Life-Saving News

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 19, 23 January 1937, Page 23

Life-Saving News

(By "Beltman.**)

A BUSY DAY AROUND SYDNEY

SIX PATIENTS —ONE LINE

We are accustomed to look to Australia as the place where life-savers, even th<j}igh more plentiful, have the maximum of appreciation and support of authorities and public. As occurs in New Zealand also, however, there are occasions when the clubs are able to repay any outstanding debts. One of these occasions occurred on December 14.

On this particular day, which is something of a surprise holiday on account of the abdication of King Edward VIII and, the proclamation of King George. VI, the lack of organised sport resulted in huge crowds making for the many beaches around Sydney. It so happened that very heavy seas were running on all beaches, and the life-savers reaped a harvest of exhausted would-oe surf swimmers. Five surfers, all in difficulties, grabbed the line while a man .was being brought ashore at Maroubra. All were rescued. In rescuing them, twelve members of the local surf club were in the water at the same time. Three were badly scratched on the legs during their efforts. . Life-savers »Benny Rivers, Cecil Bond, and Alex. Forbes effected the rescue of the man who was carried out. His name is unknown. He was fifty yards out and was being swiftly swept to sea when the clubmen reached him. They had a hard swim and were dashed against the rocks when returning with him. It was during the latter part of the swim that five other bathers, exhausted by the pounding waves, grabbed the line. Rivers, Bond, and Forbes were itreated at the club-house for cuts on the legs. They and other members of the club did splendid work. FOUR MORE. W. Kember, Maroubra beach inspec-j tor, and life-savers H. Bennett, J. Kil-j patrick, N. Johnson, the club captain, F. Bracey, and M. Mather took part in a rescue in the afternoon of four men, who were swept 100 yards out. Bennett performed meritorious work. He brought in two of the men, one of whom was Patrick Spithill, 21, of Kingsford. It was some time before Spithill recovered in the clubroom. Bennett was exhausted after his terrific battle with the waves. Mather did excellent work in holding up Spithill pending the arrival of the beltmen. Peggy* Faes, of Augustus Street, Leichhardt, was rescued later in the afternoon by Cecil Bond and a friend, who had been supporting her, was rescued by Norman Sweetman. Conditions were so bad at Maroubra that the northern end of the beach was closed. . , . Miss G. Huddleston was carried out at Coogee, and life-savers spent threequarters of an hour treating her. Lifesavers T. Richards and V. Alford rescued her. The girl was carried to the net, and life-savers had a hard task battling through the heavy sea to reach her and to bring her ashore. Charles Price, 20, of King Street, Bondi, dislocated his jpft shoulder when he dived into shallow water in the surf at Bondl. SIX CARRIED OUT. Six bathers, all men, were carried out at Dee Why. Life-savers Bill Furey and Harold Hynes had an exhausting struggle with the waves in bringing them to the beach. Club members stated that two of the bathers were carried out 200 yards. Inspector Sharpies, officer in charge of the police licensing branch, jumped into Botany Bay, near Bunnerong Power-house, fully clothed, and

rescued two young girls who were in difficulties. This is the sort of day that all good life-savers in New Zealand dream about. Actually, however, the beaches over here are no less likely to prove danger spots to the most experienced swimmer. The Christchurch beaches have produced very interesting sets of circumstances at various times. Waihi and Tauranga occasionally come to light with a spectacular rescue. Fitzroy and Strandon had a field day only a year ago, when Maroubra's score was topped with a total of over 20 rescues. Even- our own Lyall Bay, usually much too calm and placid for the two champion chibs quartered there, is apt to turn on a combination of surf, wind, and tide which will defeat the [strongest swimmer. Such an occurrence took place in 1927, and may do so again. Prospective victims are very scarce these days. DEFAULTERS TAKE NOTE Acting on instructions from the annual general meeting, the executive committee of the Wellington District Surf Life-saving Association has approved of the following new rule to be included in the constitution of the association:— "The secretary of each club affiliated to the association shall forward a list of all unfinancial members of his club as at March 31 of each year, such list to be forwarded to the district secretary of the association and distributed by him to all clubs by May 1 of each year. No member whose name appears on such list shall be admitted to membership of any other club until his financial obligations to his previous club are met and he has received a clearance from the secretary of the club." GENERAL NOTES The following officials were appointed at a recent meeting of the executive committee of the Wellington District Surf Life-saving Association: Referee, Mr. V. Allan; marshal, Mr. A. E. Upchurch; assistant marshal, Mr. G. Boocock; call steward, Mr. A. Haley; assistant call steward, Mr. J. Williams, sen.; time-keepers, Messrs, L. Dawkins, J. Foley, T. G. Ricketts, J. Jackson, J. Hislop, C. F. Lethaby, G. Morris, computing steward, Mr. A. O. Wansborough; beach games supervisor, Mr. W. Griffen.

An interesting inquiry was received from the Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay Centre at this week's meeting of the N.Z.A.A.A. Council. It was (1) whether a competitor may use his own implements (javelin, discus, etc.,) at a championship meeting provided they comply with the regulations, and (2) whether he is entitled to the exclusive use of them should any other competitor want to use them. Mr. F. S. Hill said that a case had cropped up in Wellington some years ago and it had been held that a man might use his own implements provided they complied with the regulations. He doubted, however, whether he was entitled to the exclusive use of them. The point is to be looked into further.