History /
70thRonAyerSpeechThese are the notes from which Ron Ayre made his speech at the 70th celebrations 1944 TO 1949 - Ron AyreMy 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 RecollectionsAs 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 CLUBIn 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"
To ensure acceptance BRONZE SQUADA fifth member Con Henry joined our bronze squad with our instructor Jim O'Halloran filling in for drill purposes. 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
NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT COOLANGATTA
During the war years the Americans took over the Coolangatta Hotel for R & R leave. TRANSPORT TO AND FROM THE COAST
AFTER THE WAR - 1946Additional 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. It was pleasing to see members who were in the Armed Forces rejoining the club. 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 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
FUND RAISERS
FIRST MEMBERS CARSTwo 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 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 |
Bilinga SLSC 257 Golden Four Drive, Bilinga, Qld 4225 |