AT HEAD OF AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1935, Page 9

AT HEAD OF AFFAIRS

CHIEF COUNCIL OFFICERS MEN OF GREAT ENTHUSIASM. SOME BIOGRAPHIES IN BRIEF. For enthusiasm no executive in New Zealand can beat those at the head of surf life-saving affairs in the Dominion. For the three years of the Surf Association’s existence the record has been one of continual progress and New Zealand can be regarded as an exceptionally robust younger brother of the powerful Surf Life-Saving Association of Australia* ■ , -u Pre-eminent among the many who have put their heart and soul into the organisation and growth of the young body have been Peter Coira, New Zealand president, Frank Chapman, the energetic New Zealand council secretary, Norman Ingram, president of the Royal Life-Saving Society in Wellington and secretary of the Wellington branch of the Surf Association, Phil. Edwards, Maranui club member of many years experience and now a noted judge, and Alec Ross, guardian angel of Taranaki’s interests on the New Zealand council. Here are short biographies of the quintette, all of whom will be “in the thick of it” to-morrow and Sunday:—

Peter Coira: Has been interested in the Lyall Bay club from its foundation in 1911 and has been captain of the club since he returned from the war. He has done much to bring that club to its present efficiency. He served for twenty years in an administrative capacity in all branches of swimming, both in the Wellington swimming centre for many years, as chairman, and on the lifesaving side. He is an ideal chairman for the Surf Association, as he knows personally most of the swimmers and lifesavers in the Dominion and has a vast store of knowledge to draw upon. Frank Chapman: Joined the Maranui club in 1918 and in 1920 was elected member of the committee of the Royal Life-Saving Society. He was secretary of the Maranui club for ten years and for the last three years has been chairman. He was also secretary for eight years and chairman for three years of the Royal Life-Saving Society, and in recognition of his services was granted the Distinguished Service Medallion by the Executive of the R.L.S.S. in _L° n “ don. He was chairman of the original meetings for the formation of the Surf Life-Saving Association in 1932 and when that was properly constituted and Mr. Coira was elected ■to the chair he took the office of organising secretary, and has remained in that position ever since.

Norman Ingram: At the present time president of the Royal Life-Saving Society in Wellington and secretary of the Wellington branch of the Surf Association. His activities cover many years. His early efforts were confined to the Island Bay club, culminating in the re-organisation of that club and the enlargement of the club house to twice its size. On the resignation of Mr. Chapman as secretary of the Wellington Head Centre of the R.L.S.S., Mr. Ingram filled the position and during that time drafted the rules of the S. A. Longuet Memorial Trophy for girls, which resulted in 1,042 awards from secondary schools, a Dominion record, which stands to this day. In recognition of his services the central executive of the Royal Life-Saving Society in London conveyed a special vote of thanks and appreciation to Mr. Ingram. Mr. Ingram now devotes his time as president of the R.L.S.S. and to the Surf Life-Saving Association, and he has earned a reputation as marshall at surf carnivals. Apart from his activities in relation to life-saving and surf work, Mr. Ingram is a well-known figure in primary school matters in the educational world of the Dominion.

Phil. Edwards: Mr. Edwards, who has judged at many championships, is a member of the Maranui Club and has competed in many Nelson Shield teams. At the conclusion of his active career he devoted himself to judging and his opinion as to the efficiency of a team is one to be relied upon. He has given years of service to the Wellington Swimming Centre* and to the Royal Life-Saving Society.

Alex. Ross: Taranaki delegate to the New Zealand Association. Mr. Ross is in the fortunate position of doing a good deal of travelling and -being able to keep in personal contact with the Taranaki committee. He is an'old member of the Maranui club, and after the war took an active interest in life-saving work and was for some years the captain of the club. In his early career he spent a good deal of time in Australia and became a close friend of Duke Kahanamoku, who was at that time the world’s champion 100 yards swimmer. On his return to New Zealand Mr. Ross devoted much time to both the R.L.S.S. and the Wellington swimming centre in furthering the interests of these sports in New Zealand. He is a life member of the Maranui' club and still takes an active interest in all phases of life-saving work.

The first surf reel used in Taranaki Is still in active use. It was brought from Castlecliff in 1913 and after many vicissitudes was finally placed on the Waitara beach some years ago when the LifeSaving Society allocated several reels following a stirring resuce at East End. Although big, heavy and clumsy for competition work and inferior in that respect to reels of modem design, it has been called on in the past few years for use on more than one occasion.

surf club at Patea came in 1929 from Mr. A. B. Currie, whose experience with the Castlecliff Club inspired him. The first competition was held at Patea on New Year’s Day, 1930. A B team was formed which was close behind the A team the following year. The first rescue occurred in February, 1931, and the second a week later, both being earned out with precision and despatch. With increasing confidence Patea entered for the New Zealand championships in 1931, securing fourth place in the seven-men event. In 1933 the coveted Hackshaw Searle Cup for the west coast championship was won at Wanganui, and in 1934 the Grey Shield for the Taranaki march past at Opunake. Much of the freedom from bathing fatalities on the club’s patrol frontage of almost two miles, has been due to careful coaching and the rota system of patrols. In the early days of the Ohawe Club, Ben Currie and Bob Adams gave of their store of knowledge and experience to help the new club to successful establishment.

In any history of surf life-saving in Taranaki, foremost in the chapter on enthusiasm will be the Ohawe Surf Club. While still a babe, it will be a competitor at the New Zealand championships at New Plymouth to-morrow. The club first burst into prominence last season, a fine all-round display culminating in the winning of the Hackshaw Searle Shield at Wanganui. The organisation