A club steeped in history.......
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South West Rocks Surf Club very nearly didn't happen.
At the first meeting held to form a club, those present voted 11-9 against the proposition. However, enthusiasm of men like D.J. Lancaster forced the day and by 1919 the club was formed. In 1922 a deputation from the Surf Club consisting of Reverend Harris-Walker, Messrs L.J.Molloy and Roy Sanders approached the reserve trustees for permission to use the men's bathing shed as a drill hall and store room for the members of the Surf Club. The trustees were agreeable pointing out that 'if only one life was saved it would justify the granting of the request, and would justify the existence of the surf club.' For some years after this, a paling enclosure on the rocks overlooking Main Beach was all that was available for gentleman bathers. 
The inspired leadership of Mr Frank Range, President for over 20 years, eventually brought the club to the forefront of Australian surf swimming. In the 1947-48 season (March 28 1948), the club won the Junior R and R Championship of Australia. Members of the team were Brian (Cookles) Jeffery, Reg Young, Geoff Lawrence, George Crossingham, Glen Putland and Keith Thompson with coach Reg Saunders. The carnival was held on Manly beach NSW. The following year the same members won the NSW Junior R and R Championship at Bondi. The team members were Brian Jeffery, Reg Young, Geoff Lawrence, Allan Miles, Glen Putland and Keith Thompson.
W Tom Saul (or old Tom as he was known) was a keen active member, who went on to be one of the best officials the Association had. Tom was a top instructor with SWR. He held the Examiners Certificate, was a District Supervisor and held the executive positions of President and Club Captain with South West Rocks SLSC. Tom was also made a Life Member and Life Governor of South West Rocks SLSC, Life member of Surf Life Saving Mid North Coast Branch and a Life member of Surf Life Saving New South Wales.
Kevin Ruscoe came to the forefront during the mid 1960's and is still active in the movement. Kevin held the position of club President from the late 1960's until the early eighty's. While he was club President he also held the position of Branch Secretary and than moved onto the Branch Presidents roll. Kevins efforts also gained him the awards of Club Life Member and Life Governor of South West Rocks SLSC. Life Member of Surf Life Saving Mid North Coast Branch and Life Member of Surf Life Saving New South Wales. |
The club had great difficulty in maintaing any substantial membership in the first few years and it was not until the establishment of the original surf club building that stability was achieved.
Many members of the local community and surrounding district volunteered their time and expertise and donated materials to help build the club house to a usable state by Christmas 1924. Some of the volunteers who were very prominent during the building of the club house were Reverend Harris-Walker, Frank Range, Dick Saul,Mr Ling, Norm Savage, Bob Glasshoff, Mr Broderick and Tim Carey. The existence of a club house seemed to spur support for the surf life saving movement at the Rocks. The opening of the fifth official Surf Life Saving season on the 15 th November 1925, drew what was reported in the Macleay Argus of that week as a record crowd of 1000 people with seventy to eighty cars paying an entry fee. The 1926 season saw a new committee elected. The officers were President H Eschmann, Vice Presidents T.Wilson and L.Molloy, Captain R.Saunders, Vice Captain A. Kinghorn, Secretary D.J.Lancaster, Treasurer H.Boyter, Auditor A.Kinghorn. During this meeting the retiring President, the Reverend Harris-Walker was granted the first life membership of the Club for his excellent services rendered to the club. 
There have been many members of the Club worthy of distinction, however three who stand out are Reg Saunders, W. Tom Saul and Kevin Ruscoe.
Reg Saunders devoted most of his life to Surf Life Saving, being an active member, he also had the responsibility of being the Branch Superintendent for eight years and Branch President for eight years, the positions on some occasions being held concurrently. For his outstanding service he was made a life member of South West Rocks SLSC, Surf Life Saving Mid North Coast Branch, Surf Life Saving New South Wales and Surf Life Saving Australia. In 1952 Reg Saunders was training a group of aboriginal boys from the Kinchela Boys Home for their Bronze Medallion, but unfortunately before they could be examined for their award some of the boys had to leave the district to gain employment. The boys that had to leave the area were Stanley Harradene, Raymond Franks, Charles Pender, William Hughes and David Perry. 
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During Kevin Ruscoe's reign as Club President, the club had some outstanding successes in the competition side of Surf Life Saving. The most notable being the success of four outstanding Cadet members (13-15 year age group) during the 1976-77 season, these being Robert Younger, Richard Clarke, Kevin Ball Jnr and Peter Dufty. Robert Younger competed at local Branch, Country Championship, State Championship and Australian Championship carnivals to be undefeated in the Cadet Beach Flags and the Cadet Beach Sprint events. He teamed up with Richard, Kevin and Peter to be undefeated in the Cadet Beach Relay event for that season.
In the mid 1960's history was made when a group of Aboriginal teenagers from the Kinchela Boy's Home (half way between Kempsey and South West Rocks) gained their Qualifying Certificates and their Bronze Medallions with South West Rocks on the 17th December, 1966. The boys who gained their Qualifying Certificates were R. Smith, T.Johnson, G.Cromlin, A. Cooper, W.Whyman, K Whyman, C.Leon, T.Clayton, G.Ward and P.Knight. The Bronze Medallion boys were C Jarrett, R Murray and M.Perry.
History was also created in the 1980 season when women were made full members of Surf Clubs. South West Rocks was the first club in the Mid North Coast Branch Branch and possibly New South Wales to have a group of females gain their Bronze Medallion and become full members of the movement. Annalise Eyles, Jenny Keough, Tracy Harris, Christine Younger, Tracy Ball, Regina Hayes, Therese Henry and Mandy Hinchcliffe gained their Bronze Medallion on the 19th October 1980. Instructors of the squad were Graham Jeffery, Tony Hayes and Bruce Caldwell.
A number of members who have been made Life Members of South West Rocks SLSC, these being Reverend W Harris-Walker, F.N.Range, A.W.Fowler. Jack Saul, W.Tom Saul, C. Lawrence, D. Single, C.J.Edwards,Reg Saunders, C.A.Constable, C.R.Sanders, G Lawrence, K.M.Ruscoe, G.Gillies, B.M.Caldwell, J.E.Watson, A.J.Hayes ,G Coleman, S.Bickell, C.Ball and P.Ball.
Six members of South West Rocks have been made Life Members of Surf Life Saving Mid North Coast Branch for their outstanding efforts. These members are Reg Saunders, W Tom Saul, K.M.Ruscoe, A.J.Hayes, J.E.Watson and B.M.Caldwell.
Reg Saunders, W Tom Saul, K M Ruscoe, A J Hayes and B.M. Caldwell have been made Life Members of Surf Life Saving New South Wales. One member, Reg Saunders has the honour of being made a Life Member of Surf Life Saving Australia.
South West Rocks SLSC has been prominent in staging many successful Club, Branch, Country and State Surf Carnivals for both seniors and Juniors over the years, not only in traditional carnivals but also in Inflatable Rescue Boat Events.
Over the years a number of SWR members have been selected in Country ,State and Australian teams to tour overseas. This is a great honour to be able to represent your club at this level in the Surf Life Saving Movement.
In the mid 1960's history was made when a group of Aboriginal teenagers from the Kinchela Boy's Home (half way between Kempsey and South West Rocks) gained their Qualifying Certificates and their Bronze Medallions with South West Rocks on the 17th December, 1966. The boys who gained their Qualifying Certificates were R. Smith, T.Johnson, G.Cromlin, A. Cooper, W.Whyman, K Whyman, C.Leon, T.Clayton, G.Ward and P.Knight. The Bronze Medallion boys were C Jarrett, R Murray and M.Perry.
History was also created in the 1980 season when women were made full members of Surf Clubs. South West Rocks was the first club in the Mid North Coast Branch Branch and possibly New South Wales to have a group of females gain their Bronze Medallion and become full members of the movement. Annalise Eyles, Jenny Keough, Tracy Harris, Christine Younger, Tracy Ball, Regina Hayes, Therese Henry and Mandy Hinchcliffe gained their Bronze Medallion on the 19th October 1980. Instructors of the squad were Graham Jeffery, Tony Hayes and Bruce Caldwell.
A number of members who have been made Life Members of South West Rocks SLSC, these being Reverend W Harris-Walker, F.N.Range, A.W.Fowler. Jack Saul, W.Tom Saul, C. Lawrence, D. Single, C.J.Edwards,Reg Saunders, C.A.Constable, C.R.Sanders, G Lawrence, K.M.Ruscoe, G.Gillies, B.M.Caldwell, J.E.Watson, A.J.Hayes ,G Coleman, S.Bickell, C.Ball and P.Ball.
Six members of South West Rocks have been made Life Members of Surf Life Saving Mid North Coast Branch for their outstanding efforts. These members are Reg Saunders, W Tom Saul, K.M.Ruscoe, A.J.Hayes, J.E.Watson and B.M.Caldwell.
Reg Saunders, W Tom Saul, K M Ruscoe, A J Hayes and B.M. Caldwell have been made Life Members of Surf Life Saving New South Wales. One member, Reg Saunders has the honour of being made a Life Member of Surf Life Saving Australia.
South West Rocks SLSC has been prominent in staging many successful Club, Branch, Country and State Surf Carnivals for both seniors and Juniors over the years, not only in traditional carnivals but also in Inflatable Rescue Boat Events.
Over the years a number of SWR members have been selected in Country ,State and Australian teams to tour overseas. This is a great honour to be able to represent your club at this level in the Surf Life Saving Movement.
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Harry Penrith 1936 - 1997
(Later known as Burnum Burnum) Harry Penrith was born in 1936 at Wallaga Lakes on the South Coast of New South Wales, and suffered the sad loss of his mother who died in giving him birth. Separated then from his family and deprived of family life and training, Harry was taken by the government to a mission orphanage at Bomaderry on the South Coast of New South Wales. This mission was run by devoted Christian women of the United Aborigines Mission and had a great influence on his later life. 
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After a few years at the Bomaderry Mission Harry Prenith was sent to the Kinchela Boys Home, which is situated half way between Kempsey and South West Rocks on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. Whilst living at the Kinchela Boys Home Harry attended Kempsey High School where he completed Fifth year and gained his leaving certificate. During his school years Harry became a top sportsman. He was a member of Kempsey High Schools First XI Cricket team, captained the school's Rugby League First XIII. He also played football for Smithtown Rugby League Football Club in the under 18 team. Harry Prenith was also captain of the Kinchela Boys Home.
As a resident of Kinchela Boys Home Harry also joined South West Rocks Surf Lifesaving club where he gained his Bronze Medallion on the 3 rd of January 1953. His Bronze Medallion number was N42287. Other members of the Bronze Medallion group where Kevin Ruscoe, Allan Cannane and Barry Porter. Harry was the first aboriginal to gain his Bronze Medallion with South West Rocks SLSC and possibly the first aboriginal in New South Wales and Australia to achieve this. |
Upon leaving school Harry moved to Sydney where he took up a position as a clerk with the offices of the Department of Agriculture. He boarded at the Petersham Baptist Young Men's Hostel. In 1960 whilst living at the Hostel Harry Penrith started a tennis club for lonely aboriginal people in Sydney. The club meet on Friday nights on a hired court in Prince Alfred Park in Sydney.
Harry Penrith was a versatile sportsman. Not only did he excel at Rugby League, cricket and surf lifesaving, he also played Rugby Union for the Riverina district against the New Zealand All Blacks and played Rugby Union for New South Wales against Victoria. In 1963 Harry won the Wayling Medal for the best and fairest player in Group 13 Rugby League. He also played first grade Rugby Union for Parramatta.
At the age of 37 Harry Penrith was appointed to the position of Executive Officer of Aboriginal Hostels Ltd. He was the first aboriginal to be appointed to the company's staff. Aboriginal Hostels Ltd was formed by the Australian Government in June of 1973. The Board of Directors was chaired by Mr Charles Perkins.
Later in life (1976) Harry took an aboriginal name (Burnum Burnum) after his great grandfather. He became an activist for aboriginal affairs and one of his most famous stunts was when he landed at Dover, England in 1988, raised the aboriginal flag and claimed the island of Britain for the aboriginals.
Harry Penrith was a versatile sportsman. Not only did he excel at Rugby League, cricket and surf lifesaving, he also played Rugby Union for the Riverina district against the New Zealand All Blacks and played Rugby Union for New South Wales against Victoria. In 1963 Harry won the Wayling Medal for the best and fairest player in Group 13 Rugby League. He also played first grade Rugby Union for Parramatta.
At the age of 37 Harry Penrith was appointed to the position of Executive Officer of Aboriginal Hostels Ltd. He was the first aboriginal to be appointed to the company's staff. Aboriginal Hostels Ltd was formed by the Australian Government in June of 1973. The Board of Directors was chaired by Mr Charles Perkins.
Later in life (1976) Harry took an aboriginal name (Burnum Burnum) after his great grandfather. He became an activist for aboriginal affairs and one of his most famous stunts was when he landed at Dover, England in 1988, raised the aboriginal flag and claimed the island of Britain for the aboriginals.
