Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

While recently clearing out some of my sporting books, I got to wondering about the oldest book I have collected over the years.

A little searching revealed Surf Life Saving in New Zealand 1910 – 1952 was amongst the oldest, which was written and published in 1952 by Norman A Ingram.

The full title is 'A Factual History of Surf Life-Saving in New Zealand 1910 – 1952” and was the first full history of the movement in our country, starting with the formation of New Brighton Club in Canterbury during July 1910.

The original New Zealand surf lifesaving clubs received their cue from Australia, where clubs had been formed in 1907 in response to drownings on Sydney's beaches.

It was said such groups became necessary, following the relaxation of laws prohibiting daylight bathing on Australian beaches. Volunteer groups of men were trained in life saving methods and patrolled the beaches in order to look after public safety.

In the 12 months following the formation of New Brighton, surf clubs sprung up in Wellington (Lyall Bay, Worser Bay and Maranui), Otego (St Clair) and Wanganui (Castlecliff), with Sumner joining the formation club in Canterbury.

Rescues were carried out by reel and line, with the line carried out by the beltman, to members of the public in trouble in the water.

The rescue reel was surf life savings' major rescue tool for something like seven decades, until overtaken by IRBs (inflatable rescue boats) and occasionally the jet skis that we see today.

The New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Association was formed in 1932, in which Norm Ingram's books says: 'A Charter was granted to New Zealand Royal Lifesaving for the control of Surf Lifesaving in the Dominion.”

The landscape of surf clubs in New Zealand has changed dramatically since 1910, due to social and economic circumstances.

Surf clubs are long gone at locations such as Milford, Takapuna and Blockhouse Bay in Auckland, Eastbourne and Paraparaumu in Wellington and Patea in Taranaki, along with clubs on the West Coast of the South Island at Greymouth, Westport and Hokitika.

Another phenomenon was the formation of Women's Surf Lifesaving Clubs. Clubs such as Wellington Ladies, Milford Girls and Waitemata Ladies were formed in the 1930s. There was also a Tauranga Girls Surf Club for a short time.

Formed in 1933, the first team of competitors were Rita Paterson (captain), Reka Randle, Lorna Morse, Shirley Young, Mary Bates, Jean Cameron and Bubs Foster. However, the local club appears to have dwindled out of existence, a few years after formation.

One thing that hasn't changed since 1910 is the current Surf Lifesaving New Zealand purpose of: 'Protecting our community in the water”.