The Last 30 Years

In 1971 the Club was honoured by being chosen to host the Australian Surf Life Saving championships. The carnival was a huge success thanks to the dedication of the club organising committee and ladies auxiliary under the leadership of Joy Jardine, but the highlight was the performance of our Junior Boat Crew, who won the clubs first ever Australian Championship.

The 1970s witnessed an increase in interest in competition, especially after the junior boat crews win which inspired many to train

A major factor contributing to City's rise as a competitive club was the start of a strong nipper contingent. Dave McRae had a group of lads together as early as 1963, but with limited club and association support, their growth was limited.

In 1970 Mick Mickle took the helm as chief organizer and the nippers increased to over 100 by 1972. The nippers became the breeding ground for many future stars, such as Jamie Kearsley, Brett Cameron and Greg Mickle.

The beach sprint arena was ruled by Kim, Rory and Brad Trotter who all won State Championships through the 70s.

City's outstanding record in the Patrol Efficiency Competition was maintained, winning the trophy 19 times by 1975, and continuing to dominate Champion Lifesaver competition.

In August 1976 City broke new ground for WA by sending a twelve man instructional team to Bali to train and promote surf life saving.

The Clubs aim soon became winning the Surf Champions banner at the State Championships. After two heartbreaking defeats, in 1979 the club was not denied victory. City showed awesome strength to record a 69-point win, collecting 17 gold medals

1980 the club won its second successive state championship, boasting 20 gold medals, City boaties winning four of the five events, the beach events and of course the swim and board arena.

In 1980-81 women's membership was finally recognised by the Association, and increasing numbers of girls began to take advantage of the opportunities that gradually became available. By the end of the decade many of City's top competitors, instructors, administrators and patrolling members were women.

In 1981 we were the first club to win the State titles / Patrol Efficiency double.

Competitors like Jamie Kearsley, Greg Mickle, Greg Naylor and Barry Armstrong dominated the water arena, Stan Jacks' and Richard Groser's March Past Teams won ten consecutive State Titles, and Leigh Buchan won a record six Open Beach Sprint titles from 1977 to 1982, while our boaties had a depth of talent not seen before or since.

In 1984 a group of Citys female lifesavers Bronwen Scott, Laura Wenman, Belinda Bennett and Jodi Morriss formed Australia's first women's boat crew, swept by Dennis Trew, and brought City a considerable amount of national publicity.

By the mid-to-late 80s, a new generation of City nippers were moving into the senior ranks. A renewed interest among this group for traditional lifesaving values saw the emergence of the club as a strength in R&R, and yet another Patrol Efficiency win in 1987.

Also in 1987, City were the innovators of the inaugural All States Masters championships, held just prior to the Australian Championships. Although not recognised as official Australian Titles, the event attracted competitors from every state, and laid the groundwork for the Australian Masters Championships held each year since.

In 1989 we won our 11th straight Surf Champions banner. Unfortunately this was to be the end of our record run, as Scarboro narrowly took the title the following year, though as some consolation, City finally won the associations oldest event, the 6 man R & R premiership, for the first time.

At this time the Association began to focus on the future leaders of surf lifesaving, and many of City's most promising young members had the opportunity to attend national Lifesaving Development Camps. The experience gained and contacts made paid off in quick time, as the club again broke new ground in 1991-92, winning the State Titles, the Patrol Efficiency, the Haywood Administration shield, the R & R Premiers flag and the second of what would be five consecutive Champion Club of WA awards, and in 1994 Kirsten O'Donoghue was awarded Australian Surf Life Saver of the year.

But times were not always good. In November 1992 the club was rocked when nipper parent and club member Harry Pinner drowned by the City groyne. Despite the arrival within minutes of the senior R&R team who were training nearby, Harry could not be resuscitated. The incident served as a sobering reminder to the whole club of the reason for the club's existence, and that although we generally consider City to be a safe beach, conditions can be treacherous.

The members of the 1920s and 1930s would be amazed at the club today. From surf boats almost too heavy to lift and Eve rockers, we have moved to inflatable powerboats, oxy-vivas and defibrillators. What was once a two-room shack on the beach is now a two-storey building with fax machines, photocopiers and a website attracting visitors from all over the world.

We have come a long way in the past 75 years, and with more nearly 1300 people having gained their Bronze Medallion at City, we are increasingly seeing the lifesavers of yesterday returning to City Beach with their children and grand-children, the lifesavers of tomorrow.

[The Beginning] [The Champions] [The Last 30 Years]