The Manly Life Saving Club is one of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

's oldest Surf Life Saving Clubs, founded in 1911; located in the

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

suburb of , in the

Northern Beaches Council The Northern Beaches Council is a local government areas of New South Wales, local government area located in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The council was formed on 12 May 2016 after the a ...

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

History

The club was founded in 1911 to patrol

Manly Beach Manly Beach is a beach situated among the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia. From north to south, the three main sections are Queenscliff, North Steyne and South Steyne. Etymology The beach was named by Captain Arthur Phillip for the i ...

after a law banning daylight swimming was overturned. In 1912 Captain Arthur Holmes, known as "Skipper" was appointed president of the Manly Life-Saving Club, a position which he held with conspicuous ability for 26 years. During his long term the club rose under his able administration, built up into one of the finest surfing organisations in the State. As a carnival organiser he stood alone, his principal achievement in this direction being the great surfing gala at South Steyne on the occasion of the visit of the Duke of Gloucester. He was organiser and manager of the first surf life-saving team to visit Western Australia. His services were rewarded by being appointed one of the first life-members of the SLSA. He was similarly honoured by the old club, to whose members he had been for years a guide, philosopher and friend. For many years he was also one of the stalwarts of the Manly Amateur Swimming Club. A high proportion of the Surf Life Saving members were soldiers. Skipper had served in the Boer War and during the Great War of 1914-18, Captain Arthur Holmes threw himself enthusiastically into all patriotic efforts. Captain Arthur Holmes was the younger brother of Major General William Holmes (the most senior Australian officer to die in battle in WW1). He was secretary for years of the Voluntary Workers' Association, formed in 1916, to provide homes for disabled soldiers and sailors and their dependants. Arthur Holmes was born in Victoria Barracks, in 1867, one of 12 children, and died in 1943. His grandson, Bruce T M Holmes recalled many fond memories of swimming at Manly as a child. He also said that Bondi had the first Surf Life Saving club in Sydney. There are some lovely old photos in the Club rooms. Cited Louise M Holmes, Skipper's great grand daughter July 2019 The founding President of the club was James Bonner, also then Mayor of Manly. The current club President is actor

Tony Bonner Anthony Frederick Bonner (born 23 November 1943) is an Australian television, film, and stage actor and singer. Bonner became famous in the 1960s children's television series ''Skippy the Bush Kangaroo'', later moving on to lead roles in th ...

, grandson of James Bonner. Manly,

Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club The Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club is Australia's oldest Surf Life Saving Club, founded in 1907. The club was officially established on 21 February 1907 at the Royal Hotel in Bondi, New South Wales. The club's aim is to ensure "No Lives ...

and

Bronte Surf Lifesaving Club The Bronte Surf Lifesaving Club (BSLSC) is a surf lifesaving club in Bronte, New South Wales, Australia. It was founded in 1903 and the movement has since spread to other parts of New South Wales and the rest of the country. History of the cl ...

all have competing claims to be the first in Australia (and the world). Location on South Steyne, the Club operated the Manly Surf Life Saving Pavilion that was designed by

Winsome Hall Andrew Winsome Hall Andrew (1905–1997) was an Australian architect. Background and career Andrew was born in Woollahra, New South Wales in 1905. She was the fifth child born of ten to Arthur Hall and Susy Foy. Being raised in a middle-class fami ...

and completed in 1939; when it was awarded the 1939 Sulman Award for Architecture. The pavilion was demolished in 1990.

Life Saving

The primary role of the club is to provide surf rescue, first aid and promote water safety on

. Since 1911, no lives have been lost on the beach while the club has been on patrol.

Competition

The club also participates in beach, surf, and ocean competitive sporting activities. Surf Carnivals are held during the summer patrol season, from October until April, at numerous beach locations; • Locally ( most common ) • Branch (clubs within a local geographical area) • Inter - Branch • State Titles • Inter - State • National Titles (commonly known within the SLSA movement as "AUSSIES") • Internationally Members are able to compete in a number of disciplines, under the guise of SLSA- Surf Sports; • Beach Sprint (90m) • Beach Run (2km) • Flags • Ironman / Ironwoman • Rescue Board Paddling • Surf Ski Paddling • Surf Race • Taplin Relay • Surf Boat Rowing • Rescue and Resuscitation (R&R) • Lifesaving Patrol • First Aid • IRB Racing

References

External links

*{{official, http://www.manlylsc.com/ Surf Life Saving Australia clubs Sports clubs and teams in Sydney Manly, New South Wales 1903 establishments in Australia Sports clubs and teams established in 1903

History

Life Saving

Competition

See also

References

External links