BRONTE - THE BIRTHPLACE OF SURF LIFE SAVING
A
HISTORY OF BRONTE SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB - BY STAN VESPER
|
Code
|
Items
|
Size
|
Price
|
| BB051 |
Bronte
Book |
Gold
Edition |
$200
ea |
| BB052 |
Bronte
Book
|
Standard
Edition
|
$100
ea |
>
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Following
extensive research and the collection of photographs and historical
documents, the history of Bronte Surf Club. Bronte, The Birthplace
of Surf Life Saving has been written and is now published.
The book of 330 pages includes many rare historical photographs.
The
book includes details of:
• The early settlement and development of Bronte.
• The beginning of life saving at Bronte, years before the formation
of the SLSA.
• Rescues which have resulted in bravery awards being made.
• Innovations and experiments in the development of life saving
equipment.
• The struggle to keep the club going in the early years.
• Events and experiences of people in the frontline of surf life
saving at Bronte.
• Prominent members and competitors.
There
are a number of Appendices, including:
• Club championship results.
• Australian, NSW, Metropolitan and Sydney Branch Championships
results.
• Major office bearers.
• A list of all of the clubÕs surfboats.
• A list of all members of Bronte Surf Club.
This
is the story of the beginnings of surf lifesaving at Bronte and the
formation of the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club. It covers the period
from its origins at the end of the 19th century, its development throughout
the 20th century leading to the present-day organisation. In many
ways the development of the Surf Life Saving Association mirrors that
of Bronte.
The
story begins in 1894 when John Bond started lifesaving instruction
at Bronte Beach. Bond was one of a group of men who had established
the first Branch in Australia of the Life Saving Society. In 1903,
following a drowning at Bronte on Boxing Day, 1902, Bond established
the Bronte Surf and Life Saving Club.
Walter
Biddell, another of the Bronte pioneers, formed the Bronte Life Saving
Brigade in opposition to BondÕs club. The two men, although completely
different in style and manner, shared a common passion Ð surf lifesaving.
Their passion fuelled innovation and they were responsible for the
introduction of many surf lifesaving techniques and items of equipment,
including:
• The first specifically designed surfboat.
• A twin-hulled, "unswampable" surfboat.
• The first torpedo buoy, (banned by the SLSA until the 1960s).
• The portable hand reel.
• Rostered patrols, regulations and signal codes.
• The "skeleton" surf belt.
Bond
also played a major role in the design of the surf reel. Bronte's
version, designed by Bond, appears to be the earliest example yet
identified.
Many
perilous rescues and acts of heroism at Bronte are described, including:
• The 1930 rescue by Eric McCallum who was awarded the SLSA'S
highest bravery award, the Meritorious Award in Silver.
• The 1931 "Bronte Epic" surf carnival when over 30
competitors in the junior surf race were rescued.
• The rescue of approx. 250 swimmers in the 2003 Bondi to Bronte
Ocean Swim.
