Our History
“Vigilance and Service”
Aboriginal people lived on Sydney's Northern beaches for millennia before the arrival of the first Fleet in January 1788, and it's believed that the Kay-yee-my may have fished and hunted around Dee Why Beach and lagoon.
Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club is one of the oldest surf life saving clubs in Australia being established in 1912. The Club held its first Annual General Meeting in 1913 and the original minutes are now part of the historical records of the Club in the Mitchell Library.
Francis Bauer founded the Club and his name is recorded on the honour board at the entrance to the clubhouse. Francis Bauer died at Gallipoli on 20 September 1915 about 3 years after the establishment of the Club.
The motto of surf life saving and our Club is “Vigilance and Service”. The original members of surf life saving were associated with service during the First World War and on the sacrifice of the men and women who served our country in wartime. The War Memorial at the head of Howard Avenue was erected by members of the Club. Club members carved out the original rock pool, planted the Norfolk Island pines and funded the original promenade.
The Club has had many distinguished members over the years including Robynann Dixon, the first female club captain, and Patricia Newton, the first female club president. Our present patron is Sir William Deane, former Justice of the High Court of Australia, former Governor General and former patrolling member. Women became active patrolling members of our Club in 1983 and the nipper program commenced for boys in about 1976 and for girls about 10 years later.
Other milestones include the building of four clubhouses, including the present clubhouse in 1969.
The Club has been patrolling Dee Why Beach since 1912. No lives have been lost in the patrolled area of the beach in that time. The Club is proud of its history in the service that it has provided to members of the public in patrolling Dee Why Beach, its education of its bronze candidates who take with them skills into the wider public and the competition and comradery among its club members and the wider surf life saving movement of the 319 clubs affiliated with Surf Life Saving Australia.
Two books have been published on the history of the Club, the first in 1962 by Ern Thomas entitled The Drowning Don’t Die, commemorating the first 50 years of the Club’s history. The most recent book 100 Years by John Thompson was published for the Club’s centenary.
Both books are available to purchase from the clubhouse, please reach out to admin@dyslsc.org.au
1912-1934: Foundation and Early Growth
1912 – Francis Bauer founded the Club on October 12, 1912 and his name is recorded on the honor board at the entrance to the clubhouse. (Francis Bauer died at Gallipoli on 20 September 1915)
1913 – The first Dee Why Surf Club house was built in 1913. The first Surf Carnival was held on November 7. Competing on the day were ten clubs covering the Sydney area. First Annual General Meeting was held on September 30 1913 – Minutes are now part of the Clubs historical records and located in the Mitchell Library.
1915 – Members of the Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club were responsible for carving a rock pool about 20ft square out of the rock shelf
1915 – The famous Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku had given the first public exhibition of board riding in Australia at Dee Why.
1917 – Facing Howard Ave, the War Memorial was erected by Dee Why SLSC. When it was unveiled on April 9, 1917, it contained the names of 38 members of the surf club who enlisted for service in World War I. After the war, another 10 names were added.
1920 – By 1920 there were 89 active and 10 junior members, so the committee decided that, with an ever-growing register, a bigger clubhouse was needed.
1921 – Official opening of the second Club house, built by the surf club members.
1930 – Dee Why return to the beach with their patient in an R & R event at Narrabeen. Laurie O’Toole is on the left at front and Reg Chad at back with legs on shoulder.
1931 – Members of the Dee Why Lifesaving and Surf Club. Winners of the H.R Miller trophy. Notable faces: Arthur Henley, Laurie O’Toole, Eddie Scarf. H.R Miller was a wealthy benefactor.
1932 – Surf Carnival was held to recognise the selection of three lifesavers, Eddie Scarf of Dee Why, and Noel Ryan and Boy Charlton of Manly to represent Australia at the Olympic Games.
Photographs: Courtesy of our Members & Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies
1935-1968: Expansion and competition
1935 – The third Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club house built in 1935
1942 – Dee Why Surf Boat Crew – Left to Right. Alf Lotan, Eddie Quirk, Ray Gee, Laurie Inkster, Norm Harris
1944 – Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club ladies march past team and the Junior Resus and Rescue Team
1945 – In January 1945, Boat Sweep Norm Harris and crew members, Bill Miller, Les Greg, Bert Bryant, Eddie Quirk and George Thompson wrote their names into the record book after they completed the longest surfboat row (Dee Why to Newcastle) in Australia’s history.
1946 – The Dee Why Surf Club bought two blocks of land on the corner of The Strand and Dee Why Parade where a tall block of flats is now. They allowed caravans to park on it which helped the SLSC pay off the loan for the purchase of the land. The site was very popular, with caravans arriving from all over Australia. They gave the land to the Council in a deal to build a new clubhouse.
1951 – Perths Scarborough Beach. Great achievers: the only Dee Why team to ever win an Australian R & R senior Championships title. Tom Dalton, Harold Gee, Peter McKenzie, Cameron Copland, Hugh Maccallum and Joe Thoroughgood. SLSA President Sir Adrian Curlewis is far left.
1968 – Dee Why Beach showing the 3rd & 4th clubhouses. The third clubhouse still operated while the new clubhouse was being constructed.
Photographs: Courtesy of our Members & Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies
1969-2000: change and inclusion
1969 – The fourth Dee Why Surf Life Saving Clubhouse opened on April 12 1969. The third clubhouse still operated while the new clubhouse was being constructed.
1970 – Jet Boats started operations, and in the first two years of operation, the jet boats performed 360 rescues and made Dee Why Beach one of the safest patrolled beaches in the country. Billy Gee at the wheel was the Club’s first power boat captain.
1975 – Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club hosted the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships
1976 – Nippers Program commenced for boys, and girls commenced 10 years later
1978 – Dee Why was presented with its first IRB just before Christmas 1978. From 1982 on, IRBs gradually evolved from there as more members started to get their IRB license.
1982 – That was the birth of the Clark Kent Cup, the event was a hugh success for 13 years.
1983 – Women became active patrolling members of our Club
1986 – Dee Why started racing IRBs and made their presence at Branch IRB Championships at Newport in June.
1990 – Robynann Dixon, the first female Club Captain
1994 – Silver Medals at the NSW Patrol competition. Phil Thomas, Steve Haggett, Pieter Boer, Sue Kearney, Shane Bowker and Steve Dunn.
1996 & 1997 – NSW Lifesaver of the Year awarded to members Steve Haggett and one year later Phil Thomas
1998 – Patricia (Trish) Newton, became the first female club president of Dee Why SLSC and first ever women president of a Surf Life Saving Club in Australia.
Photographs: Courtesy of our Members & Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies
2001-2014: redevelopment and growth
2007 – Second female president to be elected by the members, Adrienne Lowe. With Adrienne at the helm Dee Why were high achievers in the areas of education and adminstration.
2008 – A relationship between Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club and the Orange Bush Nippers commenced in 2008 and to this day still remains as strong as ever. The first group of Orange Bush Nippers received their Surf Rescue Certificates in 2012 and to this day 139 member awards have been achieved.
2009 – Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club hosted The Layne Beachley Classic from 2009-2012
2010 – Robert Cheney was the first individual Dee Why member to compete in the gruelling Coolangatta Gold.
2011 – Australia Day – Orange Nippers visit Dee Why as part of the Big Brother movement.
2011 – The club was successful obtaining a capital works grant which allowed the club to substantially increase its storage facility and add a new northern function room.
2011 – The opening round of Ocean Thunder Boat Series began at Dee Why Beach in November
2014 – Anzac Day Centenary Celebration
Photographs: Courtesy of our Members & Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies
2015-PRESENT: stay tuned – coming soon.
2015– stay tuned, coming soon.