LIFE-SAVING
A WOELD TOUE
TEAM OF AUSTRALIANS
FEDERAL RECOGNITION
(From "The. Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY,' October 29.
The world's beaches will next year see young Australia onvparade. The Federal Government has given its official recognition for a tofcr abroad of a complete and fully-equipped team of life-savers—men from ,<the surf lifesaving clubs who have made Australian beaches famous by their voluntary guardianship of bathers. The surf crxnivals conducted by Sydney lifesaving clubs are world renowned, and the Duke of Gloucester, during his visit here' last year, said he had never seen anything so splendid as the display organised in -his honour. He enjoyed the carnival so much that he long overstayed the time allotted in the official programme for his visit. The Surf Life-saving Association of Australia will immediately begin preparations for the dispatch of 24 men on the world tour. On the beaches of England, Europe, and America, Australian young manhood will be seen, and the utmost care •will be taken in the selection of the team to ensure that character and personality will be in keeping with the strict standard of physique. Officials of the association stated that°a business manager would accompany the team. There would be a full march-past team of 20, four teams of six each for rescue and resuscitation events, and five belt-race teams. ' Officials have 'been awaiting the Federal Government's patronage before completing financial arrangements. It is expected that the tour will cost £10,000. For many years the association has been inundated with inquiries from various countries seeking information of surf rescue methods as perfected here, and this prompted .the idea of the world tour. Countries included in the tentative programme are South Africa, England, Wales, Holland, Germany, France, United States, Hawaii, Fiji, and New;. Zealand in that order. The tour will occupy nine months. AUSTRALIAN "BRONZE GODS." The qualifications for selection will ensure that only the best types will be sent overseas as typical of Australian "bronzed gods." In addition to possessing physical attraction, candidates for the team must be fully qualified lifesavers, good swimmers, and right types socially. The team will be fully equipped, even to a surf life-boat. The 24 members will demonstrate the Australian methods of rescue and resuscitation while the , manager describes each movement and its purpose. On beaches possessing suitable waves, displays of the art of "shooting the breakers" will be given, in addition to surf-board rescues.
The committee whose task it will be to choose the team will not be envied, for they will be faced with a great difficulty, as such a wealth of talent exists. Men will be selected from Queensland and Western Australia, as well as New South Wales. Many names have already been discussed as logical members of the team, but the committee has not yet considered anyone. A few of the men likely to be chosen are Bill Pugh, who was described by the Duke of Gloucester as the "most perfect man" he had seen, "Boy" ' Charlton, - ex-Olympic distance swimming champion, and one of the best surf-swimmers in Australia, and Ritchie Walker, a New South Wales country boy who has won the Australian belt-racing championship for the last two years.
LIFE-SAVING
Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 115, 11 November 1935, Page 11
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