Surf Life Saving

As mentioned in this post yesterday, Australia’s first volunteer surf life saving clubs appeared on Sydney’s ocean beaches in 1907. Here’s the back story courtesy of the Surf Life Saving Australia website:

“By-laws which had banned bathing in daylight hours since the 1830s were gradually repealed between 1902 and 1905, in response to the increasing popularity of surf-bathing, and a growing conviction that bathing in appropriate clothing was not an immoral act. The impact these changes had on local beach culture was dramatic: beach goers entered the surf in rapidly escalating numbers. The surf was new to most surf-bathers and many could not swim, so with its increasing popularity came more drowning and consequent attempts at rescue. By the summer of 1906-07, the population of Sydney was obsessed with the question of the safety of the surf. It was in this environment that surf life saving clubs first emerged, their regular patrols a welcome relief to local authorities and nervous bathers alike. On 18 October 1907, representatives from these clubs, together with members of other interested groups, met to form the Surf Bathing Association of New South Wales, the organisation now known as Surf Life Saving Australia.”

Today Melanie chatted with these three modern day life savers: Veronica (who is 14), Sarah and Michaela. They were stationed at the south end of the beach in front of a rippy section of water known locally as “Backpacker’s Express.”