KAREKARE SURF CLUB

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 29, 3 February 1945, Page 4

KAREKARE SURF CLUB

The whole of the active members of the Karekare Surf Club volunteered at the outbreak of the war and have served or are serving in the various armed forces, both in the Pacific and Mediterranean. This being the case, it has been impossible to maintain patrols at the beach. Appeals made for new members have met with no success. The members of the club arranged for me to take charge of their records and pass books; these are still in my charge. The other gear was placed in a safe place under lock and key. It would be folly to leave such equipment lying around the beach. The funds of the club are deposited with the Savings Bank and are held for the boys until they return. Nothing has been withdrawn from the accounts since some time in 1940, when their final liabilities were met. It is hoped, with the return of peace, that the membership will again grow to its prewar strength. It will then be necessary to build a club house, etc., but with the amount of funds at present possessed by the club it would be difficult to build more than perhaps a one-roomed structure, despite what has been said of the club's "hundreds of pounds." With reference to statements reported to have been made at the recent inquest concerning the drowning at Karekare that the surf tower is in the "most dangerous place on the beach," this is not so, since my family has bathed for many years at this point, and it has never been dangerous. The tower was placed where it is because it is the most central position and gives a complete view. I am not a trustee for the club. I have not been asked to co-operate with the Surf Association and I was not asked to attend any special or other meeting. My first knowledge of such a meeting was the report in the Press. My sincere thanks go to the Piha club for their assistance not to Karekare alone, but also to the boys serving overseas, who would be glad to r-o as much for them. E. W. BADHAM. President, Karekare Surf Club.