NSW
GOVERNMENT
BLUE PLAQUE
On 10th March 2024, the Club was recognised with a NSW Government Blue
Plaque. This is one of fourteen that have been selected in the second round
of the NSW Government’s Blue Plaques NSW program. Peter Quartly led the
process of nominating the Club and we were chosen from 117 nominations
made by the public and assessed by independent historians. Club Members
witnessed the unveiling while attending the Club photo, joined by the NSW
Minister of Heritage, the Honourable Penny Sharpe, our Local Member for
Vaucluse, Kellie Sloane, the Waverley Mayor, Paula Masselos, CEO Surf Life
Saving NSW, Stephen Pearce and our Club Patron Cyril Baldock OAM.
Minister for Heritage Penny Sharpe said “Whether you’re exploring Sydney
neighbourhoods such as Bondi or taking a drive off the beaten track to
regional towns like Grafton and Pambula, there’s a Blue Plaque for you to
discover. The installation of each new plaque brings added interest to the
heritage of an area, encouraging locals to explore their backyards and
inviting those from further afield to learn more about the history of these
communities.”
When sixteen year old Reginald Bourne of Paddington drowned on the 9th
of February 1907 it caused a wave of community concern - and locals came
together on 21st February 1907 at the Royal Hotel, not just to talk about doing
something, not complain to the Government, not seeking to restrict ocean
swimming, but actually to form a Club of volunteer swimmers to ensure there
were to be “no lives lost” on Bondi Beach. From its humble beginnings, the
Club has stood as a sentinel on the shores of one of Australia’s most famous
beaches. The ideas of these pioneers of the movement rippled out across the
oceans to inspire the formation of over 300 Clubs in Australia and similar Clubs
around the globe.
Member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill said “This Blue Plaque doesn’t just mark
history; it salutes the pioneers of the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club who
made beach recreation safer for everyone. Beyond the sand, the bathers and
the reel, this association has served to establish a long-standing tradition of
service to others.”
The recognition of Bondi Surf Club is not just a plaque; it is a testament to
the spirit of volunteerism and community that is at the heart of this great
organization. It is a reminder of the innovation and leadership that has spread
from these shores, including creating duty rosters, red and yellow flags, the
patrol cap and the lifesaving line and reel.
Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos said “From the first rescue in 1907 to the
thousands saved each year, the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club is not just
a chapter; it’s a living testament to the guardianship woven into the very fabric
of our coastal identity. The Clubhouse is an important part of the architectural
history of Bondi, echoing the building style of the Bondi Pavilion.”
Bondi SBLSC President, Brent Jackson honoured the Club’s Members, a legion of
brave men and women, who dedicated themselves to the cause of protecting
the lives of others. He asked Members to remember the eyes that have
scanned the water, the hands that have pulled lives from the sea, the trainers
who have passed on vital skills, and the community that has supported
these efforts with equipment and resources. for being the guardians of our
beachgoers - rising early for every morning patrol, every rigorous training
session, every day of driving rain, every day with a strong southerly, every
moment members have stood watch over the glistening waters on a beautiful
day. The plaque recognises the Club’s commitment to the values it upholds;
vigilance, service and community - are more than words – they are actions
demonstrated with every rescue, every resuscitation performed, and every
child taught to swim in the surf and respect the ocean.
This plaque reminds us that Bondi SBLSC is here to ensure there are “no lives
lost” on Bondi Beach.
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117TH ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2023/24