Surf’s up for centenary

Wollongong Surf Life Saving celebrated its centenary on Sunday with a street parade, statue unveiling, all day market stalls, and historical demonstrations.

The event recognised the establishment of the Wollongong Surf Bathing and Life Saving Club at what is now known as North Wollongong Beach on January 6, 1908.

The celebration was organised by a joint committee of members from Wollongong City and North Wollongong Surf Life Saving Clubs (SLSCs), which both have a direct link back to the original club.

The street parade, from Wollongong City Beach to North Wollongong Beach along Cliff Road, featured representatives from various SLSCs, vintage cars, and rescue vehicles including ambulances, police rescue vehicles and Rural Fire Brigade trucks.

The historical significance of the occasion was not lost, with 57 people marching in original Wollongong Surf Bathing and Life Saving colours, blue and yellow, to symbolise the 57 who signed up to the club when it opened 100 years ago.

Members of Bondi and Manly SLSCs were also present, representing past members who had demonstrated at the opening of the first Wollongong SLSC branch.

Organising committee member Chris Dimitrovski said the historical demonstrations held at midday had been popular with onlookers.

“There were old-style resuscitation techniques,” he said.

“In one of them they used to put the person on a stretcher and rock them backwards and forwards.

“There were also old carnival sports like chariot racing and pillow fights.”

The occasion was marked by the unveiling of a bronze statue of a 1908 Surf Life Saver on the foreshore of North Wollongong Beach.

Mr Dimitrovski said the celebration had been a long time in the making, after North Wollongong SLSC’s Peter Oyston first suggested commemorating the occasion three years ago.