One of Bondi’s best
One on the best seasons in the club’s history was recently reported to the 103rd annual general meeting of Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club.
Some of the highlights of the 2009-10 season were:
The 696 lifesaving awards members gained, including 73 who passed the bronze medallion exam, the basic qualification for active surf lifesaving duty.
The inaugural Bondi to Watsons Bay ocean races that attracted 165 ski paddlers and 30 surfboat crews.
Continued competitive success, notably in surf lifesaving, swimming and kayaking and the winning of 20 medals — 11 of them gold — at the World Masters Games in Sydney.
Considerable achievements with the winning of eight medals, including three gold, in the NSW championships at Swansea-Belmond and five medals — one of them gold — in the Australian championships at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast before the remaining water events were cancelled due to dangerous surf conditions.
Bondi’s first win for 19 years of the 68th annual 20-person Stan and Basil McDonald Memorial surf relay against neighbouring rival North Bondi.
Attracting 809 entries for the inaugural Bondi Bluewater Challenge, hosted by the club as the 14th and final event of the series organised by Ocean Swims NSW – unfortunately it had to be called off midway through the first of two races because of treacherous seas.
The club’s out-going management board was returned unopposed for the 2010/11 seasons with one exception. Andrew Hoggett replaced as director of marketing and sponsorship Richard McDougall, who did not seek re-election having recently taken up a new employment position in Brisbane.
Other members of Bondi’s nine-member board for the 2010/11 season are: Andrew Winters (president), Jacob Waks (deputy president), Will Hardman (director of finance), Leo Hyde (administration), Bill Measday (lifesaving), Colin Panagakis (education), Mike Gencher (junior activities/nippers) and Grant Veckranges (surf sports).
