Strong Surf Team From Australia

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30916, 24 November 1965, Page 19

Strong Surf Team From Australia

COME of the world’s most powerful and accomplished swimmers are likely

to be among the members of an Australian surf lifesaving team which is to visit New Zealand next year.

A possible leader of the team is B. Rodgers, Australia’s champion surfer, who won surf board races against America’s best men

during the tour of the United States last season. Others in the running for places include A. Wood, ad Olympic bronze medallist in 400 and 1500 metres freestyle and an international surfer, J. Ryan, a freestyle sprinter at the Tokyo Games and a member of the highly successful Australian water polo team in Europe, and L. Green, an outstanding junior. There is also a possibility that R. Windle, the Olympic

gold medallist for 1500 metres freestyle, might gain selection.

Mr W. A. McClintock, a member of the council of the Australian Surf Lifesaving Association, said in

Christchurch last week that it would be a goodwill tour; the Australians hoped to learn something and to teach something.

The team for the New Zealand tour would be picked on the same lines as that for the visit to the United States, said Mr McClintock. One surfer from each state was selected and the team was completed by competitors chosen on swimming ability and resuscitation knowledge. A prerequisite for membership of the team was an instructor’s certificate and a good general knowledge of Australia.