The Bondi Surfer No. 127

20 January 2022

Seeing in 2022' with the year's first  Sunday Surf Race.  Photography by Bruce Wynne.

Intro & Welcome

Well done to the Lifesaving and Nippers teams for the response to the tsunami warning last Sunday.  While the risk level was not high, the policies require a higher degree of caution and all teams responded well to the changed conditions.  

Thanks to all the patrols and volunteers who made up the numbers to assist over the holiday period.  With numerous members either catching COVID or being placed into isolation it has tested all of our Patrols, but thanks to the Patrol Captains and the Lifesaving team we have had no days where we have failed to adequately cover the beach.

It seems likely that people will continue to be exposed regularly to COVID in different settings, but please test when you have minor symptoms.  I personally had a slightly scratchy throat on New Year's Eve and ordinarily that would not have even been a minor cause for concern, but the antigen test showed it was positive and time to spend a few days at home getting my admin in order!  It can be like a very minor cold, so be alert and avoid the Club until a test clears you.

If you can find them, it's worth having some paracetamol/cold and flu tablets, a sore throat spray/lozenges, a nasal spray, a thermometer, and pulse oximeter in the cupboard so you can be prepared if you wind up with a minor case (the thermometer and oximeter will flag if it is becoming more serious).

The Club is currently running a full clean with detergent wash down of changerooms on Mondays and Fridays to try and avoid any further shutdowns, but a temporary closure is still possible if we have a case in areas that have not been confirmed as cleaned.  Generally, now we will only be communicating by SMS about cases that have been in the Club within the past 3-5 days, so please continue to wear masks, wash hands and use sensible social distancing for your own safety.

Planning has started for the Bondi Blue Water Challenge on Sunday 27 February.  This is a major fundraiser for the Club and we need as many volunteers as we can get, so please sign up to assist.

SYOTB,
Brent Jackson
President
0400 303 791

This Weekend's Patrols

Saturday 22 January
8:30am-1:15pm       Baldock 
12:45pm-6:30pm   Walsh

Sunday 23 January 
7:30am-1:15pm         Craven 
12:45pm-6:30pm     Fletcher

Wednesday 26 January (Australia Day)
8:30am-1:15pm       McDonald 
12:45pm-6:30pm   Fullwood

Events & Reminders

Key Dates

• Clubbie Classic - 30 January
• Jack Cox Memorial Surf Race Round 2 - 30 January
• Ron Turner Memorial Race Round 2 - 6 February
• Bondi Blue Water Challenge - 27 February
• Mick Shearman Memorial Surf Race Round 2 - 20 March
• Jack Cox Memorial Surf Race Round 3 - 27 March

Find more information via the TeamUp calendar or on the Club Facebook page.

Clubbie of the Month

Our January Clubbie of the Month is Denise Meuldijk. Denise brings all of the energy and personality and dedication to the Club you could ever want! Denise’s notable help, this month in particular, is as our COVID Queen/Officer! She has spent countless hours on the phone to NSW Health, worked very closely with the board of Directors, often late at night and with multiple directors, to keep us all as safe and as well-informed as possible for the wonderful COVID life we live in!! Denise has held this position for two years now, and continues to work tirelessly for all of our club members, writing policies and ‘action plans’. When not working out RATS vs PCRs, Denise brings a huge amount of energy and talent to her sport, and you will always find her running around, showing the biathlon competitors how it’s done, taking out a board or leading the run group. Her amazing fitness and hard work paid off last year with gold medals at Aussies, and I know she’s excited to be back for more in a few months' time!! Denise is a dedicated patroller on Ormsby, as well as helping organise and cater for our recent Pacific Palms trip, and enlisting a much-needed ring-in IRB Driver!! Thank you Denise for all of your hard work, fun and silliness! We are lucky to have you.

Catching Up

Blue Water Challenge Set

Entries are now open for the 2022 Bondi Blue Water Challenge on Sunday 27 February.

The Blue Water Challenge caters to both ocean swimmers and runners. It has three swim distances: 500m, 1km and 2.1km. The 500m swim distance is perfect for nippers or novice ocean swimmers looking for their first challenge. The 1km and 2.1 km races draw top talent from the next generation of open water swimming superstars. Those that prefer to stay on land can challenge themselves in the 4km soft sand run on the iconic Bondi Beach. Open to all ages 10-years plus.

The Bondi Blue Water Challenge falls on the last weekend of summer (officially), so the Club is turning the event into an end of summer party!

You can enter now through the OceanSwims website.

This event is one of our major fundraisers and days like this only happen with the help of an army of volunteers. We need people for everything from event venue set up, registrations and first aid to water safety, finish line support, marshalling, running the barbecue and event pack up. The volunteer sign up is here.

A Little Help For Our Friends

Despite reduced numbers due to COVID infection and isolation requirements, our Bondi lifesavers not only managed our beach over the busy holiday period but also helped out other, smaller clubs up and down the coast who don't have anywhere near the same number of patrolling members. We patrolled at Woonoona SLSC on Tuesday 28 December for the Boxing Day public holiday, Pacific Palms SLSC on the weekend of 7-8 January and Fairy Meadow SLSC on Sunday 16 January. 

The ,Fairy Meadow destination patrol came with some extra challenges and a chance to catch up with an old friend, writes Mark Fabik: "To support our fellow lifesavers in the Illawarra branch, Bondi sent some lifesavers to assist at Fairy Meadow Surf Lifesaving Club. We arrived to the strange scenario of all NSW beaches having been closed but it was wonderful to meet old and new friends on a beautiful strecth of beach. It was wonderful to catch up with Bondi's own Claudia McKenzie who has transferred there. I can thoroughly recommend heading down to assist our fellow lifesavers."

Thanks to everyone who has helped out on destination patrols this season.

Merry Christmas To All

Photography by Romy Meerkin

On Christmas Day the Club held a lunch for all-comers. We served more than 100 meals in the Blue Room and outside on the back deck and sent 50 more to a homeless shelter in Surry Hills at the end of the day.

Events like this only happen because of the generosity of so many. Our Big Kitchen, Harris Farm Markets and Pasticceria Papa supplied the food, the Blue Room was beautifully festive thanks to decorations from Chas Clarkson, our Giving Tree was heaving with gifts and there were hampers for everyone who joined us thanks to Kathmandu, BONDI WASH< Beach Fit, Bondi Dental and Original and Mineral. Waverley Council, MBE Bondi Junction and Rev Graham Long also supported the lunch.

Sebastian Cassie took on the huge task of organising the day and the changing situation for volunteers and guests as COVID numbers increased. Chef Edward Tutaki showed up early and took charge in the kitchen and Club members Romy Meerkin, Peter Magdas, Lucy, Baron and Guy Alder, Mona Sorensen and Dan Rosado joined many others volunteering on the day.

As one guest wrote: "Thank you all for a wonderful lunch to celebrate Christmas. It was amazing! What I enjoyed most was that I felt welcome with people who listened and cared enough to be kind to others on this day."

Days like these show what a great community Bondi Surf Club is part of!

Vale Ian Tiley

At the start of the year we lowered the Clubhouse flag to mark the passing of Ian Tiley on 29 December 2021 following a battle with cancer that has extended over many years. “Tiles", as he was affectionately known, was 81 years old and he is now at peace. His funeral was held on 13 January with drinks at the Easts Rugby Club, where Ian was an Honorary Life Member.

A story from Tiles past for members:
In the 1970s the Bondi Lifesavers' Rugby Club toured the USA. They played five matches, one in Hawaii and four in California. To subsidise the trip, the Club carried out some fundraising, including a wine bottling, producing Bondi Lifesavers-labelled Sauvignon and Cab. Sav. A production line was set up in the backyard of a house at Bondi, the residence of Ian Tiley and Keith Duley.

The bulk wine was supplied by the Jazzman, who at the time was running a Hunter Valley vineyard. A large crew of volunteers toiled all day in the hot sun, bottling the wine then labelling, corking and finally packing it in cartons. Plenty of free wine was drunk, to the point that we ran out of bulk wine and started to uncork and drink the wine that had just been bottled. Time to go. The Jazzman stood on a box and gave a little talk on the wine and the need to put it down to mature. As he stood down from the box he muttered to those closest, "I'd drink it as soon as I could if I were you." For decades later, Bondi Lifesavers' wine was brought out at dinner parties when all the other grog had run out!

Salties Return

Bondi Surf Club Silver Salties - Walk & Talk are back on Wednesdays 9.30am. Tell your friends, parents, aunts and uncles. You can register for the summer sessions, running January to April 2022, using this link. Program starts Wednesday 19 January 2022. You can email silversalties@bondisurfclub.com for more information. 

Silver Salties is a physical activity and social connections initiative for older Australians but anyone can join us. It was designed by SLSA in conjunction with Surf Life Saving Clubs and funded by Sport Australia's Move It AUS – Better Ageing Grants Program.

The People You Meet

Members out the front of the Club last Friday were approached by a couple who had travelled down from Burleigh Heads for the Iron Man/Iron Woman event hosted by North Bondi SLSC on 13-16 January. Paul Fletcher explained that he was a relative of "Tibby" (who Fletcher patrol is named after) and a direct descendent of David Archibald Fletcher who is listed on the World War I honour roll in our Main Hall. Son Corey was competing in the Iron Man event and he was keen to reconnect with our Club which his family had such a strong history with. Paul provided a number of images and offered to share more of the Fletcher family story. These are the types of stories and images we are keen to capture as we prepare to host a museum of lifesaving in our new Clubhouse. If you or anyone know have images, documents or stories to share please contact us to let us know, 

You can read more about what we know of Tibby Fletcher below in Profiles from the Story Room. Paul tells us Tibby and David also played Lacrosse for NSW and that the family were the owners of a 10-acre beach frontage at Tamarama after which Fletcher's Glen (at Tamarama Park) is named - we're looking forward to learning more! 

Corey (pictured above with a very proud Mum and Dad) continued the family's surfsports tradition at the weekend's event, finishing day three with a third place. He was fourth overall before the final day of events was cancelled due to the Tonga earthquake-tsumami warning which closed our beaches along the NSW coast on Sunday.

Education

2022 is here and we're already onto week two of our third Bronze Course for the season. Officially dubbed "Beaches Be Crazy'", this group of 16 Bronzies will be on patrol in no time. Our last Bronze Course for the season is now full.

Unfortunately, the ARTC course we were hoping to run this Saturday 22 January is cancelled and will hopefully be re-scheduled in a few weeks' time, along with other First Aid and ARTC courses.

Lastly, we hope to release the dates for the 2022/23 Bronze Courses in the coming months, so you can all get recruiting!

See you on the beach.
Mason

Administration

Office Administration Position

After two and a half years holding the fort at the club Romy Meerkin is leaving us on 20 February. We are sad to see her leave and wish her all the best for the future. If you are interested or know someone who may be interested in working in the surf club office please contact Garret O'Connor at secretary@bondisurfclub.com for further details. 

Social

Bottles has returned with the back deck and front balcony open so we can get together for a drink and catch up with friends and fellow Clubbies in the fresh air and sunshine.

We're looking forward to the return of special events and music as restrictions and COVID case numbers allow.  In the meantime, enjoy Sunday evening fun to round out your weekend in Bondi with The Blue Room open from 5pm on 23 January. Members and guests welcome.

Surfsports

Photography by Andrew Kagis, Big lens Little lens

The Annual Clubbie Classic is back!

Sunday 30 January, 7:30am. Free for all members.

The board events include sprint race, relay, M-shaped course, and the crowd-favourite judged style riding event. Participants get a free limited edition Clubbie Classic t-shirt. Come down at 7am for a 7:30 start, grab your free limited edition Clubbie Classic T-shirt. Followed by a barbecue and the awards presentation

Sponsored by R&W and Kinvel Projects

Profiles from the Story Room

Tanya Jackson has compiled stories of members past and present for Waverley Council's Bondi Story Room which will open in the Pavilion at the end of the current renovations. This month we remember H.B. "Tibby" Fletcher.

Tibby  joined the Club in 1912. He was selected as a member of the first instructional team by SLSA in 1921 and was also a member of the first gear inspection committee. He was on the SLSA board of examiners and Vice President of SLSA.

A consummate swimmer and veteran of many surf races and rescues, Tibby was "scratch man" for the Bondi Swimming Club and twice winner of the three-mile marathon event. He is the only member to receive an Honour Cap.  Tibby represented BSBLSC winning five Australian Championships in R&R and won Premierships as an ‘A’ team member from 1914-1928.

Tibby also received a Royal Humane & Shipwreck Society award for bravery in rescuing a shark attack victim on Coogee Beach in 1922.

Throughout his career with the BSBLSC, Fletcher held positions including Life Member, Club Captain 1920-1928, Committee member / Trustee / Handicapper, Vice Captain / Senior Vice President, and SLSA representative.

Surf Race

This Surf Race is on this Sunday starting from 10:30am.  Come down and join us for  some friendly competition with other Clubbies in this long-standing Bondi tradition. Should you wish to get the weekly race report, please contact Peter Quartly by email..

Race Report - 16 January 2022

Tsunami Alert! The second in around 15 years. The last was when George Quigley was Chief Beach Inspector and, from the word go, we both had a plan on controlling the beach, which was to close it down.  It was a beautiful morning and again was another Sunday morning with the surf non-existent, it was flat as a tack. When the tsunami did hit, it was about an inch high an the worlds’ greatest non-event. Tom was our Patrol Captain this time around and did the Club proud with his professionalism and leadership of Ormsby which is a credit to our traditions an position as the premier surf lifesaving club.

The usual suspects turned up.  Mark and Kristy and mates were doing a patrol at Fairy Meadow SLSC but, like us, were not able to run a surf race. Along with everyone else they were given two points, but like everyone didn’t get the opportunity to get wet.  

Next week, hopefully we will be back to normal however, whatever happens, we will be in attendance.

Race Report and Images - 9 January 2022

Another so-so morning at Bondi. It showed promise, however, the clouds quickly put paid to that, with the on-shore wind ruffling up what could have been a good little wave.

I knew I shouldn't have gotten out of bed, when mate Jesse (Lockhart-Krause) presented me with a magnificent lamington cake, with a single candle. I could blow it out but certainly not another 71. To everyone who sang Happy Birthday, my sincere thanks. That goes for the patrol as well, who repeated the performance which left me with tears in my eyes, resulting in my tripping over a guy rope and not bouncing as a youngster should and it taking half the patrol to get me off the sand.  It was also Joy's birthday.

Martin (Greenberg) our current A Grade champion, is stuck in Switzerland after COVID hit him and his family. We hope you are well on the way to recovery and look forward to seeing you soon.

Back to racing and it was a combined race, with Alex (Porebski) a lonely back marker, it is probably a foretaste of things to come when he moves up to A Grade next season.

A Grade saw Karsten (Jarke) show all his Swimming Club (Bondi Amateur) skills after recently getting his BM (following in Lena’s footsteps) and being able to again swim on a Saturday morning, blitzed a small but strong field.  Jesse (Lockhart-Krause) back from a couple weeks holidays and showing it, could not make up those five seconds (maybe he was saving a little bit for the Tube Race). Jon (McGuigan) an old stager who is back in the pool with the Amateurs came in an unhappy third, with a better handicap to show for it, for next week.

B Grade again had small numbers, but this did not stop Nicolas (Eulry) pulling out all stops to edge out Jacob (Ezrakhovich), a new member, who is rapidly becoming a regular and fitting in well to the Bondi family. Alex made up a lot of ground, but although it was good 300-plus was not enough for our back marker to catch them.

Ten stayed around for the Tube Race and, before we could organise the ducky to bring in the buoy, Mark (Fabik) had organised the first heat and set off for the northern buoy, with Blake (Hatton) hot on his heels and Karsten not far behind them. The second heat saw Jana (Kowalski) out-swim the field with Jesse having to swim most of the way a close second. Although Blake was between them, he had doubled up and denied a second set of points).  Young Evan (van Der Knaap), in his first swim of the season, was close by in their wake.

All in all, not a bad morning. The lamington with the single candle certainly made me feel like a winner,

Race Report and Images - 2 January 2022

Ah! The first race of '22.  Not a bad morning. As usual a great patrol doing their thing and keeping the public safe. A nice morning with a not quite perfect surf, which was small and a little on the sloppy side.

Sam (Wolf) was on patrol, with a banged-up leg from a driver cutting in front of her to get a better look of the fireworks on NYE. Robyn (Farmer) was back on the beach after a banged-up nose from a run in with a board last week and was as competitive as always.

We often talk of traditions and a new one, may have been started this morning - The Shaggy Dog 1000. Michael Hallam (aka the Shaggy Dog) took the challenge doing 20 reps of 50 and never looked better.  All awaiting the races acknowledged his magnificent achievement by doing a complimentary squat.  I propose to do it, over the next 12 months or so, with small beaks between reps and truth be known between each squat.

We certainly had a better roll up this morning, with a number of new starters in B Grade and the return from Europe of Adriel Young who is swimming as well as ever and was first over the line in A Grade.  Jesse (Lockhart-Krause) was back and its great to have him around to help out and chase up competitors for the Tube Race.

A Grade saw an old stagger take the honours. We do not see enough of Louise (Santos) who swam strongly and came across the line in front of Kowal (Ireneusz Kowalski) and Club Chaplain Blake Hatton who for obvious reasons is unable to swim that often on a Sunday morning.

B Grade was another story with time triallers coming through in the top bunch.  The winner was a man who bangs on a mean drum and looks good on a guitar. Mason (Kemeny, Deputy Director of Education) more often stars as an education icon and has recently taken under his wing. I have enjoyed his mentorship, but today he took line honours with a solo effort.  Will (Mitchell), our best barista, delegated to his team and hit the water, coming in third. He was not able to catch young Ted (Wilde) , who only recently retired from A Grade and had to settle for second place on this occasion.

The Tube Race was hotly contested with Jana Kowalski and Nathan Defries taking top honours in races that were a little longer than usual. A great finish to a fantastic morning.  

Race Report - 26 December 2021

I awoke on Saturday (Christmas Day) with some religious fervour and wondered if indeed the age of miracles was with us.  The sun was out, there was not a cloud in the blue sky, the birds were singing what sounded like jingle bells. I got down to patrol and was met by Basso's PC Janet (Michie) with her usual smile, now a mile wide.  She had been married during the week and had raised hell with the fire brigade called to dampen down a marvellous occasion. Janet felt they were the icing on the cake.

The surf was glassy and, for the first time in a while, the banks were working and providing some great shoots that were being ridden for 100 metres or so. Unfortunately, the shore dump was still pumping and causing havoc, with a strong lateral rip. I assisted Riina (Hamalainen) do a tube rescue on a Melbournian who made Santa look anaemic. I made sure her gear did not get wet.  I was asked to assist a dead rat, but refused to resuscitate it. To make the mum happy we did the right thing and buried it, between the flags.

Sunday was back to normal, with the threat of rain and constant overcast conditions. Another great patrol on, who set the course for a total turnout of ten.  In the Christmas spirit we went off together, with Alex (Porebski) our back marker.

A Grade saw Pottsy (Jonathon Potts) win by a comfortable margin after mastering the conditions with his consummate surf skills, with Jacob (Ezrakhovich) and Pep (Font) having a tussle for the minor places.

B Grade saw Garret (O'Connor) win from a gutsy Alex (Porebski), who made up a lot of time.  Third place, well not much can be said about his lacklustre performance, except it has to get better, say second and last, who knows.

Normally I get complaints about handicaps being too high, This time I really stuffed up with the B Grade results from last week.  Alex did not get third, but fourth, with Nicholas Smith getting the bronze.  My apologies Nicholas, I have altered the results spreadsheet and adjusted yours and Alex’s handicap.

Next week is a new year and hopefully it will be an improvement, however, whatever is thrown up, we will be down on the beach and hopefully so will you.

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

Change to Office Hours

Due to the current impact of COVID and isolation requirements, the office will be open on a  reduced schedule as follows:
Monday 9am-4pm; Tuesday 9am-4pm; Wednesday 9am-4pm; Thursday 9am-4pm; Friday 9am-12pm; Saturday Closed and Sunday 10am-1pm.

Thank you for understanding

ARTICLES FOR THE SURFER

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

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