West Coast Surfing

Press, Volume C, Issue 29480, 5 April 1961, Page 13

West Coast Surfing

AN indication of reviving interest in surf life-saving on the West Coast beaches Was given this season when the newly formed Kotuku Club (Greymouth) applied to the Canterbury Surf LifeSaving Association for affiliation. The club appears to be on a good basis, according to the national president (Mr F. Jackson), mainly through the great efforts of Mr Ross Barnes, a former member of the Runanga-Rapahoe Club which went into recess some years ago. At a recent meeting of the Canterbury Association Mr Jackson bad nothing but praise for Mr Barnes. The new club is patrolling the Rapahoe Beach, but at present has only 12 active members. There are four beaches in the area, and it is hoped that the club membership will swell to such proportions that a watch of some description can be kept on these also. Members of the club are evidently very keen and would have made a visit to a Canterbury surf carnival this season if there had been one later in the season. However, it seems that the club will be sending a team to compete in carnivals in the province before many years have passed. In the words of local surfers, nothing but good ean come of it. Since it was formed, the club had been running a shop

on the beach to raise funds. In the near future it hopes to build a new concrete block pavilion on the beach. At one time there were three surf clubs operating between Greymouth and Westport, but all are now in recess.