Foreword by John Howard
A celebration of the centenary of an Australian icon: the Bondi lifesaver, the first of the famous Australian lifesavers
Shortly before 8 pm on the evening of Saturday, 21 February 1907, a small group of men, old and young, local and non-local, gathered in the smoke-filled lounge of Bondi's Royal Hotel. After a spate of drownings on Bondi Beach, these passionate surf bathers had decided in the face of government inaction to work together to acquire the necessary skills to protect themselves and other bathers in difficulty. That night, an Australian legend was born: the Bondi lifesaver.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of their foundation, the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club has commissioned one of Australia's most distinguished sport historians to write the history of their club. The resulting book is not only an account of the birth of the surf lifesaving movement in Australia, but tells the fascinating story of the rise of Bondi Beach from its early days as a humble seaside resort to its iconic status as a symbol of Australia and the Australian way of life that is instantly recognisable around the world.
Impressively researched, engaging and well written, this is compelling book will appeal to beach lovers and history buffs, visitors and locals.
