The Bondi Surfer No. 105

30 April 2020

Bondi re-opens for swimming and surfing. Photography courtesy of Tim Read.

Intro & Welcome

Back in the Water!

I hope you are all finding ways to stay fit and healthy over this time in isolation - hopefully this week it included a swim or surf.  

It is good news that the number of active cases of COVID in Australia has now dropped under 1000, and Waverley has had only one or two new cases in the past week. We will need to continue to be careful, but with sensible distancing, avoiding large groups and getting tested if you have any flu-like symptoms or scratchy throat, we should avoid this number escalating again and keep our members safe. 

The change has allowed the Council to structure a 'Swim-n-Go' and 'Surf-n-Go' program for the beach.  While it is 7am-5pm weekdays, swimming to the north, and surfing to the south, we would expect that with people following the rules that we should see more easing of the restrictions.

The Mayor has thanked the club for being role models in the community by following the access controls and avoiding being seen to breach the conditions. I recognise this is hard when you see surfers breaching the conditions, but we hold ourselves to a higher standard.  Surf Life Saving is also asking that lifesavers consider downloading the COVIDSafe app as this will speed up tracing of cases and hopefully lead to faster control of outbreaks (thus allowing for more easing of restrictions) - check it out here.

This month’ Surfer has births, deaths, trivia, history, Life Members and lifesaving; it's a great reminder of all the things we value as a club. I would like to thank Caroline Pierce, the Surfer editor, for bringing together these updates even in challenging times.

Brent Jackson
President

Events & Reminders

Key Dates

• Presentation Night and Annual Ball - 27 June
• Annual General Meeting - 19 July

Find more information on the Club Facebook page.

Clubbie of the Month

Our April Clubbie of the Month is Scott Laney.

Scott is a member of the Raise Your Hand Committee that makes recommendations to the Board of Management on assistance to eligible Club members who are suffering hardship, normally through non-refundable capped grants. He's also joined 14 others checking in on more than 150 of our oldest members as part of a Welfare Committee initiative. Scott joined the Club in 1985 and has been a member ever since. He is Fullwood's Life Member on Patrol (pictured above right, fifth from the left, at the start of the season with other Life Members).

For newer members, Scott was the Club Captain for many years in the 1990s, even spending some summers as a Lifeguard, and then President from 2001 to 2007.  While "the General" has been down in The Shire for many years with his young family, he offered help when the COVID crisis started.

Catching Up 

Bondi Re-Opens for Exercise

On Tuesday 28 April Bondi re-opened for exercise between 7am and 5pm on weekdays with many Bondi Surf Club members (including Tim Read who took the photos above) waiting patiently on the promenade for entry points to be opened.

Before the opening, Waverley Council Mayor Paula Masselos emphasised that access to its beaches was for the sole purpose of exercising and on Tuesday afternoon she posted this message to beach users: "I would like to congratulate the Waverley community for embracing our strict ‘Swim & Go’ and ‘Surf & Go’ measures at our beaches. Our Council is delighted to be able to provide access to the water at our beaches." 

So far, it seems, so good!

Off Our Beaches

Adam D'Angelo gives us all an update on what's been keeping Support Operations busy off our coastline in recent weeks as SR30 signs off for the season.

Since the closure of Sydney’s beaches in late March, Support Operations including Surf Rescue 30, RWCs and the Westpac Helicopter have been patrolling the coastline on weekend patrols and call outs.

Surf Rescue 30 was tasked by NSW Police, Randwick and Waverley Councils to assist with clearing the beaches in the early stages of the beach closures. Whilst initially against our grain as keen water lovers and completely unexpected end to the season, it was a necessary step to help prevent the spread of COVID19.

Whilst most have done their best to stay home during lockdown, some have ventured to other less familiar parts of the coast for swimming, fishing, scuba diving and kayaking. This season, Surf Rescue 30 has conduced over 30 boat rescues, has been called out to over 25 searches and many out of hours call-outs. The SR30 team collectively has put in more than 2500 patrol hours to keep the boat operational throughout the season and in particular in the past month where we have seen an increase in search and rescues primarily as a result of individuals venturing beyond their ability into ocean in areas they may be less familiar with due to beach closures.

Recently SR30 has responded to an after hours callout for eight people reported in trouble on Wedding Cake Island, a search for a missing person at Kurnell who was swept off the rocks and a missing person at Yarra Bay. On many of these occasions, support Operations have launched drones (UAV) to assist PolAir and emergency services which have proven beneficial for fast mobilisation whilst waiting for helicopter search teams.

Surf Rescue 30’s vision is to be a world-class volunteer lifesaving support services team, dedicated to preventing loss of life along Sydney’s spectacular coastline.

Although SR30 has now officially signed off for the season, we remain on call-out for emergencies along the coast from Sydney Harbour to Botany Bay. If you do venture away from the beaches in search of solitude, let others know where you are going, swim with a buddy and keep an eye on the tides and weather forecast.

Bundle of Joy 

Tom Levi (Ormsby PC) and his partner Isabella welcomed baby Amelia Claire Levi to the world on 4 April 2020. Tom and Bella look forward to introducing the future nipper to the club at bottles and on patrol next season.

Clubhouse Flag at Half 

The flag on the Clubhouse was lowered to half mast twice in one week earlier this month following the passing of ex Club member.

On 18 April we marked the passing of Terry Martin, who succumbed to Motor Neurone Disease on 10 April. Terry's son Guy had contacted the Club Office last year explaining that his father increasingly spoke about his proudest moments, lifesaving at Bondi being among them and hoping to get a copy of the Bronze Medallion that Terry had lost many years before. Informing the Club of his father's passing, Guy wrote: "He was so proud of the Bronze Medallion that you replicated for him we are laying him to rest with the medal," and that he wanted to let us know as his father and mother have so many friends who are still members of the Club.

Just three days later, on 21 April, the flag was lowered again, this time to remember a legend of the surfboat community, and an Australian junior champion for Bondi, Gordon 'Mother' Harmon. Rod Harvey, Life Member Bondi said: "For the information of older brigade members: Former Club member, championship boat sweep, surf boating identity and all-round larrikin Gordon Harmon passed away on 16 April 2020, aged 86 years. Gordon was sweep of our 1956 State and Australian Championship winning Junior Boat Crew. He left our Club in 1965 to sweep boat crews at Newport SLSC and some years later moved to Bungan Beach SLSC. After that he moved to reside in Queensland where he became caretaker and surf boat sweep and mentor at the Mermaid Beach SLSC. Ted Healy (current Bondi Long Service member and once Australia’s oldest competitive surf boat rower – and a member of that 1956 Junior crew) has been keeping some touch with Gordon over the years and advises that Gordon has recently been living on the NSW North Coast. Gordon has been researching and writing a book on the evolution of surf boats but it may be now ‘unfinished work’."

Thank You For Being a Friend

The Welfare Committee's work contacting our older members and sending healthy food packages to the 20 or so oldest has been greatly appreciated. The Club Office received this letter of thanks from Ken Medlock:

"Esteemed Members of the Bondi SBLSC,
"My wife and I were most pleasantly surprised recently by a friendly lady from the surf club who arrived at our door with a bag full of household provisions. In these troubled time when oldies like us are advised to confine ourselves to our home, we were most appreciative of such a wonderful gesture. We thank you for your thoughtfulness and it again confirms the privilege of belonging to a club whose membership I have valued for 68 years, helped shape my life as a young man and gained me so many lifelong friends. Thank you Bondi Surf Club."

Apples, Flowers and Smiles   

You may notice one of our members, Chris May, at the Bondi Farmers' Markets on Saturdays. He recently had most of his distribution points shut down and so is selling his flowers at the markets. For people really down and out he’s been gifting some bouquets as his contribution to help others.

In mid-March, James and Karen Allison visited Chris' farm in Orange where the trees were overloaded with fruit that was going to waste. After tasting some themselves they agreed the organic apples were too good for that to be allowed and collected a crate full for Club members to enjoy. You may have seen them in the men's changeroom before the season finished and the Club was closed. 

Many Club members have been stopping by the markets, coming away with a smile and a bouquet. Chris who drives from Orange to sell his flowers each Saturday greets all with a smile and the warmest of  welcomes.

Lifesaving

Last Sunday 26 April should have marked the official end the Surf Lifesaving patrol season 2019/20 for Bondi SBLSC. Instead we finished 22 patrols short, due to the pandemic safety precautions that closed the season early.

Managing the red and yellow flags at Bondi, this season our team grew our club patrols from 12 to 14, gained 23 new IRB crew, 112 Cadets patrolled, 360 active members patrolled, 572 proficient members did patrol hours, and over 14,500 patrol hours were clocked up between us all. We add all that up and we get the most important number - 0 - “No Lives Lost”.

Whilst we maintained no lives lost between our flags, we acknowledge the tragic incident that took place earlier this year at our beach and thank those lifesavers who attended.

All this while managing up to 35,000 people on crazy days on the beach, bushfires that re-shaped our planet's air quality, natural wildlife and habitat, and a global pandemic never seen before in our lifetime that has stopped society in its tracks.

I am incredibly proud to be part of a volunteer organisation that does so much on so many levels to keep people safe and support our community.

Our club members, as community leaders have volunteered well beyond our patrol hours. We have laughed, cried, trained, educated, battled the forces of nature, persevered on tough days, dug deep, celebrated, commiserated, competed and remained a strong unit that our founding members would have been proud of.

No one person is bigger than the team. This year paid tribute to that.

We will return, the flags will go back up at Bondi and across Australia next season, and we will protect our beach once again.

If anyone in Sydney wishes to join our tribe of Lifesaving legends, contact us!

Stay safe, stay at home and keep active.

Life Member Q & A

Clockwise from left: Peter at this season's Veteran's lunch, checking in to the Zoom Cafe during COVID isolation, as Club President  in the '70s, awarded an AM for services to Surf Life Saving on Australia Day 1999, and with Life Members on Patrol (fourth from the left).

Honoured to Have Been Our Patron

Michael Fischer caught up with Club Patron and Life Member Peter Stapleton.

Thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us how you first came to join this great surf club?
Michael, I first joined Bondi Surf Club on 11 October 1960 principally through the advice of Jim and Terry Ryan who were neighbours of ours in Hastings Parade, North Bondi. Now, at the same time a great primary school friend, Bob (Silent Sam) Reid also joined the club. Bob and I had played tennis together at Tib Dorahy’s courts on Wallis Parade for many years and, as 17-year-olds, we were getting a little tired of tennis and looking for other interests.

Wow! Sixty years in the club! So what are your earliest memories of your membership?
After obtaining our Bronze Medallions in early December 1960, both Bob and I were approached by Gordon (Mother) Harmon to join the Junior Surfboat crew. The stroke was Rod Harvey, John O’Brien second stroke, myself second bow and Bob Reid was bow. The sweep of course was Gordon. Our first competition was the Garie Open Carnival where we won our heat, the semi and the final. We all thought we were invincible but alas that was our only highlight in terms of competition. We all continued to row after becoming seniors in various crews and Silent Sam went on to greater recognition through his ability as a big wave sweep.

And, in terms of official positions?
I served on the Committee initially as a committeeman before a one-year stint as Honorary Treasurer followed by a few years as Honorary Secretary. In my second year as President I was approached by Harry Brown who was on National Council of the SLSA to become the first Treasurer of National Council following the splitting of the Secretary/ Treasurer role. So I joined the National Executive with Sir Adrian Curlewis as President, Jack Dearlove as Chief. Superintendent and of course Harry Brown as Secretary. Because of the pressure of my national role I reluctantly stood down from the Bondi Presidency. Following 10 years in the national role I retired and became the Chairman of the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service for a few years so in all I spent some 23 years as Director of the Helicopter Board.

You’ve been the Patron of Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club. What does that role entail?
Well actually, I recently stood down as Patron due mainly to the fact that I live in The Shire and I was finding it difficult to drive for one hour to Bondi and then spend another hour looking for a parking spot! To enable me to have a few drinks, I would come down by train but then invariably have to make an extra stop on the home journey due to bathroom duties and then wait for another train. The position of Patron was a great honour but I don’t think I performed the position with due credit as I should have been more hands-on and more available to assist. Anyway I believe the current Board of Management is first class. Second to none!

You must have a long highlights reel of your years in Bondi Surf Club?
Well Michael, one of the great highlights and memories during my time was our Sub-District Rugby Club involvement where we had four teams competing in the Kentwell, Bourke, Whiddon and Judd Cup competitions over many years with a number of premierships in that time. This certainly enhanced and maintained the active membership during some difficult periods with low member numbers in the summer months being aided by the rugby players becoming active members and doing patrols. In January 1974, 38 players and supporters travelled to the USA and returned via Fiji. Our first game was against the Hawaii Harlequins at Kapiolani Park, just opposite The Outrigger Canoe Club in Honolulu. The next port of call was Los Angeles where we played the University of California (UCLA). We arrived at the ground to play and the goalposts weren’t even erected! Two of the UCLA team members put the goal posts up and a third guy didn’t even have to stand on his tippy toes to insert the cross bar. Ha! Then we all got on the bus and they wouldn’t let us drive off. The third game was against the Bay Area Touring Side in San Francisco and our final game was against the Santa Rosa Rugby Club which is about 100km north of San Francisco. Following that game we went to a nearby turkey farm for drinks which were held in a loft. We were drinking low-alcohol American beer but the Yanks were smoking some weed and when we asked where it came from, they said we were sitting on bales of it! On the trip back to Santa Rosa the next morning there were a number of cars which had run off the road the night before on their way home! Anyway we must have impressed the Mayor of the local city as we were presented with the keys to the city! One of our members, Greg "Beagle" Brodsky loved the Santa Rosa area so much that he returned there shortly after our trip, married the beautiful Sandy and they had a number of children together.

In your time in this great club you must have come across a host of scallywags. Are you game enough to share some names?
Scallywags in this club were numerous and included Tom (Alfie) Penton, Mick Guider, Bill Jenkings, Allan Scott, John Vandenberg and many others but, fearing legal action, I’d better not name them.

What do you see as the Club’s immediate needs?
As the recently retired Patron, I would love to see the Club further extend our active competition ranks particularly in surf boats, R&R and other competition areas even though I must say our great Masters teams have done us proud in winning the National and State titles overall point scores in recent years. To its credit, the Club has excelled with record active membership numbers in recent times with our patrol efforts the best I have ever witnessed during my time in the Club.

And finally, Peter Stapleton AM. Can you tell us about those letters after your name?
Yes, well on Australia Day 1999, the Governor General presented me with a Member of the Order of Australia for services to Surf Life Saving. I was honoured to receive such a prestigious award. And I’m also proud to be a Life Member of Surf Life Saving Australia - 1987 that was awarded, I think.

Thanks Peter and congratulations on your fantastic achievements over the years.

Patrol in Focus

Steady is the Ship Named Besomo

By Jesse Lockhart-Krause 

Captains Dori and Greg steer the ship, with deck hands Toby and Jesse vice captains on Besomo. The patrol is well organised, but generally relaxed, with an understated hard working team. From a variety of backgrounds, each member contributes their various skills, a great mix, everyone working together.

Leading by example, Dori is an incredible quiet achiever. Known by some as the "Channel Queen" she has completed five English Channel crossings - the 33km (that's 1320 lengths of a 25m swimming pool) endurance swim from England to France - including one double-crossing. For that feat, she emerged from the freezing cold water for a brief break and a hot tea, then swam back to the other side!  During her time 10 years representing the Blue and White, she has never been beaten in a surf race, winning 10 State and nine national championships. She is a three-time 50m national swim sprint champion and has more than 35 combined Australian and world lifesaving titles to her name. Dori has served on the Club's Board of Management for two years, contributing as the Director of Surf Sports, Ocean Events Organiser and Swim Captain, alongside many other roles including Stan Mac Relay Captain, Bronze Medallion Trainer and Nippers Coach. With a Gold Medallion, she is a lifesaver of the highest quality. Dori is an incredible sportswoman, supporter of members at the Club and a great person; often spoiling the Besomo team with delicious brownies.

Like many others on patrol, Greg joined the Club when his two daughters started Nippers. Greg is a graduate from the Jacob Waks school of Bronze Medallion who has spent his entire 10 years service as a member of Besomo. He became VC after two years and has been PC with Dori for the past three years.  Greg is the father on the patrol keeping everyone safe, an incredible weatherman; he can spot rain a mile away.

The IRB team on Besomo includes Toby, Jimmy, George and Steve, all great blokes. Vice Captain Toby loves boats, but most of-all he loves his new fiancée Sarah. Last year he secretly snuck onto her patrol, ‘just to help out’, and casually asked if she'd like to go out on the IRB. When all was quiet, he got down on one knee and proposed  and she said yes! Toby is a great educator, trainer and always happy to help, in particular if anyone would like to learn about IRBs. Don’t hesitate to ask Toby, get out there and see the beach from a new perspective.

Joining in 2017, Jesse has been on Besomo patrol for three years. He loves the beach and feels fortunate to be a part of the Bondi Surf Club family. Recently becoming a Vice Captain was a great honour and wonderful opportunity to help alongside Dori, Greg and Toby.

Having been fortunate to be trained by Toby, John has also been on Besomo patrol for three years. He tells a story of when out of nowhere Toby leaped up during spinal training, grabbed a flotation tube and rescued a swimmer in trouble. John himself is always wet, in and out of the water, happy to help anyone in need.

With big smiles, mum and daughter duo Lucy and Isabel enjoy walking up and down Bondi Beach keeping a watchful eye on swimmers whilst on Besomo patrol. Lucy joined Bondi Surf Club in 2016 with Jacob Waks, Toby and Belinda Hartmann as her trainers. She set her daughter Isabel the challenge of Nippers, to push her out of their comfort zone and learn something new. Following suit, Lucy decided to jump in and get involved in patrolling, something she now loves, an opportunity to turn off the phone and help others on the beach.

An unforgettable 2019-20 season has concluded early. The Besomo team are missing Bondi and their beach family. There have been some wonderful moments in between the dramas and the team is looking forward to a few sunny days with blue skies next season.

Besomo Patrol Team: Dori Miller PC, Gregory O'Brien PC, Jesse Lockhart-Krause VC, Toby Iemma VC and IRBD, Jimmy Carrigan IRBC, Scott Britton IRBC, Stephan Prils IRBC. Members: Thomas Marin, Lucy Macdonald, John Wilcox, Karli Musarra, Tomas Petkovich, Caitlin Swift, Jordan-Anne Lee,  Alex Pinachon, Victor Touron, Harry Hughes, Archie Huybers, Blake Wright, Hugo Cheval, Louis Cheval, Zoe Fletcher, Liv Knight, Isabel Macdonald, Sanam Maharaj, Scott Britton, Stella Cooreman, Bruce Innes, Bruno Cooreman, David Williams, Emily Ranger, George Longbottom, Keira Lee-Koksal, Nicholas Smith,  Alexandra Perkins,Nicola Watts, Rosa Rodriguez Grieve, Scott Britton. Life Member on Patrol: Peter Quartly.

Besomo is named after Valentine "Vic" Besomo. At a very young age the swimming ability of Besomo was obvious. At 15 years he was placed second in the 880 yards at the Australian National Swimming Titles. He held the position of Chief Superintendent of Surf Lifesaving Australia and examiner on the State Board of Control. Vic was a big strong man, but very quietly spoken. He was a Life Member of Bondi SBLSC and Bondi Icebergs. Besomo was a returned serviceman from WWII; he was also awarded the Queen’s Coronation Medal for service to Surf Lifesaving. 
 
Positions Held In Club:  Secretary 1937 – 1939, 1942 – 1944 Other Representative Sports: Waterpolo – Australia and NSW Swimming - NSW Australian Championships: Surf Team 1933 R&R Title 1938.

What's Been Happening at the Club

An ANZAC Day to Remember

Anzac Day was quiet on Bondi, but the absence of a North Bondi RSL ceremony allowed us to hold our own remembrance of Bondi lifesavers who had served. You can watch the ceremony here.  We remembered two of our members who died at Gallipoli, Robert Crow and Jack Barlow.  We also thanked our members who are front line emergency staff - doctors, nurses, paramedics, police, fire and ambulance services. In the current crisis they uphold the traditions of service to our country.

Virtual Trivia Night

Thirty people signed in for the Club’s first virtual trivia night! Fourteen teams battled it out in the Zoom café with first prize going to All By Myself, second place to Quentin Quarentino, third to We Love Crepes and fourth Virtual Patrol

Hope to see  you at the next one!

From the Archives

More documents from the archives filling us all in on the Club's early history. The 1916 report lists the 66 Members on club honour roll for military service and tells of local public school children trained as lifesavers to fill the need while men were away at war. You can read them by clicking on the links below:

• 1909-10 Annual Report
• 1910-11 Annual Report
• 1911-12 Annual Report
• 1912-13 Annual Report
• 1913-14 Annual Report
• 1914-15 Annual Report
• 1915-16 Annual Report
• World War I Honour Roll

Member Benefits

For great Clubbie discounts, look out for the Bondi sticker at friendly local businesses!

Don’t forget to check out the Member Benefits poster in the Club to discover new businesses supporting us.

Director of Marketing, Sponsorship and Merchandise
marketing@bondisurfclub.com

Office

Summer Office Hours
Monday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. Closed weekends and public holidays.

ARTICLES FOR THE SURFER

If you have an interesting article concerning a member, past or present, please direct them to editor@bondisurfclub.com 

Photo submissions:  ​photos@bondisurfclub.com

Phone:  +61 2 9300 9279
Fax:  +61 2 9300 9596
Email:  info@bondisurfclub.com