"1900-1950"
1st era
Founding of the club, popularisation of Australian surfing, addition of the rock pool, construction of the club house and Freshwater in war time.
Our History
Freshwater SLSC has a proud history stretching back over 100 years. Our club continues to be one of the most influential in developing/promoting Surfing and Surf Life Saving in Australia.
Founding of the club, popularisation of Australian surfing, addition of the rock pool, construction of the club house and Freshwater in war time.
Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club was founded, choosing maroon and white as the club colours. Since that time, the surf club has continually patrolled the beach for the benefit of the general public.
John Boyd Steel 1868 – 1950 Foundation Member 1908,Club President 1914-1947 (a SLSA record!) and First Life Member 1922
Our first Club Captain, Fred ‘Fritz’ Schwarz
Freshwater SLSC Official Opening Ceremony 1910
1912 Freshwater Carnival
Elevated shot of 1912 Freshwater Carnival
Freshwater Executive Members
Freshwater’s First Clinker Surfboat
The club has a strong link with not only surf lifesaving but also surfing, with the famous Duke Kahanamoku demonstrating his immense surfboard riding skills at the beach.
Boomerang Camp and Duke Kahanamoku
The original Duke Kahanamoku Surfboard
Duke carrying his Board surrounded by excited admirers
Duke Kahanamoku at Freshwater
Kids also had fun on Duke Kahanamoku’s Board
Club Photo
Early photo of a surfboat at southern end of Freshie
Claude West riding the Duke’s board
Club Photo
Freshwater invents the Surfboat Quarterbar
Isabel Letham with Claude West and others
Isabel Letham is one of Australia’s first female surfboard riders
Club Photo
Fancy Dress Party
Freshwater Surfboat Crew competing at Newcastle
Opening of the Freshwater (Harbord) rockpool
Club Photo
Marchpast photo
Laying Foundation Stone
Freshwater Building Committee
“Opening of new Freshwater Surf Club” Souvenir Programme
Photo of Freshwater Beach and Surf Club
Australian Surfboat Champions
Belt Race in action
Duke Kahanamoku with Freshwater Member visiting Hawaii
Beach Photos -Top at ‘First Count’s Cottage’ with B Cogans, Jack Dalton, Bob McDonnell, D Klem, R White, B Sargent, B Perigo, K Dalton
WWII photo of Freshwater Tank Obstacles (Max Dupain photo)
Freshwater Marchpast in action at Manly
R&R Team
Max Dupain Photo of Freshwater
Club Photo
Mick Griffin’s Qualifying Certificate
R&R Touring Team
Eric Johnston – Australian Olympics representative
Australian Surfboat Champions
Junior R&R Australian Champs
Surfboat winning at Garie
50th club anniversary, Duke returns, big wave riding, championships and jet boats
Ladies Marchpast
Surfboard Riding at Freshie
Mervyn Fletcher, tragically drowned during Surf Carnival at DY Beach
Photo – Southern Headland
Aust Champs March Past
Freshwater Ladies March Past
R&R team to Tasmania
Duke Kahanamoku at Freshie with Claude West and Isabelle Letham
Duke and Claude with the original Duke board. Claude donated it back to Freshie in 1953.
US Lifeguards with their balsa/fibre glass boards blew away the Aussies still riding their unwieldy huge hollow ply toothpick boards.
Freshwater Carnival. Note the Hessian screening. Admission price 1/-
R&R Champions
March Past Aust Champions at Bondi
50th Anniversary dinner menu. Very formal with official toasts
Club Photo at AGM
Don ‘Bullet’ Henderson Aust Champion, Board
Brian ‘Woggles’ Mason, the only Sweep to win 2 ‘back-to-back’ Junior Surfboat Aust Championships in the one decade.
Freshie participating in Sydney street parade
Senior R&R Aust Champions
Freshie member, Dave Jackman is the first to ride the Queensie Bommie becomes a Front Page news story.
Australian Junior Surfboat Champs
Midget Farraly and Kevin Platt leave Freshie to make their mark in surfing on the World Stage
Brian O’Callagan – renowned Freshie BIG wave sweep cracks monster at Freshie – crew survives (but not boat)
The innovative Rescue Jet Boat introduced. The ‘Jack Wilson’ driven by Freshie’s Don Mattherson
Don Henderson Citation for bravery
Colin MacLean Surfboard and Ski Champ
Brian O’Callagan sweeps State Championship Crew -note the slim young Zom Knox
R&R Team produces future Beach and Surfboat Australian Champions
Christmas Day photo at Freshie surf club
Callo holding the Time Capsule inserted under ‘Bunkhouse’ with Kev Flemming, Martin Thompson, Col Maclean, Bill Lucas Sn/Jr and G Cann
Aust Junior Surfboat Champions. Brian (Woggles) Mason sweeps crew of Eric Middledorp, Kim Marsh, Ken Bucknall and Steve Rielly
Surfboat Fashion Shoot Eric Middledorp, Kim Marsh, Ken Bucknall & a beautiful model in front of Steve Reilly
New Clubhouse, introduction of Nippers, equality for Female members, IRBs, storm survival and more championships!
Freshwater Junior March Past -some of these boys are still members!
Note ‘bunkhouse’ on right of building (Bill Sheridan photo)
The admission of women as full members made for a more egalitarian club ensuring the continued vitality and viability of the Club.
IRB’s introduced in the 1970’s became the the most effective piece of surf rescue equipment
During the 60s and 70s, Murray Braund dominated surf ski competition.
Legendary crew of Ron Payne (Sweep), Ken Bucknall, Kim Marsh, Chris Branson and Les Watts set new benchmarks most crews still can’t match.
At his best, none could match Bob Pickard on the sand.
Freshie Tours abroad winning many World Titles in the UK during the 70’s. Note the flares and haircuts.
The old Clubhouse survived the 1974 cyclone (just!) – new clubhouse planning brought forward (more photos to come)
Freshie team flies off to Aussies held at Burleigh Heads
Save the Whale 1977. But which one is the whale. Is it Don Graham or Eggleton, Chris Branson or Rick Kennington??
Artists impression of a new expanded club
