SOME MORE OBSEVATIONS FROM THE PENCIL WITH NO LEAD

Times have changed at the club throughout the years. During the 60's we managed to enlist up to 50 odd active members. Along with many of the reserves and associates they used to gravitate to the beach each weekend from all around Greater Sydney. Approximately 80 percent of the club came from both west and south of the harbour. Back then the club did not have any competitors of above average ability and therefore were never a force to be reckoned with at open carnivals. The days of restrictive competition were more or less gone for good. That was a pity for the Avalon club used to excel at those restricted carnivals.

Despite the topography, small membership and no competitive personnel, the beach patrols always maintained at least 95% attendance throughout the whole decade.

During my 8 year comeback as an active reserve from 1990 through ‘til 1998 the clubs active membership was around 140 plus and all lived locally, mostly in Avalon itself. The boat crew  was then and still is among the top 10 crews in the nation, some beach event competitors were holders of branch and state titles and the same thing applied to some water events personnel. The  clubs committee is and has to be professional in regard to club management. The club was and still is well off for rescue equipment, some of it provided by the many sponsors and beach patrols required are nowhere near as many as you and I were obliged to do.

Despite this, during my 8 year stint, week after week there would have to be ring arounds to put a patrol on the beach as no one turned up for their rostered patrol. One Sunday morning I was the only patrol member who turned up and I had to drive 75 klicks to get there. Warren Young, Roger Sayers and Roland Luke had quite a bit of phoning to boost the numbers.

All the other patrol members lived in Avalon.

I am hoping that things have improved since I was last there in 1998. Fair dinkum, these young kids today, have no idea when they're well off..........We did though.

Regards Pogo      {Poor old grumpy ogre}

FOOTNOTE; Done good this man, his memory is better than mine, we can put this down to his age. He is 4 years my younger, johnfarls.