SURF’S UP, LET’S GO CELEBRATE
Published Saturday, 21 February, 2009 at 01:51 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
COOLANGATTA: Former Gold Coast girl Premier Anna Bligh returned to the Gold Coast today to witness the re-enactment at Greenmount Beach of the first recorded surf rescue on a Queensland beach.
“Surf Life Saving Queensland is celebrating its Centenary in Queensland’s 150th anniversary year of separation from New South Wales.
“The re-enactment is part of Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Celebrating a Century of Summers event which is a recipient of $10,000 in Q150 Community Funding.
“Sun, sand, surf and surf life saving clubs, have been a big part of the lives of many Queenslanders for the past century,” Ms Bligh said.
“Today’s re-enactment of the rescue of a group of young women in difficulty in the surf on 21 February 1909, is pivotal to the history of Surf Life Saving Queensland.
“It lead directly to the formation of the State’s first surf club – the forerunner to today’s Tweed Heads and Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club.
“Very soon it was clear that the establishment of the first club was the start of something big.
“Surf life saving clubs mushroomed around the state and for good reason.
“With the lure of the cooling surf came some spills and mortal danger from rips.
“Having life savers on hand to select the safest spots for swimming and surfing makes life at the beach today that much safer and that much more fun.
“In fact, it’s hard to think of going to the beach without the benefit of the watchful eye of lifesavers.
“The red and yellow cossies and cap are a re-assuring part of life in Queensland, Australia.
“Queensland’s 150th anniversary celebrations are all about our people, our places and our stories.
“Today’s Centenary re-enactment gives us the opportunity to pause for a moment and reflect on the contribution surf life saving clubs and their remarkable volunteers make to our great Queensland lifestyle every year.”
The celebrations, a family fun day at Greenmount Beach from 11am – 5pm, includes a march past, re-enactment of the first rescue in period costume, and demonstration of SLSQ’s current range of rescue craft and equipment will take place between noon and 1pm.
SLSQ executive manager John Brennan said Surf Life Saving Queensland had come a long way since that first rescue in 1909, which led to the establishment of the state’s first surf club a few days later.
“We now have 59 clubs across Queensland and more than 32,000 members who dedicate their time to keeping our beaches, and the people who use them, safe,” he said.
“In many ways, that rescue represented the birth of a movement that is now so much a part of Queensland’s cultural landscape.
“For this reason, we feel it’s fitting to be celebrating the centenary of our first rescue in the same year Queensland celebrates its 150th birthday, because our history is also a big part of the state’s history as a whole.”
The Queensland Government introduced the Q150 Community Funding program in 2007 to enable communities to plan and stage their own Q150 celebrations.
The program offered grants between $2000 and $10,000 for community projects and events. A total of $4 million has been allocated over three rounds. There are now more than 500 Q150 Community Funding activities and events for Queenslanders to participate in around the State this year.
2009 marks Queensland’s 150th year of separation from New South Wales.
Media inquiries: 3224 4500
“Surf Life Saving Queensland is celebrating its Centenary in Queensland’s 150th anniversary year of separation from New South Wales.
“The re-enactment is part of Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Celebrating a Century of Summers event which is a recipient of $10,000 in Q150 Community Funding.
“Sun, sand, surf and surf life saving clubs, have been a big part of the lives of many Queenslanders for the past century,” Ms Bligh said.
“Today’s re-enactment of the rescue of a group of young women in difficulty in the surf on 21 February 1909, is pivotal to the history of Surf Life Saving Queensland.
“It lead directly to the formation of the State’s first surf club – the forerunner to today’s Tweed Heads and Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club.
“Very soon it was clear that the establishment of the first club was the start of something big.
“Surf life saving clubs mushroomed around the state and for good reason.
“With the lure of the cooling surf came some spills and mortal danger from rips.
“Having life savers on hand to select the safest spots for swimming and surfing makes life at the beach today that much safer and that much more fun.
“In fact, it’s hard to think of going to the beach without the benefit of the watchful eye of lifesavers.
“The red and yellow cossies and cap are a re-assuring part of life in Queensland, Australia.
“Queensland’s 150th anniversary celebrations are all about our people, our places and our stories.
“Today’s Centenary re-enactment gives us the opportunity to pause for a moment and reflect on the contribution surf life saving clubs and their remarkable volunteers make to our great Queensland lifestyle every year.”
The celebrations, a family fun day at Greenmount Beach from 11am – 5pm, includes a march past, re-enactment of the first rescue in period costume, and demonstration of SLSQ’s current range of rescue craft and equipment will take place between noon and 1pm.
SLSQ executive manager John Brennan said Surf Life Saving Queensland had come a long way since that first rescue in 1909, which led to the establishment of the state’s first surf club a few days later.
“We now have 59 clubs across Queensland and more than 32,000 members who dedicate their time to keeping our beaches, and the people who use them, safe,” he said.
“In many ways, that rescue represented the birth of a movement that is now so much a part of Queensland’s cultural landscape.
“For this reason, we feel it’s fitting to be celebrating the centenary of our first rescue in the same year Queensland celebrates its 150th birthday, because our history is also a big part of the state’s history as a whole.”
The Queensland Government introduced the Q150 Community Funding program in 2007 to enable communities to plan and stage their own Q150 celebrations.
The program offered grants between $2000 and $10,000 for community projects and events. A total of $4 million has been allocated over three rounds. There are now more than 500 Q150 Community Funding activities and events for Queenslanders to participate in around the State this year.
2009 marks Queensland’s 150th year of separation from New South Wales.
Media inquiries: 3224 4500