
Cottesloe in the 70s and for many years in more recent times
sweeping remains the domain of the males. But unlike most
had helped the club out at the Aussies in Queensland, both
clubs around the country, North Cottesloe has actually had
on and off the beach.
two females give it a go and even sweep in competition. In season 1996/97 Lou Roberts successfully swept Jack Alliss, Richard Meadmore, Steve Artelaris and Steve Coote in a carnival at Mullaloo. Six years later, Kelly Moss swept the female Otters crew in several carnivals.
As for Mike Rigoll, the change he’s seen in the boat section since he was rowing in the 80s has been huge. During the 80s there were times when the club struggled to field even one surf boat crew. Highlights during this period were State bronze medals in the open male event in 1986 (Mike Rigoll,
In recent years there has been a push to get some younger
Andrew Pope, Rob Deane, Craig Bell and Jack Alliss, with Cliff
sweeps coming through. Tim Gregg is an example of this
Ford filling in for Rob Deane during the season) and 1988 (Rob
success, winning silver at the 2016 Aussies with his under-23
Jewkes, Dave Barber, Mike Rigoll, Craig Smith-Gander and
female crew. But typically, it comes back to the main core of
Jack Alliss). John Rear was also active in North Cottesloe’s
sweeps, certainly for competition. Since the early 90s, some
surf boat section during this period. After the 1988 Aussies at
of the club’s long-serving sweeps have been Jack Alliss,
Wanda, where Mike Rigoll’s hand was just a centimetre away
Richard Meadmore, Willow, Macca, Dave Hunt, Chocks, Stiffy, Tim McFarlane, Goose, Coobs, Ian Clarke and Jeff Hegarty.
from being smashed by a Fairy Meadow boat, John replaced Rob Jewkes for the world championships. The worlds were scheduled to be held at Southport, Queensland, but were
And for training, Mike Rigoll is always helping out – as
moved to Coolangatta because of the cyclonic surf at
committed as any of them. No matter which crew asks Mike
Southport. The crew made the semi-finals.
to sweep them for a training session, he never says no, unless
As a rower, a key highlight for Mike was rowing under Jack
he’s already committed. Mike joined the club in 1983 and was recruited into surf boats by sweep Colin Chalmers, who also had a passion and commitment to surf boats second to none.
Alliss’ tutelage. It was in the days that Trigg, Scarboro and City of Perth typically won the medals in the open surf boats and no other clubs came close. One of the two bronze
Colin joined North Cottesloe in 1981. He had walked along
medals had come via a fortuitous repechage, which had only
Cottesloe Beach and visited two surf clubs, deciding that
been held because of the very late arrival of Swanbourne-
North Cottesloe was the club for him. Upon joining he threw
Nedlands. Without the repecharge the North Cottesloe crew
himself into management roles, including president (1984-
would not have made it to the final. However, they saved
86 and 1992-94). Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Colin was
their best row of the year for the final and snatched a bronze
always sweeping a surf boat – not always well, but always
after rowing neck and neck, stroke for stroke with Sorrento.
with huge passion. If you didn’t know how to count from one
It still gives Mike chills to think about it. “I’ll never forget
to 20 you could rely on Colin to teach you and his way of
the noise and sight as we hit the beach,” Mike said. “Every
saying the number ‘nine’ brought new meaning to the English
North Cottesloe member stayed to watch the final and were
414 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
screaming as if we’d won the Aussies”. Of course a State bronze medal doesn’t get quite the same reaction today. But this story shows just how far North Cottesloe has come in this arena. North Cottesloe learnt how to row and started recruiting still-water rowers. Around the same time, North Cottesloe also attracted significant sponsorship that enabled the club to provide equipment equal to any in Australia. Specifically, the Multiplex/Roberts family sponsorship has been an important building block in the dynasty of North Cottesloe surf boats and this story is detailed in chapter one. Another key sponsor for the surf boat section has been Toll Express. In the early 90s Adrian Ridderhof was dealing with Brambles for work and, as part of a larger deal, arranged for Brambles to transport North Cottesloe’s ski and boat trailers to the east coast. North Cottesloe then met Dick Watson, who worked for Brambles but then moved to Toll. The relationship with Dick continued and Toll has since transported North Cottesloe’s equipment across Australia for competition. It is a sponsorship not in money but in kind, worth around $25,000 per year for the past 25 years. It has been huge and the boat section has largely managed the relationship. In more recent years, the surf boat section tried a different tack to attract sponsors, with crews taking on sponsors’ names. These sponsors have included Mermaid Marine, Euroz, Kwik Cranes, Westerfeld Engineering and REL. Sponsorship has been key but it certainly hasn’t covered all the costs of the boat section. With a budget three times larger than any other of North Cottesloe’s surf sports sections, the boat section has always had to work hard to fundraise. Various initiatives have been undertaken over the past couple of decades including corporate raffles, the 100 club, Royal Show parking, Australia Day parties and a rather controversial bikini car wash.
Nat Benjanuvatra takes a dive, 2013.
SWIMMING
D
uring the 1990s, North Cottesloe’s swimming section was fairly sparse and there wasn’t really an organised group. However, some very talented swimmers were competing for the club. Olympians Ian Brown and Jacqui
McKenzie, Australian champion Grant Stoelwinder and Australian water polo player Marian Taylor made up for the lack of numbers with their talent and North Cottesloe continued to record some great results in State competition. In 1990, Ian Brown won the State senior male surf belt and surf race. He won the surf belt again in 1992. The club had wins in the surf teams in 1992 (Ian, Grant Stoelwinder, John Scott and Stephen ‘Hoppy’ Hopkins), 1993 (Hoppy, Grant, Blair McNaught and Jamie Edelman) and 1994 (Grant,
Chapter
Jamie, Hoppy and Charlie Liggins). North Cottesloe then won bronze medals in 1995 (Jamie, Hoppy, James Forbes and Pete Wood) and 1997 (Jamie, Pete, Hoppy and Andrew Moullin). In 1993 Grant won the senior male surf race and North Cottesloe won bronze in the open taplin relay with swimmers Grant and Jamie combining with ski paddlers Michael Liggins and Jason Wright and board paddlers Hoppy and Sam Knowles. In 1993, Jules Carter, Kate Flower, Gab Knowles and Julianne Van Geloven won silver in the under-18 female surf teams. In 1995, ironwoman Jacqui McKenzie won the senior female surf race and the following year she combined with Emily Heitman, Marian Taylor and Catherine Moore to win the senior female surf teams.
Chapter 7.9 Swimming | 415
clubs like Perth City and West Coast. North Cottesloe hasn’t achieved this. Aside from a few exceptions, North Cottesloe has traditionally attracted pool swimmers who are at the end, or nearing the end of their commitment to the intense training that pool competition demands. Matt Keys was one of those exceptions and managed to do what most probably wouldn’t. One year he left the Australian Swimming Championships early to get to the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Kurrawa. The annual reports from the 90s show there was no official swim captain until 1998 when Jono van Hazel took on the role. Jono had joined the club in the mid-90s and Lorna Wall had guided him and a bunch of pool swimmers, including Matt Keys, James Forbes and Ed Smith, through their bronze medallion. In the absence of any organised competitive swimming section in the club, they just started turning up to swim at carnivals. Jono doesn’t remember how he came to be swim captain but he remained in the role for five seasons, following which he focused more on pool swimming and competed at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay. During Jono’s time as captain at North Cottesloe, slowly more people got involved. He had a memorable budget request one year. Among many other requests, Jono asked for $30m to heat the beach and $250k to buy Andrew Moullin a Ferrari to get him to carnivals.
Belt race, 1995.
The era marked the end of the club’s strength in the swimming
restricted surf race). Throughout most of this period there has
Jamie Edelman had already been competing in every event
arena, with open medals in swim events becoming few and far
been strength in the underage swimming events.
he could possibly sign up for. Other great local swimmers
between. North Cottesloe won gold in the open male surf belt in 2000 and silver in the same event the following year. The club won one open medal in 2003, three in 2005 and one in
Historically, North Cottesloe has struggled to attract young swimmers who are still actively competing/training in the
eventually joined the squad, including Al Nixon, Andrew Moullin, Pete Wood, Nat Benjanuvatra and Jake Church. If his arm could be twisted – and it wasn’t too hard – long-
2006. North Cottesloe didn’t win any more open medals in the
pool. The best swimmers in the State typically compete in
swim arena until 2010 when it won silver in the open female
the pool and often this can be in conflict with surf, in terms
up for a race. However, lining up against Olympians like
rescue tube rescue and bronze in the open female surf race.
of time and also in terms of coaches not wanting their pool
Todd Pearson and Deane Pieters was not a recipe for
Since then, North Cottesloe’s swimmers have won at least one
athletes to swim in surf. City of Perth is a great example of a
success. Unfortunately, Jono’s efforts to convince female
medal each year in open events (when including the over-24
club that has managed to build a relationship with swimming
swimmers to join the club never really succeeded and,
416 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
time member Tom Flower would also periodically line
component was in full swing. Mark could see the drum running bare and managed to hold onto the rope with only about one loop left. Disqualification was avoided and Keysey won gold. It was the first of two gold medals for Keysey at the championships – in two separate arenas. He later won gold in the beach sprint to earn the nickname ‘Amphibian’. As for the short line on the reel, the team was quick to blame the ski paddlers for cutting the rope off to use it to tie their skis to the ski trailer. The following year Al Nixon gave the surf belt race a go. But there was even less line on the reel. Or perhaps the buoys were further out. Quick hands caught the line as it left the reel. Al won silver. In his 2002 annual report, Jono admitted that despite significant improvements that year, it was a harsh reality that swimming remained one of the club’s weakest competition arenas. That season there had been a relatively poor attendance at carnivals, except for Al Nixon and Peter ‘Cheeks’ Andrews, who were commended for their dedication. By the time the State championships rolled around, Al had been teamed up with Andrew Moullin, Jake Church and Jamie Edelman takes off in the belt race, 1995.
Evan Ferguson, Jason Ponsonby and Zac Vinten, 2010.
consequently, any competitors he ended up convincing to
race was scheduled for just two carnivals prior to the State
swim for North Cottesloe at carnivals were usually dragged
championships. Keysey and his team turned up to the first
from the board or ironwoman disciplines.
carnival, unknowingly, with a nipper reel. They weren’t
The surf belt race was always regarded as one of the traditional events and toughest challenges in the surf arena, with North Cottesloe having limited experience or
allowed to compete. At the next carnival they, unknowingly, had the wrong line on the reel. They weren’t allowed to compete.
Jamie Edelman, who had returned from the UK. The boys competed strongly and ended up fourth in the surf teams race. James Forbes finished 10th in the open surf race, while Jamie was robbed in the over-25 restricted surf race, just missing out on a medal after stumbling in the final run. Jake had been outstanding in his first State championships, finishing third in the under-19 surf race, but was disqualified in the under-19 belt race on a technicality. Meanwhile, Al and
success compared with other events. Ian Brown had won
Keysey, James ‘Chocks’ McLaughlin, Stuart ‘Tubs’
Andrew finished fourth and fifth respectively in the open belt
the State title in 1992. When swimmer Matt ‘Keysey’ Keys
McLaughlin, Mark Peters and Manny Petros turned up to
race. The taplin relay was a particular highlight for the swim
joined the club just over a year later he ended up joining
the State championships, finally, with the right gear and
section with Jake and Andrew swimming strongly to help the
the sprint team instead and by the time he returned to
Keysey was able to race. The race got off to a good start
North Cottesloe team to a bronze medal.
the water to give the belt a go in 2000, all the experience
with Keysey’s years in the beach arena paying off in the run
The following season, 2003, the men’s A team of Jake, Al,
from Ian Brown’s win was lost. No one knew how to do
over the bank. Back on the beach Mark Peters was on the
Jamie and Craig Barnett won bronze in the open male surf
the belt race and it ended up a comedy of errors. The belt
reel, where the line was disappearing quickly as the swim
teams. Jake finished fifth in the open male surf race and
Chapter 7.9 Swimming | 417
A key milestone for swimming at North Cottesloe during this period had been the formation of a swimming squad. In the early 2000s the squad started meeting at Bold Park Aquatic Centre two evenings a week. Pool space had been hard to come by and Jono had convinced the surf club to rent a couple of lanes. Jono volunteered to coach and it was open for all club members to join in and improve their swimming. After a slow start it became moderately successful and resulted in the employment of club member and former Australian swimmer Leith Weston as coach. Leith had missed out on competing at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games because of the international boycott in protest to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. She then joined North Cottesloe through her connection with Andy Taylor, whom she swam with in the pool. After becoming one of the first females at North Cottesloe to gain a bronze medallion in 1980, Leith competed in surf carnivals against the males. It wasn’t until the mid-80s that SLSWA offered female events on the competition program. By then, Leith had taken up a swimming scholarship in the USA. She returned to the club in the early 1990s. Leith added a new level of professionalism to the coaching
Surf teams, 2010.
Jamie finished fifth in the male restricted surf race. The annual 1600m North Cottesloe Ocean Swim was a season highlight with North Cottesloe members taking out the top two places in near perfect conditions. Jake Church won the Simon Martin trophy for the fastest time of 18.34 minutes, with young swimmer and future paddling champion Kris Taylor hot on his heels in second place. Jake had also won the race two years before in 2001. The North Cottesloe Ocean Swim had been a staple on the WA open water swimming calendar for a number of years and typically attracted more than 300 swimmers ranging in age from young teenagers to swimmers in their 70s. After winning no medals at the senior State championships
418 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
in 2004, the club managed to win three in 2005. Jono and Al teamed up with Bill Kirby and David Jewkes to win bronze in the open male surf teams. Bill also won silver in the open male surf race and Nat Benjanuvatra took bronze in the restricted surf race. Former swimming champion Andrew Brown jumped back into the surf for the masters championships to win silver in the 40-44 years male surf race. The season had also seen the return of North Cottesloe to the belt race with Bill Kirby swimming, Daniel Cobill, Mark Evans and David Jewkes as linesmen and swimming captain Jamie Cobill on the reel. The team narrowly missed a bronze medal and set their sights on a medal the following year. However, it would be another seven years before the club won another medal in this event, with Kris Taylor winning gold in 2012.
of North Cottesloe’s swimming squad. By the mid-2000s the squad was well established and training had moved to Challenge Stadium (now HBF Stadium) where the club’s allocated lanes were full at most sessions. Over the years Leith continued to dedicate her time, much of it without charge, tailoring the swimming program to individual swimmer’s needs. Some swimmers used the sessions to train for competition, others for general fitness or technique, including those who needed help to be able to pass the bronze medallion assessment or requalification. Coaching bronze candidates so they could pass the ‘run swim run’ was sometimes a tough ask but always a success and it remains a highlight of Leith’s time as coach. Another favourite memory of Leith’s is calling on some of the
open male team of Al Nixon, Stuart ‘Tubs’ McLaughlin, Andrew Moullin and Marcus Brockhurst won the inaugural State title. That season was also the first time in a decade that the club’s annual reports mentioned anyone swimming at the Aussies. In 1996, Catherine Moore finished 15th in the open female surf race final at the Aussies. In 2006, Andrew Moullin was the club’s only swimming representative. He swam strongly throughout the qualifying races of the rescue tube rescue but was knocked out in the semi-finals after a controversial decision by officials awarded him fifth, with the top four going through to the eight-man final. The City of Perth team that North Cottesloe had comfortably beaten at the States ended up with silver at the Aussies, which added to the disappointment. It would have been Andrew’s second Aussie final. Although there had been no mention in the annual reports, Andrew had actually made the final of the under-18 surf race at the Aussies in 1997. Andrew had joined the club as a teenager in the mid-1990s. He helped instruct a bronze course when he was about 16 but didn’t feel he was really integrated into the club. Swimming was Tom Carmody, Chris Burt-Allan, Kris Taylor, Nick Taylor and Jason Ponsonby, belt race, 2012.
good-looking young swimmers to be waiters for her sister’s
competitors grabbing on to their bathers to help lever
hen’s party at the surf club. She was thinking of getting
themselves through the pack. To gain surf experience, the
Keysey, Jono and Ed Smith to wear something skimpy but
swimming squad was also braving chilly morning swims
went for tuxedos instead as she didn’t want her 88-year-old
from North Cottesloe to Cottesloe and back. North Cottesloe
grandmother to have a heart attack. Needless to say, it was a
had good representation in long distance events like the
fun and entertaining night.
Rottnest Channel Swim and this has continued through
North Cottesloe’s swimmers have typically ranged from those training for national selection in the pool to the C-grade swimmers in the Sunday club swims, which were no longer held as consistently as they were in past decades. Surf swimming requires different techniques to those
until today. In 2018, North Cottesloe had 14 members swim solo – Lilly Duckett, Kat Porter, Michael Kingsbury, Rob Pass, Maddy Shellabear, Jenny Ford, Alan Tietzel, Chris Walter, Mary-Anne Paton, Cooper Rogers, Rachel Duczynski, Jenna Brown and Serena Wells.
what got him properly involved. Andrew went down to some club swims, beat then club captain and successful swimmer Jamie Edelman a few times and was invited to compete in the carnivals. Andrew was also invited to the over-18 social functions, which he remembers being “the best thing ever as a 16-year-old”. Some of the people he met through that process became his best friends. Andrew was selected on the Australian team for the 2002 Life Saving World Championships in Florida, USA. He competed mainly in pool events and won gold in the SERC, silver overall, bronze in the 4x50 obstacle relay and made the final of the 100m manikin tow and 4x50 rescue tube relay. It was in the days when there were separate Royal Life Saving Australia and
used in a pool. In the ocean swimmers need to negotiate
The 2006 State championships marked the introduction of
Surf Life Saving Australia teams, which competed against each
crashing waves and rips. They also need to deal with fellow
a new swimming event, the tube rescue. North Cottesloe’s
other and the rest of the world at the championships. Australia
Chapter 7.9 Swimming | 419
has since combined ‘Royals’ and ‘Surf’ into one Australian Life
fight for recognition of the club’s swimming achievements
Saving Team.
and also fight for support to try and build the section. During these years, the addition of the Kirby Swim training sessions,
At the 2007 Aussies on home turf at Scarborough Beach,
along with the added junior sessions at Claremont Pool, gave
again the club had just one swimming representative, with
the swimming section a boost.
new bronzie Amity Campbell flying the flag.
Season 2009/10 showed some great promise in the
Sarah Davis, who joined the club in 2000 as a way to keep
swimming arena. Former City of Perth ironwoman champion
swimming once she left school, had taken up the captaincy
Emma Wynne had jumped on board as captain. Emma’s
in 2005. Sarah had quickly learned that swimming in a surf
influence helped boost numbers and build strength in the
race was a very different skill to the pool freestyle she was
swim section and with a number of strategic developmental
accustomed to. But she found a love for it and continued to
goals achieved, the club recorded its best results in
swim with North Cottesloe until 2015.
many years.
Sarah initially held the captaincy for two seasons. She was
At the first carnival of the WA surf series, North Cottesloe
focused on boosting numbers of swimming competitors,
boasted 12 swimmers in the open female surf teams to finish
lowering costs so the swimming budget could be used more
first, second and third. The open men also had three teams
effectively and getting more juniors involved. She managed
ready to race, but no other clubs had entered so the race
to secure a fantastic deal at Claremont Pool, which reduced
was called off. For the rest of the season, at each carnival
lane fees by more than 70 per cent, plus free lane time
that included surf teams, North Cottesloe entered at least
earlier in the evening, which was a more suitable time for the
two teams in each of the open male, female and, where
juniors. The club’s high performance program, which was in
possible, under-19 divisions.
place for only a couple of years, contributed to some of the
Swimmers of all standards and variety continued to
costs. This allowed the swimming section to spend money
be catered for by the sessions run by Nat and Leith at
where needed and, for the first time, the swimming budget
Claremont Pool, while the more competitive swimmers took
had surplus money to splash around. Meanwhile, to lure the senior competitors, a Sunday morning fun swim was held at the club every week under Nat Benjanuvatra’s guidance. It allowed the seniors to interact with the juniors and helped build surf swimming skills. With strong participation from the swimming competitors and keen interest from the broader club members, it proved
advantage of the club’s relationship with Kirby Swim at Christ Pete Wood finishes just in front of Kris Taylor at a 2012 carnival.
In 2007, Leith took on the captaincy for two seasons. She
Church Grammar School. In addition to the pool training, surf skills sessions were held every week at the club. The need for these skills sessions was highlighted at the end of the
noted that it remained a struggle at times to fill swimming
season when swimmers battled big seas at the Aussies at
events at carnivals, despite having some great swimmers
Kurrawa. Club swims were held every month, with a mix of
and expertise. Her comments in the 2009 annual report
members from across the club taking part.
to be a very successful addition to the club calendar. But
reflected the words of Jono van Hazel seven years earlier:
like many initiatives, it waned over time. By 2007 the North
“It is a harsh reality that swimming remains one of the club’s
Cottesloe swimming squad had grown to a team of around
fragile competition arenas among the senior ranks”. However,
25 and was entering most events in both the male and
she also noted significant improvements with the growing
different than what was dished out on the Gold Coast a
female arenas. It was a far cry from the handful of swimmers
number of talented younger members who continued to
few weeks later. North Cottesloe had surf teams in all age
who were competing when Sarah joined in 2000.
surpass everyone’s expectations. It was a time of having to
divisions at the States except for under-17 female division.
420 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
At the 2010 States at Secret Harbour the swimmers were hoping for a wave in preparation for the Aussies. However, with not a wave in sight, the conditions couldn’t be more
The club won bronze medals in the under-15 male surf teams (Andrew Ford, Louis LeMessurier, Nicholas Banks and Lachy Andrew) and under-15 female surf teams (Maddy Smith-Gander, Eliza Noske, Yasmin Tuchaai and Rosey Marsh) and silver in the under-19 male surf teams (Richard O’Halloran, Matt Johns, Kale Pervan and Zac Vinten). The under-19 female surf team finished fourth. North Cottesloe fielded two teams in each of the open male and open female surf teams events with top-six placings for all the teams. The club picked up medals and a large number of points in the rescue tube rescue. The under-19 men (Jason Ponsonby, Zac Vinten, Ben Teague and Richard O’Halloran) and women (Amy Banks, Maddy Shellabear, Mel Smith and Jemma Ford) and open women (Emma Wynne, Lish Anderson, Krystal Wright and Liz Lang) all won silver medals, while the open men narrowly missed the bronze. The open male and female B teams also picked up valuable points with fifth placings. Additional points were collected in the restricted (over-24) surf race, with Nat finishing fifth in the highly-competitive men’s field and Ruth Hunt and Liz Lang finishing fourth and fifth respectively in the women’s event. Emma picked up bronze in the open female surf race. It topped off a great season for Emma, who had won three of the four races in the WA series and was the overall series winner. Richard O’Halloran narrowly missed the medals in the under-19 male surf race and Kale Pervan and Andrew Ford finished sixth in their age groups. North Cottesloe swimmers did themselves proud at the Aussies in 2010, with many of them having never before experienced conditions like those they faced at Kurrawa.
P
aralympic swimmer Katrina Porter joined North Cottesloe in 2013 when her university lecturer and friend, Ray Boffey, asked her to come to the surf club to give him some swimming tips. Kat didn’t have the best impression of surf clubs. As a child, another surf club turned her away when she tried to follow her elder siblings into nippers. Her impression quickly changed when she came to North Cottesloe. She was introduced to Michael Beech on the ramp and he too encouraged her to join.
At the 2018 State endurance championships, Kat won her first medal, silver in the open female 2km swim. Being able to compete on a level playing field regardless of her disability means a lot to Kat and highlights the inclusivity of the surf life saving movement. As for North Cottesloe, the club quickly become more than just a vehicle for her to continue swimming. It became her second family. She describes North Cottesloe as the most uplifting and diverse sporting club she has encountered.
Kat started competitive swimming when she was 10 to assist with her physical disability, Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, which causes muscle weakness and joint stiffness. She ended up swimming for Australia at the highest level for 12 years and competed in three Paralympic Games – Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. At the Beijing Paralympics Kat won a gold medal in the women’s 100m backstroke S7 event in world record time, for which she received a Medal of the Order of Australia. She retired from competitive swimming after London and was looking to keep fit but in a social setting and away from the black line of the swimming pool. North Cottesloe Surf Club ended up being the perfect way to achieve this. Kat has competed for the club in State championships, Australian championships and world championships in both swimming and board paddling. As her legs prevent her from running, Kat is able to start in the water, while a runner starts with the other competitors and tags her in the water. Kat completes the course and tags her runner when she reaches the shallows.
North Cottesloe had entered two open male and female surf teams, along with under-19 and under-15 female teams. However, given the conditions, only the open women competed. Both teams competed in the semi-final, with the A team of Emma, Lish, Sarah Davis and Jemma Ford qualifying for the final and finishing sixth to score North Cottesloe’s first ever points in the open female swim arena
Chapter 7.9 Swimming | 421
Tridents were born. Sarah and Nat had set out to create a strong North Cottesloe swimming brand in the hope of building the swimming profile within the club. The Tridents, with branded swimming caps, created an easily identifiable group within the club with a strong camaraderie and sense of belonging. The North Cottesloe Trident Facebook page was established, further strengthening the brand and acting as an excellent communication tool. Sarah and Nat continued to build the swim team over the next couple of seasons by lifting the workload in the pool and implementing regular high-intensity beach training sessions geared towards surf races. They also held weekend handicap club swims. Skills grew and the club even started entering the belt race again. During this time the club had a strong squad with about 30 swimmers regularly competing in carnivals and often placing in the top 10 in the surf race. The standout performers for the 2010/11 season were Lish, Kale Pervan and Pete Wood, along with some great performances in the underage divisions. Rosey Marsh won gold in the under-17 female rescue tube race and Yasmin Tuchaai silver in the same event. Kale Pervan won silver in the under-19 male surf race and ironman and Adelaide Crossing won bronze in the under-15 female rescue tube race. In the open events, Pete won bronze in the over-24 restricted surf race and the team of Lish, Jemma Ford, Liz
Plenty of white caps on the line, Fremantle carnival, 2012.
Lang and Maddy Shellabear won bronze in the female
at the Aussies. Emma was in her element in the conditions
mates to swim out with the rip. “You don’t swim in a rip,”
and was on fire with a second in the semi-final of the open
thought Lish, and didn’t take the advice. Lish was set to catch
surf race. Unfortunately the final was not held because of the
a wave on the way home and remembers looking down from
The growing profile of swimming at North Cottesloe was
conditions. The cancellation of events also meant the rescue
the top and thinking she was going to die.
evident in season 2011/12. Start lines at carnivals were awash
tube rescue teams didn’t get to compete.
It was an era of strength in women’s swimming at North
Lish, who was in just her second year as a competitor,
Cottesloe, with some strong swimmers and a succession of
rescue tube rescue.
with white caps, with North Cottesloe often having the most entries. With a strong emphasis on participation, the goal was to have a full field in every age division in both the male
didn’t realise at the time how good their result in the surf
female swim captains.
teams was. She didn’t even realise making a final was that
After the great Aussies result, Emma started rowing surf
championships. The hope was that eventually this would
good. She knows now it was a fantastic result. Lish clearly
boats and Sarah Davis was back as captain from the 2010/11
flow through to North Cottesloe fielding competitive teams in
remembers Emma, with all her experience, telling her team
season. With Nat also taking a lead role, the North Cottesloe
both surf and the newly-introduced pool rescue competition.
422 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
and female arenas at every local carnival and at the State
far in front and the team finished eighth. North Cottesloe also won gold in the under-19 male rescue tube rescue (Kale Pervan, Curtis Spencer, Andrew Ford and George Ford), silver in the open male surf teams (Pete Wood, Kris Taylor, Sean Carter and Kale Pervan), silver in the open male rescue tube rescue (Kris, Kale, Maurice Dalle-Nogare and Lachlan Stretton) and bronze (Nat, Pete, James Triplett and Ceaser Scalise) in the same event. The 2012 States campaign remains Sarah’s favourite memory of swimming at North Cottesloe. At the club’s post-States party the swim team dressed in white togas and the club recognised the swimmers as a formidable team. President Craig ‘Goose’ Smith-Gander applauded them for their efforts. All their hard work throughout the year had paid off. Many members of the team had medals clanging around their necks and Sarah remembers it as a truly brilliant time. At the 2012 Aussies on the Gold Coast, North Cottesloe achieved its highest ever away-from-home point score and finished 19th overall. The swimmers were proud to know they had contributed to the result. North Cottesloe had two swimmers in the final of the open male surf race, with Kris Georgie Monro, Heather Woodward, Sarah Stretton, Mel Smith, Miriam Salter, Alicia Anderson, Jane Clarke and Ruth Hunt at the 2012 Australian championships, North Kirra, Queensland.
Competitors not only finished the season with an insight into how all facets of competition worked, what they had
Brian Sierakowski.
and Pete racing in tough conditions against Australia’s best surf swimmers. Another highlight was Lish being the only female to line up for the restricted surf race – an open-gender event.
Following many training sessions, the club had two reels
While most girls took one look at the hairy Kurrawa surf and
waxed and ready for one female team and two male teams
scratched themselves from the event, Lish took her place
to represent the club at the 2012 States. With ski paddlers
on the line. She looked around and noted that not only was
Nick Taylor, Jeremy ‘Moona’ Marsh, Tom Flower and Mike
she the only pink vest amid a sea of green vests, she was up
Strong performances throughout the season culminated in
‘Bingers’ Bingemann on the reel, Kris Taylor swam a thrilling
against some of Australia’s best ironmen such as Shannon
the men winning medals in most events at the 2012 States.
race to win gold. Unfortunately the other men’s team with
After being forgotten for many years, North Cottesloe
Pete Wood swimming, and the women’s team with Lish
decided to reintroduce the belt race and called on Alex
Anderson swimming, both fell victim to gear failure with
McKenzie and Nick Taylor to coach, with assistance from the
the safety pin releasing and the belt falling apart mid-race.
outgoing march past captain and reel extraordinaire
Following a swift repair, Lish swam on but the field was too
to improve on and how tough the competition was to get through to finals at the State championships, they came away with a swag of medals.
Ekstein and Ky Hurst. While some swimmers had to be rescued by jet ski, Lish managed to finish the race – and not in last position. Six years later, it remains Lish’s most daunting race, but the one she is most proud of. The following season, 2012/13, North Cottesloe swimmers
Chapter 7.9 Swimming | 423
the club’s masters athletes getting in on the action. There were the ladies who initially laughed at the notion of competing at States, let alone Aussies and Nat remembers the priceless looks on the faces of Jenny Ford, Amanda Nitschke and MaryAnne Paton when they realised they had won bronze in the surf teams at the Aussies. Liliana Guiscardo (30-34) and Mary-Anne (50-59) each won silver in the surf race in their age groups at the Aussies and Liliana also won gold in the rescue tube race. The inclusion of the pool rescue series and State championships to the SLSWA competition calendar in July 2013 gave the swim team an opportunity to compete year-round and for many swimmers this was a great incentive to train through the winter months. Pool rescue competitions offered surf lifesavers a new and exciting range of events that not only tested their swimming ability but also their lifesaving skills. Despite being a small and inexperienced team, North Cottesloe’s swimmers performed exceptionally well and the event has since been an area of strength for the club. Lish
Jess Reynolds, Ruth Hunt and Kat Porter, 2014.
was the star of the inaugural State championships, winning
again recorded a successful State championships. Lish and
Taylor organised Blue Duck coffee and muffin vouchers for
Jess Reynolds took home silver and bronze respectively in
each week’s winners. In 2013/14, the under-15 and under-17
the female restricted surf race and rising star Andrew Ford
members were encouraged to join in the swim before their
medals, one silver and one bronze. The competition also saw
won bronze in the under-19 surf race. Swim captain Pete
Sunday morning activities. This resulted in a pack of 50 or so
the return of Sam Knowles to the arena. Sam came out of
Wood led by example and put in a strong performance in the
swimmers, young and old, racing down the coast to the finish
retirement to finish fourth in the 200m obstacle swim and 50m
male restricted surf race to finish fifth. The open female rescue
line in front of the ramp.
freestyle with fins.
The club swim has since died again but it did possibly account
The following year, 2014, brought even more enthusiasm and
for North Cottesloe having the largest swim team at the 2014
participation in the pool rescue State championships, which
The following year, with Marian Taylor in place of Miriam,
State championships and Aussies that swim captain Nat
were providing a great opportunity for the club to gain valuable
the team finished with bronze, while Lish won bronze in the
Benjanuvatra had ever seen since joining the club in 2002. It
State championship points. North Cottesloe won nine gold, 13
restricted surf race and Andrew Ford again won bronze in the
obviously helped that the Aussies were in Perth but what was
silver and five bronze medals and contributed 143 points to the
under-19 male surf race.
particularly encouraging was the participation of the juniors
club’s 2015 State championships campaign. This was almost
who stepped up and competed in senior events. Youngsters
half of North Cottesloe’s total point score.
tube rescue team of Jess, Lish, Miriam Salter and Ruth Hunt finished with silver.
During this period, the club swim experienced another revival. Sunday handicap races were back on the calendar in season 2011/12, with many members taking part in the fun race, which has such a strong history in the club. The following year it was rebranded ‘The Blue Duck Sunday club swim’ and Marian
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Tom Corrie, Matthew Hawkins, Emma Warburton and Oliver Stockwell shared the stage with seasoned surf swimmers, even at the Aussies. The highlight for Nat that season, however, had been seeing
one gold, two silver and three bronze medals. In the masters division, Nat cleaned up in a smaller field, winning seven gold
Then in 2015 North Cottesloe’s swimmers collected eight gold, 14 silver, nine bronze and a total of 200 points towards the 2016 State championships. Highlights included Adam Sudlow winning one gold, one silver and two bronze medals in the
Kerryan Hoff and Tegan Maffescioni finishing with silver to make it four medals in four years for North Cottesloe in this event. In the over-24 female restricted surf race Jess Reynolds went one better than her previous year’s result to win silver, followed by bronze again in 2017 to make it four medals in five years for Jess in this event. In 2017, Jess also won gold in the open female champion lifesaver and bronze in both the open female surf belt race and rescue tube rescue (with Lish Anderson, Tegan Maffescioni and Miriam Salter). Other medals at the 2017 States included silver to Josh Lynn in the under-17 male rescue tube race, silver to Jacob Fitzgerald in the under-17 male surf belt race and bronze to Jacob, Josh, Kieran Peters and Eamon Walker in the under-19 male surf teams. Meanwhile, North Cottesloe continued its success in the pool. At the State championships in mid-2016, the club won seven gold, five silver and eight bronze medals in the open events, contributing valuable points towards the overall State championships results at the end of the 2016/17 season. Maddy Shellabear, Sue Collins and Lish Anderson at the country carnival in Albany 2017.
Then at the 2017 pool rescue State championships, 23 senior competitors pulled together to achieve North Cottesloe’s
under-14 events. Jenna Brown collected a gold, silver and
and Kerryan Hoff) and bronze for Jess in the over-24 female
most successful championships to date, winning 12 gold, 18
bronze in the under-17 events and then stepped up and raced
restricted surf race. Talent was also highlighted in the under-15
silver and 23 bronze medals and finishing third overall.
in the open relay where she added two more silver medals
and under-17 age groups. Jenna Brown and Emma Warburton
to her collection.
Standout individual performers were Lish with three open
finished second and fourth respectively in the under-17 surf
individual gold medals (100m rescue medley, 200m super
Meanwhile, Nat showed the younger competitors how it’s done,
race and the under-15 male surf team just missed out on a
lifesaver and 50m manikin carry) and bronze in the 200m
taking out the open 50m freestyle with fins in 19.9 seconds. The
medal, finishing fourth by a fingernail.
obstacles race. Lilly Duckett showed her speed, winning
club’s masters competitors finished third overall with five gold and one silver, and the juniors also put in a strong performance. Lucia Cronin and Lily Moore collected valuable points in individual events and then teamed up to claim a bronze medal in the under-12 line throw.
The club’s younger athletes again shone at the 2016 States. Adam Sudlow collected a gold medal in the under-15 rescue tube race, silver in the under-15 surf race and just missed out on a podium finish in the under-15 ironman. Tom Corrie stepped up, racing in the open taplin relay and then teamed
Back on the beach, at the 2015 State championships the club’s
with Joe Anderson to finish sixth in the under-19 board
females came away with silver in the open female rescue
rescue. Meanwhile, the club continued its success in the
tube rescue (Lish, Jess Reynolds, Olivia Marsh, Ruth Hunt
open female rescue tube rescue, with the team of Lish, Jess,
gold in the open female 50m freestyle and the 200m obstacles race. Emma Warburton won gold in the under-19 100m rescue medley and 50m freestyle. Other gold medals went to Madelline Shaw in the under-19 female 50m freestyle with fins, Nat Benjanuvatra in the open male 50m freestyle with fins and Brendan Peters in the open male 50m freestyle. North Cottesloe’s open female relay team of Lish, Jess
Chapter 7.9 Swimming | 425
Nat Benjanuvatra, Brendan Peters, Adam Moore, Emma Warburton, Madelline Shaw, Lish Anderson, Lily Moore at the 2017 Australian Pool Rescue Championships in Adelaide.
Lily Moore was the only medal winner at the open championships, winning bronze in the 13-years 50m swim with Jacob Fitzgerald, Kieran Peters, Daniel Peters, Brendan Peters, Alicia Anderson, Sue Collins, Mark Peters, Amy Fitzgerald, Eamon Walker, State belt race championships, 2018.
fins. Emma just missed out on the medals with three fourths and two fifths and Lish finished with a fourth. In the masters championships, Nat (35-39) won three gold and one bronze,
Reynolds, Tegan Maffescioni and Lilly Duckett successfully
they spent two hours trying to sort a hire car as no one had
Adam Moore (35-39) won one gold, two silvers and one bronze
defended their title in the 200m obstacles relay and the
thought to do it prior. The championships started the following
and Lish (30-34) won two silvers.
under-19 team of Madelline Shaw and Amy Fitzgerald won
day and the team needed to be up at 6am so it wasn’t ideal
gold in the line throw event.
arriving at their accommodation at midnight – and with no
In 2016, Adam Sudlow had been the only North Cottesloe athlete selected to represent WA in the Western Suns team for the Pool Rescue Interstate Championships. In 2017, North Cottesloe’s State representation was upped to four, with Lish Anderson, Emma Warburton, Madelline Shaw and Brendan Peters selected to represent WA in the Western Suns Pool Rescue Interstate Championships in Adelaide. Nat Benjanuvatra and Adam and Lily Moore also travelled to Adelaide for the 2017 Australian Pool Rescue Championships. The trip didn’t get off to the best start. After arriving at 10pm
426 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
dinner. The accommodation wasn’t ideal either. The boys had to share a bathroom that had no door and was open to the living room. Nat ended up with the smallest bed in the house and barely fitted into it – and the bed barely fitted into
The State pool rescue championships kick-started North Cottesloe’s assault on the 2017/18 season, with 308 points counting towards the overall State championships result. However, it would be the last time pool rescue was included in the overall State championships result.
the room. No one had thought about breakfast – the 1kg of
At the 2018 State championships, 42 North Cottesloe
jellybeans Brendan Peters took over with him wasn’t going
swimmers took to the ocean and achieved a 72 per cent
to cut it – but they managed to find some muesli at a service
improvement on their overall point score compared with
station. After the first day of competition they went to a dinner
2017. In an exciting outlook for the future, it was the club’s
for all the WA clubs. North Cottesloe was ‘fined’ by the other
underage competitors who were the standout performers.
clubs and Nat had to wear Pokemon ears and the rest of the
Under-19 competitor Harry Hewitt won a gold medal (as
North Cottesloe team had to wear Hawaiian flowers and skirts.
swimmer in the open lifesaver relay), a silver medal (as
swimmer in the open taplin relay) and two bronze medals (under-19 swim teams and open rescue tube rescue). Harry and his younger brother Charlie had moved from City of Perth at the start of the season. Under-17 competitor Adam Sudlow had another great year with three silver medals (under-17 surf race, under-17 surf teams and as swimmer in the open taplin relay) and a bronze medal (under-19 surf teams). The under-17 surf team had been one swimmer short on the day but managed to persuade beach sprinter Charlie Castleden to take to the water. Charlie finished third in the team of four, helping the team to the silver medal. Meanwhile, it was frustration for the under-19 male rescue tube rescue team. They would have won the silver but were disqualified along with most other teams as a result of being given incorrect instructions from one of the officials. After the race the official denied giving any instructions. Bella Poll was the club’s only individual gold medallist, winning the under-15 female surf race. Bella moved from Cottesloe at the start of the 2017/18 season and was already showing some champion performances, not just in the swimming arena, but across all water arenas. The 2018 masters State championships were particularly successful, with the club winning a swag of medals. This led into the masters Australian championships at Scarborough Beach where North Cottesloe fielded a swimming team of 11 women and five men. The ladies were outstanding with Karie Liggins picking up two gold and one silver, Mary-Anne Paton two silver and a bronze, Jenny Ford one silver and two bronze, Amanda Nitschke one silver and a bronze and Lish a bronze as the taplin swimmer. At the 2018 senior Aussies, 37 competitors represented North Cottesloe in swimming events, with six reaching finals. Harry Hewitt finished ninth in the under-19 male surf race, Andrew Ford made the final of the open male surf race and Lish Anderson finished 11th in the restricted surf race. In the under-19 2km ocean swim, Kieran Peters finished 10th and
Charlie Hewitt, Jacob Fitzgerald, Kieran Peters and Harry Hewitt, finalists in the under-19 rescue tube rescue at the 2018 Australian championships at Scarborough Beach, WA.
Jacob Fitzgerald 11th. In the open female event, Kat Porter finished 10th. With some great swimmers coming through the youth age groups, including Harry and Charlie Hewitt, Adam Sudlow, Emma Warburton and Bella Poll, North Cottesloe’s swimming section has a very promising outlook. Swimming has long been recognised as one of the weaker surf sports at North Cottesloe. But with more than 40 per cent of the 2018 State championship points coming from events that involve swimming, it is an area that could potentially elevate North Cottesloe towards the top two clubs in WA in the future.
Chapter 7.9 Swimming | 427
POSTSCRIPT: Daring to be Different In the world of surf life saving in Western Australia, North
in the composition of membership – Cottesloe with its
Along with the involvement of women, the North Cottesloe
Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club is uniformly regarded as a
so-called silvertails or “toffs” from the central and southern
attitude to, and involvement in, competition was distinctive
great club and is very likely judged to be so elsewhere in
parts of the suburb and Peppermint Grove, North Cottesloe
too. Along with Cottesloe, it was a powerhouse for more
Australia. Occasionally there are references to the club’s
from among the working class families clustered among the
than 40 years but in a way that set it apart from other clubs.
alleged elitism or even arrogance, but these judgements
hilly sand dune wasteland at the northern end of the suburb.
Whereas some of them had spasms of success in one or two
are in the eye of the beholder, and more often than not are
From this, a working class ethos of hard work, self-help
disciplines,
a sign of envy. The reality is that North Cottesloe regularly
and a willingness to question authority gradually emerged.
provides an example to other clubs – in patrol efficiency,
In these founding years there were also very different
selected areas of competition, governance, sponsorship,
attitudes among the two clubs to the provision of clubrooms.
community outreach and others. In terms of membership,
Cottesloe went cap in hand to the Council for permission
it is a giant – more than 2000 men and women, boys and
to erect premises on the beach, whereas North Cottesloe
girls, wearing the distinctive blue and white striped bathers.
made an investment with long-term ramifications when three
Among them certainly there are judges and barristers,
older members boldly took out a mortgage to buy a freehold
surgeons and dentists, well known business men and
block of land on Marine Parade. The two-storey building that
women, but the reality is that the membership reflects a broad cross-section of the Australian community. North Cottesloe is a club for everyone and always has been.
soon appeared, built by the members, set North Cottesloe apart from its neighbour and the clubs that formed in later decades, for the clubhouse was owned by North Cottesloe.
North Cottesloe regularly enjoyed all-round strength and even dominance, in R&R, swimming, surf boats and beach sprinting. Across all open events it was the most successful club in WA and so it attracted talented athletes – success breeding success. Eventually the outcome by 2006 was that North Cottesloe was the only WA club that could point to national gold medal success in four different areas of open competition: swimming (R&R), skis, beach sprinting (women) and boats. Furthermore, in each discipline the victories were all breakthrough firsts for WA clubs. Down the years, this has
So what has made this club great? How did it happen?
That difference emerged from a willingness by the early
nurtured an attitude towards success that has passed from
members to control their own destiny, not have it shaped for
one generation to the next – members are never content to
There can be many answers to these questions but the key
them. The legacy from that is obvious today.
be also-rans.
Another hallmark of the founding years was the attitude
Also prominent in the club’s culture is adaptability, the
to women. From the outset, unlike Cottesloe – which was
need to occasionally change course when circumstances
restricted to men and boys – North Cottesloe encouraged
demand it. Consider this. By the 1960s, three presidents of
family membership, and especially women. It was a stance
the WA State Centre had been North Cottesloe men, as had
In 1918 when a group of men and women took the bold step
copied later by other clubs, including Cottesloe. Very
the longest-serving head of the hugely influential Board of
to form the North Cottesloe Life Saving & Athletic Club, it
successful in interclub competition until the end of the 1960s,
Examiners. North Cottesloe was one of the pillars of support
may have been thought that they would model the club
the first wave of women supported the club in many ways,
for the State’s controlling body, helping to shape policy.
on the first such body 700m south. But they didn’t. Instead,
the most adventurous being their crucial part in the hugely
Twenty years later, it was the opposite. The club was in the
they carefully stayed at arm’s length from Cottesloe and
successful club-organised fashion parades in the early 1950s.
middle of prolonged warfare with the State Centre, patrols
its parents, the Cottesloe Council and the Royal Life Saving
Where the women of other clubs sold raffle and dance tickets,
being the source of the conflict. For a decade or more when
Society. Consequently it gained the freedom to follow its
North Cottesloe’s women brought in BIG money, thanks to the
membership slumped, North Cottesloe’s patrols were a
own path, which it did. Difference was immediately apparent
club’s audacity in the days before sponsors appeared.
byword for slackness and general inefficiency, the reality
lies in understanding the club’s culture, which has emerged in the past century. Without being definitive, it has evolved from a series of events and occurrences, all of which have contributed to the club’s distinctive character.
428 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
being that a swimmer in difficulty in the Eric Street pool
the many far-reaching decisions leading to improvements
ends have been proved to justify the means. What has been
had more chance of being saved by a fellow swimmer than
in patrols, competition, clubroom and membership
remarkable about the leaders is that in an organisation with
by a patrol member, if one was on the beach. Therefore,
expansion, management of sponsorships and above all, a
more than 2000 members, they have managed to project a
periodically State Centre tried to penalize the club, hoping to
professionalism exhibited throughout the club. However the
encourage an improvement. Instead each episode became
dynamism that infects the entire organisation. Furthermore,
catalyst for most of this was the move that amazed the WA
another bout of legal wrangling that the club more often than
surf life saving world – the agreement with a restaurateur
they respect the club’s past, without being tied to it. What a
not won – and the patrols showed little improvement.
to take over the vastly underused club hall. Overturning
Then came a dramatic change, for by the late 1990s the club’s fortunes were improving, membership was up and the ongoing feud had harmed the club’s reputation. After years of steadfastly refusing to be involved in State Centre affairs at almost any level, the wheel turned. Instead of being regarded as a necessary evil, patrols were returned to their core position in the club, the reason for its existence.
80 years of surf club thinking – a hall, large or small was
contrast this is when compared to many other clubs where corrosive cliques continually make progress difficult.
a desirable inclusion in any surf club building – North
This 100-year history is the story of a surf life saving club
Cottesloe turned a white elephant into a financial saviour for
that has dared to be different and so has become a leader
the club. Only it had the vision to see how this could drive its
among its peers. Many of North Cottesloe’s members come
revival from a disturbing slump, and the legal firepower to
from the confident professional and business families of
overcome the bureaucratic obstacles. Following on from this
Perth’s western suburbs, enjoying all that the club offers,
the club moved to employ part-time and then full-time staff,
while their children swarm over the beach and bob up
Those who made it their concern to drastically improve
headed by a general manager – all firsts in WA. The reaction
patrol efficiency were respected for their dedication, as
elsewhere was: “How can WE do this?”. The arrival of the Blue
were the many women and men who joined to serve their
Duck in 1989 was possibly the most transformative event in
community rather than enjoy the rewards of competition.
the club’s history and in its own way reflected an important
Gradually patrol hours were extended, early morning
component of the club’s culture – the willingness to follow
get things done at North Cott, big things, and you have to
weekday patrols appeared, and on weekends, members on
its own course, daring to be different.
admire them for that”. Difference, audacity, professionalism,
foot became a regular sight as they strolled to the northern
None of this would have happened without another
and southern limits of the club’s jurisdiction. Not surprisingly many observers wondered about this transformation. However it was no more than North Cottesloe dealing with a longstanding problem itself, by setting high standards and
component of North Cottesloe’s culture – strong leadership. Looking back over the past century it is clear that this has never been lacking. There have been dynamic leaders at
and down in the surf on Sunday mornings. One observer labelled the club “arrogant”, but then he thought for a moment and admitted, “admirably arrogant”, adding: “they
an occasional disregard for the rules and strong leadership, all have combined in a unique culture that also embraces competitive success as a driving force. Importantly too, there is that difficult to define, “presence” – on the beach
all levels, men and women who have left their mark, and
and in the boardroom – the self-confident belief that North
especially a succession of presidents in more recent years.
Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club has long been, and is, a great
Nowhere else has the club’s daring to be different, its
Almost without exception they have been hard driving,
club. Now in the present century it is poised to enhance its
audacity and willingness to take a risk been more evident
taking the club members with them in support. Not for
position in and beyond the surf life saving world.
than in the sphere of governance – club management. Earlier
them the easy role of merely occupying the presidency and
much has been written about the positive changes since the
watching the world go by. Certainly there have sometimes
1980s – the strategic plans, the key performance indicators,
been the occasional bruised egos along the way, but the
achieving them.
Ed Jaggard
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After spending nearly 10 years with another surf club I joined North Cottesloe in 2012, thanks to Nat Benjanuvatra, who was my swimming coach for years at UWA. The people I have met through the club are some of the most wonderful and most special people to me, and it was one of the main reasons why I decided to move home after spending more than four years living in Sydney. The sense of community and inclusive nature of the club was something I missed tremendously while living away from home and I cannot wait to be a part of the club for many more years to come. I am forever grateful for Nat’s encouragement all those years ago, as I could not imagine my life now without North Cott. Alice Dormer, member since 2012
430 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Living interstate and overseas the past four years ‘club life’ is what I missed most and I’m so happy to be back. There is nothing better than setting up the day with a workout, followed by mandatory swim and coffee. Mornings are always better surrounded by the banter and camaraderie of North Cott clubbies. Anna Foster, member since 2009
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 431
It has truly become the most uplifting and diverse sporting club that I have encountered, as it is wonderfully balanced with the fitness and competition element and enables everyone to be their true selves. I am down there almost every morning of the year – to either walk, swim or paddle – and almost always talking with a coffee in hand. It is honestly the best way to start any day and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Kat Porter, member since 2013
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The club to me was such a new exciting place to make new friends and really helped me recover from a bad breakup. Now the club is such a huge, important part of my life and without it I would feel lonely and lost. I spend a lot of time down there and helping out doesn’t feel like service when you get so much out of it. I love all the activities with friends and how you push yourself to learn new skills – I never thought I would be able to drive an IRB, or paddle a ski, or do triathlons and it all really started at North Cott. Miriam Salter, member since 2010
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The club is my daily sanctuary from the usual business/ stress of life. I absolutely love coming down to exercise and socialise at the same time with people who are now some of my best friends. I have already achieved goals I never thought possible and cannot wait to see what else I will learn. I feel very proud to be part of North Cott. . . Having originally moved to Perth from the UK, I don’t have any relatives here and honestly regard many members of the club as my family here. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly to me. It’s a wonderful community to be part of. Emily Tebbatt, member since 2016
434 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
I love the friendly atmosphere. Every time I go to the club there is always someone I know. I love it how no matter your age or background you can come to North Cott with a sense of belonging. . . The North Cott community is like a family. Emma Warburton, member since 2008
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North Cottesloe Surf Club started out as my playground. Then it became a place where my mates and I went to have fun and then to a place where I participated in serious life or death competition. Along the way it became a place where I made deep and enduring friendships, where I achieved great things for me personally whilst learning about loyalty, commitment and hard work. It’s the place in the world where I feel most at home. It’s why I come back here for three months each year from where I live now in France. Richard Meadmore, member since c1960
436 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
The club very quickly became a big part of my life as it was where I did most of my exercise and most of my socialising. I had finished playing football so water polo and surf life saving filled the gap and made me wonder why I hadn’t tried both earlier in life. . . I love the community at North Cott and the fact that when we come together to celebrate (anything, anytime) it includes everyone from babies to oldies. Steve McConkey, member since 1988
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Jerry Knowles hated doing weights alone so we would go down at night to the cellar [gym] and push these lumps of rusty old iron around. Sunday afternoons we’d sit on the roof of the little boat shed and cook our bodies and at 3pm we would run up to the City Beach ‘shit pit’ and back. Sunday mornings we all swam round the cans through massive nests of bluebottles with no goggles. It was all great fun and produced lasting friendships. There were not many members and we all knew each other. One Sunday in 1964 an SLSWA inspector quietly told me to swim out a way and put my hand up. He wanted to time the club’s reaction. Jerry and Peter Driscoll were very quick, so I dived down and swam under water to their confusion. After a couple of dives they caught me and strangled (rescued) me to the beach and threw me on the sand – to the shock of the crowd. I still go to the gym several times a week, have a paddle, run and swim. I’m 78 now. I still love the club and teach a bit of yoga. Tony King, member since 1962
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I just love everything about being a member of North Cott Surf Club – the wonderful people I have met, the social events that I have enjoyed and the friends who I swim with every day and then have a coffee with afterwards are always a joy to me. It’s a great way to start every day. Thanks for including me into your club. Although I am now a senior and don’t participate in the events its still a joy to be part of this wonderful club. Melita McLean, member since 2000
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Evolution of club swimwear through the century 1930s
Women
Men
1920s
440 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Andrew Ford and Mathilda Lipscombe sport the current club swimwear. PICTURE: Ange Butler/Rolling Stills
Chapter 7 ...And on top | 441
100 years of building one of Australia’s premier surf clubs
1918 – North Cottesloe Life Saving and Athletic Club established. First clubrooms (male and female change rooms with no roof) built at Pulpit Rocks at bottom of Grant Street.
1967 – Opening of the new clubrooms on the ocean side of Marine Parade.
1958 – Additions and renovation of clubhouse, carried out by members.
1925 – Two-storey, wood and iron-roof clubrooms completed, including hall with dance floor, two offices, kitchen, change rooms and storage space.
1952 – North Cottesloe wins gold in the R&R at the Australian Championships (first Australian title for Western Australia).
1920 – Club members George Pulleine, Charles Pitman and Thomas Davey purchase land on the eastern side of Swanbourne Terrace (now 166 Marine Parade) on behalf of club. 1952 – Surf ski included as a State championship event (inaugural title won by North Cottesloe’s Ron Rankine-Wilson).
125 members (55 active)
1965
1960
1955
115 members (54 active)
1950
164 members
1940
1945
1937 – Name of club amended to North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club. Separate juvenile division established. 144 members
1935
1926 – First State championship carnival, with three participating clubs – Cottesloe, North Cottesloe and City of Perth.
1930
1925
1920
(17 male, 18 female)
35 members
1921 – Two stone change rooms built.
1964 – Club secures section of crown land on ocean side of Marine Parade at a peppercorn annual rental and puts original property up for sale.
2009 – J crew wins fourth consecutive gold in the open male surf boat at the Australian championships (first club to ever achieve this).
1970 – Jack Trail wins gold in the single ski at the Australian championships (North Cottesloe’s first individual Australian title)
2010 – Tom Nolan wins gold in the open male beach sprint at the Australian championships. 2012 – Major redevelopment of clubrooms under way. 2013 – Opening of new clubrooms. Clean sweep of medals in the open female surf boat at the State championships. 2014 – Tom Nolan wins gold in the open male beach flags at the Australian championships.
2006 – J crew wins gold in the open male surf boat at the Australian championships (first of four consecutive Australian titles) and gold at the world championships in Lorne, Victoria. – Change rooms upgraded. – Planning under way for major redevelopment of clubrooms.
2015 – Tom Nolan wins second consecutive gold in the open male beach flags at the Australian championships. 2016 – Surf sports academy launched.
1995 – Michael Liggins (left) and Jacqui McKenzie (above) win the ironman/ironwoman double at the State championships. – Female surf boats introduced nationally.
2000 – North Cottesloe takes first five places in the open male beach sprint at the State championships. – Gym upgraded, bringing quality in line with rest of the club premises.
2226 members (668 active)
2015
2010
2212 members (612 active)
2018 – North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club turns 100.
2004 members (593 active)
2005
1995
1990
356 members (63 active)
786 members (370 active)
1992 – First open surf boat State title since 1961.
1988 – Social hall leased to The Blue Duck restaurant.
1985
1980
260 members (89 active)
1980 – Women allowed to do their bronze medallion and compete alongside the men. 132 members (79 active)
1975
165 members (110 active)
1970
189 members (95 active)
1974 – Simon Martin wins gold in the ironman at the Australian championships.
1999 – Administrator role expands to full-time.
1522 members (215 active)
1991 – Renovations completed, including construction of facilities for females.
1997 – Clubrooms extended and renovated, including new roof and new social and training facility. – Part-time administrator employed.
860 members (368 active)
1996 – New ski shed and concrete ramp completed. Club wins the open male beach relay at the world championships in Durban, South Africa (club’s first world title). – Women’s beach relay included on program at Australian championships.
2000
1978 – Clubrooms extended south, almost doubling the size of the original building to include large recreation room on top floor and large well-equipped gymnasium on ground floor.
2001 – Gold medal in the women’s beach relay at the Australian championships. – Clean sweep of medals in the open male single ski at the State championships.
NCSLSC Office Bearers 1918/19 to 1988/89 YEAR
President
Vice President
Secretary
1918/19
L Gadsdon
1919/20
L Gadsdon
1920/21
L Gadsdon
1922/23
L Gadsdon
1923/24
L Gadsdon
Treasurer
Captain
Patrol Officer
Chief Instructor
"C Dickson/ Mrs Madely (VC)" F Pulleine L Gadsdon
1925/26
B Challis
J MacDermott
1926/27 1927/28 1928/29
G C Binning
1929/30
R. Peacock
1930/31
H Walsh
H. Walsh
1931/32
L Gadsdon
R Denford/H Walker
H R Irvine
R Peacock
H N Boys
M Urquhart
1932/33
C Briggs
H Walker
H R Irvine
R Peacock
F Graham
D Irvine
1933/34
C Briggs
1934/35
C Briggs
J Gibbs
H R Irvine
J James
A Newby
F Graham
N Adcock
A Mell
W McElintock
D Irvine
1936/37
J Morton
P Dickson/J Howson
N Adcock
R Jeffrey
R MacKenzie
S Law
1937/38
J Morton
J Howson
N Adcock
A Mell
1938/39
J Morton
T Johnstone
1939/40
J Gibbs
T Johnstone
1940/41
J Gibbs
T Johnstone
1941/42
J Morton
1942/43 1943/44 1944/45
R. Peacock
1935/36
S Law
A Mell
C Williams
S Law
A Logan
J Howson
R Meadmore
S Law
J Howson
Norman
R Meadmore
T Johnstone
J Fitzgerald
J Howson
J Howson/D Jeffrey
A Hutchin/J Howson
J Morton
T Johnstone
J Fitzgerald
J Morton
T Johnstone
J Fitzgerald/A Logan
H Walsh
J Hunter
M Bateman
J Morton
T Johnstone
A Logan/D Johnston
S Bateman
H Walsh
A Logan/H Morris
J Hunter
1945/46
J Morton
T Johnstone
D Johnston
S Law/R Meadmore
W Meadmore
G Russell
1946/47
J Morton/K McKinlay
A Stewart
D Johnston
T Stewart
R Meadmore
S Law
1947/48
E Jaggard/R Peacock
A Stewart
D Johnston
T Stewart
A Stewart
S Law/W Meadmore
1948/49
R Peacock
G Binning
D Johnston
T Stewart
D Wilkinson
G Russell
1949/50
R Peacock
C Coleman
D Johnston
G Williamson
D Wilkinson
1950/51
R Peacock
C Coleman
W McMannus
L Russell
P Archbold
J Meadmore
G Williamson/G Russell
R Fussell/S Law
G Russell
1951/52
R Peacock
C Coleman
D Johnston
T Stewart T Stewart/ AW Kidner (VC) L Russell
1952/53
R Peacock
C Coleman
D Molyneux
A Kidner
E Jaggard
1953/54
R Peacock
C Coleman
K Conroy
W Meadmore
T Merchant/D Grenville
L Russell
1954/55
R Peacock
K Conroy
K Conroy
D Dohnt
D Grenville
L Russell
M Shaw
L Russell
1955/56
D Host
1956/57
D Host
W Meadmore
444 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
C Coleman
K Conroy
D Grenville
B Philppson
J Gibbons
D Grenville
L Russell
NCSLSC Office Bearers 1918/19 to 1988/89 YEAR
President
1957/58
D Host
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Captain
Patrol Officer
Chief Instructor
B Philppson/M Carter
R Jeffrey
D Molyneux
L Neilson
G Russell
1958/59
D Host
M Carter
R Jeffrey
L Nielsen
D Wilkinson
L Russell
1959/60
D Host
N Kilgren
R Jeffrey
L Nielsen
Beach Committee
L Russell
1960/61
J James
J Rudge/J McNaught
R Jeffrey
R Day
M Connelly
L Russell
1961/62
J James
J McNaught
R Jeffrey
R Day
P Kidman
R Pillage
1962/63
T Law
M Connelly
R Jeffrey
R Day
P Kidman
W Kidner
1963/64
T Law
B Newton
R Jeffrey
J Knowles
M McDermott
G Barnett
1964/65
G Russell
J Trail
L Bennett
J Knowles
P Driscoll
L Girdlestone
1965/66
G Russell
J Trail
L Bennett
J Knowles
P Freize
L Russell
1966/67
G Russell
P Williams
J McNaught
J Knowles "J Knowles/ P Driscoll (VC)" P Driscoll
P Freize
L Russell
P Driscoll
L Russell
L Girdlestone
L Russell
M Flower
P Driscoll
1967/68
G Russell
1968/69
G Russell
AW Kidner/KC Porteus
P Williams/M Carter
J McNaught
J Knowles
M Carter
1969/70
G Russell
J Knowles
L Girdlestone
P Kidman
1970/71
G Russell
J Knowles
P Rickard
P Kidman
1971/72
G Russell
R Erskine
M Carter
R Pyvis
1972/73
G Russell
J Knowles
H Secombe/D Grenville
A McKenzie
L Russell J Moncrief G Brown
G Miller
1973/74
G Russell
J Knowles
D Grenville
A McKenzie/R Meadmore
G Brown/J Wickens
M Paul
1974/75
G Russell
J Knowles
D Grenville
R Meadmore
J Miller
S Martin/B Elliott
1975/76
G Russell
J Knowles
D Grenville/V Reaburn
R Meadmore
J Miller
B Elliott
1976/77
G Russell
J Knowles
V Reaburn
R Meadmore
J Miller
S Artelaris
1977/78
G Russell
J Knowles
M Carter
V Reaburn
R Meadmore
J Miller
1978/79
G Russell
J Knowles
A Jewkes
V Reaburn
T McKenna
J Miller
1979/80
G Russell
J Knowles
T Mckenna/A Jewkes
R Jewkes
V Raeburn
D Geddes
1980/81
G Russell
J Knowles
A Jewkes
R Jewkes
S Mitchell
D Geddes
1981/82
G Russell
J Knowles
A Jewkes
D Geddes
R Jewkes
G Taylor
1982/83
G Russell
C Chalmers
C Ford
D Geddes
N Taylor
G Taylor
1983/84
G Russell
C Chalmers
C Ford
D Geddes
J Wallace
J Miller
1984/85
C Chalmers
K Liggins
C Ford
A Ridderhof/S Davies
M Rigoll
J Miller
1985/86
C Chalmers
K Svenden/D Henderson
C Allan/R Holland
S Davies
M Rigoll
J Miller
1986/87
J Miller
C Chalmers
R Holland
S Davies
M Rigoll
C Bell/B Boylan
1987/88
M Flower
C Chalmers
R Holland
C Smith-Gander
R Hodby
B Boylan
1988/89
M Flower
C Bell
D Michael
C Smith-Gander
R Hodby
B Boylan
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 445
NCSLSC Office Bearers 1989/90 to 2004/05 YEAR
President
1989/90
Mike Flower
1990/91
Mike Flower
1991/92
Mike Flower
1992/93
Colin Chalmers
1993/94
Colin Chalmers
1994/95
Jerry Knowles
1995/96
Jerry Knowles
1996/97
Richard Meadmore
1997/98
Richard Meadmore
1998/99
Richard Meadmore
1999/2000
Richard Meadmore
2000/01
Nick Rea
2001/02
Nick Rea
2002/03
Nick Rea
2003/04
Alex McKenzie
2004/05
Alex McKenzie
446 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Vice President Graham Russell/ Ken Porteus Graham Russell/ Ken Porteus Jerry Knowles/ Graham Russell/ Ken Porteus Jerry Knowles/ Graham Russell/ Ken Porteus Jerry Knowles/ Graham Russell/ Ken Porteus John Miller/Alex McKenzie/Graham Russell/Ken Porteus John Miller/Richard Meadmore/Graham Russell Alex McKenzie/Colin Chalmers/Graham Russell Alex McKenzie/ Dennis Hawtin/ Graham Russell Adrian Ridderhof/ Dennis Hawtin Adrian Ridderhof/ Dennis Hawtin Adrian Ridderhof/ Dennis Hawtin
Secretary
Treasurer
Captain
Patrol Officer
Chief Instructor
Registrar
Craig Bell
D Michael
Craig Smith-Gander
Adrian Ridderhof
Jerry Knowles
Colin Chalmers
Richard Meadmore
Tom Stewart
Craig Bell
Margaret Anderson/ Jerry Knowles/ Adrian Ridderhof Dennis Hawtin
Richard Meadmore
Tom Stewart
Craig Bell
Nick Taylor
Michael Beech/ Dennis Hawtin
Laurie Russell
Richard Meadmore
Tom Stewart
Craig Bell
Michael Beech
Dennis Hawtin
Laurie Russell
Julianne Simmons
Tom Stewart
Craig Bell
Kate Flower/Richard Michael Beech/ Meadmore Dennis Hawtin
Laurie Russell
Julianne Simmons
Tom Stewart
Craig Bell
Nick Taylor/James Edelman
Colin Chalmers/ Richard Meadmore
Laurie Russell
Julianne Simmons
Tom Stewart
James Edelman
Craig Bell/Catherine Simon Martin/Colin Moore Chalmers
Laurie Russell
Julianne Simmons
Tom Stewart
James Edelman
Sam Knowles
Craig Bell/Alan Evans
Laurie Russell
Tom Stewart
Sam Knowles
Nick Rea/James Edelman
John Miller/Steve Gibbs
Laurie Russell
Julianne Simmons
Tom Stewart
Sam Knowles
Laurie Russell
Julianne Simmons
Tom Stewart/ Richard Fayle
Sam Knowles
Laurie Russell
Liz Cumbor
Richard Fayle/ Michael Beech
James McLaughlin
Laurie Russell
Michael Beech
James McLaughlin
Michael Beech
Rick Falken
Michael Beech
Rick Falken
Michael Beech
James McLaughlin
Adrian Ridderhof/ Margot Ferguson Dennis Hawtin Adrian Ridderhof/ Margot Ferguson Dennis Hawtin Dennis Hawtin/ Nick Taylor Craig Smith-Gander/ Brett Endersby
Laurie Russell
Social & Special Events Officer
Margaret Anderson Anthony Battaglia/Anthony Rigoll Anthony Battaglia/Anthony Rigoll Anthony Battaglia/Anthony Rigoll Margie Tannock
Alex Park/ Nick Rea Tony Beard/ James Knowles Michael McCartney/ Michelle Butler Michelle Butler/ Jonathon Worner Jamie Edelman/ Scott Nicholls Niall Warren/ Graeme Teasdale Niall Warren/ Mary Petrie
NCSLSC Surf Sports Captains 1989/90 to 2004/05 YEAR
Board Captain
Ski Captain
Boat Captain
Swim Captain
Beach Sprint Captain
Competition Officer
Handicapper
1989/90
Nick Taylor
Nick Taylor
Colin Chalmers
1990/91
Nick Taylor
Nick Taylor
Colin Chalmers
Jerry Knowles
Trevor Nicholas
Colin Chalmers
Jerry Knowles
Trevor Nicholas
1991/92
Rob Jenkinson
Rob Jenkinson
1992/93
Rob Jenkinson
Rob Jenkinson
1993/94
Rob Jenkinson
Rob Jenkinson
1994/95
Sam Knowles
Sam Knowles
Trevor Nicholas
Craig Bell Craig Bell Richard Meadmore
Craig Bell
John Guilfoyle
1995/96
Sam Knowles
Steve Hopkins
Richard Meadmore
John Guilfoyle
1996/97
Sam Knowles
Nick Taylor
Richard Meadmore
John Guilfoyle
1997/98
Ben Mercer
Nick Taylor
Victoria Anderson
1998/99
James Knowles
Nick Taylor
Paul Crockett
Nick Rea Jonathon Van Hazel
John Guilfoyle
Nick Rea
Nick Taylor Graham Lahiff
1999/2000
James Knowles
Tim Bird/Andrew Stevens
Jack Alliss
Jonathon Van Hazel
Nick Rea
2000/01
Stuart McLaughlin
Tim Bird/Andrew Stevens
Jack Alliss
Jonathon Van Hazel
Steve Gibbs
John Guilfoyle John Guilfoyle John Guilfoyle
2001/02
Jacqui Cook
Andrew Stevens
Jack Alliss
Jonathon Van Hazel
Steve Gibbs
Peter Andrews
John McNaught
2002/03
Nick Taylor
Andrew Stevens
Jack Alliss
Jonathon Van Hazel
Travis Sheehy
Peter Andrews
Matthew Jewkes
2003/04
Al Nixon
Andrew Stevens
Jack Alliss
Brett Robertson
Travis Sheehy
Peter Andrews
Matthew Jewkes
2004/05
Al Nixon
Nick Taylor
Mark McDermott
Jamie Cobill
Travis Sheehy
Lea Ridderhof
Peter Andrews
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 447
NCSLSC Officers 1989/90 to 2004/05 YEAR
Chief Instructor/ Education Officer
1989/90
Rob Hodby/John Miller
1990/91
John Miller
1991/92
John Miller
1992/93
Lorna Wall
1993/94
Lorna Wall
1994/95
Lorna Wall
S Janney/Renato Bruno Dot Shearer
Laurie Russell
1995/96
Renato Bruno
Lorna Wall
Patrol Officer
Radio Officer
Gear Officer
Committee Alex McKenzie/Jerry Knowles Alex McKenzie/Jerry Knowles Alex McKenzie/Jerry Knowles Renato Bruno/Jerry Knowles
Dot Shearer
Laurie Russell Laurie Russell/ Ken Porteus Laurie Russell/ Ken Porteus
Dot Shearer
First-aid Officer
IRB Officer
Juvenile Officer Dennis Hawtin
Dot Shearer
Bill Hazell
John Miller
Bill Hazell
Lorna Wall/John Miller
Dot Shearer
Bill Hazell
Adrian Jones
Bill Hazell
Dot Shearer
Dot Shearer
Cipri Martinez
Bill Hazell
Graham Russell/John Miller
David Bird
Bill Hazell
John Miller
David Bird/Andrew Elliott
Bill Hazell
Tim Allen
Jenny Rutter
1996/97
Renato Bruno
Lorna Wall
1997/98
Niall Warren
Alex Park
Graham Russell
1998/99
Marcus Cann
B Stickles
Tim Allen
1999/2000
Renato Bruno
Grahame Schultz
Murray Kornweibel
2000/01
Brett Endersby
Grahame Schultz
Dot Shearer
Jenny Rutter
Tim Allen
Jenny Rutter/ Rob Hodby Alan Tietzel/Cliff Ford/ Rebecca Rutter Alan Tietzel
2001/02
Brett Endersby
Grahame Schultz
Dot Shearer
Jenny Rutter
Graeme Teasdale
Alan Tietzel
2002/03
Brett Endersby
Renato Bruno
Jasmine Lamb
Mark Familton
Graeme Teasdale
2003/04
Brett Endersby
Renato Bruno
Jasmine Lamb
Julie Neesam
Dan Pilsneniks
Alan Tietzel Rob Jewkes/Craig Smith-Gander
2004/05
Linda Gladwell
Renato Bruno
Grahame Schultz
Julie Neesam
Dan Pilsneniks
448 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Dot Shearer
Murray Kornweibel
Cadet Officer
Fiona Clarke
Tim Allen Tim Allen
Andrew Brown
Kareena Preston/ Justine Hamilton Kareena Preston/ Steve Gibbs Steve Gibbs/ Sam Knowles Katy Rutter/ Rebecca Rutter Rick Falken/ Steve Gibbs Rick Falken/ Steve Gibbs
Alan Tietzel Cliff Ford Jasmine Lamb/ Trevor Gibb
NCSLSC Board of Management 2005/06 to current YEAR
President
Club Captain
Treasurer
Chair of Surf Sports
Michael Beech Keith Johns
Chair of Governance & Chair of Assets Strategy
Chair of Club Services
Chair of Education
Chair of Life Saving
Chair of Juniors
Brett Endersby
Todd Morcombe
Mary Petrie
Linda Gladwell
Renato Bruno
Craig Smith-Gander
Alan Tietzel
Brett Endersby
Jamie Ridderhof
James Scovell
Renato Bruno
Steve Coote
2005/06 Alex McKenzie
James McLaughlin
2006/07
Craig Smith-Gander
Travis Sheehy
2007/08
Craig Smith-Gander
Keith Johns
Alan Tietzel
Brett Endersby
Stephanie Fast
James Scovell
Renato Bruno
Steve Coote
Keith Johns
Nick Rea
Brett Endersby
Linda Gladwell
Mike Carter
Renato Bruno
David Andrew
2009/10
Craig Smith-Gander
Travis Sheehy Travis Sheehy/ Liz Lang John Polinelli
Keith Johns
Liz Lang
Nick Rea
Brett Endersby
Linda Gladwell
Mike Carter
Renato Bruno
David Andrew
2010/11
Craig Smith-Gander
John Polinelli
Keith Johns
Liz Lang
Renato Bruno
Brett Endersby
Linda Gladwell
Mike Carter
David Andrew
2011/12
Craig Smith-Gander
John Polinelli
Keith Johns
Liz Lang
Renato Bruno
Brett Endersby
Darlene Yates
Tom Carmody
David Walser David Walser/ Shayne Yates
2012/13
Craig Smith-Gander
Keith Johns
Lea Ridderhof
Renato Bruno
Brett Endersby
Alison Robson
Tom Carmody
Mary-Anne Paton
Bob Hunter
2013/14
Chris Shellabear
Tom Flower/ David Kordic (VC) Tom Flower
David Andrew Lea Ridderhof
Renato Bruno
Adrian Ridderhof
Tom Flower
David Andrew Lea Ridderhof
Sam Knowles
Adrian Ridderhof
Tom Carmody Tom Carmody/ Jodee Woodward
George Ventouras
Chris Shellabear
Alison Robson Alison Robson/Matt Shepherd
Mary-Anne Paton
2014/15
Mary-Anne Paton
George Ventouras
2015/16
Chris Shellabear
Nat Benjanuvatra
David Andrew Jessie O’Mahony Sam Knowles
Adrian Ridderhof
Matt Shepherd
Jodee Woodward
Kim Wallis
2016/17
Ian Clarke
Nat Benjanuvatra
David Andrew Jessie O’Mahony Sam Knowles
Stephen McConkey
Matt Shepherd
Domenic Cowdell
Kim Wallis
George Ventouras/ Kate Carbone Kate Carbone
2017/18
Ian Clarke
Nat Benjanuvatra
Lisa Palmer
Stephen McConkey
Matt Shepherd
Domenic Cowdell
Pia Claudius
Kate Carbone
2008/09 Craig Smith-Gander
Lee Barker
David Ulbrick
Bob Hunter
NCSLSC Surf Sports Captains 2005/06 to current Boat Captain
Swim Captain
Beach Sprint Captain
2005/06 Peter Hinds
Marcus Brockhurst
Mark McDermott
Sarah Davis
Travis Sheehy
2006/07
Cliff Ford
Marcus Brockhurst
Steve Parks
Sarah Davis
Todd Edwards
Brian Sierakowski
2007/08
Cliff Ford
Marcus Brockhurst
Steve Parks
Leith Weston
Todd Edwards
Brian Sierakowski
2008/09 Matt Phyland
Marcus Brockhurst
James McLaughlin
Leith Weston
Todd Edwards
Brian Sierakowski
2009/10
Michael Ford
Nick Taylor
Derek Knox
Emma Wynne
Todd Edwards
Brian Sierakowski
John Barwood
Jasmine Lamb
2010/11
Michael Ford
Nick Taylor
James Stewart
Sarah Davis
Todd Edwards
Brian Sierakowski
John Barwood
Jasmine Lamb
2011/12
Michael Ford
Nick Taylor
Tim McFarlane
Sarah Davis
Todd Edwards
Chris Shellabear
John Barwood
Jasmine Lamb
2012/13
Michael Ford
Nick Taylor
Lee Barker
Pete Wood
Todd Edwards
Pete Wood
Chris Shellabear
John Barwood
2013/14
Maurice Dalle-Nogare Mike Bingemann
James McLaughlin
Nat Benjanuvatra
Sam Burke
Rebecca Shellabear
Miles Ponsonby
John Barwood
2014/15
Mark McDermott
Nat Benjanuvatra
Todd Edwards
Christie Lori
Brian Sierakowski
John Barwood
Jeff Hegarty
Alicia Anderson
Todd Edwards
Lachlan Cooke
Brian Sierakowski
John Barwood
Jason Ponsonby
2016/17
Maurice Dalle-Nogare Nick Taylor Nick Taylor/Brendan Maurice Dalle-Nogare Downes Joe Anderson Brendan Downes
Jeff Hegarty
Nat Benjanuvatra
Tom Nolan
Jenny Ford
John Barwood
Jason Ponsonby
2017/18
Joe Anderson
Jodie Wallis
Sue Collins
Tom Nolan
Lachlan Cooke Frances Endersby/ David Kordic
Jenny Ford
John Barwood
Claire Jordan
2015/16
Board Captain
Brendan Downes
2km Beach Run Captain
March Past Captain
Competition Officials Captain
Life Saving Competition Captain
Ski Captain
YEAR
Linda Gladwell
Zac Vinten
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 449
NCSLSC Officers 2005/06 to current YEAR
Patrol Officer
2005/06 Grahame Schultz 2006/07
First-aid Officer
Life Saving Equipment Officer
IRB Captain
Bronze Medallion Officer
Requalification Officer
Dan Pilsneniks
Darlene Rice
Lara Sweet
Kynan Smith
David Kordic
Darlene Rice
Kynan Smith
David Kordic
Darlene Rice
Julie Neesam
Grahame Schultz
2007/08 2008/09
Nipper Officer
Cadet Officer Jasmine Lamb/ Jamie Coote
Lara Sweet
Andrew Brown/ Steve Coote David Andrew
Mike Carter
David Andrew
Junior Education Officer
Jamie Coote
Kynan Smith
David Kordic
Shayne Yates
David Louw
Bob Hunter
2009/10
Pia Claudius
Kynan Smith
Cam Dimsey
Shayne Yates
Niall Warren
Bob Hunter
Michael Silbert
2010/11
Pia Claudius
Shayne Yates
Niall Warren
Bob Hunter
Michael Silbert
David Devenish
Pia Claudius
David Kordic
Jodee Woodward
Niall Warren
Steve Noske
Michael Silbert
David Devenish
2012/13
Pia Claudias
Kynan Smith Kate Wheadon/Kynan Smith Kynan Smith
David Kordic
2011/12
David Kordic
Jodee Woodward
George Ventouras
Michael Silbert
2013/14
Pia Claudias
Kynan Smith
David Kordic
Jodee Woodward
2014/15
Pia Claudias
Kynan Smith
David Kordic
Jodee Woodward
Stewart Nicolson
Nathan Fitzgerald Jodee Woodward
Susie Enston Alistair Stoltze/Kate Campbell Alistair Stoltze/Kate Campbell Jodee Woodward/ Helen Allison/Trevor Gibb
Stewart Nicolson
Nathan Fitzgerald Jodee Woodward
Pia Claudius/Claire Negus/Helen Tyrell
Jonathon Wood
Nathan Fitzgerald Steve Voke
Aiden Squires
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
Kate Wheadon Kate Wheadon/ Roy Oldham Kate Wheadon
Jenny Ford/Jenny Helen Tyrell/Claire Rogers/Amanda Negus Nitschke Jenny Ford/Jenny Rogers/Amanda Nitschke Jenny Ford/Jenny Claire Negus Rogers/Amanda Nitschke
450 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Ruth Hunt
Melissa Golowit
Milly Meares
Sandy Harvey
Milly Meares
Sandy Harvey
Domenic Cowdell/ Zac Vinten Domenic Cowdell
Michael Silbert
Aidan Squires
NCSLSC Administration YEAR
General Manager
Administrator/Member Services Officer
Development Officer
Surf Sports/Coaching Development Officer
Finance Officer
Caretaker
1987-99
Lance Parker
1999/2000
Merome Hall
Lance Parker
2000/01
John McNaught
Lance Parker
2001/02
Kelly Moss
Lance Parker
2002/03
Kelly Moss
Lance Parker
2003/04
Belinda Wilson
Lance Parker
2004/05
Belinda Wilson (General Manager)
Lance Parker
2005/06
Carina Mossop
Lea Ridderhof
2006/07
Kelly Moss
Alana Campbell
2007/08
Kelly Moss
Alana Campbell
Leith Weston
2008/09
Kelly Moss
Anna Foster/Tegan Maffescioni
Sacha Bond/Leith Weston
2009/10
Kelly Moss
Kym O’Neill
Anna Foster
Derek Knox
2010/11
Kelly Moss/Yolande Joubert
Dani Trott
Kym O'Neill
2011/12
Yolande Joubert
Hannah McAll
Caitlin Ward
2012/13
Ben Unbehaun
Hannah McAll
2013/14
Ben Unbehaun
2014/15
Ben Unbehaun
Haylee Greenfield
Caitlin Ward
Ben Unbehaun/Rick Smith
Haylee Greenfield/Stami Kafetzakis
Caitlin Ward/Haylee Greenfield
2015/16 2016/17 2017/18
Lance Parker Carina Mossop
Lance Parker
Carina Mossop
Lance Parker
Carina Mossop
Lance Parker
Carina Mossop
Lance Parker
Derek Knox
Carina Mossop
Lance Parker
Marian Taylor
Kelly Moss
Lance Parker
Caitlin Ward
Marian Taylor
Kelly Moss
Lance Parker
Hannah McAll/Haylee Greenfield Caitlin Ward
Marian Taylor
Kelly Moss
Lance Parker
Kelly Moss
Lance Parker
Kelly Moss
Lance Parker
Kelly Moss/Lisa Samaha/Eliza Atkinson
Lance Parker
Eliza Atkinson
Lance Parker
Rick Smith
Stami Kafetzakis
Rick Smith
Stami Kafetzakis/Jayden Williamson
Shannon MacLachlan
Haylee Greenfield/Kirsty Hayden Shannon MacLachlan Kirsty Hayden
Shannon MacLachlan/Brooke Ponchard
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 451
NCSLSC Club Patrons YEAR
Patron
Vice Patrons
1989/90
Ray Hinchcliffe
Hon Graham Edwards/Hon W Hassell/Mayor Charles Murphy
1990/91
Ray Hinchcliffe
Hon Graham Edwards/Mayor Charles Murphy
1991/92
Ray Hinchcliffe
Hon Graham Edwards/ John Roberts/Hon Colin Barnett/Mayor Charles Murphy
1992/93
Ray Hinchcliffe
Hon Graham Edwards/ John Roberts/Hon Colin Barnett/Mayor Charles Murphy
1993/94
John Roberts
Hon Graham Edwards/Hon Colin Barnett/Mayor Julian Donaldson
1994/95
John Roberts
Hon Graham Edwards/Hon Colin Barnett/Mayor Julian Donaldson
1995/96
John Roberts
Hon Graham Edwards/Hon Colin Barnett/Mayor Julian Donaldson
1996/97
John Roberts
1997/98
John Roberts
1998/99
John Roberts
1999/2000
John Roberts
2000/01
John Roberts
Tim Roberts/Len Buckeridge
2001/02
John Roberts
Tim Roberts/Len Buckeridge
2002/03
John Roberts
Tim Roberts/Len Buckeridge
2003/04
John Roberts
Tim Roberts/Len Buckeridge
2004/05
John Roberts
Tim Roberts/Len Buckeridge
2005/06
John Roberts
Tim Roberts/Len Buckeridge
2006/07
Tim Roberts
Len Buckeridge
2007/08
Tim Roberts
Len Buckeridge
2008/09
Tim Roberts
Len Buckeridge
2009/10
Tim Roberts
Len Buckeridge
2010/11
Tim Roberts
Len Buckeridge
2011/12
Tim Roberts
Len Buckeridge
2012/13
Tim Roberts
Len Buckeridge Len Buckeridge
2013/14
Tim Roberts
2014/15
Tim Roberts
2015/16
Tim Roberts
2016/17
Tim Roberts
2017/18
Tim Roberts
452 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Junior State Champions SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
1962-63 1969-70 1972-73 1984-85 1984-85 1985-86 1985-86 1985-86 1985-86 1985-86 1985-86 1985-86 1985-86 1985-86 1985-86 1985-86 1985-86 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1988-89 1988-89 1988-89 1988-89 1988-89 1989-90 1992-93
Juvenile Female Surf Race 13yr Surf Teams 10yr Surf Race 10yr Board Rescue 10 yr Board Team 10yr Boys Surf Race 10yr Boys Board Race 10yr Boys Ironman 10yr Boys Board Rescue 10yr Boys Board Team 11yr Boys Surf Race 11yr Boys Board Team 11yr Boys Board Rescue 11yr Boys Ironman 11yr Boys Cameron Relay 11yr Girls Surf Race 11yr Girls Beach Flags 12yr Boys Surf Race 12yr Boys Ironman 12yr Boys Surf Teams 11yr Boys Board Rescue 11yr Boys Ironman 11yr Boys Board Rescue 10yr Boys Board Race 10yr Boys Board Team 10yr Boys Beach Flags 10yr Girls Beach Relay 11yr Boys Cameron Relay 11yr Boys Board Race 11yr Boys Surf Teams 12yr Boys Beach Sprint 12yr Boys Beach Flags 13yr Boys Board Race 13yr Boys Cameron Relay 13yr Boys Ironman 13yr Boys Surf Race 13yr Boys Board Rescue 13yr Boys Rescue Tube 13yr Girls Beach Flags 11yr Girls Beach Sprint 11yr Girls Beach Relay 11yr Girls Beach Flags 12yr Boys Cameron Relay 12yr Boys Surf Teams 12yr Girls Beach Sprint U12 Boys Board Race
L Peacock North Cottesloe P Wilson North Cottesloe North Cottesloe S Wroth S Wroth S Wroth North Cottesloe North Cottesloe J Edelman J Edelman, S Wroth, J Wroth J Edelman, J Wroth J Edelman J Edelman, D Venn, J Wroth P Dickson A Thunder J Edelman J Edelman J Edelman, J Wroth, J Nesa North Cottesloe S Wroth North Cottesloe N Shave North Cottesloe N Shave J McGillvray, L Shave, O Paterson, G Walsh North Cottesloe N Shave N Shave, Wood A Bloomfield J Perkins J Edelman North Cottesloe J Edelman J Edelman J Wroth, J Edelman J Edelman A Thunder J McGillvray J McGillvray, L Shave, O Paterson, G Walsh L Shave North Cottesloe North Cottesloe J McGillvray North Cottesloe
1995-96 2001-02 2002-03 2002-03 2003-04 2003-04 2004-05 2004-05 2004-05 2004-05 2004-05 2005-06 2005-06 2005-06 2005-06 2005-06 2005-06 2005-06 2005-06 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2007-08 2007-08 2007-08 2007-08 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2010-11 2010-11 2010-11 2010-11
U12 Boys Wade Relay U11 Girls Beach Sprint U12 Girls Beach Sprint U11 Boys Surf Race U11 Male Surf Teams U12 Male Surf Teams U13 Male Cameron Relay U12 Male Surf Race U12 Female Surf Race U12 Male Cameron Relay U12 Male Surf Teams U13 Male Board Relay U13 Male Surf Teams U13 Ironman U11 Male Surf Race U11 Male Surf Teams U11 Male Board Rescue U11 Male Board Race U11 Male Cameron Relay U12 Male Board Race U12 Male Board Relay U12 Male Board Rescue U12 Male Surf Race U12 Male Cameron Relay U12 Male Beach Relay U14 Female Beach Relay U14 Ironwoman U11 Male Beach Relay U11 Male Beach Sprint U13 Male Surf Teams U13 Male Cameron Relay U13 Male Ironman U11 Male Beach Flags U14 Female Beach Relay U11 Male Surf Teams U14 Male Surf Teams U11 Male Board Relay U12 Female Beach Sprint U12 Female Beach Flags U12 Male Beach Relay U12 Male Beach Flags U14 Male Board Race U11 Ironman U12 Male Beach Sprint U13 Male Beach Flags U13 Female Beach Flags
North Cottesloe A Barwood A Barwood M Johns G Ford, M Benn, A Witherow, S Weber P Hoey, M Johns, K Pervan, A Taylor P Hoey, M Johns, J Liveris, Z Wood K Pervan A Williams G Ford, K Pervan, D Moriarty, B Power G Ford, A Witherow, K Pervan, M Benn G Ford, K Pervan, A Witherow G Ford, K Pervan, A Witherow, M Benn G Ford A Ford A Ford, D Hoey, C Foster, K Fortune A Ford, C Foster A Ford A Ford, L Andrew, C Foster, D Hoey A Ford A Ford, C Foster, L Andrew A Ford, C Foster A Ford A Ford, C Foster, M Bailey, C Hutton A Ford, L Andrew, C Hutton, M Bailey K Bennett, C Whitcombe, G Gray, E Dummer A Williams P Benetti, J Johns, L McDermott, Steens L McDermott A Ford, L Andrew, C Foster, C Hutton A Ford, L Andrew, C Foster, C Hutton J Andrew R O'Sullivan E Salih, M Lipscombe, A O'Connell, M Woods G O'Connell, P Benetti, J Johns, J Bennett A Ford, T Cunningham, W Brogan, C Foster A Gilbert, C O'Sullivan, E Grimes E Weber E Weber J Johns, P Benetti, R O'Sullivan, T Powell R O'Sullivan J Andrew T Corrie A Crump R O'Sullivan E Weber
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 453
Junior State Champions SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
2010-11 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2015-16
U13 Female Surf Teams U11 Male Surf Race U11 Male Board Race U11 Male Ironman U11 Male Cameron Relay U12 Male Board Race U12 Male Board Relay U12 Female Beach Flags U12 Male 1km Beach Run U14 Female Beach Flags All Age March Past U14 Male Beach Sprint U13 Male Board Rescue U12 Male Cameron Relay U12 Female Beach Relay U12 Female Beach Flags U12 Female Beach Sprint U11 Female Beach Sprint U11 Female Beach Flags U13 Female Beach Flags U14 Female Beach Flags All Age Female Beach Relay U13 Female Beach Relay U12 Female Beach Sprint U12 Male 1km Beach Run U12 Female Beach Sprint U12 Male Beach Relay U13 Female Beach Sprint U13 Male Surf Race U13 Female Beach Relay U10 Female Beach Flags
E Tuchaai, M Beers, M Simcock, T Jenkins A Sudlow B Bevan A Sudlow A Sudlow, M Moore, B Bevan, Reikie M Paganin M Paganin, T Corrie, R O'Sullivan C Preston A Crump E Weber North Cottesloe A Crump T Corrie, M Paganin M Moore, L Field, A Sudlow, B Bevan K Preston, A Monroe, J Sertorio, I Rakich K Preston K Preston J Sertorio L Wall K Preston S Azzopardi K Preston, C Preston, J Sertorio, L Wall A Gorey, K Preston, I Rakich, S Whelan J Sertorio J Hayden L Wall Z Moxham, B Clarke, J Hayden, S Wake J Sertorio R Paganin S McMeeken, J Sertorio, L Wall, S Whelan M McCaffrey
454 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
SEASON
EVENT
2015-16
U10 Female Beach Relay
2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17
U10 Female Beach Sprint U13 Male 1km Beach Run U12 Male 1km Beach Run U10 Female Beach Flags U11 Female Beach Flags U11 Female Beach Sprint U11 Male 1km Beach Run U13 Male Beach Flags
2017-18
All Age March Past
2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
U10 Male 1km Beach Run U11 Female Beach Flags U12 Female Beach Flags U12 Female 1km Beach Run U12 Male 1km Beach Run U13 Female Beach Relay
COMPETITOR/S C Clifford, S Curtis, J Johnston, M McCaffrey, K Wall M McCaffrey J Hayden Z Moxham G Powell M McCaffrey M McCaffrey J Neervoort X Dry J Hayden, S Harvey, S Wall, I Moore, S Curtis, T Simich, Z Dewar, C Fleay, J Kinney-Graham, B Crinin, A Moxham, L Blunt L Phillips G Powell M McCaffrey O Peel J Neervoort C Fleay, S Harvey, J Hayden, A Moxham
Senior State Champions SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
1925-26 1925-26
Senior Surf Belt Race Senior Surf Teams Race
1930-31
Junior Surf Belt Race
1930-31
Junior Surf Boat Race
1925-26
Senior Surf Boat Race
1925-26
Junior R & R
1930-31 1930-31
Junior Beach Sprint Junior Beach Relay
1925-26 1926-27 1926-27
Junior Surf Belt Race Senior Surf Relay Race Senior Surf Teams Race
1931-32
Senior R & R
1931-32 1931-32
Senior Surf Belt Race Senior Surf Teams Race
1926-27
Senior Surf Boat Race
1931-32
Senior Surf Boat Race
1926-27 1927-28 1927-28 1927-28 1927-28
Junior Surf Belt Race Senior Surf Belt Race Senior Surf Race Senior Surf Teams Race Senior Surf Relay Race
1931-32 1931-32 1931-32 1931-32 1931-32
Senior Beach Relay Senior Beach Sprint Junior Surf Belt Race Junior Surf Race Junior Surf Teams Race
1927-28
Senior Surf Boat Race
J MacDermott J MacDermott, E Bemrose, I Youngberg, B Challis F Graham (sweep), R Irvine, A Sanderson, D Palmer, E Jaggard C Delamare, J James, W Nicholson, J Stubbs, E Dewar, J Dewar North Cottesloe B Challis, J MacDermott, E Bemrose, I Youngberg B Challis, J MacDermott, E Bemrose, I Youngberg F Graham (sweep), R Irvine, A Sanderson, D Palmer, E Jaggard North Cottesloe H McKenzie H McKenzie H McKenzie, I Youngberg, J MacDermott, D Palmer H McKenzie, I Youngberg, J MacDermott, D Palmer F Graham (sweep), R Irvine, A Sanderson, D Palmer, E Jaggard I Youngberg, H McKenzie, E Jaggard, H Walsh, M Urquhart, A Sanderson H McKenzie H McKenzie H McKenzie, I Youngberg, Unknown, Unknown F Graham (sweep), R Irvine, A Sanderson, G Ismail, E Jaggard L Rothwell, J James, W Nicholson, J Stubbs, W Paul, E Dewar J Anderton, J Holly, D Irvine, S Bateman K Caporn North Cottesloe H McKenzie, A Sanderson, J Lanyon, W Guthrie, D Irvine, E Jaggard H McKenzie, I Youngberg, J James, D Palmer I Youngberg F Graham (sweep), R Irvine, A Sanderson, R Peacock, P Palmer R Disley R Disley, J Anderton, A Mell, H Gibson R Hinchliffe, J Holly, C Norman, G Totterdell, T Rothwell, K Caporn L Orr E Bemrose, J James, H McKenzie, A Mell, K Caporn, R Irvine H McKenzie H McKenzie, E Bemrose, J James, I Youngberg F Graham (sweep), R Peacock, E Jaggard, H Boys, J Dewar J Anderton, F Chisnell, H Gibson, E Dewar
1931-32
Junior Surf Boat Race
1932-33
Senior Beach Relay
1932-33
Junior R & R
1932-33
Junior Surf Teams Race
1932-33
Junior Surf Boat Race
1933-34 1933-34 1933-34 1933-34 1933-34 1934-35 1934-35 1934-35
Senior R & R Senior Beach Relay Junior R & R Junior Surf Belt Race Junior Surf Teams Race Junior Surf Belt Race Junior Surf Race Junior Surf Teams Race
1935-36
Senior R & R
1935-36
Senior Surf Boat Race
1935-36 1935-36
Senior Beach Sprint Senior Beach Relay
1935-36
Junior R & R
1935-36 1935-36 1935-36 1935-36 1936-37 1936-37
Junior Surf Belt Race Junior Surf Race Junior Surf Teams Race Junior Beach Sprint Senior Beach Relay Senior Beach Sprint
L Oberman F Graham (sweep), F Farrant, W Pitman, J Blackwell, R Guthrie J Holly J Holly, F Farrant, E Garside, K Dowell R Hinchliffe, F Gray, C Norman, E Rothwell, G Totterdell, J Holly L Oberman J James, J Farrell, A Newby, I Youngberg F Graham (sweep), R Peacock, F Farrant, A Mell, G Totterdell R Disley, J Anderton, A Mell, W Lantzke R Disley L Oberman L Oberman L Oberman, T Batson, K McKenzie, N Morrison F Graham (sweep), A Braithwaite, S Pitman, H McGee, T Watt W Lantzke, A Mell, R Huck, H Bemrose J McKenzie, E Newby, T Palmer, T Batson, K Rogers, T Watt E Newby, T Palmer, T Batson, K Rogers F Graham (sweep), A Braithwaite, S Pitman, H McGee, T Watt J James, A Newby, K Caporn, A Mell, T Law, L Oberman H Bemrose, R Huck, R Disley, W Lantzke G Parker, D Jeffrey, S Law, W Bone, T White, T Palmer G Parker G Parker, J Watson, S Law, E Newby G Parker W Bone G Parker, W Bone, S Law, D Jeffrey K Caporn, A Mell, L Oberman, R Jeffrey, D Jeffrey, A Jeffrey K Gray (sweep), W Moore, G Parker, D Molyneux, R Meadmore H Bemrose H Bemrose, J White, J Howson, S Law G Parker, W Bone, T White, J Howson, D Irvine, W Meadmore G Parker G Parker R Hinchliffe, W Meadmore, W Bone, D Irvine J Howson H Bemrose, J Howson, S Law, R Huck H Bemrose
1928-29
Senior R & R
1928-29 1928-29 1928-29
Senior Surf Belt Race Senior Surf Race Senior Surf Relay Race
1928-29
Senior Surf Boat Race
1928-29
Junior R & R
1928-29 1928-29 1928-29
Junior Surf Teams Race Junior Surf Race Junior Beach Sprint
1929-30
Senior R & R
1929-30 1929-30
Senior Surf Teams Race Senior Surf Race
1929-30
Senior Surf Boat Race
1929-30 1929-30
Senior Beach Sprint Senior Beach Relay
1929-30
Junior R & R
1929-30
Junior Beach Sprint
1930-31
Senior R & R
1930-31 1930-31
Senior Surf Belt Race Senior Surf Teams Race
1930-31
Senior Surf Boat Race
1930-31
Senior Beach Relay
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 455
Senior State Champions SEASON
EVENT
1936-37
Junior R & R
1936-37 1936-37 1936-37 1936-37 1936-37 1937-38 1937-38 1937-38 1937-38 1937-38
Junior Surf Belt Race Junior Surf Race Junior Surf Teams Race Junior Beach Relay Junior Beach Sprint Senior Surf Belt Race Senior Surf Race Senior Surf Teams Race Senior Beach Relay Senior Beach Sprint
1937-38
Junior R & R
1937-38 1937-38 1937-38 1938-39 1938-39 1938-39 1938-39 1938-39 1938-39 1939-40 1939-40 1939-40 1939-40 1939-40
Junior Surf Race Junior Beach Relay Junior Beach Sprint Senior Surf Belt Race Senior Surf Race Senior Surf Teams Race Senior Beach Relay Senior Beach Sprint Junior Surf Race Senior Surf Belt Race Senior Surf Race Senior Surf Teams Race Senior Beach Relay Senior Beach Sprint
1939-40
Junior R & R
1939-40 1939-40
Junior Surf Race Junior Surf Teams Race
1940-41
Senior R & R
1940-41 1940-41
Senior Surf Belt Race Senior Beach Relay
1940-41
Junior R & R
1940-41 1940-41 1940-41
Junior Surf Belt Race Junior Surf Race Junior Surf Teams Race
1946-47
Junior Male R & R
1946-47 1946-47 1947-48
Junior Male Surf Teams Race Junior Male Beach Relay Junior Male Surf Belt Race
456 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
COMPETITOR/S
SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
W Burns, L Sherwood, D Irvine, W Meadmore, J Poynton, L Brown W Meadmore W Burns W Meadmore, W Burns, L Sherwood, D Irvine W Holly, L Brown, J Poynton, L Smith W Holly G Parker L Lamb L Lamb, G Parker, R Jeffrey, D Jeffrey H Bemrose, S Law, A Mell, P McRustie H Bemrose W Burns, L Sherwood, L Bown, R Brown, N Holmes, C Woodlands W Burns D Host, W Holly, R Bown, L Smith D Host L Oberman L Lamb L Oberman, L Lamb, D Jeffrey, R Jeffrey D Host, H Bemrose, S Law, A Mell D Host N Campbell L Oberman L Lamb L Oberman, L Lamb, R Jeffrey, R Hinchliffe D Host, H Bemrose, S Law, H Robson D Host N Campbell, A Hewitt, R Smith, A Stewart, W Lillywhite, W Young N Campbell N Campbell, A Hewitt, A Stewart, W Lillywhite R Hinchliffe, J Howson, D Jeffrey, G Browne, A Hewitt, A Stewart L Oberman D Host, B Nelson, W Norman, J Stewart R Rankine-Wilson, N Campbell, T Stewart, W Young, K Kessell, I Pyvis R Rankine-Wilson N Campbell R Rankine-Wilson, N Campbell, A Stewart, T Stewart K Langlands, R Hinchliffe, L Russell, G Cock, R Fussell, L Neilsen R Hinchliffe, L Russell, R Fussell, L Neilsen A Rich, L Russell, G Wilkinson, I McKinley R Hinchliffe
1947-48
Junior Male Beach Sprint
1948-49
Senior Male R & R
1948-49
Senior Male Surf Race
1948-49
Senior Male Surf Boat Race
1948-49
Senior Male Beach Relay
1948-49
Junior Male R & R
1948-49 1949-50 1949-50 1949-50 1949-50
Junior Male Surf Teams Race Senior Male Surf Race Senior Male Surf Boat Race Senior Male Beach Relay Senior Male Beach Sprint
1949-50
Junior Male R & R
1949-50
Senior Female R & R
1950-51
Senior Male R & R
1950-51 1950-51
Senior Male Beach Relay Senior Female R & R
1951-52
Senior Male R & R
1951-52 1951-52 1952-53 1952-53 1952-53 1952-53
1952-53
Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Beach Relay Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Surf Boat Race Senior Male Beach Relay Senior Male Champion Lifesaver Senior Male Most Outstanding Lifesaver Cadet Male Surf Belt
A Rich A Kidner, R Hinchliffe, G Williamson, G Cock, G Russell, L Russell G Agnew R McKenzie (sweep), W Stewart, K Caporn, J Luke, A Dale T Stewart, L Russell, A Rich, G Sturt D Dohnt, S Hamer, G James, E De Marchi, R Gannaway, R Kemp D Dohnt, S Hamer, R Gannaway, B Fullerton G Agnew K Caporn (sweep), W Stewart, J Luke, A Dale, A Forsyth T Stewart, L Russell, A Rich, M Carter A Rich D Knight, K Conroy, B Tyrrell, F Frank, B Fullerton, N Gaunt North Cottesloe A Kidner, R Hinchliffe, G Williamson, D Dohnt, G Russell, L Russell T Stewart, L Russell, A Rich, M Carter M Turvey, A Rees, Unknown A Kidner, R Hinchliffe, K Caporn, G Russell, L Russell, J Meadmore R Rankine-Wilson (inaugural year) T Stewart, L Russell, A Rich, M Carter R Rankine-Wilson P Archbold, N Tyrrell, J Luke, R Fussell(Sweep), R Gillies L Russell, A Rich, M Carter, G Woodhouse L Russell
1953-54
Senior Male B Surf Boat Race
1953-54 1953-54 1953-54 1953-54 1953-54
Senior Male Surf Board Race Senior Male Beach Relay Race Cadet Male Surf Belt Cadet Male Surf Race Cadet Male Surf Teams
1954-55
Senior Male R & R
1954-55
Senior Male Surf Boat Relay
1954-55
Senior Male Beach Relay
1955-56
Senior Male R & R
1955-56
Senior Male Beach Relay
1952-53
L Russell P Best R Fussell (sweep), E De Marchi, W De Marchi, E Clough, R Wilson G Bevan (inaugural year) L Russell, A Rich, M Carter, T Williams P Best P Best P Best, P Gepp, R Evans, G Lowe D Dohnt, H Williams, A Kidner, G Glauert, G Russell, L Russell R Fussell (sweep), R Wilson, W De Marchi, E Clough, W Stewart, B Walsh, A Morton, J Derickx, B Brady L Russell, A Rich, M Carter, B Philippson H Williams, T Rigoll, A Kidner, K Caporn, G Russell, L Russell L Russell, A Rich, M Carter, B Philippson
Senior State Champions SEASON 1955-56 1955-56 1955-56
EVENT Senior Male Most Outstanding Lifesaver Junior Male R & R Senior Female R & R
1956-57
Senior Male R & R
1956-57 1956-57 1957-58 1957-58 1957-58 1958-59
Senior Male Surf Belt Race Senior Male Beach Relay Senior Male Surf Race Cadet Male Surf Belt Race Cadet Male Surf Race Senior Male Surf Teams Race
1958-59
Senior Male Surf Boat Race
1958-59 1958-59 1958-59 1958-59 1959-60 1959-60 1959-60 1959-60 1959-60 1959-60 1959-60 1959-60
Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Double Ski Senior Male Beach Sprint Junior Male Surf Race Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Double Ski Junior Male Surf Race Junior Male Surf Belt Race Junior Male Surf Teams Race Junior Male Beach Sprint Cadet Male Beach Sprint Cadet Male Surf Race
1959-60
Senior Female R & R
1960-61
Senior Male Surf Race
1960-61
Senior Male Surf Boat Race
1960-61 1960-61 1960-61 1960-61 1961-62 1961-62 1961-62 1961-62 1962-63 1962-63 1962-63 1962-63
Junior Male Surf Race Junior Male Surf Teams Race Cadet Male Surf Belt Race Cadet Male Surf Race Senior Male Double Ski Junior Male Surf Race Junior Male Surf Belt Race Junior Male Surf Teams Race Senior Male Surf Teams Race Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Double Ski Junior Male Surf Race
1962-63
Senior Female R & R
1962-63
Senior Female Surf Belt Race
COMPETITOR/S
SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
L Russell
1962-63 1962-63
Senior Female Surf Race Senior Female Surf Teams Race
1962-63
Senior Female Beach Relay
1963-64 1963-64 1963-64
Senior Male Surf Teams Race Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Double Ski
1963-64
Senior Female R & R
1963-64
Senior Female Surf Belt Race
1964-65
Senior Male R & R
1964-65 1964-65 1964-65 1964-65 1964-65 1964-65
Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Double Ski Senior Male Beach Sprint Senior Male Beach Relay Race Cadet Male Surf Belt Race Cadet Male Surf Race
1964-65
Senior Female R & R
1965-66
Senior Male R & R
1965-66 1965-66 1965-66 1965-66
Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Double Ski Senior Male Beach Relay Race Cadet Male Surf Belt Race
1965-66
Senior Female R & R
1965-66 1966-67 1966-67 1966-67 1966-67 1967-68 1967-68 1967-68
Senior Female Surf Belt Race Senior Male Surf Board Senior Male Beach Relay Junior Male Surf Teams Cadet Male Surf Belt Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Double Ski Senior Male Surf Board
1967-68
Senior Male Taplin Relay
1967-68 1967-68 1968-69 1968-69 1968-69 1968-69
Junior Male Surf Teams Junior Male Beach Relay Senior Male Ironman Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Double Ski Senior Male Surf Board
1968-69
Senior Male Taplin Relay
P Nicholas P Nicholas, E Driscoll, G Gladwell, L Burke J Kenny, North Cottesloe, North Cottesloe, North Cottesloe R Day, P Driscoll, B Nicholas, M MacDermott J Trail J Trail, L Bennett P Nicholas, K Hungerford, E Driscoll, S Porteus, B Gilbert, S Gilbert P Nicholas R Day, P Driscoll, J Knowles, M MacDermott, A Charleston, W Anderton J Trail J Trail, L Bennett L Girdlestone L Girdlestone, B Newton, M MacDermott, W Anderton W Russell W Russell P Nicholas, K Hungerford, E Driscoll, S Porteus, B Gilbert, S Gilbert R Day, W Anderton, P Driscoll, J Knowles, M MacDermott, A Charleston J Trail J Trail, T Colby L Girdlestone, B Newton, M Carter, C Berringer J Moncrieff P Nicholas, K Hungerford, E Driscoll, S Porteus, B Gilbert, S Gilbert P Nicholas M MacDermott L Girdlestone, M Carter, A Porteus, C Berringer J Moncrieff, W Russell, R Martin, W Morris J Moncrieff J Trail J Trail, L Pullen M MacDermott J Trail, L Pullen, J Knowles, M MacDermott, P Driscoll, unknown S Martin, J Moncrieff, W Russell, K Pallott W Russell, G Miller, R Coyle, R Huggett J Knowles J Trail J Trail, L Pullen M MacDermott J Trail, L Pullen, J Knowles, M MacDermott, P Driscoll, G Miller
R Evans, N Hinchliffe, P Rigoll, G Lowe, I McPail, P Best North Cottesloe H Williams, T Rigoll, K Caporn, G Lowe, G Russell, L Russell G Milner L Russell, A Rich, M Carter, R Wilson G Milner P Kidman P Kidman G Milner, A Charleston, A Rigoll, P Kidman R Fussell (sweep), R Gillies, E De Marchi, R E Fussell, K Caporn R Rankine-Wilson R Rankine-Wilson, A McCall G Ward J Knowles R Rankine-Wilson R Rankine-Wilson, A McCall P Kidman P Kidman P Kidman, K Allen, R Knight, W Anderton S Kerr B Reeves I Peacock J Kenny, E Driscoll, S Smith, J Peacock, M Antony, J Kernaghan R Day R Fussell (sweep), J Bell, R E Fussell, E De Marchi, B Rutland I Peacock I Peacock, K Allan, W Anderton, K Vellnagel P Driscoll P Driscoll J Trail, R Rankine-Wilson A Hinds I Peacock A Hinds, I Peacock, P Driscoll, M MacDermott R Day, J Knowles, M MacDermott, P Kidman J Trail J Trail, L Bennett B Nicholas E Driscoll, S Gilbert, P Nicholas, B Gilbert, J Peacock, G Hill P Nicholas
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 457
Senior State Champions SEASON
EVENT
1968-69
Junior Male R & R
1968-69 1968-69 1968-69
Junior Male Surf Belt Junior Male Surf Race Junior Male Surf Teams
1969-70
Senior Male R & R
1969-70 1969-70 1969-70
Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Double Ski Senior Male Surf Board
1969-70
Senior Male Taplin Relay
1969-70
Junior Male R & R
1969-70 1969-70 1969-70 1969-70 1970-71 1970-71 1970-71
Junior Male Beach Relay Cadet Male Surf Belt Cadet Male Surf Race Cadet Male Surf Teams Senior Male Surf Teams Race Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Double Ski
1970-71
Senior Male Taplin Relay
1970-71 1970-71 1971-72 1971-72 1971-72
Junior Male Surf Belt Race Junior Male Taplin Relay Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Double Ski Senior Male Surf Ski Relay
1971-72
Senior Male Taplin Relay
1971-72
Junior Male R & R
1971-72 1972-73 1972-73 1972-73 1972-73
Junior Male Surf Teams Race Senior Male Single Ski Senior Male Double Ski Senior Male Surf Ski Relay Senior Male Surf Board
1972-73
Senior Male Taplin Relay
1972-73
Senior Male Novice Surf Race
1972-73
Junior Male R & R
1972-73 1972-73 1972-73 1973-74 1973-74
Junior Male Surf Race Junior Male Surf Belt Junior Male Novice Surf Race Senior Male Surf Teams Race Senior Male Double Ski
458 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
COMPETITOR/S
SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
S Martin, R Martin, D Drabble, J Moncrieff, K Pallott, J Storrie S Martin S Martin S Martin, J Storrie, P Davis, J Moncrieff P Driscoll, M Flower, M MacDermott, W Anderton, W Russell, P Kidman J Trail J Trail, D Russell M MacDermott J Trail, D Russell, M MacDermott, P Driscoll, G Miller, J Knowles S Martin, P Davis, D Drabble, J Moncrieff, K Pallott, G Pallott D Drabble, J Moncrieff, K Pallott, R Kennedy M Halliday M Halliday M Halliday, S Pallott, M Davis, K Davis S Martin, W Russell, K Davis, J Storrie J Trail J Trail, D Russell J Trail, D Russell, M MacDermott, S Martin, M Flower, Unknown K Davis D Russell, K Davis, Unknown J Trail J Trail, D Russell J Trail, D Russell, J Knowles J Trail, D Russell, M MacDermott, S Martin, M Flower, J Knowles, P Driscoll S Keesing, G Pallott, K Davis, B Elliott, R Coleman, M Halliday K Davis, M Bennett, M Halliday, S Keesing J Trail J Knowles, A McKenzie J Trail, A McKenzie, J Knowles M MacDermott J Trail, D Russell, M MacDermott, S Martin, M Flower, P Driscoll M Bennett A Bennett, K Davis, M Bennett, S Keesing, C Mason, R Coleman K Davis K Davis S Wilson S Martin, K Davis, S Wilson, J Gerritson J Trail, S Martin
1973-74 1973-74 1973-74 1974-75 1974-75 1974-75 1975-76 1975-76 1975-76 1976-77 1976-77 1976-77
Senior Male Surf Board Senior Male Beach Sprint Senior Male Beach Relay Senior Male Beach Sprint Senior Male Beach Relay Junior Male Novice Surf Race Senior Male Surf Belt Senior Male Surf Teams Race Senior Male Novice Surf Race Senior Male Surf Race Senior Male Novice Surf Race Senior Male C Surf Boat
1976-77
Senior Male Surf Boat Relay
1977-78 1978-79 1978-79 1978-79
Senior Male Surf Race Senior Male Surf Belt Senior Male Iron Man Senior Male Taplin Relay
1978-79
Senior Male C Surf Boat
1979-80 1980-81 1981-82 1981-82 1981-82 1981-82
Cadet Male Surf Race Senior Male Surf Race Senior Male Surf Teams Race Senior Male Double Ski Senior Male Surf Board Senior Male Taplin Relay
1981-82
Senior Male C Surf Boat
1981-82 1982-83 1982-83 1982-83 1983-84 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86 1985-86 1986-87 1986-87 1987-88
Junior Male Surf Race Senior Male Surf Teams Race Senior Male Ski Relay Senior Male Surf Board Senior Male Double Ski Cadet Male Beach Relay Senior Male Ski Relay Junior Male Ironman Junior Male Surf Board Junior Male Ironman Junior Male Surf Board 14yr Girls Beach Sprint
1987-88
Senior Male C Surf Boat
1988-89 1988-89
14yr Boys Board Race 14yr Boys Ironman
M MacDermott I Griffin I Griffin, P Driscoll, G Miller, D Jones I Griffin I Griffin, D Jones, G Miller, B Elliott P Taylor S Martin S Martin, R Gorey, V Raeburn, R Cooper G McKeon P Gorey V Raeburn P Doyle (sweep), B Dawson, R Weir, P Hearne, J Alliss S Artelaris, P Doyle, R Meadmore, M Davis, J Griffiths (sweep), J Miller, A Ridderhof, I Dalton, R Coleman, J Griffiths (sweep), B Dawson, R Weir, P Hearne, J Griffiths, J Alliss (sweep) P Gorey S Martin S Martin P Gorey, S Martin, S Davies, unknown N Ferguson (sweep), J Alliss, R Meadmore, L Bryant, P Doyle I Brown P Gorey I Brown, A Brown, P Gorey, A Taylor J Trail, N Taylor R Slattery J Trail, N Taylor, R Slattery, I Brown, A Brown, S Davies N Ferguson (sweep), J Alliss, R Meadmore, S Mitchell, L Bryant I Brown I Brown, A Brown, N Taylor, A Taylor J Trail, J Knowles and N Taylor R Slattery N Taylor, S Davies North Cottesloe S Davies, A Brown, N Taylor R Hodby R Hodby R Hodby R Hodby A Fraser C Chalmers (sweep), A Ridderhof, R Jewkes, R Dean, C Ford J Edelman J Edelman
Senior State Champions SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
1989-90 1989-90
Open Male Surf Belt Open Male Surf Race
1990-91
Open Male Reserve Surf Boat
1990-91 1990-91 1990-91 1990-91 1990-91 1991-92 1991-92 1991-92
U18 Male Surf Race U15 Male Beach Sprint U18 Male Surf Board U15 Female Beach Sprint Open Female Beach Flags Open Male Surf Belt Open Male Surf Teams Race Open Male Double Ski
1991-92
Open Male Surf Boat Race
1991-92
Open Male Surf Board
1991-92
Open Male Surf Boat Relay
1991-92 1991-92 1991-92 1991-92 1992-93
U18 Male Double Ski Open Female Single Ski Open Female Double Ski Open Mixed Double Ski Open Male Surf Race
1992-93
Open Male Surf Boat
1992-93
Open Surf Boat Relay
1992-93 1992-93 1993-94 1993-94 1993-94 1993-94 1993-94
Open Female Single Ski Open Mixed Double Ski Open Male Surf Teams Race Open Male Ironman Open Male Board Race Open Male O/24 Surf Race Open Male Fairest & Best
1993-94
Open Surf Boat Relay
1994-95 1994-95
Open Male Ironman Open Male Surf Boat
1994-95
Open Male Reserve Boat
I Brown I Brown S Coote, T Beard, G Hogan, R Meadmore, J Alliss (sweep) J Edelman P Wall C Liggins K Flower M Anderson I Brown I Brown, G Stoelwinder, J Scott, S Hopkins R Jenkinson, J Wright B Rosser, C Smith-Gander, D Barber, P Page, J Alliss (sweep) S Hopkins B Rosser, C Smith-Gander, D Barber, P Page, J Alliss (sweep), S Coote, R Meadmore, T Beard, G Hogan, P Walsh, G Vile, R Bruno, A Brown, A Ridderhof (sweep) J Edelman, D Bunning J Jenkinson J Jenkinson, S Jesney J Jenkinson, R Jenkinson G Stoelwinder B Rosser, C Smith-Gander, D Barber, P Walsh, J Alliss (sweep) B Rosser, C Smith-Gander, D Barber, P Walsh, S Coote, R Meadmore (sweep), T Beard, G Hogan, I Clarke, D Clarke, A Brown, S Rowe, J Alliss (sweep), A Ridderhof (sweep) J Jenkinson M Liggins, S Jesney G Stoelwinder, J Edelman, S Hopkins, C Liggins S Hopkins S Hopkins S Hopkins S Hopkins P Walsh, R Meadmore (sweep), D Barber, S Penrose, I Olsen, D Clarke, G Hogan, I Harrison, C Smith-Gander, D Symmons, I Clarke, S Vile, J Alliss (sweep), A Ridderhof (sweep) M Liggins I Clarke, B Rosser, P Walsh, T Warner, J Alliss (sweep) T Breen, A Brown, I Harrison, J Hogan, A Ridderhof (sweep)
SEASON
EVENT
1994-95
Open Surf Boat Relay
1994-95 1994-95
Open Female Ironwoman Open Female Surf Race
1994-95
Open Female Surf Boat
1994-95 1994-95 1995-96
Open Female Beach Relay U18 Female Surf Race Open Male Open Surf Boat
1995-96
Open Male Reserve Boat
1995-96
Open Male Surf Boat Relay
1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1996-97
Open Male Board Rescue Open Female Surf Teams Open Female Surf Race Open Female Ironwoman Open Female Board Rescue Open Female Board Relay Open Female Board Race U18 Female Iron Woman U16 Female Iron Woman U16 Female Board Race Open Female Fairest & Best Open Male Surf Boat
1996-97
Open Male Surf Boat Relay
1996-97
U21 Male Surf Boat
1996-97
Open Female Surf Boat
1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97
Open Female Cameron Relay Open Female Board Rescue Open Female Board U18 Female Board U18 Female Ironwoman
1997-98
Open Male Surf Boat
COMPETITOR/S P Walsh, I Clarke, T Warner, B Rosser, J Alliss (sweep), P Crockett, D Clarke, G Hogan, C Bell, J Hogan, I Harrison, T Breen, A Brown, A Ridderhof (sweep), R Meadmore (sweep) J McKenzie J McKenzie A Gould, K Kearns, M Tannock, K Scott, R Meadmore (sweep) K Heagney, S Stewart, M Ferguson, K Heaton E Heitman P Walsh, I Clarke, T Warner, D Clarke, J Alliss (sweep) A Brown, I Harrison, G Cumming, J Throssell, A Ridderhof (sweep) D Gibson, D Kelly, J Mackie, P Webster, C Chalmers (sweep), A Evans, S Nutter, P Crockett, G Kerr, R Meadmore (sweep), P Walsh, I Clarke, T Warner, D Clarke, J Alliss (sweep) M Liggins, P Wood E Heitman, M Taylor, J McKenzie, C Moore J McKenzie J McKenzie J McKenzie, S Sarac J McKenzie, S Sarac, E Heitman S Sarac S Sarac S Sarac S Sarac J McKenzie I Clarke, P Walsh, G Kerr, T Warner, J Alliss (sweep) S Cross, P Webster, D Kelly, D Gibson, C Chalmers (sweep), D Clarke, P Crockett, G Hogan, A Evans, R Meadmore (sweep), I Clarke, P Walsh, G Kerr, T Warner, J Alliss (sweep) S Cross, P Webster, D Kelly, D Gibson, C Chalmers (sweep) K Kearns, M Hall, S Snook, L Roberts, R Meadmore (sweep) S Sarac, B Callaghan, M Ferguson, K Heagney S Sarac, B Callaghan S Sarac S Sarac S Sarac I Clarke, T Warner, P Crockett, M Hooper, J Alliss (sweep)
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 459
Senior State Champions SEASON
EVENT
1997-98
Open Male Surf Boat Relay
1997-98 1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1999-00 1999-00 1999-00 1999-00 1999-00 1999-00 1999-00 1999-00 2000-01 2000-01 2000-01 2000-01
Open Female Board Relay Open Male Beach Relay Open Male Beach Sprint Open Female Surf Boat U18 Mixed Double Ski U16 Female Beach Relay Open Male Surf Belt Open Male Beach Flags Open Male Beach Sprint Open Male Beach Relay Open Mixed Double Ski Open Female Surf Boat Open Male Surf Board Riding Open Female Board Open Male Single Ski Open Male Double Ski Open Male Beach Sprint Open Male Beach Flags
2000-01
Open Female Surf Boat
2000-01
Open Female Beach Relay
2001-02
Open Male Surf Boat Race
2001-02
Open Surf Boat Relay
2001-02 2001-02
Open Male Double Ski Open Male Ski Relay
2001-02
Open Female Surf Boat
2001-02 2001-02 2002-03
Open Female Beach Relay Open Female Beach Sprint Open Male Surf Boat Race
2002-03
Open Surf Boat Relay
2002-03
Open Female Surf Boat
2002-03
Reserve Male Surf Boat
460 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
COMPETITOR/S
SEASON
EVENT
P Morton, G Hogan, B Rosser, C Robertson, C Chalmers (sweep), B Riley, L Dudley, M Young, M Hawtin, R Meadmore (sweep), I Clarke, T Warner, P Crockett, M Hooper, J Alliss (sweep) B Callaghan, K Knowles, S Stacey N Rea, S Gibbs, M Keys, S De Vries N Rea L Carson, M Hall, G Walsh, L Roberts, T Beard (sweep) V Vidler, D McKeown H Pow, J Drake-Brockman, J Cook, P Goodridge M Keys T Edwards M Keys N Rea, S Gibbs, M Peters, S De Vries K Wright, B Callaghan L Carson, M Hall, G Walsh, K Moss, T Beard (sweep) C Liggins B Callaghan T Bird T Bird, W Bird N Rea T Edwards M Butler, A Gould, S Glen, N Hough, M McDermott (sweep) N Skelton, S Belle, R Winteridge, A Margaret, P Charlton (reserve) I Clarke, B Wells, D Porzig, T Warner, J Alliss (sweep) I Clarke, B Wells, D Porzig, T Warner, J Alliss (sweep), K Greville, A Kearns, B Sowman, C Ratajczak, K Artelaris, A Pears, B Cole (sweep), S Featherby, M McDermott (sweep) T Bird, W Bird T Bird, W Bird, A Stevens F Murray, S Glen, L Carson, L Roberts, G Williamson (sweep) N Skelton, S Belle, R Winteridge, C Frost S Belle L Barker, K Greville, P Webster, D Knox, J Alliss (sweep) S Featherby, J Ridderhof, J Templeman, J Zimmerman, M McDermott (sweep), G Williamson (sweep), I Clarke, D Porzig, D Cross, B Sowman, L Barker, K Greville, P Webster, D Knox, J Alliss (sweep) L Carson, S Kilpatrick, L Roberts, G Walsh, G Williamson (sweep) G Teasdale, M Hawtin, J Langley, K Artelaris, B Cole (sweep)
2002-03 2003-04
Open Male Beach Relay Open Male Surf Boat Race
2003-04 2003-04 2003-04
2003-04 2003-04 2003-04 2003-04 2003-04 2004-05 2004-05
2004-05
2004-05 2004-05 2004-05 2005-06 2005-06 2005-06 2005-06 2005-06 2005-06 2005-06 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2007-08
COMPETITOR/S
N Rea, T Sheehy, A McLean, T Edwards J Alliss (sweep), K Greville, B Hopkins, D Knox, D Porzig G Williamson (sweep), A Gould, L Roberts, J van der Open Female Surf Boat Peyl, G Walsh M McDermott (sweep), R Cargeeg, H Dight, M Jewkes, U19 Surf Boat D Sinagra B Cole (sweep), D Gibson, M Gibson, G Teasdale, Reserve Grade Surf Boat J Templeman K Greville, B Hopkins, D Knox, D Porzig, J Alliss (sweep), L Barker, P Webster, C Ratajczak, L Pougnault, J Callie, Open Surf Boat Relay D Cross, T Warner, M Hooper, R Meadmore (sweep), G Williamson (sweep) Open Male Double Ski T Bird, W Bird Open Male Beach Flags T Edwards Open Male Beach Relay S de Vries, M Irvin, A McLean, N Rea Open Female Beach Relay K Ashworth, S Belle, J Choate, T Maffescioni Open Male Surf Boat J Alliss (sweep), K Greville, D Knox, J Fievez, D Porzig S Petrie (sweep), M Butler, N Hough, M Petrie, Open Female Surf Boat K Symons J Alliss (sweep), K Greville, D Knox, J Fievez, D Porzig, J Stewart, N Burrow, M Wilson, C Paterson, S Petrie Open Surf Boat Relay (sweep), I Clarke, P Crockett, G Kerr, T Warner, J McLaughlin (sweep) S Petrie (sweep), N Burrows, C Paterson, J Stewart, U21 Male Surf Boat M Wilson B Cole (sweep), D Cross, D Gibson, M Stroud, Reserve Grade Male Surf Boat G Teasdale Open Male Double Ski T Bird, W Bird Open Male Surf Boat J Alliss (sweep), K Greville, P Charles, J Fievez, D Porzig J Alliss (sweep), J Harker, L Warhurst, M Jaggard, Open Female Surf Boat A Rowick S Petrie (sweep), J Polinelli, K Rudeforth, J Stewart, U21 Male Surf Boat M Wilson Open Female Beach Relay A Ek, S Belle, T Maffescioni, J Choate U19 Female Beach Sprint A Ek U19 Male Beach Sprint B Barwood Open Male Rescue Tube Rescue A Moullin, S McLaughlin, M Brockhurst, A Nixon U15 Male Surf Teams M Johns, K Pervan, L McRae, H McCleary J McLaughlin (sweep), P Holliday, N Strickland, U19 Surf Boat S Martin, S Ponting J Alliss (sweep), S Coulton, K Greville, D Porzig, Open Male Surf Boat P Charles J Alliss (sweep), S Coulton, P Charles, D Porzig, Open Surf Boat Relay K Greville, J Stewart, N Burrows, S Rowe, C Shelton, J Caddy, S Parks, J McLaughlin, A Moore, G Teasdale U17 Male Beach Flags S Burke
Senior State Champions SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
2007-08 2007-08
U19 Male Beach Sprint 19 Male Beach Relay
2007-08
U19 Male Surf Boat
2007-08
Open Male Beach Sprint
2007-08
Open Male Surf Boat
T Nolan S Burke, D Chambers, L Cooke, T Nolan T McFarlane (sweep), P Holliday, S Martin, A O’Mahony, S Ponting T Nolan J Alliss (sweep), P Charles, S Coulton, D Porzig, K Greville S Martin, T McFarlane (sweep), S Ponting, A O'Mahony, P Holliday, D Hunt (sweep), S Kilpatrick, B Sattin, J Harker, L Roberts, J Alliss (sweep), P Charles, D Porzig, K Greville, D Knox M Brockhurst, M Finucane, M Johns, S Reside, A Stevens, J Van Hazel T Nolan K Pervan A Williams A Williams T Nolan L Lang K Dawes J Alliss (sweep), P Charles, K Greville, D Porzig, D Knox B Cole (sweep), J McLaughlin, J Pollinelli, S Coulton, J Stewart J McLaughlin (sweep), W Dennis, A McMillan, S Ponsonby, G Smith-Gander J McLaughlin (sweep), A McMillan, W Denis, S Ponsonby, G Smith-gander,D Hunt (sweep), S Kilpatrick, B Sattin, F Murray, L Roberts, J Alliss (sweep), P Charles, D Porzig, K Greville, D Knox J Alliss (sweep), P Charles, K Greville, D Porzig, D Knox, M Johns, M Finucane, K Pervan, T Maffescioni T Nolan S Burke M Bailey L LeMessurier W Nolan, S Burke, L Windsor, A Nicholson J Ford B Cole (sweep), D McGill, D Strickland, J Thompson, R Myers T Nolan T Nolan T Nolan, T Edwards, H Walden, S Burke T Maffescioni, C Frost, J Schubert, K Bennett R Marsh T Van Beem K Bennett
2007-08
Open Surf Boat Relay
2007-08
Open Male Taplin Relay
2007-08 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09
U19 Male Beach Flags U17 Male Rescue Tube U17 Female Rescue Tube U17 Female Surf Race Open Male Beach Sprint Open Female 2km Beach Run U17 Female 2km Beach Run Open Male Surf Boat
2008-09
Reserve Surf Boat
2008-09
U19 Surf Boat
2008-09
Surf Boat Relay
2008-09
Open Mixed Lifesaver Relay
2008-09 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10
Open Male Beach Flags U19 Male Beach Flags U15 Male Beach Sprint U15 Male 2km Beach Run U19 Male Beach Relay U19 Female 2km Beach Run
2009-10
U19 Male Surf Boat
2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2010-11 2010-11 2010-11
Open Male Beach Sprint Open Male Beach Flags Open Male Beach Relay Open Female Beach Relay U17 Female Rescue Tube Race U17 Male Surf Board Riding U19 Female Beach Sprint
SEASON
EVENT
2010-11
U19 Male Surf Boat
2010-11
U23 Female Surf Boat
2010-11
U23 Male Surf Boat
2010-11
Reserve Surf Boat
2010-11
Open Female Surf Boat
2010-11
Open Surf Boat Relay
2010-11 2010-11 2010-11 2011-12 2011-12
Open Male Beach Sprint Open Male Beach Relay Open Male Beach Flags U17 Female 2km Beach Run U19 Male Rescue Tube Rescue
2011-12
U19 Surf Boat
2011-12
U23 Male Surf Boat
2011-12
U23 Female Surf Boat
2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12
Open Male Beach Sprint Open Male Beach Relay Open Male Beach Flags Open Male Surf Belt Race Open Male Single Ski Open Male Single Ski Relay Open Male Double Ski Open Female Surf Boat
2011-12
Open Male Surf Boat
2011-12
Open Surf Boat Relay
2012-13 2012-13 2012-13
U15 Female Beach Flags U17 Female 2km Beach Run U15 Male Beach Flags
2012-13
U19 Surf Boat
2012-13
Open Female Surf Boat
COMPETITOR/S R Myers, D McGill, J Thompson, D Strickland, J McLaughlin (sweep) R Smith, M Chute, A Coote, N Whiteside, A Davies (sweep) S Martin, S Ponsonby, G Smith-Gander, B O’Shea, D Hunt (sweep) R Myers, D McGill, J Thompson, D Strickland, J McLaughlin (sweep) R Smith, M Chute, A Coote, N Whiteside, A Davies (sweep) T McFarlane (sweep), S Fletcher, M Raisbeck, D Porzig, J Stevenson, J McLaughlin (sweep), R Myers, D McGill, J Thompson, D Strickland, A Davies (sweep), M Chute, A Coote, R Smith, N Whiteside T Nolan T Nolan, S Burke, T Edwards, B Barwood T Nolan O Marsh K Pervan, C Spencer, A Ford, G Ford A Cooke, A Harford, T Gregg, G Haggett, J McLaughlin (sweep) G Smith-Gander, S Ponsonby, B O’Shea, M Turner, D Hunt (sweep) N Whiteside, J O’Mahony, J Watts, R Travaglione, T McFarlane (sweep) T Nolan T Nolan, T Edwards, S Burke, S Choate T Nolan K Taylor T Bird W Bird, T Bird, J Knowles T Bird, W Bird J Flower, M Chute, B Sattin, R Taylor, A Davies (sweep) S Fletcher, M Raisbeck, J Stevenson, J Gatti, T McFarlane (sweep) A Davies (sweep), J Flower, M Chute, B Sattin, R Taylor, T McFarlane (sweep), J Gatti, S Fletcher, M Raisbeck, J Stevenson, A Cooke, A Harford, T Gregg, G Haggett, J McLaughlin (sweep) E Weber O Marsh R O'Sullivan J McLaughlin (sweep), A Harford, A Cooke, G Haggett, O Bradley A Davies (sweep), E Gatti, J Flower, B Sattin, R Taylor
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 461
Senior State Champions SEASON
EVENT
2012-13
Open Surf Boat Relay
2012-13
Open Female 2km Beach Run
2012-13
Reserve Grade Surf Boat
2012-13
U23 Male Surf Boat
2012-13
U23 Female Surf Boat
2012-13 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14
Open Male Beach Flags U15 Female Beach Flags Open Male Beach Flags Open Male Beach Relay U17 Female Beach Relay U19 Female Beach Relay Open Female 2km Beach Run U19 Female 2km Beach Run
2013-14
Open Mixed Lifesaver Relay
2013-14
Open Male Single Ski Relay
2013-14
Open Male Surf Boat
2013-14
U23 Male Surf Boat
2013-14
Open Female Surf Boat
2013-14
Open Mixed Surf Boat Relay
2014-15
Open Female Surf Boat
2014-15 2014-15
Open Male Beach Flags Open Male Beach Relay
2014-15
Open Mixed Surf Boat Relay
2014-15
U19 Surf Boat
2014-15
U23 Male Surf Boat
2014-15 2014-15
Open Male Champion Lifesaver Open Female Board Riding
462 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
COMPETITOR/S J Flower, E Gatti, R Sattin, R Taylor, A Davies (sweep), T McFarlane (sweep), J Gatti, S Fletcher, J Stevenson, M Raisbeck, J McLaughlin (sweep), A Harford, A Cooke, G Haggett, O Bradley E Lori M McDermott (sweep), J McLaughlin, S McLaughlin, M O’Shea, D Knox D Hunt (sweep), B O’Shea, G Smith-Gander, A Stolz, M Gould T McFarlane (sweep), N Whiteside, B Travaglione, J O’Mahony, J Watts T Nolan C Preston T Nolan S Burke, S Choate, T Edwards, T Nolan J Bevan, E Rakich, E Tsaknis, E Weber M Lipscombe, G Siciliano, M Smith-Gander, E Weber E Lori O Marsh S Fletcher, J Flower, M Ford, J Gatti, C Hutton, T McFarlane (sweep), K Taylor, E Weber, J Wilkie J Wilkie, J Knowles, T Bird S Fletcher, J Gatti, T McFarlane (sweep), M Raisbeck, A Stolz G Cunningham, B O'Shea, D Prosser, G Smith-Gander, C Smith-Gander (sweep) J Flower, E Gatti, J McLaughlin (sweep), R Sattin, R Taylor C Eiselen, S Fletcher, J Flower, J Gatti, E Gatti, J Heath, C Hutton, M McDermott (sweep), T McFarlane (sweep), J McLaughlin (sweep), M Raisbeck, R Sattin, A Stolz, K Strickland, R Taylor C Aylett, R Taylor, J O'Mahony, J Flower, J Hegarty (sweep) T Nolan M Bailey, T Nolan, T Edwards, S Choate C Aylett, N Wynne, D Knox, R Taylor, N House, P Holliday, J Hegarty (sweep), L Gollschewski, C Schoonakker, S Coote (sweep), I Clarke (sweep), J Gatti, T Gatti, J Flower, J O'Mahony, L Gollschewski, N Wynne, J Walsh, C Schoonakker, S Coote (Sweep) G Cunningham, W Moore, C Hutton, J Heath, J Hegarty (sweep) D Ulbrick M Lipscombe
SEASON
EVENT
2015-16
U23 Male Surf Boat
2015-16
Open Mixed Surf Boat Relay
2015-16 2015-16 2015-16
Open Male Surf Boat Open Female Beach Sprint Open Male Beach Flags
2015-16
Reserve Female Surf Boat
2015-16
Reserve Male Surf Boat
2015-16 2015-16
U15 Male Rescue Tube Race U19 Female 2km Beach Run
2015-16
U19 Mixed Surf Boat
2015-16
U23 Female Surf Boat
2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17
U19 Male Surf Board Riding Open Female Beach Sprint Open Male Double Ski Open Male Surf Boat
2016-17
Open Mixed Surf Boat Relay
2016-17
Reserve Female Surf Boat
2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17
Reserve Male Surf Boat U14 Male 2km Beach Run U14 Male Beach Sprint U17 Male Beach Relay U19 Female 2km Beach Run
2016-17
U19 Female Surf Boat
2016-17
2016-17 2017-18
U23 Male Surf Boat Open Female Champion Lifesaver Open Female Longboard Open Female Shortboard
2017-18
Open Female Surf Boat
2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
Open Male Single Ski Open Male Surf Boat Open Mixed Double Ski
2017-18
Open Mixed Lifesaver Relay
2016-17
COMPETITOR/S T Greg, C Hutton, W Moore, K Strickland, M McDermott (sweep) S Coote (sweep), J Flower, T Gatti, J Gatti, J Hegarty (sweep), P Holliday, M McKenzie, M Norton, J O’Mahony, C Schoonakker, R Taylor, K Larsen, J Varney, J Walsh, M McKenzie T Gatti , J Gatti, P Holliday, M Norton, J Hegarty (sweep) T Maffescioni T Nolan J Bakkers, J Forlonge, A Gould, L Roberts, I Clarke (sweep) W Dose, S Fletcher, D Knox, S Petrie (sweep), M Raisbeck A Sudlow E Wray M McKenzie, C Schoonakker, J Varney, J Walsh, S Coote (sweep) J Burton, K Mannolini, E Wallwork, R Withoos, T Gregg (sweep) J Anderson T Maffescioni S Bird, J Phillips W Dose, J Gatti, T Gatti, M Norton, J Hegarty (sweep) W Dose, J Gatti, T Gatti, M Norton, J Hegarty (sweep), J Greenwood, A Hanna, R Packer, A Rich, M Bagworth, A Butt, T West, R Withoos, C Smith-Gander (sweep) L Carson, J Forlonge, A Gould, L Roberts, I Clarke (sweep) P Charles, A Cooke, T Gregg, B O’Shea, M McDermott J Hayden Z Moxham D Banks-Smith, J Davidson, B Frankel, M Loyd E Wray M Morfesse, L Sutherland, E Wray, K Welborn, T Gregg (sweep) G Haggett, W Moore, J Varney, J Walsh, D Hunt (sweep) J Reynolds M Lipscombe M Lipscombe J Burton, M Huggins, K Welborn, E Wray, M McDermott (sweep) P Norton H Gillett, M Mann, W Moore, J Varney, D Hunt (sweep) A Bowman, J Phillips S Petrie (sweep), M Bagworth, E Wallwork, N Whiteside, H Kitchin, S Bird, J Davidson, H Hewitt, B Peters
Senior State Champions SEASON
EVENT
2017-18
Open Mixed Surf Boat Relay
2017-18
Reserve Female Surf Boat
2017-18
Reserve Male Surf Boat
2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
U15 Female Surf Race U15 Male Beach Relay U17 Female Beach Relay U17 Male Beach Relay U17 Male Beach Sprint U19 Female 2km Beach Run U19 Male Beach Relay U21 Female Single Ski U23 Male Surf Boat
2017-18
U23 Female Surf Boat
Masters State Champions
COMPETITOR/S
SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
S Petrie (sweep), M Bagworth, E Wallwork, N Whiteside, H Kitchin, H Gillett, M Mann, W Moore, J Varney, D Hunt (sweep), I Clarke (sweep), H Clarke, P Evans, S Vincent, W Harkins L Carson, I Clarke (sweep), A Gould, K Andrew, L Roberts C Brown, M McDermott (sweep), A Nicol, P Sewell, J Walsh B Poll L Frankel, J Hayden, Z Moxham, A Stocks E Anderson, J Gillibrand, S McMeeken, E Strong A Aakermann, D Banks-Smith, C Castleden, J Davidson D Banks-Smith S Hogan D Banks-Smith, J Davidson, B Frankel, M Lloyd A Nowell H Gillett, M Mann, W Moore, J Varney, D Hunt (sweep) J Burton, M Huggins, K Welborn, E Wray, M McDermott (sweep)
1980-81 1980-81 1980-81 1982-83 1982-83 1982-83 1982-83 1982-83 1982-83 1983-84 1983-84 1983-84 1983-84 1985-86 1985-86 1985-86 1985-86 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1986-87 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1987-88 1988-89 1988-89 1988-89 1988-89 1988-89 1988-89 1990-91 1990-91 1990-91 1990-91 1990-91
Male Single Ski Male Surf Race Veteran Male Single Ski 40+ Male Surf Race 40+ Male Surf Belt Race 30+ Male Single Ski 30+ Male Double Ski 35+ Male Double Ski 50+ Male Beach Sprint 40+ Male Surf Race 30+ Male Surf Teams 40+ Male Surf Belt 30+ Male Double Surf Ski 40+ Male Surf Race 30+ Surf Teams 35+ Malibu Board 45+ Single Ski 30+ Male Ironman 30+ Male Surf Race 30+ Male Surf Belt 30+ Male Surf Teams 35+ Male Surf Ski Race 35+ Male Double Surf Ski 35+ Male Malibu Board 40+ Male Double Ski 40+ Male Single Ski 45+ Male Surf Race 35+ Ironman 35+ Surf Belt 45+ Surf Belt 35+ Surf Board 40+ Surf Teams 35+ Double Ski 35+ Surf Race 45+ Surf Race 35+ Ironman 35+ Surf Board 45+ Surf Board 35+ Double Ski 35+ Surf Race 45+ Surf Race 35+ Male Ironman 35+ Male Rescue Tube 35+ Male Surf Race 45+ Male Tube Rescue 35+ Male Board Relay
J Knowles P Gorey J Knowles J Knowles J Knowles S Davies S Davies, J Knowles J Knowles, G Rosevear M Carter M Flower North Cottesloe J Knowles J Knowles, S Davies P Driscoll North Cottesloe R Salttery J Knowles S Martin S Martin S Martin North Cottesloe S Davies J Trail, S Davies R Slattery J Trail, J Knowles J Trail J Knowles S Martin S Martin J Knowles S Davies North Cottesloe S Martin, S Davies S Martin J Knowles S Martin S Martin M Flower S Davies, S Martin S Martin M Flower S Martin S Martin S Martin P Driscoll P Driscoll, M Flower, S Martin
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 463
Masters State Champions SEASON
EVENT
1990-91
35+ Male Surf Boat
1990-91 1990-91 1990-91 1991-92 1991-92 1991-92 1991-92 1991-92 1991-92 1991-92 1991-92 1992-93 1992-93 1992-93 1992-93 1993-94 1993-94 1993-94 1993-94 1993-94 1994-95 1994-95 1994-95 1994-95 1994-95 1994-95 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1996-97
45+ Male Surf Race 35+ Male Surf Ski Race 35+ Male Double Surf Ski 35+ Rescue Tube 35+ Male Surf Race 35+ Ski Relay 40+ Male Beach Sprint 35+ Male Surf Ski 45+ Male Surf Ski 35+ Double Surf Ski 40+ Double Surf Ski 40+ Male Single Ski 40+ Male Beach Sprint 45+ Male Double Ski 35+ Surf Boat 40+ Female Board Race 40+ Female Beach Sprint 40+ Female Surf Race 40+ Male Board Rescue Masters Single Ski Relay 40+ Male Ironman 40-44 Male Surf Race 40-44 Male Single Ski 55-59 Male Single Ski 40+ Male Board Rescue 40-44 Male Double Ski 30-39 Female Rescue Tube 30-39 Female Board Race 30+ Female Ironwoman 40+ Female Board Race 50-59 Male Rescue Tube 40-44 Male Surf Race 40-44 Male Rescue Tube 35-39 Male Single Ski 35-39 Male Board Race 40-44 Male Single Ski 40-44 Male Board Race 50-54 Male Single Ski 55-59 Male Single Ski 55-59 Male Beach Sprint 30-39 Male Board Rescue 40-49 Male Double Ski 50+ Male Double Ski 30-34 Male Surf Race
464 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
COMPETITOR/S
SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
J Alliss (sweep) S Coote, R Meadmore, T Beard, G Hogan P Driscoll S Davies S Martin, S Davies S Martin, Unknown S Martin A McKenzie, S Davies, P Driscoll G Miller S Davies A McKenzie S Martin, S Davies S Martin, S Davies S Davies G Miller S Davies, A McKenzie J Alliss (sweep), A Ridderhof, S Coote, A Beard J Rutter J Rutter K Liggins S Davies, P Driscoll North Cottesloe S Martin S Martin S Davies M McCusker S Martin, S Davies S Davies, K Vidler M Taylor M Taylor M Taylor J Rutter G Lahiff S Martin S Martin N Taylor N Taylor S Davies S Davies M MacDermott M McCusker P Driscoll P Driscoll, N Taylor S Martin, S Davies M McCusker, M MacDermott S Hopkins
1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1999-00
30-34 Female Surf Race 30-34 Male Board Race 30-34 Male Ironman 30-34 Male Board Rescue 35-39 Male Single Ski 40-44 Male Tube Race 40-44 Male Surf Race 40-44 Male Ironman 40-44 Male Double Ski 40-44 Male Board Rescue 45-49 Male Single Ski 45-49 Male Ironman 50-54 Male Single Ski 50-54 Male Double Ski 55-59 Male Single Ski 55-59 Male Tube Race 55-59 Male Board Race 110+ Taplin Relay 110+ Ski Relay 110+ Board Relay 110+ Surf Boat Race 45-49 Male Surf Race 45-49 Male Rescue Tube 45-49 Male Single Ski 55-59 Male Surf Race 55-59 Male Rescue Tube 45-49 Male Ironman 45-49 Male Board Race 45-49 Male Board Rescue 45-49 Male Double Ski 55-59 Male Board Race 30-34 Female Rescue Tube 150+ Taplin
1999-00
30-34 Male Surf Boat Race
1999-00 2001-02 2001-02 2001-02 2001-02 2001-02 2001-02 2002-03 2002-03 2002-03 2004-05
Surf Race 45-49 Male Rescue Tube 45-49 Ironman 50-54 Ironman 50-54 Male Single Ski 45-49 Male Double Ski 50-54 Male Board Race 50-54 Ironman 50-54 Male Board Race 50-54 Male Single Ski 30-34 Female Beach Sprint
L Weston S Hopkins S Hopkins S Hopkins, N Taylor N Taylor S Martin S Martin S Martin S Martin, S Davies S Martin, S Davies S Davies S Davies M MacDermott M MacDermott, G Lahiff G Lahiff G Lahiff G Lahiff S Hopkins, N Taylor, S Martin S Hopkins, N Taylor, S Davies S Hopkins, N Taylor, S Davies J Alliss (sweep), I Clarke, D Clarke, P Walsh, T Warner S Martin S Martin S Martin M MacDermott M MacDermott S Davies S Davies S Martin, S Davies S Martin, S Davies G Lahiff L Weston S Martin, S Davies, M MacDermott J Alliss (sweep), I Clarke, T Warner, G Hogan, C SmithGander S Martin S Martin S Martin S Davies S Davies S Davies, S Martin S Davies S Davies S Davies S Davies S Belle
Masters State Champions SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2009-10 2009-10 2010-11 2010-11 2010-11 2010-11 2010-11
30-34 Female Beach Flags 35-39 Male Board Rescue 30-34 Male Beach Flags 30-34 Male Beach Sprint 60-64 Male Single Ski 60-64 Male Double Ski 65+ Male Single Ski 50+ Female Surf Race 30-34 Male Single Ski 55+ Female Surf Race 55+ Female Tube Race 40-44 Female Tube Race 30-34 Female Beach Sprint 30-34 Female Beach Flags 140+ Female Beach Relay 45-49 Male Beach Flags 45-49 Male Beach Sprint 50-54 Female Board Race 30-34 Male Beach Flags 45-49 Male Beach Flags 35-39 Male Beach Sprint 45-49 Male Beach Sprint 45-49 Female 2km Beach Run
2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14
45-49 Male Beach Flags 30-34 Male Beach Flags 50-54 Female 2km Beach Run 45-49 Male 2km Beach Run 140+ Male Beach Relay 140+ Female Beach Relay 45-49 Male Surf Ski 30-34 Male Surf Ski 45-49 Male Board Race 35-39 Male Surf Race 50-54 Male Beach Flags 30-34 Female 2km Beach Run 50-54 Female 2km Beach Run 55-59 Male 2km Beach Run 50-54 Male Beach Sprint 35-39 Male Board Race 45-49 Female Board Race 110+ Male Board Relay 30-34 Male Double Ski 45-49 Male Double Ski 35-39 Male Ironman 30-35 Male Single Ski 110+ Male Single Ski Relay
2010-11
120+ Male Surf Boats
2013-14
140+ Male Surf Boat
2010-11
180+ Male Surf Boats
S Belle J Cobill, G Civil M Keys S De Vries A McKenzie A McKenzie, M MacDemott M McCusker K Liggins M Finucane K Liggins K Liggins L Weston S Belle-Wood S Belle-Wood S Belle-Wood, K Moss, Y Joubert, J Woodward M Nolan M Nolan B Bennett T Edwards M Nolan D Pugh M Nolan J Ferguson B Noble, D Pusey, J Hawtin, J McLaughlin (sweep), A Moore J McLaughlin (sweep), M McDermott, S Coote, M Silbert, I Clarke T Edwards D Pugh Y Joubert S Samarin N Rea M Nolan M Nolan J Ferguson J McLaughlin, S McLaughlin, A Moore, B Noble, C Smith-Gander (sweep) T Edwards, M Nolan, D Pugh, N Rea J Forlonge, T Langdon, A Gould, L Roberts, C Smith-Gander (sweep) I Clarke, S Coote, G Hogan, M McDermott (sweep), P Morton B Noble, M McDermott (sweep), G Rezos, M Silbert, C Smith-Gander M Nolan D Pugh
2013-14
160+ Female Surf Boat
2013-14
220+ Mixed Surf Boat
2013-14 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15 2014-15
45-49 Female Surf Race 30-34 Female Beach Sprint 30-34 Male Beach Flags 30-34 Male Beach Sprint 35-39 Male Board Rescue 35-39 Male Single Ski 35-39 Male Double Ski 40-49 Male Long Board Riding 40-44 Female 2km Beach Run 45-49 Male Board 45-49 Ironman 50-54 Male Beach Flags 50-54 Male Beach Sprint 55-59 Female Surf Race 55-59 Male 2km Beach Run 110+ Male Taplin Relay
2014-15
160+ Female Surf Boat
M Nolan T Edwards J Ferguson J Lishman M Nolan, M Pugh, T Edwards, N Rea S Belle-Wood, J Woodward, S Lishman, Y Joubert J Lishman T Flower J Lishman P Wood M Nolan M Pugh J Ferguson P Robinson M Nolan B Mercer M Taylor J Lishman, B Mercer, J Wilkie J Knowles, J Wilkie J Lishman, N Taylor J Wilkie J Wilkie N Benjanuvatra, S Knowles, J Knowles, J Lishman J Fievez, D Knox, S McLaughlin, J McLaughlin, R Meadmore (sweep) J Forlonge, S Petrie (sweep), A Gould, L Roberts, K Wall M McDermott (sweep), S Coote, R Meadmore, G Hogan, S Penrose M Taylor L Chaffer T Edwards S Choate S Knowles, M Finucane B Mercer J Lishman, B Mercer J Lishman L Roberts J Lishman J Lishman M Nolan M Nolan A Nitschke P Robinson S Knowles, M Finucane, J Lishman L Carson, A Gould, L Roberts, J Forlonge, G Williamson (sweep)
2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12
30-34 Male Beach Flags 35-39 Male Beach Flags 35-39 Female Beach Flags 35-39 Female 2km Beach Run 40-44 Male Beach Sprint 45-49 Male Beach Sprint 45-49 Male Beach Flags 50-54 Female 2km Beach Run
2011-12
120+ Male Surf Boat Race
2011-12
140+ Male Beach Relay
2011-12
140+ Female Surf Boat Race
2011-12
180+ Surf Boat Race
2011-12
200+ Surf Boat Race
2012-13 2012-13
45-49 Male Beach Sprint 35-39 Male Beach Sprint
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 465
Masters State Champions SEASON
EVENT
2014-15
170+ Male Beach Relay
2014-15 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17
COMPETITOR/S
T Edwards, M McDermott, M Nolan, S Choate M McDermott (sweep), G Hogan,S Coote, S Penrose, 200+ Male Surf Boat P Walsh 30-34 Female 2km Beach Run R Edmonds 45-49 Male 2km Beach Run J Lishman 45-49 Male Board Race J Lishman 110+ Male Board Relay M Finucane, S Knowles, B Mercer 40-44 Male Board Rescue S Knowles, J Knowles 45-49 Male Board Rescue P Blackbeard, J Lishman 40-44 Male Double Ski S Knowles, J Knowles 35-39 Male Ironman M Finucane 45-49 Male Ironman J Lishman 55-59 Female Rescue Tube Race J Ford 60-64 Female Rescue Tube Race K Liggins 30-34 Female Single Ski C Hunt 45-49 Male Single Ski J Lishman 130+ Male Single Ski Relay B Downes, J Lishman, N Taylor J Bakkers, J Forlonge, A Gould, L Roberts, I Clarke 160+ Female Surf Boat (sweep) S Coote,G Hogan, M McDermott (sweep), S Penrose, 200+ Male Surf Boat P Walsh 55-59 Male Surf Race P Blackbeard 60-64 Male Surf Race C Ford 65-69 Female Surf Race K Liggins 130+ Male Surf Teams P Blackbeard, M Finucane, S Knowles 150+ Female Surf Teams J Ford, A Nitschke, M Paton 130+ Male Taplin Relay N Benjanuvatra, P Blackbeard, J Lishman 110+ Female Surf Teams A Anderson, K Andrew, M Salter 110+ Female Taplin Relay A Anderson, S Collins, R McLaughlin 110+ Male Board Relay N Benjanuvatra, M Evans, Z Pearson 110+ Male Single Ski Relay M Evans, B Mercer, J Triplett 110+ Male Surf Teams N Benjanuvatra, S Knowles, Z Pearson 130+ Male Board Relay J Lishman, L McGovern, J Triplett 130+ Male Surf Teams M Evans, S Knowles, J Lishman 140+ Female Beach Relay S Belle-Wood, L Chaffer, J Schubert, L Woodland 150+ Female Taplin Relay K Carbone, K Andrew L Carson, J Forlonge, A Gould, L Roberts, I Clarke 160+ Female Surf Boat (sweep) S Coote, G Hogan, S Penrose, P Walsh, M McDermott 200+ Mixed Surf Boat (sweep) 30-34 Female Flags L Chaffer 30-34 Female 2km Beach Run M Salter 30-34 Female Board Race K Carbone 30-34 Female Board Rescue A Anderson, K Carbone 30-34 Female Rescue Tube Race A Anderson 30-34 Female Surf Race A Anderson
466 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
SEASON
EVENT
2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
30-34 Male Board Race 30-34 Male Surf Race 35-39 Female Beach Sprint 40-44 Female 2km Beach Run 40-44 Female Beach Sprint 40-44 Female Flags 40-44 Male Surf Race 40-44 Male Double Ski 40-44 Male Ironman 40-44 Male Single Ski 40-44 Male Surf Race 50-54 Female Surf Race 50-54 Male 2km Beach Run 50-54 Male Board Race 50-54 Male Board Rescue 50-54 Male Double Ski 50-54 Male Ironman 50-54 Male Single Ski 50-54 Male Surf Race 55-59 Male 2km Beach Run 60-64 Female Single Ski 65-69 Female Surf Race 110+ Male Taplin Relay 130+ Male Board Relay 130+ Male Taplin Relay 140+ Male Beach Relay
2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
COMPETITOR/S
J Triplett Z Pearson J Schubert R Loughlin S Belle-Wood S Belle-Wood S Knowles B Downes, M Peters S Knowles B Downes J Knowles S Collins L McGovern J Lishman J Lishman, L McGovern J Lishman, L McGovern J Lishman J Lishman J Lishman M Rigoll L Scogna K Liggins J Lishman, R Pass, J Triplett J Lishman, L McGovern, J Triplett N Benjanuvatra, B Downes, L McGovern S De Vries, T Edwards, N Rea, T Sheehy L Barker, B Cole, M Edwards, J Hegarty (sweep), 140+ Male Surf Boat S McLaughlin 170+ Female Single Ski Relay A Nitschke, J Rogers, L Scogna 170+ Female Taplin Relay A Nitschke, J Rogers, K Liggins 170+ Female Beach Relay S Belle-Wood, C Jordan, L Chaffer, J Woodward A Gould, L Roberts, K Andrew, L Carson, I Clarke 180+ Female Surf Boat (sweep) 180+ Male Surf Boat D Barber, I Clarke, J Hegarty (sweep), A Moore S Coote, S Penrose, C Smith-Gander, P Walsh, I Clarke 200+ Male Surf Boat (sweep) 30-34 Female Beach Flags L Chaffer 30-34 Female 2km Beach Run E Pavlovich 30-34 Female Rescue Tube Race A Anderson 30-34 Male Board Rescue Z Pearson, J Triplett 30-34 Male Ironman J Triplett 30-34 Male Rescue Tube Race S Rowe 35-39 Male Beach Flags T Edwards 40-44 Female Beach Flags S Belle-Wood 40-44 Female Beach Sprint S Belle-Wood 40-44 Male Board Race N Benjanuvatra
Masters State Champions SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
40-44 Male Double Ski 40-44 Male Rescue Tube Race 40-44 Male Single Ski 50-54 Male 2km Beach Run 50-54 Male Ironman 50-54 Male Single Ski 55-59 Female Ironman 60-64 Female 2km Beach Run 60-64 Female Rescue Tube Race 60-64 Female Single Ski 65-69 Female Rescue Tube 65-69 Female Surf Race
B Downes, M Peters N Benjanuvatra B Mercer J Lishman J Lishman J Lishman J Ford A Nitschke A Nitschke A Nitschke K Liggins K Liggins
Australian Championships SEASON
EVENT
PLACE
1950-51
Senior R & R
2nd
1951-52
Senior R & R
1st
1955-56
Senior R & R
3rd
1956-57
Senior R & R
3rd
1965-66
Senior R & R
2nd
1967-68 1968-69 1968-69
Senior Single Ski Senior Single Ski Senior Double Ski
3rd 3rd 2nd
1968-69
Junior R & R
3rd
1969-70
Senior R & R
3rd
1969-70 1969-70
Senior Single Ski Senior Double Ski
1st 2nd
1969-70
Senior Taplin Relay
3rd
1970-71 1970-71 1970-71 1970-71 1970-71 1972-73 1973-74 1973-74 1975-76 1978-79 1994-95
Senior Single Ski Senior Ski Relay Senior Double Ski Junior Single Ski Open Surf Race Senior Single Ski Senior Ironman Senior Ski Relay Senior Ironman Over 24yrs Surf Race U18 Male Beach Flags
2nd 3rd 3rd 2nd 3rd 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd 2nd 3rd
1994-95
Open Male Surf Boat Race
3rd
1995-96
U16 Female Board Race
2nd
1995-96
Open Male Surf Boat Race
3rd
1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1998-99 1999-00
Open Male Beach Relay Open Male Beach Relay Open Male Beach Relay Open Male Beach Sprint Open Female Beach Sprint
3rd 2nd 2nd 3rd 3rd
2000-01
Open Female Beach Relay
1st
COMPETITOR/S R Hinchliffe, D Dohnt, W Kidner, G Williamson, G Russell, L Russell, (S Law instructor) R Hinchliffe, K Caporn, W Kidner, G Russell, L Russell, J Meadmore (S Law instructor) H Williams, K Caporn, W Kidner, G Russell, L Russell, T Rigoll (S Law instructor) H Williams, K Caporn, G Lowe, G Russell, L Russell, T Rigoll (S Law instructor) J Knowles, R Day, H Charleston, P Driscoll, M MacDermott, W Anderton ( G Russell instructor) J Trail J Trail J Trail, L Pullen S Martin, J Moncrieff, K Pallott, P Davis, D Drabble, J Storrie P Driscoll, M MacDermott, W Anderton, W Russell, P Kidman, J Storrie ( G Russell instructor) J Trail J Trail, D Russell (non-championship) J Trail, J Knowles, D Russell, S Martin, Unknown, Unknown J Trail J Trail, J Knowles, D Russell J Trail, D Russell (non-championship) D Russell J Storrie (non-championship) J Trail S Martin J Trail, J Knowles, S Martin S Martin S Martin M Toohey I Clarke, P Walsh, B Rosser, T Warner, J Alliss (sweep) S Sarac G Kerr, P Crockett, S Nutter, A Evans, R Meadmore (sweep) N Rea, S Gibbs, M Keys, D Cooper N Rea, S Gibbs, M Keys, S De Vries N Rea, S Gibbs, M Keys, S De Vries N Rea N Skelton N Skelton, S Belle, R Winteridge, A Margaret, P Charlton (reserve)
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 467
Australian Championships SEASON
EVENT
PLACE
COMPETITOR/S
2000-01 2001-02
Open Male Beach Relay Open Female Beach Relay
3rd 2nd
N Rea, S Gibbs, M Keys, T Edwards N Skelton, S Belle, R Winteridge, C Frost F Murray, S Glen, L Carson, L Roberts, G Williamson (sweep) N Rea, T Sheehy, T Edwards, A Mclean J Alliss (sweep), J Fievez, K Greville, P Charles, D Porzig S Choate, T Edwards, S De Vries, T Sheehy A Ek J Alliss (sweep), S Coulton, K Greville, P Charles, D Porzig T Sheehy, T Edwards, S Choate, D Pugh O Keely A McLean, K Foggarty, S Coote, H Foggarty, C Willis, T Trebse, M Adams, A Aitken, L Angers, M Shellabear T Nolan T Nolan T McFarlane (sweep), P Holliday, S Martin, A O'Mahony, S Ponting J Alliss (sweep), D Knox, K Greville, P Charles, D Porzig L Chaffer, J Choate, C Frost, T Maffescioni J Woods S Martin, T McFarlane (sweep), S Ponting, A O'Mahony, P Holliday, D Hunt (sweep), S Kilpatrick, B Sattin, J Harker, L Roberts, J Alliss (sweep), S Coulton, P Charles, D Porzig, K Greville, D Knox J Alliss (sweep), D Knox, K Greville, P Charles, D Porzig T Nolan J Woods S Belle-Wood, J Choate, C Frost, T Maffescioni
2001-02
Open Female Surf Boat
2nd
2002-03
Open Male Beach Relay
2nd
2005-06
Open Male Surf Boat
1st
2005-06 2005-06
Open Male Beach Relay U19 Female Beach Sprint
3rd 3rd
2006-07
Open Male Surf Boat
1st
2006-07
Open Male Beach Relay
3rd
2006-07
U17 March Past
3rd
2007-08 2007-08
U19 Male Beach Flags U19 Male Beach Sprint
1st 1st
2007-08
U19 Male Surf Boat
1st
2007-08
Open Male Surf Boat
1st
2007-08 2007-08
Open Female Beach Relay U19 Male Surf Board Riding
2nd 2nd
2007-08
Open Surf Boat Relay
3rd
2008-09
Open Male Surf Boat
1st
2008-09 2008-09 2008-09
2nd 2nd 3rd 3rd
J Ford
2008-09 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2010-11 2010-11
Open Male Beach Sprint U19 Male Surf Board Riding Open Female Beach Relay U19 Female Surf Board Riding U17 Male Beach Flags Open Male Beach Sprint Open Male Beach Relay U19 Male Beach Flags Open Male Beach Flags Open Female Beach Relay Open Female Beach Sprint U19 Female Beach Sprint
3rd 1st 2nd 2nd 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd
2011-12
U23 Female Surf Boat
2nd
2011-12 2011-12
Open Male Beach Sprint Open Male Beach Relay
2nd 2nd
W Nolan T Nolan T Nolan, T Edwards, H Walden, S Choate S Burke T Nolan T Maffescioni, C Frost, K Bennett, J Schubert T Nolan K Bennett J O'Mahony, N Whiteside, J Hayes, R Travaglione, T McFarlane (sweep) T Nolan T Nolan, T Edwards, S Burke, S Choate
2008-09
468 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
SEASON
EVENT
PLACE
2011-12
Open Female Surf Boat
2nd
2011-12
Open Surf Boat Relay
2nd
2011-12
Open Female 2km Beach Run
3rd
2011-12
Open Male Surf Boat
3rd
2012-13
Open Female Surf Boat
2nd
2012-13
U23 Female Surf Boat
2nd
2012-13
U23 Male Surf Boat
2nd
2012-13
Open Female 2km Beach Run
3rd
2012-13
U23 March Past
3rd
3rd
2012-13
Reserve Surf Boat
2013-14 2013-14 2013-14
Open Male Beach Flags 1st U19 Female 2km Beach Run 2nd U19 Female Beach Relay 2nd
2013-14
U19 Surf Boat
2nd
2013-14
Open Female 2km Beach Run
3rd
2013-14
Open Female Beach Relay
3rd
2013-14 2013-14
U17 Female Beach Relay U15 Female Beach Relay
3rd 3rd
2013-14
U23 March Past
3rd
2013-14
Open Surf Boat Relay
3rd
2014-15
Open Male Beach Flags
1st
2014-15
Open Mixed Surf Boat Relay 3rd
COMPETITOR/S M Chute, R Taylor, J Flower, B Sattin, A Davies (sweep) A Davies (sweep), J Flower, M Schute, B Sattin, R Taylor, J Gatti, T McFarlane (sweep), S Fletcher, M Raisbeck, J Stevenson, A Cooke, A Harford, T Gregg, G Haggett, J McLaughlin (sweep) E Lori S Fletcher, M Raisbeck, J Stevenson, J Gatti, T McFarlane (sweep) J Flower, B Sattin, R Taylor, E Gatti, A Davies (sweep) J O'Mahony, N Whiteside, J Watts, B Travaglione, T McFarlane (sweep) B O'Shea, G Smith-Gander, M Gould, A Stolz, D Hunt (sweep) J Clucas O Bradley, A Cooke, M Gould, G Haggett, A Harford, J O’Mahony, B O’Shea, G Smith-Gander, A Stolz, R Travaglione, J Watts, N Whiteside J McLaughlin, S McLaughlin, M O'Shea, D Knox, M McDermott (sweep) T Nolan O Marsh J Bevan, M Lipscombe, G Siciliano, E Weber C Eiselen, J Heath, C Hutton, K Strickland, M McDermott (sweep) E Lori K Bennett, M Lipscombe, T Maffescioni, G Siciliano J Bevan, E Rakich, E Tsaknis, E Weber C Lipscombe, K Preston, C Preston, J Sertorio L Andrew, J Bevan, S Burke, A Cooke, G Ford, A Ford, T Gregg, A Harford, M Smith-Gander, O Stockwell, Z Vinten, E Weber S Fletcher, J Gatti, M Raisbeck, A Stolz, T McFarlane (sweep), J Heath, C Hutton, M McDermott (sweep), C Eiselen, K Strickland, R Taylor, R Sattin, E Gatti, J Flower, J McLaughlin (sweep) T Nolan I Clarke (sweep), S Coote (sweep), J Flower, T Gatti, J Gatti, L Gollschewski, J Hegarty (sweep), P Holliday, D Knox, J O’Mahony, C Schoonakker, R Taylor, J Walsh, N Wynne
Australian Championships SEASON
EVENT
PLACE
2015-16
U23 Female Surf Boat
2nd
2015-16
U19 Female 2km Beach Run 3rd
2015-16
U23 March Past
3rd
2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17
U19 Female 2km Beach Run U14 Male 2km Beach Run Open Male Beach Flags Open Male Beach Sprint
1st 2nd 2nd 3rd
2016-17
U23 March Past
3rd
2017-18
U19 Female 2km Beach Run 1st
2017-18
U17 Mixed March Past
3rd
COMPETITOR/S J Burton, K Mannolini, E Wallwork, R Withoos, T Gregg (sweep) E Wray J Anderson, K Bennett, J Bevan, L Dry, C Eiselen, T Gregg, C Hutton, K Mannolini, W Moore, E Rakich, E Wallwork, E Weber, R Withoos, E Wray E Wray J Hayden T Nolan T Nolan J Bevan, E Rakich, J Walsh, W Moore, J Varney, E Wray, J Anderson, M Morfesse, R Woods, M Mann, H Gillett, R Devoto, J Ford S Hogan E Anderson, N Brown, B Clarke, L Cronin, Z Fiore Hart, G Gillibrand, J Hayden, G Kain, L Moore, Z Moxham
Masters Australian Championships SEASON
EVENT
PLACE
1990-91
35+ Male Surf Boat
1st
1990-91 1990-91 1990-91 1990-91 1990-91 1990-91 1990-91 1990-91 1991-92 1991-92 1991-92 1991-92 1991-92
50-55 Surf Race 45-50 Surf Race 35-40 Tunbe Race 50-55 Ironman 50-55 Male Ski Relay 45-50 Male Beach Relay 35-40 Male Surf Teams 35+ Male Taplin Relay 45-50 Male Tube Race 50-55 Male Tube Race 50-55 Male Single Ski 40-45 Male Beach Sprint 35-39 Male Surf Race
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 3rd 1st
1991-92
35+ Male Taplin Relay
2nd
1992-93 1992-93 1992-93 1992-93 1994-95 1994-95 1994-95 1994-95 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1995-96 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1996-97 1997-98 1997-98 1997-98 1997-98 1997-98 1997-98
45-49 Male Single Ski 40+ Male Double Ski Ski Relay Double Ski 40-44 Male Single Ski 40-44 Male Rescue Tube 50-54 Male Single Ski 0/50 Double Ski 40-44 Female Beach Sprint 40-44 Male Surf Race 40-44 Male Double Ski 40-44 Male Single Ski 40-44 Male Tube Race 30-34 Male Double Ski 45-49 Male Single Ski 45-49 Female Beach Sprint 30-34 Male Surf Race 30-34 Male Ironman 55-59 Male Double Ski 40-44 Female Beach Sprint 30-34 Male Board Race 110+ Male Taplin Relay 150+ Male Taplin Relay 45-49 Male Single Ski 55-59 Male Double Ski 30-34 Male Surf Race 30-34 Male Ironman 45-49 Male Ironman 40-44 Female Beach Sprint
1st 1st 1st 2nd 3rd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd 1st 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd
COMPETITOR/S J Alliss (sweep), S Coote, R Meadmore, T Beard, A Ridderhof J Knowles M Flower S Martin J Knowles S Davies, A McKenzie, J Knowles G Miller, S Martin, D Hawtin, P Driscoll P Driscoll, M Flower, S Martin P Driscoll, A McKenzie, M Flower, S Martin P Driscoll J Knowles J Knowles G Miller S Martin P Driscoll, A McKenzie, M McDermott, R Jenkinson A McKenzie A McKenzie, S Davies R Jenkinson, S Davies, M MacDermott M MacDermott, M McCusker S Davies S Martin M MacDermott M MacDermott, M McCusker J Simmons S Martin S Martin, S Davies S Martin S Martin N Taylor, S Hopkins S Davies J Rutter S Hopkins S Hopkins G Lahiff, M McCusker J Simmons S Hopkins S Martin, S Hopkins, N Taylor G Lahiff, M McCusker, M MacDermott S Davies M McCusker, G Lahiff S Hopkins S Hopkins S Davies J Simmons
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 469
Masters Australian Championships SEASON
EVENT
PLACE
COMPETITOR/S
SEASON
EVENT
PLACE
COMPETITOR/S
1998-99 1998-99 1998-99 1999-00
45-49 Female Beach Sprint 45-49 Male Rescue Tube 45-49 Male Double Ski 45-49 Male Surf Race
2nd 1st 1st 1st
J Simmons S Martin S Martin, S Davies S Martin I Clarke, T Warner, C Smith-Gander, G Hogan J Alliss (sweep) S Davies S Davies S Davies, S Martin, A Stevens S Davies S Belle S Belle M Keys K Liggins A McKenzie B Staines A McKenzie, M MacDermott S De Vries S Belle M Nolan M MacDermott, A McKenzie M Nolan K Liggins S Belle-Wood K Liggins M Paton S Belle-Wood, Y Joubert, K Moss, J Woodward A McKenzie T McFarlane (sweep), C Smith-Gander, T Warner, I Clarke, A Moore M Nolan B Staines M Nolan B Staines M Nolan T Edwards T Edwards J McLaughlin, S McLaughlin, B Noble, M Raisbeck, T McFarlane (sweep) T Edwards T Edwards A Gould, L Roberts, J Forlonge, K Wall, T McFarlane (sweep) B Staines J Knowles, J Wilkie T Edwards
2013-14 2013-14
50-54 Male Beach Flags 55-59 Male 2km Beach Run 30-34 Female Rescue Tube Race
1st 1st
M Nolan P Robinson
1999-00
120+ Male Surf Boat
1st
2001-02 2001-02 2001-02 2003-04 2005-06 2005-06 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2006-07 2007-08 2007-08 2007-08 2007-08 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09
50-54 Male Single Ski 50-54 Ironman 130+ Male Taplin Relay 50-54 Male Single Ski 30-34 Female Beach Sprint 30-34 Female Beach Flags 30-34 Male Beach Sprint 55+ Female Surf Race 60-64 Male Single Ski 30-34 Male Beach Flags 60-64 Male Double Ski 30-34 Male Beach Sprint 30-34 Female Beach Sprint 40-44 Male Beach Sprint 60-64 Male Double Ski 40-44 Male Beach Flags 55+ Female Rescue Tube 30-34 Female Beach Sprint 55+ Female Surf Race 50-54 Female Surf Race 140+ Female Beach Relay 60-64 Male Single Ski
1st 2nd 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 3rd 1st 1st 1st 3rd 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd
2008-09
160+ Male Surf Boat
2nd
2008-09 2008-09 2009-10 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2011-12
40-49 Male Beach Flags 30-34 Male Beach Flags 45-49 Male Beach Sprint 30-34 Male Beach Flags 45-49 Male Beach Sprint 30-34 Male Beach Flags 30-34 Male Beach Sprint
3rd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 3rd
2011-12
120+ Male Surf Boats
1st
2012-13 2012-13
30-34 Male Beach Flags 30-34 Male Beach Sprint
1st 3rd
2012-13
140+ Female Surf Boat
3rd
2012-13 2013-14 2013-14
35-39 Male Beach Flags 30-34 Male Double Ski 30-34 Male Beach Flags
3rd 1st 1st
470 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
2013-14 2013-14
160+ Female Surf Boat
1st
L Guiscardo
1st
J Forlonge, A Gould, L Roberts, K Wall, G Williamson (sweep)
1st
J Ferguson
2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2014-15
50-54 Female 2km Beach Run 150+ Female Surf Teams 30-34 Male Single Ski 140+ Male Beach Relay 45-49 Male 2km Beach Run 30-34 Female Surf Race 55-59 Female Surf Race 110+ Male Single Ski Relay 110+ Male Single Ski Relay 30-34 Male Beach Sprint 50-54 Male Single Ski
3rd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd 1st
2014-15
200+ Mixed Surf Boat
3rd
2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2017-18
50-54 Male Beach Sprint 70+ Surf Race 40-44 Male Single Ski 45-49 Male 2km Beach Run 50-54 Male 2km Beach Run 50-54 Male Single Ski 50-54 Male 2km Beach Run 50-54 Male Board Rescue 50-54 Male Beach Flags
1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 3rd 3rd 1st
2013-14
2017-18
120+ Female Surf Boat
1st
2017-18 2017-18
1st 1st 1st
K Liggins
2017-18
50-54 Male Single Ski 65-69 Female Surf Race 65-69 Female Rescue Tube Race 35-39 Male Beach Flags
J Ford, A Nitschke, M Paton J Knowles S Choate, T Edwards, M Nolan, D Pugh J Lishman L Guiscardo M Paton J Knowles, J Lishman, J Wilkie d/h3 N Benjanuvatra, B Downes, S Knowles d/h3 T Edwards N Taylor S Penrose, P Walsh, G Hogan, S Coote, M McDermott (sweep) M Nolan M Flower T Bird J Lishman J Lishman J Lishman L McGovern J Lishman, L McGovern M Nolan G Barker, T West, H Kitchin, M Bagworth, J Hegarty (sweep) J Lishman K Liggins
2nd
2017-18
180+ Female Surf Boats
2nd
T Edwards A Gould, L Roberts, K Andrew, L Carson, M McDermott (sweep) M Rigoll, S McLaughlin, M Edwards, L Barker, J Hegarty (sweep) S Collins, K Carbone, A Bowman K Liggins, A Nitschke, M Paton, J Ford L McGovern
2017-18
2017-18
140+ Male Surf Boats
2nd
2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
110+ Female Single Ski Relay 170+ Female Surf Teams 50-54 Male 2km Beach Run 35-39 Female 2km Beach Run 170+ Female Beach Relay
2nd 2nd 2nd
2017-18 2017-18
2nd
C Hunt
2nd
S Belle-Wood, G Barker, F Clarke, J Woodward
Masters Australian Championships
World Championships
SEASON
EVENT
PLACE
COMPETITOR/S
SEASON
EVENT
PLACE
COMPETITOR/S
2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
230+ Female Beach Relay 50-54 Male Beach Sprint 40-44 Female Beach Sprint 35-39 Female Single Ski
2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd
K Liggins, A Nitschke, R Loughlin, J Ford M Nolan S Belle-Wood A Bowman M McDermott (sweep), C Smith-Gander, S Penrose, P Walsh, S Coote A Nitschke, M Paton
1995-96 1997-98 1999-00 2004-05
Open Male Beach Relay Open Male Beach Relay Open Male 2km Beach Run Open Male Beach Relay
1st 2nd 1st 3rd
2017-18
220+ Male Surf Boat
2nd
2017-18
60-64 Female Board Rescue 60-69 Female 2km Ocean Swim 40-44 Female Beach Flags 130+ Male Board Relay 110+ Female Taplin Relay 35-39 Female 2km Beach Run 60-64 Female 1km Beach Run 170+ Male Beach Relay 60-64 Female Single Ski 40-44 Male Single Ski 55-59 Female Ironwoman 60-64 Female Surf Race 55-59 Female Board Rescue 50-54 Male Board Rescue 60-69 Female 2km Ocean Swim
2nd
2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
2005-06
Open Male Surf Boat
1st
2005-06 2008-09 2008-09
Open Female Beach Relay Open Male Beach Relay Open Male Beach Flags Open Male Beach Sprint (international) Open Male Beach Sprint Open Male Beach Sprint (international) Open Male Beach Sprint (international) Open Male Beach Flags (international)
2nd 1st 3rd
N Rea, M Keys, S Gibbs, W Jarvis N Rea, M Keys, S Gibbs, S de Vries P Steele T Edwards, S de Vries, T Sheehy, N Rea J Fievez, K Greville, P Charles, D Porzig, J Alliss (sweep) S Belle, T Maffescioni, A Ek, J Choate T Nolan, T Edwards, S Choate, B Barwood T Edwards
3rd
T Nolan (as part of national team)
2nd
M Paton
3rd 3rd 3rd
S Belle-Wood J Lishman, L McGovern, J Triplett A Anderson, S Collins, A Bowman
2010-11
3rd
M Turner
2010-11 2012-13
3rd
A Nitschke
3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd
T Edwards, T Sheehy, N Rea, M Nolan A Nitschke B Mercer J Ford M Paton A Nitschke, J Ford J Lishman, L McGovern
3rd
A Nitschke
2008-09
2012-13
1st
T Nolan
2nd
T Nolan (as part of national team)
2nd
T Nolan (as part of national team)
3rd
T Nolan (as part of national team)
2012-13
Reserves Male Surf Boat
3rd
2014-15 2014-15 2014-15
Open Male Beach Sprint Youth Female Beach Relay Open Female Beach Relay Youth Female 2km Beach Run
2nd 2nd 3rd
J O'Mahony, N Whiteside, J Watts, B Travaglione, T McFarlane (sweep) J Flower, B Sattin, R Taylor, T Challenor, A Davies (sweep) J Gatti, M Raisbeck, J Stevenson, S Fletcher, T McFarlane (sweep) J McLaughlin, M O'Shea, D Knox, J Ridderhof, M McDermott (sweep) T Nolan O Marsh, M Lipscombe, C Preston, C Lipscombe T Maffescioni, A Speirs, M Lipscombe, S Power
3rd
O Marsh
2012-13
Under 23 Male Surf Boat
1st
2012-13
Open Female Surf Boat
3rd
2012-13
Open Male Surf Boat
3rd
2014-15 2017-18
U23 Male Surf Boat
1st
2017-18
Reserve Female Surf Boat
2nd
H Gillett, M Mann, W Moore, J Varney, D Hunt (sweep) A Foster, A Gould, C Aylett, L Roberts, D Hunt (sweep)
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 471
Masters World Championships
Pool Rescue State Champions
SEASON
EVENT
PLACE
COMPETITOR/S
SEASON
EVENT
COMPETITOR/S
1999-00 1999-00 1999-00 1999-00 2005-06
45-49 Single Ski Single Ski Relay 45-49 Board Rescue 150+ Taplin Relay 30-34 Female Beach Flags
1st 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd
S Davies S Davies, S Martin, M McDermott S Davies, S Martin S Davies, S Martin, M McDermott S Belle J McLaughlin, S McLaughlin, D Knox, J Ridderhof, M McDermott (sweep) J Lishman J Lishman M Nolan M Nolan T Maffescioni T Maffescioni A Nitschke L Roberts, A Gould, K Andrew, E Carson, D Hunt (sweep)
2013-14 2014-15
A Anderson S Tomasich
2014-15
Open Female 200m Freestyle (no fins) Open Male 100m Freestyle Open Male 100m Manikin Carry With Fins Open Male 50m Freestyle with Fins
2014-15
Open Female 4x25m Manikin Relay
2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16
Open Female 50m Manikin Carry Under 14 Male 200m Obstacles Open Male 200m Obstacles Open Male 50m Freestyle with Fins Under 17 Female 50m Manikin Carry Open Male 50m Manikin Carry Open Male 50m Freestyle Open Male 100m Manikin Carry With Fins Open Female 4X25m Manikin Relay Open Female 4X50m Obstacle Relay Open Female 200m Super Lifesaver Open Male 50m Manikin Carry U15 Male 200m Obstacles U15 Male 50m Freestyle U15 Male 50m Manikin Carry Open Female 12.5m Line Throw U19 Female 100m Rescue Medley Open Female 100m Rescue Medley Open Female 200m Super Lifesaver Open Female 200m Obstacles Open Female Obstacle Relay U19 Female 12.5m Line Throw U19 Female 50m Freestyle with Fins Open Male 50m Freestyle with Fins Open Female 50m Manikin Carry U19 Female 50m Freestyle Open Male 50m Freestyle Open Female 50m Freestyle
2012-13
120+ Male Surf Boat
1st
2012-13 2012-13 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
40+ Male Long Distance Ski 40-49 Male Single Ski 55-59 Male Beach Sprint 55-59 Male Beach Flags 30-34 Female Beach Sprint 30-34 Female Beach Flags 60-64 Female Single Ski
1st 3rd 1st 1st 2nd 3rd 2nd
2017-18
180+ Female Surf Boat
2nd
2014-15
2015-16 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
472 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
J Ponsonby N Benjanuvata A Anderson, J Reynolds, K Porter, T Maffescioni, R Hunt A Anderson A Sudlow R O'Halloran N Benjanuvatra J Brown N Benjanuvatra N Benjanuvatra N Benjanuvatra A Anderson, S Collins, T Maffescioni, J Reynolds A Anderson, L Duckett, T Maffescioni, J Reynolds J Reynolds N Benjanuvatra A Sudlow A Sudlow A Sudlow A Anderson, K Carbone E Warburton A Anderson A Anderson L Duckett A Anderson, J Reynolds, T Maffescioni, L Duckett M Shaw, A Fitzgerald M Shaw N Benjanuvatra A Anderson E Warburton B Peters L Duckett
Pool Rescue Masters State Champions SEASON
EVENT
2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17
30+ Male 100m Freestyle (no fins) 30+ Male 100m Manikin Carry (with fins) 30+ Male 200m Freestyle (no fins) 30+ Male 200m Obstacles 30+ Male 50m Freestyle (no fins) 30+ Male 50m Freestyle (with fins) 30+ Male 100m Manikin Carry 30+ Male 200m Obstacles 30+ Male 50m Freestyle (with fins) 30+ Male 50m Manikin Carry 30+ Male 50m Freestyle (no fins) 30+ Male 100m Manikin Carry (with fins) 30+ Female 200 Obstacles 30+ Female 50m Freestyle 30+ Male 200m Obstacles
2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2016-17 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
COMPETITOR/S
N Benjanuvatra N Benjanuvatra N Benjanuvatra N Benjanuvatra N Benjanuvatra N Benjanuvatra N Benjanuvatra S Knowles N Benjanuvatra N Benjanuvatra N Benjanuvatra N Benjanuvatra S Collins S Collins P Blackbeard N Benjanuvatra, P Blackbeard, S Knowles, 30+ Male 4x50m Medley Relay S McLaughlin N Benjanuvatra, P Blackbeard, S Knowles, 30+ Male 4x50m Obstacle Relay S McLaughlin 30+ Male 50m Freestyle P Blackbeard 30+ Male 50m Freestyle with Fins N Benjanuvatra 30+ Male 50m Manikin Carry N Benjanuvatra 30-39 Male 200m Obstacles N Benjanuvatra 30-39 Female 200m Obstacles A Anderson 40+ 200m Male Obstacles P Blackbeard 30-39 Male 50m Freestlye with Fins N Benjanuvatra 30-39 Female 50m Freestyle with Fins A Anderson 30-39 Male 100m Manikin Tow with Fins A Moore Female Masters Manikin Relay J Ford, S Collins, R Loughlin, A Anderson 30-39 Male 50m Manikin Carry N Benjanuvatra 30-39 Female 50m Manikin Carry A Anderson Male Masters Medley Relay S Knowles, M Evans, A Moore, N Benjanuvatra 30-39 Male 100m Manikin Carry with A Moore Fins Female Masters 12.5m Line Throw A Anderson, K Carbone
Pool Rescue Masters Australian Championships SEASON 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
EVENT 35-39 yrs Male 200m Obstacle Race 35-39 yrs Male 200m Obstacle Race 30-34 yrs Female 200m Obstacle Race 35-39 yrs Male 100m Manikin Carry with Fins 35-39 yrs Male 100m Manikin Carry with Fins 35-39 yrs Male 50m Manikin Carry 35-39 yrs Male 50m Manikin Carry 35-39 yrs Male 100m Manikin Tow with Fins 35-39 yrs Male 100m Manikin Tow with Fins 30-39 yrs Male 2x12.5m Line Throw Relay
PLACE
COMPETITOR/S
1st
N Benjanuvatra
3rd
A Moore
2nd
A Anderson
1st
N Benjanuvatra
2nd
A Moore
1st
N Benjanuvatra
2nd
A Moore
1st
A Moore
3rd
N Benjanuvatra
1st
N Benjanuvatra, A Moore
Pool Rescue Masters World Championships SEASON
EVENT
PLACE
COMPETITOR/S
2017-18 2017-18 2017-18
40-44 Male Line throw 35-39 100 Manikin Carry 40-44 100m Manikin Tow 140-169 Male 4 x 25m Manikin Relay 140-169 Male 4x50m Obstacle Relay
3rd 2nd 2nd
A Moore, N Benjanuvartra A Moulin A Moore
3rd
A Moore, N Benjanuvatra, A Moullin, A Ridley
3rd
A Moore, N Benjanuvatra, A Moullin, A Ridley
2017-18 2017-18
Pool Rescue Australian Championships SEASON 2016-17 2017-18
EVENT 14 yrs Male 200m Obstacle Race U14 Female 50m Freestlye with Fins
PLACE
COMPETITOR/S
3rd
A Sudlow
3rd
L Moore
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 473
Australian representatives Michael MacDermott
1968
Jack Trail
1971, 1972
Jack Alliss
2007, 2009 (ISRC)
Peter Charles
2007, 2009 (ISRC)
Kim Greville
2007, 2009 (ISRC)
James McLaughlin
2007
Thomas Nolan 2 007, 2008, 2009 (ISRC), 2010,
2011 (ISRC), 2013
Paul Webster
2007
Derek Knox
2009 (ISRC)
David Porzig
2009 (ISRC)
Rachael Taylor
2013 (Trans-Tasman)
Rebecca Sattin
2013 (Trans-Tasman)
Elizabeth Gatti
2013 (Trans-Tasman)
Jess Flower
2013 (Trans-Tasman)
Alex Davies
2013 (Trans-Tasman)
ISRC – International Surf Rescue Challenge
474 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
SLSWA Sporting Hall of Fame W.F. ‘Gus’ Graham
1996
Ron Fussell
1996
Jack Alliss
2000
Richard Meadmore
2000
Jack Trail
2001
Sam Law
2004
Simon Martin
2009
North Cottesloe Beach Relay (1948-1957)
2010
Michael MacDermott
2011
North Cottesloe J Crew
2012
In 2013, North Cottesloe J Crew was awarded ‘Western Australian Legend of the Surf’ status.
SLSA Hall of Fame North Cottesloe J Crew (2001-2010)
2013
North Cottesloe SLSC Life Members 1932*
A.H. Bryan
1951
R.J. Peacock
1996
Tom Stewart
1932*
Laurence Gadsdon (Sir)
1958
William Meadmore
2000
Jack Trail
1932*
John Smith
1958
Don Host
2002
Adrian Ridderhof
1932*
E.G. Madeley
1958
Bruce MacKenzie
2002
Nicholas Taylor
1932*
W.M. Beckett
1958
Graham Russell
2003
Jack Alliss
1932*
W.G. Beckett
1959
Don Molyneux
2003
Dennis Hawtin
1932*
John Rowbottom
1961
Richard Jeffrey
2006
Alex McKenzie
1932
W.F. Graham
1963
Don Grenville
2008
Michael Beech
1932
Hugh McKenzie
1966
Laurie Russell
2008
Renato Bruno
1936
J.C.H. James
1966
Bill Kidner
2009
Peter Driscoll
1936
A.W. Mell
1967
Trevor Nicholas
2009
Simon Martin
1937
J.W. Gibbs
1969
Max Carter
2011
Craig Smith-Gander
1939
Jack Morton
1971
Ken Porteous
2014
Mark McDermott
1943
Keith McKinley
1975
Jerry Knowles
2014
Michael MacDermott
1943
T.H. Johnstone
1985
John Miller
2016
Brian Sierakowski
1944
H.A. Walsh
1986
Lyn Girdlestone
2018
Nicholas Rea
1946
Edward Jaggard
1986
Michael Flower
2018
Clifford Ford
1949
Sam Law
1995
Colin Chalmers
1949
Reginald Meadmore
1995
Richard Meadmore
* Prior to 1932
1949
Charles Pitman
1996
Dot Shearer
The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club | 475
“There is nowhere else I’d rather be, nothing else I would prefer to be doing. I am at the beach looking west with the continent behind me as the sun tracks down to the sea. I have my bearings.” Tim Winton
476 | The History of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club