LIFE-SAVING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 257, 31 October 1933, Page 13

LIFE-SAVING.

TAKAPTTNA SURF CLUB. EIGHT RESCUES LAST SEASON. The value of beach demonstrations was stressed in the annual report of the Talcapuna Surf Life-saving Club at the annual meeting last evening. The report stated that Mr. W. MeCafferey, an honorary member of the club, revived an unconscious swimmer by following the methods he had seen demonstrated by members of surf lifesavin? teams on the beach. The past season marked an outstandingly successful year in the history of the club, which lived up to its aims by rendering a service to the community beyond the confines of Its own beach. The educational work undertaken won high praise from the Royal Life-saving Society. Members of new clubs and other organisations were frequently given Instruction apart from exhibitions on the local beach. The club was the only one in the Auckland Province to have a constant patrol over its beach during the week-end. Eight rescues were made by club members during the senson, and assistance was given to many bathers. In competition work the club had a particularly good year and had a competition record unequalled by any other club in the province. The Laidlaw Cup for the provincial champion four-man team was won by the club, and the provincial beltman championship was won by a club member, C. J. Sidford, who has also won the still water life-saving championship for three years in succession. In the Speedo Shield :ompetition for seven-man teams the club gained second place. The interprovincial contest with Wellington for the Melntyre Cup saw the club not only beat the holders (Milford), but also the Wellington anil New Zealand, champions, Lyall Bay. The club won the Royal Life-saving Society's Cup- for gaining second place in the Pirate Shippe Plate competition for land drill. Eleven surf awards, the highest number granted by the Royal Life-saving Society, wore made to the club. Officers were elected : Patron, Mr. W. R. Wilson; vice-patron. Mr. J. Guinlven : president, Mr. Bryce Hart; vice-presidents, 18 wore elected; medical officers, Drs. Garfleld Stewart and Stuart McKay; trustees, Messrs. M. L. Wilkina nnd W. Wardell; club captain, Mr. S. V. Higgins; vice-cap-tain. Mr. N. E. Brown; secretary and treasurer. Mr. B. Hart; assistant secretary, Mr. J. Bindon; committee, Messrs. R. Moore, G. Edmonds, K. Kear. C. J. Sidford. J. Price: delegates to Surf Centre, Messrs. N. K. Brown, S. V. Higgins; honorary auditor, Mr. G. T. Tucker. A motion was carried that the Takapuna Borough Council be approached in regard to the erection of a look-out tower on the beach. A vice-president of the club, Mr. A. Dicker, was congratulated upon obtaining the highest honour awarded by the Royal Life-saving Society, the distinguished service medal. The whole beach will again be patrolled by the club during the summer week-ends and a special endeavour is to be made to secure financial assistance from the residents to renew the lifelines and repair the patrol boat. Mr. F. Langley, president of the North Shore Swimming Club, represented the Royal Life-saving Society, of which he is secretary, and Messrs. W. Ellworth and B. Surtell the Surf Life-saving Association.