Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club
Founded: 8.03.1925.
Affiliated: 19.10.1926
First Clubhouse Built: Through prolonged effort by the Avalon Beach Progress Association and by providing shared financial support with the Warringah Shire Council, a Clubhouse with attached male and female change rooms was built and officially opened in 1934.
How started: In 1925 a small group of young men who were regular surfers at Avalon Beach, met in a private home of a local business man and decided to form a surf lifesaving club.
In 1925 a small group of young men who were regular surfers at Avalon Beach, met in a private home of a local business man and decided to form a surf lifesaving club. In the summer of 1925 and 1926, five members were examined by a member of North Steyne Club and successful qualified for the Bronze Medallion. This award was recognised by the New South Wales Surf Life Saving Association.
At the start of the1929 season there was no lifesaving service only a simple surf line placed in a box well back from the surf.
Information about the Club is very sparse over the following years through the 1930’s and the time of the Great Depression. Continuity of patrols was haphazard without a clubhouse for a weekend base. Through prolonged effort by the Avalon Beach Progress Association and by providing shared financial support with the Warringah Shire Council, a Clubhouse with attached male and female change rooms was built and officially opened in 1934.
There is no early Club record of formal affiliation with SLSA, NSW State Centre or Sydney Branch or when Manly Warringah came into being, but it is assumed as registered.
The number of active members was soon decimated by enlistment in the armed services during World War II. SLSA advertised for a PAID LIFESAVER Sundays and public holidays at Avalon Beach. To ensure patrol numbers, young men from the Police Boys Clubs in the outer suburbs being encouraged to join.
After the war years, membership grew and finances strengthened with a new 2 storey clubhouse opened in 1961.
Two delegates attended Branch meeting and the Branch Secretary for 1972/73/74 was Avalon Beach SLSC member, Harry Regan.
In 1981/82, Michael Byrne, then Treasurer of Avalon Beach SLSC, was elected Deputy President of Surf Life Saving NSW for 1982 to 1984 and was then elected President from seasons 1984 to 1989.