Freshwater SLSC
Club 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.

Dec 1908

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.

1900’s

John Boyd Steel 1868 – 1950 Foundation Member 1908,Club President 1914-1947 (a SLSA record!) and First Life Member 1922

1908

Our first Club Captain, Fred ‘Fritz’ Schwarz

Dec 1910

Freshwater SLSC Official Opening Ceremony 1910

1912

1912 Freshwater Carnival

1912

Elevated shot of 1912 Freshwater Carnival

1913

Freshwater Executive Members

1914

Freshwater’s First Clinker Surfboat

Dec 1914

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.

1914

Boomerang Camp and Duke Kahanamoku

1914

The original Duke Kahanamoku Surfboard

1916

Early photo of a surfboat at southern end of Freshie

1916

Claude West riding the Duke’s board

1919

Club Photo

1919

Freshwater invents the Surfboat Quarterbar

1919

Isabel Letham with Claude West and others

1920s

Isabel Letham is one of Australia’s first female surfboard riders

1920

Club Photo

1921

Fancy Dress Party

1922

Freshwater Surfboat Crew competing at Newcastle

1925

Opening of the Freshwater (Harbord) rockpool

1927

Club Photo

1928

Marchpast photo

1934

Laying Foundation Stone

1935

Freshwater Building Committee

1935

“Opening of new Freshwater Surf Club” Souvenir Programme

1930s

Photo of Freshwater Beach and Surf Club

1938

Australian Surfboat Champions

1939

Belt Race in action

1939

Duke Kahanamoku with Freshwater Member visiting Hawaii

1939

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

1940s

WWII photo of Freshwater Tank Obstacles (Max Dupain photo)

1940s

Freshwater Marchpast in action at Manly

1940s

R&R Team

1941

Max Dupain Photo of Freshwater

1944

Club Photo

1945

Mick Griffin’s Qualifying Certificate

1946

R&R Touring Team

1948

Eric Johnston – Australian Olympics representative

1948

Australian Surfboat Champions

1948

Junior R&R Australian Champs

1949

Surfboat winning at Garie

1950s

Ladies Marchpast

1950s

Surfboard Riding at Freshie

1950

Mervyn Fletcher, tragically drowned during Surf Carnival at DY Beach

1950s

Photo – Southern Headland

1952

Aust Champs March Past

1954

Freshwater Ladies March Past

1955

R&R team to Tasmania

1956

Duke Kahanamoku at Freshie with Claude West and Isabelle Letham

1956

Duke and Claude with the original Duke board. Claude donated it back to Freshie in 1953.

1956

US Lifeguards with their balsa/fibre glass boards blew away the Aussies still riding their unwieldy huge hollow ply toothpick boards.

1950s

Freshwater Carnival. Note the Hessian screening. Admission price 1/-

1950s

R&R Champions

1957

March Past Aust Champions at Bondi

1958

50th Anniversary dinner menu. Very formal with official toasts

1959

Club Photo at AGM

1959

Don ‘Bullet’ Henderson Aust Champion, Board

1960s

Brian ‘Woggles’ Mason, the only Sweep to win 2 ‘back-to-back’ Junior Surfboat Aust Championships in the one decade

1960

Freshie participating in Sydney street parade

1960

Senior R&R Aust Champions

1961

Freshie member, Dave Jackman is the first to ride the Queensie Bommie becomes a Front Page news story.

1961

Australian Junior Surfboat Champs

1963

Midget Farraly and Kevin Platt leave Freshie to make their mark in surfing on the World Stage

1964

Brian O’Callagan – renowned Freshie BIG wave sweep cracks monster at Freshie – crew survives (but not boat)

1960s

The innovative Rescue Jet Boat introduced. The ‘Jack Wilson’ driven by Freshie’s Don Mattherson

1965

Don Henderson Citation for bravery

1965-67

Colin MacLean Surfboard and Ski Champ

1965

Brian O’Callagan sweeps State Championship Crew -note the slim young Zom Knox

1966

R&R Team produces future Beach and Surfboat Australian Champions

1967

Christmas Day photo at Freshie surf club

1968

Callo holding the Time Capsule inserted under ‘Bunkhouse’ with Kev Flemming, Martin Thompson, Col Maclean, Bill Lucas Sn/Jr and G Cann

1968

Aust Junior Surfboat Champions. Brian (Woggles) Mason sweeps crew of Eric Middledorp, Kim Marsh, Ken Bucknall and Steve Rielly

1969

Surfboat Fashion Shoot Eric Middledorp, Kim Marsh, Ken Bucknall & a beautiful model in front of Steve Reilly

1970

Freshwater Junior March Past -some of these boys are still members!

1970s

Note ‘bunkhouse’ on right of building (Bill Sheridan photo)

1970s

The admission of women as full members made for a more egalitarian club ensuring the continued vitality and viability of the Club.

1970s

IRB’s introduced in the 1970’s became the most effective piece of surf rescue equipment

1972-74

During the 60s and 70s, Murray Braund dominated surf ski competition.

1972-76

Legendary crew of Ron Payne (Sweep), Ken Bucknall, Kim Marsh, Chris Branson and Les Watts set new benchmarks most crews still can’t match.

1973

At his best, none could match Bob Pickard on the sand.

1974

Freshie Tours abroad winning many World Titles in the UK during the 70’s. Note the flares and haircuts.

1974

The old Clubhouse survived the 1974 cyclone (just!) – new clubhouse planning brought forward (more photos to come)

1976

Freshie team flies off to Aussies held at Burleigh Heads

1977

Save the Whale 1977. But which one is the whale. Is it Don Graham or Eggleton, Chris Branson or Rick Kennington??

1983

Artists impression of a new expanded club