70th

These are the notes from which Ron Ayre made his speech at the 70th celebrations

1944 TO 1949 - Ron Ayre

My name is Ron Ayre one of the old brigade of the forties

Before a trip down memory lane of my period 1944 to 1949, I would like to pay tribute to the founding members including JIM MANGIN “THE MASTER OF WORDS” who put together THE HISTORY OF BILINGA VOLUME 1 1937 TO 1940 describing how the club was born

We are indeed fortunate to have a complete record of these years.

My thanks to our current historian - CHRIS WALKER and all others - for the hard work they have put in to make this 70th anniversary the success it is.

1944 TO 1949 Memories and Recollections

As far as I know there are two others here today from this era.. Namely BILL BEATTIE AND BILL MARSDEN, COL BATCHELOR was unable to attend but he is well

JOINING THE CLUB

In wartime when the club was looking for members to keep it going. OSSIE BARNES a club member, Apprentice Boilermaker and self appointed club recruiter approached four mates FRANK TIERNAN - RALPH DENNE - LES WINSTANLEY AND MYSELF

All apprentices in various trades in essential war industries to have a one month reconnoitre of the club, to see if we were interested in joining

At the completion of this trial we summed up the club with the following "conclusions"
How could we refuse to join the club when it had the following mod cons

• Running cold water in the shower.
• Wood stove chop your own wood
  (available over the railway line opposite)
• Ice box when ice was available
• Hanging safe when ice was not available to keep the flies away
• Canvas water bag to cool drinking water
• Outdoor pan dunny collected weekly
• Telephone connected to the Tweed exchange.
• No dials you would wind the handle to contact the operator
  You had to book a trunk line call to brisbane usually 2 hour wait
• 3 Tier slat bunks with thin matresses
• The kitchen contained some excellent crockery
  Courtesy of Q.R. Railway refreshment rooms at Bethania where the train stopped for 15 minutes on the way down from Brisbane
• A hammock was provided on the verandah for any intrepid sleeper.
• An added bonus was to be on the roster to wear Jim O’Halloran’s beach shirt to the dance at Jazzland
  It was pre war and the only one in the club.
• And the final clincher was
  The million dollar views from the open verandah

To ensure acceptance
We had to do a mandatory 400 yards in 8 minutes at the davies park baths
I think for some it was a relief that the clocker had a slow watch

BRONZE SQUAD

A fifth member Con Henry joined our bronze squad with our instructor Jim O'Halloran filling in for drill purposes.
Because of work commitments we were unable to obtain our bronze medallions until March 1945 at 6am

JACK WINDERS from Kirra Club was the examiner we told him if we all passsed we would cook him breakfast (some bribe the way we cooked)

As recalled we had the following equipment

• 2 belts reels
• A single surf ski
• Associated life saving requirements including
  March Past gear and pennant

NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT COOLANGATTA

• Method of transport
  Blue and red bus or taxi usually shared by six as no one had a car
• some of the members kept push bikes for daily use
• Jazzland dances every saturday night
  (original stage can still be seen inside the antique shop as it is now)
• After the dance we usually partook at the hot pie stall next to the railway station
• The Kirabelle Hotel opposite jazzland for some members the preferred warm up before going to the dance
• The Capitol Picture Theatre was the start of many romances with the canvas seats very popular - you had to book a week ahead or you were liable to miss out

During the war years the Americans took over the Coolangatta Hotel for R & R leave.
they built an open air dance floor opposite the hotel and serviced it with an American Forces swing band with a local female vocalist who was a friend of mine.

TRANSPORT TO AND FROM THE COAST

• Rail from Sth Brisbane to Southport, bus to Bilinga. concession cost 4 shillings return.
• The train would split into two at Earnest Junction, one half would go to Southport to pick up the cordinated bus, the other to Tweed Heads
• The Bilinga Station was a loft x 8ft shed

AFTER THE WAR - 1946

Additional to rail and bus travel hitch hiking was the go at Holland Park with advice always wear your club blazer and if they did not look like stopping to run alongside them and they would think they were pulling up.
Never worked for me I was a slow runner

It was pleasing to see members who were in the Armed Forces rejoining the club.
Numbers increased to enable a march past team to participate in victory celebrations held at the exhibition grounds in 1946.
A lot of other sporting organisations were invited to march, it was intended to signfy the return to the normal way of life after the war.

I was a member of the team after the event I was told I was out of step I hastily told them I was the only one in step.

Another highlight was the 1946 Australian Surf Championships held at Greenmount Beach
We billeted 14 members of The Entrance Surf Club from NSW

We entered our march past team for the first time since the wars end in a surf carival at Kirra There is a photo in the archives.

There was an increase in recreational activities as follows

• Occasional fishing expeditions to the Tweed River.
• Beach football and cricket behind the club house.
• Tennis at Kirra with the girls from Murwillumbah.
• A 1946 beach concert with a fireworks display which had fallen from an ex naval ship rockets etc
  It certainly increased the attendence

FUND RAISERS

• 46-49 Raffles
• 46-47 Lifesavers Ball at Cloudland Ballroom
• 47-48 Dances at O’Connor Boat House, Brisbane
• 46-49 Boat trips down Brisbane River on the Mirimar
• 48-49 Surf Girl contests

FIRST MEMBERS CARS

Two members cars arrived in 1948 when Baby Butner and Keith Maxwell arrived in a Morris 8/40 and an Austin 7 respectively.

We always had campers at the back of the clubhouse dur1ng holiday periods

99 year lease land was made available for sale on the other side of the railway line, a few members availed themselves of this offer.
The land was later converted to freehold

The fibro house and beach front land next to the clubhouse was for sale for 500 pounds and difficult to sell.

Finally i would like to pay tribute to all members of that era, As time dictates we drift appart but the memories and the bonds forged can never be forgotten, also to remember “WITHOUT THE PAST THERE CAN BE NO FUTURE”

LONG LIVE THE BILINGA SURF CLUB

The 60’s : BARRY MAHER Life Member

Thank you President Justin for the opportunity to reminisce some of the 1960’s.

Paul Johnson Life Member most of you already know was my Best Man at my wedding in 1972 at Tugun to local girl Lesley Goodchap who happens to be Mick Goodchap’s (Goody-Life Member) sister . The ironical family connection to this surf club dates back to the 1955-56 when past members Bill Marsden and Alan Barge got to know Fred Goodchap house builder who volunteered freely of his time to assist renovate the old clubhouse.

Without comparing which era had it tough I thought it appropriate to remember the weekly Friday night trek from northside Brisbane – Enoggera by Tram to the City then hoof it over across the Victoria Bridge to South Brisbane to sell raffle tickets at the Palace Hotel. Now most of you would not be familiar with this area before Expo transformed it into South Bank but I can assure you it was not a place to be on your own late at night. Most of our members were aged under 21 which was the legal age to be in an hotel - we were all Juniors under 18 . When the Black Maria Paddy Wagon pulled up outside the Pub on a regular patrol to load all the inebriated,homeless local patrons we would stand with open mouths in amazement as we were white and very green behind the ears. Furthermore the Bilinga Club was given the opportunity to run a dozen raffles each a “frozen chicken” at two bob (2 shillings) a ticket to patrons who had no way of cooking it up if they won the raffle.

The early 60’s as you know - the Beatles made history - well Bilinga would put on a Saturday night B.B.Q. for all the to come ( after checking with North Kirra surf club first ) and Don McCullagh (Sewerage) would let all the neighbours and motorists know by beating on a drum (rubbish bin lid) to rally up support for the function. We had no band so entertainment was provided by the Beatle Mopheads – Ritchie Spence & Don McCullagh & other members to taped music broadcast over the beach speakers . A lot of glasses were raised but I’m not sure if we raised much in funds for that dream of all dreams to build a new clubhouse .

See back then you have to picture the old clubhouse was sitting where we are now or a little further toward the beach and the rest of this reserve was vacant land and used as a camp ground during school holidays with the main road just there where Golden Four Drive is now and the railway to Coolangatta further over where its now a four lane highway- how things have changed since well before my time.

A little history from 1956 era when a cyclone eroded most of the beach away and the old “old” clubhouse stood in front of where we are today – with the help of locals & members the building was shifted back some 50 feet ( 10 metres ) and Fred Goodchap & Ron Wilson did extensive renovations – worthy community spirit.

Swimming training was at Spring Hill baths 25 metre pool and some very fast times were recorded as it was an indoors. Later years we moved to Langlands Park Pool Stones Corner a 50 M monster open to cold and windy weather. Many a member had to hitch a ride to & from the coast from Mt Gravatt tram terminus so that was part of the culture of joining a surf club – nobody owned a car apart from George (Ned) Kelly a Mini which I’m sure held the record of holding us all stowed away during the coast run.

I could go all afternoon but that gives you an idea of a small part of life at Bilinga SLSC. Before I go however would you put your hands together for Paul Johnson who began the Nipper movement at Bilinga & Pt Danger Branch with the help of the local Walsh family. Thank you all.