AUSTRALIAN SURFERS

Evening Star, Issue 22192, 21 November 1935, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN SURFERS

TOUR OF EUROPE Visions of a team of Australian suif life-savers giving exhibitions or their famous humanitarian methods m Europe and America, tor months ephemeral, have now become a concrete reality, and it seems certain that the 24 chosen representatives, accompanied by a manager, will sail from Australia in June, next year. The Sydney ‘ Referee ’ announces that the Surf Life-saving Association of Australia has at last decided upon a,, scheme which will make the raising ot between £IO,OOO and £15,000 a comparatively simple matter. The time is inopportune _to make public the details of this deeply-thought-out plan, but when published it should prove a life-long nightmare to our sleepy-headed politicians, who were shocked by the impertinence of the association in asking for the Commonwealth Government’s patronage and a straight-out grant, or, alternatively, a subsidy, to enable the team to go abroad. After dreamy deliberation they graciously bestowed their patronage, then retired to their slumbers, quite oblivious to the fact that they had turned down an organisation whose proposed tour would bring to Australia advertisement and glory far greater than all the political goodwill trips ever conceived. Promises of financial support to the tour have been made to the ‘ Referee ’ from many of Sydney’s leading business men, and months ago residents of the Mid-North Coast signified their intention of subscribing substantially, provided that C. W. (“Wally”) Scott (Black Head), Australian open surf champion, and Ritchie Walker (Kemp-sey-Orescent Head), Australian surfbelt champion, are included iu the team. While it will be impossible to purchase the inclusion of any individual in the team, these two may be regarded as odds-on certainties for selection, so North Coast enthusiasts can take out their cheque books as soon as the signal is given. Selection of the team will be particularly difficult, and no one will envy the selection committee its task. At present it appears that the nucleus will be drawn from New South Wales, Western Australia, and Queensland. Tasmania, too, must be considered. There is more than a possibility that a number of clubs, under the S.L.S.A. banner, will be formed on Victorian beaches where vigilance is necessary, and members of these wf)l be eligible for selection if they are holders of the Surf Life-saving Association’s bronze medallion.