History

The Royal National Park

On 26th April 1879 Sir John Robertson, Acting Premier of New South Wales, formally proclaimed 15,100 hectares of land, situated in traditional lands of the Dharawal People, as The National Park and dedicated it as a reserve for the use of the public. It is the second oldest national park in the world, after Yellowstone in the US, but it was the first to use the national park title. Then in 1955, after Queen Elizabeth II passed by in the train during her 1954 Australian tour, The National Park was renamed The Royal National Park. In 2006 it was added to Australia's National Heritage list.The Royal National Park features unique heritage attractions, along with fascinating plants, birds and animals.  Perfect for bushwalking, cycling, surfing, picnicking or whale watching, this diverse park offers everything from great beaches to rainforest.

Garie Beach

Garie Beach is located in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney, and is a wonderful place to enjoy a picnic and is great for swimming, whale watching, fishing, surfing and walking options. It is approximately 1Km long and roughly faces southeast. The beach averages around a 1.5m wave and usually sports four or five rip currents. The northern end is generally more protected by the Garie North Head, which rises 110m.

Garie Surf Life Saving Club

Garie Surf Life Saving Club originated in a desire by the then, National Park Trust to patrol Garie Beach and Wattamolla making them safe swimming and surfing resorts in view of their increasing Popularity.  Representations were made to the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia (SLSA Australia) and on Sunday 20th November 1938 an inspection of Garie Beach was made by; the President of the National Park Trust, The Honourable H. W. Whiddon M.L.C.; the Vice President of the National Park Trust, Mr K. Moffat; the Park Superintendent, Mr S. E. Stringer; The Park Publicity Director, Mr Asher Joel; SLSA's Chief Superintendent of Instruction and Examination, Mr J. A. Cameron; SLSA's Chief Gear Inspector, Mr Roger Moroney and SLSA's Publicity Officer, Mr John Dillon.

Following this meeting delegates of the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia approached the campers who frequented Garie Beach each weekend with a view to form a Surf Life Saving Club.  The outcome of this meeting was the formation of "Garie Surf Life Saving Club".

Foundation Meeting 1938

On Sunday 18th December 1938 the inaugural meeting of Garie Surf Life Saving Club was held at the Garie Beach Kiosk, Garie Beach.  Mr A. A. Joel, The National Park Trust Publicity Director, opened the meeting and stated that the Trust would fully support an efficient and keen club and would prepare plans for a clubhouse with sleeping accommodation for at least twelve members, recreation space, first aid rooms and other necessary conveniences.

Also present at the meeting was Mr R. D. Doyle, Deputy President of the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia, who expressed the hope that the new club would prosper and grow.  In accordance with the ideals of the SLSA of Australia, members were expected to carry out their duties to the best of their ability.  Every assistance would be given by the head body who expected discipline in all club matters and a well-cared for beach.  In conclusion Mr Doyle, on behalf of the SLSA of Australia, wished the club every success in the new venture.

The first motion of the new club was moved by Mr Sid Maloney and seconded by Mr Richard Buck.  The motion was; "that the Garie Surf Life Saving Club be formed and all present to be enrolled as members."  The motion was carried unanimously.

Our Founding Members

The following elections of officers were then held;

It was then moved by Mr Tom Hoffmann and seconded by Mr Sid Maloney "That the first meeting be held at the National Park Trust Office, Challis House Martin Place Sydney, on Wednesday 21st December 1938 at 7:30pm." The motion was carried

The first meeting of Garie Surf Life Saving Club was held 7:30pm Wednesday 21st December 1938 and the following elections were held;

At subsequent meetings the following elections were held

With enthusiasm as it’s only asset the new club began operations and the first patrols commenced at 10am on Sunday the 25th December 1938 at Garie Beach.

Garie Surf Life Saving Club patrolled every Sunday and Public Holiday from 10.00am to 5.00pm and patrols carried out three rescues, one with reel, line and belt and two without reel, line and belt in its first season of operation.  It also rendered first aid treatment to a large number of Park visitors.  St. John Ambulance Service also provided a First Aid post at Garie Beach to assist the Garie patrols until 1964.  Following this Garie S.L.S.C. members have been the sole first aid body at Garie Beach and the surrounding National Park.  During this time Garie members have attended to many varied first aid cases, ranging from minor cuts and bluebottle stings to immersions and major injuries resulting from car accidents.

The first member to gain their Bronze Medallion was William J. McKenzie.  He did his exam at Freshwater Beach on Sunday 22nd January 1939.  The first Bronze Squad from Garie SLSC consisted of the following 10 members; Edward Buck, Richard Buck, Henry Buttery, Hilton Hawker, Thomas Hoffmann, Sidney Maloney, Leslie Marks, William Turnbull, George Warnes and John Waugh who were trained by instructors from Bondi SLSC and Brighton SLSC and examined on Sunday 26th February 1939 at Freshwater Beach.

The club flourished and earned itself a high reputation, not only appreciated by the National Park Trust but also by the general public.  The National Park Trust were so impressed with the work being done that they erected a commodious clubhouse at Garie, in which members could spend their weekends and provided the club with its first reels, lines and belts.  The new clubhouse was officially opened on Saturday 6th April 1939.

The National Park Trust also provided transport to and from the beach in a truck, this was continued until 1952 and in later years a private bus service was subsidised by the Park Trust to transport visitors and club members from Waterfall train station.  Every facility was made available to make the club one of the most successful on the coast.  The Surf Life Saving Association of Australia gave the club its first surf ski.

Season 1939/1940

Season 1939/1940 saw a vastly increased number of visitors to the beach, showing how the surf club has given the general public confidence to surf at Garie.

The National Park Trust presented the club with its first surf boat, the “Waratah”, and the S.L.S.A. of A. presented Garie with a double ski.

Garie’s first Surf Carnival was held on Sunday the 10th December 1939 at Garie Beach and all metropolitan clubs participated.

World War 2

In early February 1942 the activities of Garie SLSC began to cease due to its members enlisting with the Armed Forces, patrols were maintained with limited members till the conclusion of the 1941/42 season. At the conclusion of the 1941/42 season a motion was passed that the accounts and functions of Garie Surf Life

Saving Club be closed for the duration of WWII. During the 1942/43 season till Friday the 2nd August 1946 Garie SLSC was closed. The Army erected barbed wire on the beach and mined Garie Beach Road above the hairpin bend, troops were camped nearby ready to set off the mines in the event of an invasion. The clubhouse was used as an orderly room for the remainder of WWII.

All but four members of Garie Surf Life Saving Club joined the armed forces and all but four members, who gave the ultimate sacrifice, returned at the completion of the hostilities. Cecil Buck, Richard Buck, Frank McGlinchey and Sid Moloney are remembered for their sacrifice with Memorial Trophies named in their honour.

Following World War 2

Garie S.L.S.C. was re-formed in 1946 at the completion of the war. A Ladies Committee was formed and assisted in raising funds for a new surf boat and in 1947/48 the Ladies Committee raised funds for the first March Past reel.

In the 1948/49 season, the first two cliff rescues were performed using members lowered over the cliff by surf lines. Also in that season a boatshed was constructed. In 1948/49 the first teams competed with a March Past team and a boat crew at the Australian Championships held in Sydney.

In 1954 the club started a fund raising campaign to build a new clubhouse. Work began on construction on 13-2-1957 under the guidance of Hilton ”Binky” Hawker and Robbie Hoffmann, who were both builders. Labourers and tradesmen were recruited from among club members. The new clubhouse was officially opened on 5-10-1958 by the Hon. J. J. Cahill, M.L.A., Premier of NSW.

In the 1960/61 season, a winter swimming club was formed to keep the members fit and involved during the colder months. The group was called “Garie Goosepimples” and they competed regularly in races held at local swimming pools until 1988.

Garie nippers were started in 1972/73 with a membership of 55. They were called the “Garie Guppies”. The “Guppies” were managed by a strong team of leaders, Neville Cooper, Owen Hailey, Keith Brown, Alf Taylor, Neville Nolan and Bill Bowley. Since that time they have grown to become an integral part of Garie SLSC with many going on to become Active Patrol members, committee members and Branch Officials.

The 1973/74 season saw the introduction of radio communications within the clubs of the National Park. The first I.R.B. was obtained for use by the National Park District clubs by a grant from the Government. That same year the club voted to accept female members. However it wasn’t until 1980/81 that Garie had its first female Bronze holder, Sue Hailey, commencing patrols. Then in 1988/89 the first female executive member was Rita Taylor who became Club Secretary.

Season 2006/07, “Year of the Surf Lifesaver”, saw the opening of the new clubhouse on the southern side of Garie Valley. The Royal National Park held an impressive official opening on Thursday 8th March 2007 and was attended by many dignitaries. Minister for the Environment, Bob Debus led the proceedings.

Garie S.L.S.C. has never been a big club, compared to other Sydney Branch clubs, however, its members provide manpower for the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter, the Offshore Rescue Boat, the Sydney Branch Jet Skis and the Sydney Branch Radio Room. Garie S.L.S.C. members also hold office at Surf Life Saving NSW and Surf Life Saving Sydney and they are very active on Surf Life Saving Sydney’s Board of Lifesaving and Examination and provide Duty Officers to attend rescues 24/7 within the Sydney Branch.

Since its inception in 1938, Garie S.L.S.C. has maintained a proud record that no lives have been lost at Garie Beach while its members have been on duty.

Significant Dates