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Ocean Beach SLSC Web site
- From 1919 until 1921 the club was known under three names. Those being Ocean Beach Woy Woy, Ocean Beach Ettalong and Ocean Beach all which were corresponding with Head Centre, the then controlling body of surf life saving in Australia.
- In 1922 the club was officially established as Ocean Beach Woy Woy Surf Life Saving Club.
- In 1938-39 it was decided to drop Woy Woy from the title and thus the Club became Ocean Beach SLSC. Because of confusion with an "Ocean Beach" at Manly, the club became known as Ocean Beach- Broken Bay SLSC from 1939-1940, such name being adopted until the mid 1970's, when by common usage it reverted to Ocean Beach SLSC.
- By 1995 the Contitution was changed to reflect the need to have the club administered by a Board of Directors to which the club now operates. Thus the club is now known as Ocean Beach SLSC Inc.
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- Following their return from active service in the Great War, a group of Woy Woy residents who commuted by steam train from Sydney, decided that due to its popularity, it was necessary to have a surf club operational at Ocean Beach.
- While the club had been operating informally for a couple of years, on Sunday 29 January 1922, a meeting was convened at Wal Dawson's residence to "officially" establish Ocean Beach Woy Woy Surf Life Saving Club. With President Charles Staples at this meeting, Wal Dawson, who was a past vice captain of Coogee Club, was elected as the inaugural secretary. In attendance were Norm Heywood, Harold Murray, Alex Bourke and Don Monteith. Wal Dawson was obviously an enthusiastic lifesaver, being secretary from 1921-22-23, treasurer 1923-28, captain in 23-24 and boat captain in 1928.
- From 1919 until 1921, these stalwarts informally patrolled Ocean Beach.It is recorded that Ocean Beach Woy Woy, Ocean Beach Ettalong and Ocean Beach was corresponding with Head Centre, the then controlling body of surf life saving in Australia. On 20 March 1920, a life saving demonstration was conducted by visiting lifesavers and officials. The Gosford Times issue of 25 March 1920 reported in detail on this historic event. It was reported that "between 200 and 300 people witnessed the demonstration of Surf Life saving at Ocean Beach Woy Woy, on Sunday last. The weather was perfect and both local residents and visitors took a great deal of interest in the display."
- The Ocean Beach Life Saving and Recreation Club, and the visiting team which consisted of leading members of several metropolitan life saving clubs arranged the exhibition. Mr CHG Merrett, the Honorary Instructor-in-Chief of Surf Life Saving NSW, was manager of the team which was accompanied by DD McIntyre, the Honorary Secretary of the Surf Life Saving Association and R Middleton, Association Press Representative. The President CR Staples welcomed the team. Charles Staples was a long-term councillor on Erina Shire Council and was president of many organisations on the Woy Woy Peninsula during this period. He was also the local coroner.
- Messrs Merrett and McIntyre spoke in glowing terms and suggested the Club "had a splendid beach for surfing and a number of enthusiastic members of the right type to make efficient life savers." This was the catalyst for life saving on the Ocean Beach and the Central Coast. At this demonstration, Mr Merrett referred to the "fact that municipal bodies around Sydney were doing everything to encourage the formation of life saving clubs on the beaches within their areas and to provide proper apparatus in the form of reels and surf boats. He pointed out that the Life Saving Clubs were doing humanitarian work in making the beaches safe for bathers and trusted that the Ocean Beach Club would receive all the support its efforts deserved."
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- The first surf carnival held on the Central Coast was at Ocean Beach on the 5th January, 1923.
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- The first Bronze Medallion was obtained by KG Henkel on 6 December 1925. He also was the first club member to obtain his Instructor's Certificate on 4 April 1926, when the first squad was put through for their Bronze exam. This squad comprised A Bowker, Vic Henkel, J Morris, Noel Podmore, George Reeves and George Retford.
- It was during our first squad exam that our association with Freshwater SLSC was established. The Surf Life Saving Association on instructional work sent a team of members from Freshwater to Ocean Beach Woy Woy.The team also took part in a surf carnival in which the prizes they won were pooled to purchase a cup for competition among Ocean Beach members. It was known as the "Freshwater Cup". Because of this involvement, and the association of the Coogee Club through their former Vice Captain, Wal Dawson, Ocean Beach adopted its club colours: the two blues of Coogee and the maroon of Freshwater.
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- In 1926 the Club's first surfboat Poipus was launched.
- In 1940 the Club changed it’s name to Ocean Beach-Broken Bay SLSC. 1940-41 season showed 15 members were in attendance at the AGM.
- 1952-53 saw the allocation of a block of ground on which to elect a Clubhouse. However the actual Clubhouse was not opened until 1956-57 by Judge Adrian Curlewis.
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- At mid-night on 1st February 1960 a crew comprising Winston Riley,
John Miles, Peter McAsh, Stan Rogerson, and Morrie Hayes performed one of the
most hazardous rescues undertaken by the Club. In mountainous seas this crew
was called upon to row 1.5 miles to haul three people off the stranded yatch “Thetis”. The Club received a £20 donation and each person in the crew received a meritorious award.
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- Whether it was through Merrett's words or Cr Staples efforts, the council supplied materials for the construction of two amenities blocks. The labour was supplied by "the Club" and Progress Association. In October 1921, amenities blocks were erected at Trafalgar and Sydney Avenues. Reel and lines were also left at these locations. These "apparatus" were utilised by the general public as well as "club members", with differing degrees of success.
- The council's building inspector was at the April 1950 meeting and advised that a new clubhouse and shelter shed was proposed to council. This vexing issue was protracted and it was some six years away from fruition.
- In 1956, the required block of land was allocated and tenders were called for the erection of a clubhouse. Member Jim Huntington was successful and stage one of the current clubhouse was erected and opened by Judge Adrian Curlewis.
- The season of 1962-63 saw the club apply for a 30-foot extension to the clubhouse. Again a protracted dispute was underway and again it took many years to resolve. It was finally accepted by council to build on the Trafalgar Avenue side of the building. The 30 foot extensions were completed in 1968 after much financial and moral support from Rotary.
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During the following seasons, one can only imagine the hardships that the membership must have endured, not the least of these was transportation. Most complained of the road conditions or, more accurately, the lack of road conditions. It was around this period that the Great Depression started, which would have seriously limited the fund raising ability of the club members and supporters.
In 1938-39 it was decided to drop the Woy Woy from the title and thus the club became Ocean Beach SLSC. Due to confusion with an "Ocean Beach" at Manly, the club became known as Ocean Beach-Broken Bay SLSC from 1939-40, the name kept until the mid-1970s, when by common usage it reverted to Ocean Beach SLSC.
From the late 1930's until 1945, the club owed a great debt of gratitude to the women of the district filled the breach left by the departure of the young men of the community for active war service. From newspaper reports, in the formative years, the membership embraced the concept of life saving, patrolling of the beach, competing strongly and having a strong social side to the club's activities.
From these early years until the present day, Ocean Beach SLSC can stand fast on the fact that no lives have been lost while patrols have been conducted on our beach.
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From all the members that have passed through the club, all look to the most prestigious award that the club can bestow a member: Life Membership. This is awarded to members for continuous and outstanding service to the club.
In 1937, Mick Green was the first to receive this honour and since then 29 other members have been bestowed this award.
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On January 23, 1966, a meeting was convened to form a Juvenile (or Nipper) club. A committee to be in attendance to lead discussions were Paul Smith, Ray Benton, Peter Hay, Dick Huntington and Ron Callingham.
The Nipper club was formed and in 1972 Ian Redden was the inaugural winner of the "Outstanding Recruit" from the Nippers. Ian was unbeaten during the year in the cadet sprint winning State and Australian Titles and he was placed second in the Beach Flags at the Aussie Titles.
The women in the club then formed the Ocean Beach Mermaids for all the girls. A.Richardson and P.Kennedy were awarded Life Membership of the Mermaids for their dedicated work.
The two bodies joined together and became the Junior Activities. Many a fine competitor and club member has come through the ranks of the Nippers and Nipperettes or what are now known as Junior Activities.
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Ocean Beach has always continually been well represented in Branch, State, Australian and World touring teams. Some years have been lean but overall there have been some outstanding competitors who have worn the colours of maroon, sky and royal blue.
The most distinguished club representative was Paul Smith OAM. Paul coached and managed various touring teams through all levels. Paul was elected to the position of Secretary General of World Life Saving.
On a competitive level, there have been many Branch Titles, State, Australian and World Titles coming back to the Ocean Beach Surf Club. In 1949-50, Keith Piconi obtained a State Medal for the Musical Flags ( now known simply as Flags). Warren Peters claimed our first World Gold medal in Hawaii in 1983 winning the Beach Sprint.
Another Gold came to the club in the unique event of Rescue Ball Throwing. Michael Fisher, David Thompson, Bob Nash and Patrick Lyons won this event in Queensland and have the distinction of remaining current titleholders as the event was discontinued.
In 1984-85 for the first time, the club won the four-man Rescue and Resuscitation (R&R) at the Australian Championships, with the six-man team taking silver. The team consisted of Steve Yeo, Fritz Van Aalderen (who still competes today and wins medals the Masters Division), Greg Price, Scott Hines and Grant Hayes. Ian Lindsay and Steve Smith were added to make the six-man team.
In 1985 1st place Beach Relay team was Phil Symonds, James Cook, Graeme Atkins and Drew Hayes.
The season of 1994-95 saw Ladies Boat racing introduced to the Branch. The club's crew of girls, Donna Hannell, Judy Simonson, Dianne Williams and Diane Young, swept by Scott Hannell, took out the first Branch Title for this event.
In 1996-97, the club's Junior R&R teams emerged as champions with a win at the State Titles and silver at the Australian - a proud moment for their coach, and father to one of the children, Paul Smith. The team was Daniel Lockwood, Dean Hillard, Anthony Trichter, Hayden Smith and Nathan Lakajev.
The team then went on to win the Australian Gold medal for the event in the seasons of 1997-98 and 1998-99.
Any visitor to the clubhouse can see these and other members who have been successful. Their pictures will soon adorn the walls of the upstairs part of the clubhouse.
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The season of 1980 saw women being admitted to full membership of the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia. Until then, women could obtain an award but not be official members.
The first recipients of awards in Ocean Beach SLSC were Debra Moy and Therese Edgtton (Bronze Medallion) and Robyn Nash (Qualifying Certificate). These awards were gained on the December 14, 1980, at The Entrance Beach.
That year saw another two qualifying certificates and seven bronze medallions awarded to women in the club. From there, women's membership has grown considerable with many taking on executive positions within the club.
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The basis of all clubs is the friendships that are made and bring about the social side of a club and Ocean Beach is no different. From the beginning, socials were a form of fund-raising. Dances were held at Mick Green's hall in Trafalgar Avenue. The members branched out into other areas such as soccer and table tennis competitions.
On October 6, 1961, a committee was elected to serve refreshments to members after Patrols on Sundays. Today this practice still continues and is known as "Bottles". In the words of Ray Benton, this activity has kept the club closely knit and to the fore, socially as well a competitively.
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In 1995, the constitution was change to reflect the need to have the club
administered by a board of directors. The club was incorporated and is now
known as Ocean Beach SLSC Inc. The club has members as young as six years
participating in the junior activities right through the age groups with
members competing in Masters competition.
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At the 2007-08 Surf Life Saving Central Coast Awards of Excellence, Ocean
Beach SLSC was announced the "Club of the Year". This is a very prestigious award to win
as it is made up of 10 different categories throughout the year and added up
at the end of the Season.
This award spans across activities in the entire Club and Ocean Beach won with
an impressive score of 242... 32 points ahead of Terrigal SLSC in sceond place.
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© Copyright 1999-2009, Parallels. All Rights Reserved.
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