40 Years of Women in Surf Lifesaving

Sunday November 1, South Maroubra recognised and celebrated 40 Years of Women in Surf Lifesaving and the contribution made by female members past and present to our great Club.
 
It was pleasing to see so many in attendance on what was such a winter’s day. Sitting in the Club’s Heritage Room and BK Lounge surrounded by our memorabilia and history, we celebrated and recognised our many trailblazing female members who have contributed to the success of our Club over the past 4 decades.
 
It was an absolute privilege to be part of this celebration alongside trail blazers including Patricia Beazley, Kathy Mazzeri, Renee Dever, Yvette Rutherford, Kim Rutherford, Samantha O’Brien, Fiona Thompson and so many more. So many amazing females have contributed to our club over the past 40 years, we are indeed so fortunate.
 
Committee members from season 1980/81 were present and shared some wonderful words of the decision and the impact the introduction of females to our club as full members was back in 1980. 

Our first female member from 1980, Bronwyn Roberts who now resides in England and was one of our first 3 females to gain the Bronze Medallion award in 1980 sent a message to share on the day which is included below;-
 
I feel very privileged to be called a ‘trail blazer’ but in reality all I wanted to do was follow my male club mates to the senior surf club having been left behind for 2 years in the nippers or nipperettes as we were called at the time.
I remember the President at the time telling my dad he was not surprised to see I was the first female to join South Maroubra.
He went on to say that they chose the wonderful Bernie Kelly to be our instructor as they knew the importance of making sure the first female bronze medallion squad were well trained and passed!  We took it very serious and were not about to let anyone down, hence we became part of the first females in NSW to gain the Bronze Medallion and patrol.   I remember being very proud to finally be an active member and remained active for over 10 years with South Maroubra.
My Message to present and future female members of South Maroubra. You should be extremely proud to be part of a club that didn’t just allow females to join the club to simply comply with government legislation, but embraced, encouraged, nurtured and most importantly treated us as equals.
They had the foresight to see that the future was and still is equal opportunity for all.
Bronwyn Roberts
 
Thank you to all who attended, including Mayor Danny Said RCC, Councillor Alex Luxford, our Life Members, Peter Agnew - President SLSS, Elissa Hancock - Director of Administration SLSS, members past, present and their families. 
 
To all our females - keep on keeping on, you do amazing stuff and your contribution on and off the beach alongside our male members delivering lifesaving services to the community is commendable.
You can view the slide show by clicking here.
Our Facebook page has a few photos from the afternoon.
Linda Perrin
Vice President

1980/81s Club Committee inc. 3 of the 5 first females to gain their qualifying certificate in 1980
James 'Jim Parker (club Captain), Ken Arthur (President), Gary 'Bennuci' Bennett (Chief Instructor), Renee Dever, Patricia Beazley, Kathy Mazzeri and Lionel Roser (Vice Captain)