surfresearch

On New Year's Day the Council provided, free of cost, a quarter of a mile of hessian to enclose the reserved area, and bore half the expenses of the hiring of a large marquee tent in which competitors disrobed.
In addition, the Council is improving the beach, and palatial surf sheds and clubhouses are in course of erection, estimated to cost £6,000, are nearing completion.

Sunday Times
Sydney, Sunday 14 January 1923, page 3.

A MENACE, NOT A NUISANCE
Dr. Wood Denounces Bondi Tip

RESIDENTS CITE CASES OF FEVER

Sunday Times' Campaign Amply Justified

DEPUTATIONS TO GO TO COUNCIL AND HEALTH BOARD

...

At the outset complaints were made about horses, dogs, surf boards, and galvanised canoes interfering with the comfort of bathers.
These matters having been disposed of the chairman of the meeting, Mr. Dudley, introduced the topic of the evening.

Trove
1923 '"A MENACE, NOT A NUISANCE"', Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), 14 January, p. 3. , viewed 03 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120541537

Geelong Advertiser
Wednesday, 17 January 1923, page 9.

QUEENSCLIFF
...
The Season

The seasonable weather during the.week end attracted a large, number of visitors to the town, and the beaches were crowded with holiday makers on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, enjoying the delights of the surf.

On Sunday afternoon a strong southerly breeze sprang up, and drove a great number of visitors homeward, but the short choppy waves were considered an improvement to a great number of bathers, in comparison to the mill pond conditions of the morning.
An innovation practised amongst bathers is "surf boarding" and many bathers are to be seen carrying their "timber" to the beach to revel in riding on the crest of the breakers.

Trove
1923 'QUEENSCLIFF', Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1926), 17 January, p. 9. , viewed 03 Apr 2016,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166001617

St George Call
Kogarah, Friday, 19 January 1923, p. 8.

CRONULLA SURF CLUB.
ENTERTAINS BILL HARRIS.

Harris in Great Swim.

                  The Cronulla Surf
                  Life Saving Club, on Sunday last, entertained Bill
                  Harris, the famous Hawaiian swimmer.
 
 

...

Bill Harris suitably responded.
He isaid that Ludy Langer, Kealoha, andthe Duke had told him about the wonderful times they experienced at Cronulla^ and lie was glad to bo also afford

ed the privilege of enjoying the hospitality of the club.

After lunch the party repaired to the beach, where a programme of beach and water sports was decided.

There a handicap surf race was decided.

Harris, from scratch, conceded the limit man 60sec, caught the field at the buoy, and swimming magnificently won by fully 50 yards.
Results : —

Surf Race: W. Harris, Hawaii, scr.,1; T. Guthrie, 10 sec, 2; K. Manning, 3.
...
Bill Harris, the American Champion Swimmer is greatly taken up with Cronulla, and wishes to thank the club members for the warm reception tendered him on his visit.
At a later date, on his return from Western Australia, he will be the guest of Mr. William Pickering, senr. president of :the Surf Club for a week end, when he will give a surf board display and an exhibition in the Cronulla Baths.

Trove
1923 'CRONULLA SURF CLUB.', St George Call (Kogarah, NSW : 1904 - 1923), 19 January, p. 8. , viewed 03 Apr 2016,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163238606

Arrow
Sydney, Friday, 26 January 1923, page 6.

Are Surfers Amateurs?

Interesting
                          Situation Arises : Team Leaves for North Coast
                          : Freshwater and Manly Carnivals : Death of
                          Mr. G. O. Harris

(By THE STARTER.)

...
Manly Life Saving Club's carnival promises to be one of the most enjoyable of the season.
Among the star items are the Johnny Walker alarm reel race, open surf race, junior surf race, senior and junior surf boat races, first class brace relay race, novice surf relay race, canoe display, and surfboard displays.

...

NORTH STEYNE ENTERTAINS HARRIS.

It was a great day at Manly on Sunday.
North Steyne Surf Club members invited the metropolitan touring team to indulge in their final practice at their headquarters, and afterwards entertained the party at dinner at the Hotel Pacific.
Bill Harris, the popular Hawaiian champion, and Boy Charlton were introduced to the crowd on the beach from the club house verandah by Mr. O. G. H. Merrett, both having great receptions.

Harris gave clever exhibitions of surf board and body shooting, and also took an oar in one of the surf lifeboats.

The dinner at the Hotel Pacific was a huge success.

...

MODEST BILL HARRIS.

When Bill Harris surfs he wears abluish-colored woollen costume bearing a badge on chest — a black flying fish upon the letter H.
Whilst surfing together at Cronulla last Sunday week, I asked him what the badge represented, and he replied, 'Oh, just a new badge we've got over home.'
I discovered today that the new badge is one recentlyissued by the Hawaiian A.A.U. to athletes who had rendered signal services to swimming, in reality, a representative badge.
My news was contained in an American letter from Handley, the famous coach, who remarked that it was a fitting mark of recognition to accord representative swimmers.

Trove
1923 'Are Surfers Amateurs?', Arrow (Sydney, NSW : 1916 - 1933), 26 January, p. 6. , viewed 03 Apr 2016,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103538310

Tweed Daily
Murwillumbah, Saturday, 27 January 1923, page 4.

BYRON BAY SURF CARNIVAL.

Tweed Heads Team Wins "T. A. Browne" Competition.

There was
                          between 2000 and 3000 people gathered at Byron
                          Bay yesterday to witness the Byron Bay Surf
                          and Life Saving Club 's big carnival.
 
 

...
Surf Board Display: C. Thomson, Tweed Heads, 1; C. Getto [Cliff Gettoes], Byron Bay, 2.

Trove
1923 'BYRON BAY SURF CARNIVAL.', Tweed Daily (Murwillumbah, NSW : 1914 - 1949), 27 January, p. 4. , viewed 03 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article192107023

The Mail
Adelaide, Saturday, 3 February 1923, page 3.

Charlton v. Weismuller.

...
Harris spoke interestingly of his meeting with the Prince of Wales during the visit of His Royal Highness to Honolulu.

He took the Prince out on a surf board and they tried some stunts, in one of which Bill was carrying the Prince on his shoulders.
In the midst of this an extra big wave tipped the board over, and the future King of England disappeared beneath the water.

"Gee! he didn't come up for quite a while, and I was beginning to wonder what had become of him," said Bill.
''At last, to my great relief, up he shot, wearing a broad smile, and declaring it was a great lark.
Well, it didn't seem much of a lark to me to think I. might have been blamed for drowning a Royal Highness."

Trove
1923 'Charlton v. Weismuller.', The Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954), 3 February, p. 3. , viewed 03 Apr 2016,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63775789

Mirror
Perth, Saturday, 3 February 1923, page 4.

YACHTING YELPS

-By 'THE OLD SALT.'

Jemy A., seen on the surf-board last Saturday.
Look out for Sharks next time Jemy.

Trove
1923 'YACHTING YELPS', Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 - 1956), 3 February, p. 4. , viewed 03 Apr 2016,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77756902

Evening News
Sydney, 21 March 1923, page 1.

NOVELTY FOR SURFERS

Up-to-date Manly has one of the pneumatic surf riders made in the shape of a fish, and covered with canvas.
It is said no skill is required to use.

Trove
1923 'NOVELTY FOR SURFERS', Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), 21 March, p. 1. , viewed 01 Jul 2016,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118833601

NOT A NEW KIND OF FISH

De Rougemont has not come to life again, as might be thought from the picture.
It is a Manly swimmer, using the new type of what is known as theLouis de Rougemont
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_de_Rougemont

Evening News
Wednesday, 28 March 1923, page 16.

ON A 'BEACHER'— Surf-board shooting is one of the most popular sports on the beaches these days, and this photograph shows a surfer at Manly well 'on' a wave. —'News' Reader.

Trove
1923 'Send your Pictures to the "News"', Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), 28 March, p. 16. , viewed 04 Apr 2016,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118843226

Trove
1923 'News of the [?]our in Capital Pictures The World Through a Camera Lens', The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), 9 April, p. 12. (FINAL EXTRA), viewed 04 Apr 2016,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223446511

Surfboard Succeeds Where Boat Fails in Breakers

(By THE STARTER.)

The beltmen, with Bill Herald in the lead, brought the bulk of the patients ashore safely, not any requiring treatment.

A WONDERFUL RESCUE.

Life-saver Claude West made a great save per medium of his surfboard.
One bather whom the beltman could not reach owing to his close proximity to the rocks, seemed to be doomed, when West, sizing up the position, paddled his board to his assistance, dragged the patient on to the surfboard, and, catching a wave in masterly style, landed the rescued one high and dry on the beach.

Spectators declare that West's work on the board was the best ever seen at Manly.
Claude West, with Steve Dowling, were probably the first pair to master the art of surfboard riding, taking to the sport after the visit of Kahanamoku in 1915.
West won last State surf board championship in 1921-22

Rough Sea Beats Surfers

The third annual carnival of the South Coast Surf Association, held to-day, was somewhat marred owing to the buoys having been placed too far out in a rough sea, with the result that the officials decided not to allow surf events to be contested until the buoys were brought nearer shore.
Members of the Bondi team and Steve Dowling (Manly), on surf boards, brought the buoys nearer shore, but the sea took charge, and washed the buoys ashore.
It was then decided to place a man on a surf board out to sea, and to go on with the Johnny Walker competition, for which all teams competed.
The surf board man could not get out, and several individual swimmers acted as buoys.
Of the five belt men who swam only two reached their objective.
The other belt men found the sea too strong for them, and, after battling for about fifteen minutes, were recalled.
C. D. Patterson, referee, referred to the bravery of Piddock, of Queencliff Club, in being the first to offer to swim out to act as a human buoy, which caused others to volunteer.
All other surf events were abandoned.
Results : —

Johnny Walker No. 2 Surf Boat Competition: Manly, 90.16, 1 ; North Steyne, 85.05, 2.
March Past: Bronte, 1 ; North Steyne, 2.
Fifteen teams competed.
Wheelbarrow Race : South Wollongong, 1 ; North Steyne, 2.
Beach Flag Relay Race : North Narrabeen, 1 ; North Steyne 2.
Sack Race : Fowler (Woonona). 1 ; Hall (Woonona), 2.
Pillow Fight : Whitehead (North Steyne)

Brilliant Australian Girl

Still another Australian girl has won her laurels in America.

Miss Isabel Letham, who will be remembered for her stunt swimming, aqua-planing, and surf-board riding in Sydney, has been appointed teacher of swimming at California University.

She is just 23 years' old, an, and when 19 she went to America to carve a career at Hollywood.

But the
                            call of the water was too strong, so she
                            turned once more to swimming, with
                            conspicuous success.

Trove
1923 'NEWS AND NOTES', The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), 2 August, p. 13. (FINAL EDITION), viewed 01 Jul 2016,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224097649

The story has to do with the love experience of a girl who has lived her life among the flowers and traditions of Hawaii.

Trove
1923 'BETTY COMPSON AT HAYMARKET', Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), 26 August, p. 21. , viewed 04 Apr 2016,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120543988

wiki: The White Flower
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Flower

NORTH NARRABEEN DOINGS.

Application has been made to the S.L.S.A. for permission to hold a carnival on the Saturday preceding Christmas day.

Boats and surf-boards were in great demand on almost every beach last week-end.
The clubs are polishing their teams for the big events at North Steyne Carnival on December 22.

...

MANLY PREPARING.

A squad presented themselves for surf bronze medallions last Sunday, the examiners being H. Rathborne, J. Murray, and H. Ralph.

 
 The
                            team for the surf relay at North Steyne's
                            carnival will be selected from Harry Hay,
                            Goya and Ernest Henry, Kenny Watson, Alec
                            Morton, and M. C. Crackanthorp.

The R. and R. A team will be chosen from M. C. and J. S. Crackanthorp, G. Pike, J. Macaulay, Kenny Watson, F. Russell, and J. O. Downing.

Ainsley Walker, in Melbourne for some time, has returned, presumably to prepare for the defence of the King's Cup, which he carried off last season.

GOYA HENRY,

One of the best surf and still water swimmers, Henry is a physical marvel, weighing only 8st 61b.

He is expected to do better than ever this season.

Trove
1923 'DOINGS ON OCEAN BEACHES', Arrow (Sydney, NSW : 1916 - 1933), 30 November, p. 13. , viewed 04 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103541348

CLAUDE WEST AGAIN.

Claude West, M. Crackanthorp, and Life-Saver Gorman had a busy time last Saturday afternoon.
At different times no fewer than 15 bathers were assisted.

Claude West, the State Surfboard Champion, has a wonderful record as a life saver.
To date he has snatched over 1500 from watery graves, including the late Sir Walter Davidson.

One of the most thrilling rescues effected on the coast was that brought off by Claude West last Summer at South Steyne, when a youngster, getting into the tow, was whisked seawards.

He was perilously close to the rocks and destruction, when West shot out on his surf board, placed the almost drowned boy aboard, and, catching a wave, magnificently landed himself and' patient high and dry on the beach.

The Sun
Sydney, Friday, 14 December 1923, page 5.

SURFING

Are Carnivals Attractive ?

When "Duke" Kahanamoku visited Australia he brought his own surf board and proceeded to astonish our surf champions by the manner in which he fearlessly used big unbroken waves to give exhibitions of surf board riding.

Till then our board-shooters used only the broken waves, and the stunts of tho Honolulu swimmer gave a greater zest to the sport and stirred in our men the spirit of emulation, with the result that to-day we have on our beaches numbers of experts who are able to give thrilling exhibitions of the art, and who display skill not inferior to the best ever shown by Kahanamoku.

Although it is generally contended that surf carnivals are dull affair, and much hard thinking has been done by everyone concerned in the hope of brightening up these events, still the public patronage is there, and we find that crowds ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 regularly throng every available vantage point for the carnivals of the biggest clubs, and this despite the fact that large numbers of the onlookers hardly get a decent view, and are often without the slightest Idea of what events are being decided.

No doubt the surf boat race, surf hoard riding, beach and surf and novelty events will continue to be an irresistible attraction to tens of thousands at the carnivals this year.

Trove
1923 'SURFING', The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), 14 December, p. 5. (FINAL EXTRA), viewed 04 Apr 2016,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222673614

Manly Win Principal Event at North Steyne

(By DINGER.)

Steve Dowling gave a wonderful surf-board exhibition, but finished outside the area and was disqualified.

Trove

FATHOMS DOWLING UNLUCKY.

After giving such a splendid exhibition of surf board riding, Steve (Fathoms) Dowling was distinctly unlucky not to be awarded the prize.

Fathoms was lying fourth on the homeward stretch, when the leaders, in trying to get a shoot, were separated from their woodwork.
Dowling survived, however, and, holding a big, green wave in clever fashion, rushed shore wards at a terrific pace.
As he neared the beach he stood erect on his board and landed high and dry — a few yards outside the enclosure, and was disqualified.
E. Rostrum (North Bondi) was placed first.
Why were not some of the surf boat crews similarly treated when they finished outside the area?