GOLDEN GODDESSES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 638, 16 December 1932, Page 1

GOLDEN GODDESSES.

Excitement Over Surf Girls’ Competition. KEEN RIVALRY SHOWN (Special to the “ Star.”) SYDNEY, December 8. To clear away anv possible ambiguity* I may explain that the title “ Golden Goddesses ” has been applir-d descriptively by an enthusiastic alderman to the sun-browned surfing girls who have made Manly famous. Just now all the numerous marine suburbs clustered round the harbour and down the coast are simmering with excitement over the competition for the Ladv Game Beach Cup, which is supposed to be won by the team of surf girls who surpass all others in swimming and life saving; of course, with good looks thrown in. I must confess that I am a little at a loss to explain, if even to myself, precisely what object this competition has in view. The Mayor of Randwick (Alderman Maverly, M.L.A., an energetic member of many local bodies) said rerentlv that the purpose of tha competition is “ to demonstrate to the public the wonderful charm and physique of Australian surf girls." I should have thought that these facts hardly need further public demonstration, that is, any more than can bo obtained ivithout anv preliminary preparation ori any of our beaches almost any day in the surfing season. Striving for Supremacy. 'But there is no doubt about the excitement and interest that these displays arouse. Last year the Manlv surfing girls won the Silver Reel for life saving; and Brighton-le-Sands (on Botany Bay) won the Pearl of the Pacific competition. It is not for me to say how far these contests were athletic or aquatic competitions and how far they were just “ beauty shows.” But this much is certain, that all the beaches which did not win any such prize last year are determined this season to wrest supremacy from the victors; and they are all going to a vast amount of trouble and very considerable expense to secure their object. Naturally enough, the rivalry thus worked up between the various centres is liable to be rather aggressive at times. One alderman has declared publicly that “ Manlv is going to show the whole of Australia that her win over Bondi last year was no fluke.” The Mavor of Randwick announces that “ the finest of all these girls are residents of Coogee,” and that Coogee cannot fail to win. The Mayor of Rochdale declares that if any beach beats Brighton-le-Sands it will be the winner. Cronulla has just authoritatively stated that "we re going ♦o win that cup." To Brighton's assurance that “we have the goods!” Bondi has responded that “ many girls or splendid physique and rare beauty are among the latest recruits.” And so the Controversy rages on—sometimes, one regrets to observe, in rather vulgar terms, but always most enthusiastically. The Warringah Shire beaches—about a dozen in all—have just entered the competition and are organising actively, and the many thousands of surfers and their friends and relatives are looking forward eagerly to the two general parades—December 10 at Manly and December 17 at Coogee—when the teams will face the judges. At all these various centres galas, parades and all the countless preparatory steps toward the ultimate goal are continually in progress, and the rivalry grows .keener as the fateful hour approaches. At several ot the centres not only doctors, but arti-ts and sculptors, are taking part in the “ eliminations,” and the standard of physical and aesthetic fitness and perfection are being discussed on every side. “ Peaches and Creajn. Most of Sydney's surf girls art. already worthy of the epithet bestowed upon them by an ardent admirer “ Bronze Amazons ’’—but the champions of Manly’s “ Golden Goddesses have raised up rivals who profess to scorn the too evident consequences of sun-bathing and backless costumes and are declaring for genuine “ peaches and cream ” complexions —if even a litt'e late in the day. The popularity of* surfing here has made the beaches a national institution the other Sundav it was estimated that there were 90.000 people on Bondi beach alone—and the public interest m such competitions as these is natural and inevitable. But —apart entirely lrom the swimming and life-saving, which seem destined to play but a small part m the final tests—one mav be permitted to wonder if all this public advertisement of personal and physical charms produces wholly desirable reactions upon the young people most directly concerned. There is no doubt that on Svdney beaches, any fine day. one can see an aggregation ot physical beautv—masculine as well as feminine —that can hardly be surpassed anywhere else in the world. That is something to be thanktul for; but I doubt if the value of this blessing is enhanced by competitions that in the long run appear to possess most of the defects and disadvantages of the traditional “ beauty show.