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Lifeguard oral histories

Telling it like it is

In this photo from a Sydney newspaper, late 1930s, the Lifeguards, then called Beach Inspectors, model their new uniforms on Bondi Beach. Left to right: James (Jim) Lapthorne, Aubrey (Aub) Laidlaw, William (Bill) Pugh, Thomas (Tom) Meagher, Roger Riley and Joe Dobson. 

The Waverley Council Lifeguard service started in 1913 and has operated continuously for over a century. In 2001, realising that the history of the Lifeguard service had been largely undocumented, the then Local Studies Librarian and senior Lifeguard at Bondi Beach began conducting interviews with retired Lifeguards and their families.

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  Alex Menzies

  Alex Menzies was born in August, 1937, and has fond memories of going to the beach with his father.

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  Aub Laidlaw

  Aub Laidlaw was one of the most famous Lifeguards to ever patrol Bondi’s golden sands, and became an icon of the beach.

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  Brian Collins

  Brian Collins, born in 1922, was a Bondi boy early on. His father was manager of the surf sheds and the family lived there until they relocated to accommodation at Bondi Pavilion.

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  Frank Norton

  Frank Norton was born in 1920, and joined Bronte Surf Club in 1936. He was Club Captain, President from 1954-1969, and Patron from 1970-2011. He was elected a Life Member in 1952.

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  Jim Spencer

  Jim Spencer was born in 1911, and joined North Bondi SLSC when he was 18. Jim was the oldest member of the surf club, having been a member for 76 years.

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  Ken East & Charlie Christensen

  Ken East was a beach inspector at Bondi from 1946-1947. East left the lifeguard service to train as a professional fisherman, but ended up working in the music business in London. Charlie Christensen, born in 1920, joined the North Bondi Surf Club at the ag of 27, and went on to become the longest serving president of the club.

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  Ken Hawthorne

  Ken Hawthorne, born in February of 1920, first took a position as beach inspector during the busy Christmas holidays. He was one of the lifesavers on the scene during the events known as Black Sunday.

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  Pellicciari Family

  The Pellicciari family were icons of Bondi Beach, running several food businesses out of Bondi Pavilion. Guido’s Famous Gelato, Gianni’s Beach House & Taverna and Pellicciari’s were Bondi Beach institutions for over 40 years.

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  Warren Riley

  Warren Riley was born in 1936 in Bronte, where his father was a beach inspector. Warren was made a life member of the Bronte Surf Lifesaving club.