Scarborough Beach Scene-History (cont.) (original) (raw)

Surf Life Saving Club

On Saturday, December 30th, 1916 tragedy struck this popular swimming and fishing beach. Five men sacrificed their lives in a vain attempt to save the life of Kathleen Gornall, a 16 year old girl, who was in trouble in the surf. This brought public attention to the dangers of this metropolitan beach. On 14th January, 1928 a newspaper article, sighting the need to form a Life Saving Club brought in a fantastic response, resulting in enormous donations being sent in and 50 members enrolling. The Scarborough Surf Life Saving Club officially came into existence. Mr Stuart was the first President and Stan Ewen became Scarborough's first Beach Inspector and Club Captain.
The heavy wooden surf board was introduced and Scarborough became the most popular surfing beach in the metropolitan area with a bus service to the beach.
On 28th January, 1934 the first Scarborough Surf Life Saving Club building was officially opened.
In 1978, the 50th anniversary of Scarborough Surf Life Saving Club, Scarborough was really put on the map when a TV Special, the "Bob Hope Show Down Under", shown coast to coast in Australia and America, filmed a 2 hour segment on members of the Surf Club.