History

See a list of our distinguished life members .

We have a page dedicated to Ron Strong, O.A.M. , who is also one of our life members.

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OUR HISTORY
Throughout the history of WBPSLSC no lives have been lost during patrols at Warilla beach. This is something that the members and public should be proud of; after all, protecting Warilla Beach is our number one objective.

Below is a brief history of our club showing what is considered to be the highlights of each season taken from the Annual Reports.

 

Formed Steering Committee formed early 1959 with members from Shellharbour SLSCPublic Meeting 24th February 1960
General Meeting 7 April 1960 – First Office Bearers elected
Location Southern End Warilla Beach
First Season 1960-61
32 active, 15 associate, 1 honorary comprising of 12 Bronze, 16 Cadets 6 sub-cadets.
30 Awards during first season.
Won Branch Patrol Efficiency Competition.
Obtained Surf Boat from Whale Beach SLSC.
Equipment 2 reels, signal flags, tent and patrol flags

1966-67 Beach washed away by big seas, later to become a regular problem
1969-70 Steve Thomas won our first State medal – Flags
Lod Leggett became our first Life Member, Tom Strong soon followed.
Tom’s sons, Ron and Vic were to become life members in later years
1973-74 WBP & Shellharbour SLSC purchase Jet Rescue Boat with Shellharbour Council support.
Official opening of Clubhouse (Bucknell Street)
Steve Thomas won clubs’ first Australian medal - Flags
1974-75 Noel Hayman Won Australian Medal – Beach Champion
1978-79 Illawarra Branch split and South Coast Branch formed with clubs from Warilla Barrack Point in the north, to Mollymook in the south. Batemans Bay was to join the Branch in later years.
Clubhouse re-located to the north after Warilla Beach washed away.
1979-80 First IRB won by Dapto Bowling club and presented to Warilla.
1980-81 New Jet Boat purchased for $16,937 (complete)
1982-83 Stage 1 of new clubhouse completed ($157,000)
1983-84 Second IRB won by Boaties in Mayne Nickless competition
1984-85 25 Year Anniversary held
Club hosted NSW Junior Country Titles
Stage 1 officially opened.
1985-86 83 Life Saving Awards gained including 30 Bronze.
Ron Strong made Life Member of South Coast Branch.
1986-87 Launching of new surfboat, new IRB and several skis and boards.
Focus was placed back on members needs following stage 1 of clubhouse.
1987-88 Vandals cause extensive damage to Radio Tower and Equipment.
1988-89 Club obtained Public Hall licence to hold functions.
1989-90 Committee undertook major review of Constitution.
A & B boat crews win inaugaral gold medals at Country Titles.
Boat crews completed in George Bass and Bourke to Brewarrina marathons.
Club becomes incorporated.
1990-91 Club hosted NSW Inter-Branch Junior Championships.
A Beveridge and K Pearson made Life Members.
73 junior members gain their National Awards.
Shane Dowel wins 8 Gold medals at Country Titles (Man of Carnival).
1991-92 Treasurer Norm Barker made Life Member.
New IRB launched.
Ron Strong awarded Shellharbour Australia Day Sports Award.
G Beveridge, D Rodwell and D Sheedy selected to tour New Zealand with NSW Country Team.
1992-93 Ron Strong made Life Member NSW State Centre.
Juniors won Branch Point score.
1993-94 IRB won Country Titles and our first Australian Gold medal in IRB competition at Freshwater.
1994-95 Club celebrates 35th Anniversary.
Stage 2 of Clubhouse officially opened.
1995-96 Club hosted NSW Senior Country Titles and NSW Junior Inter-Branch Titles.
Veteran Boat crew win gold at Australian Masters (35-39 group).
1996-97 Lod Leggett and Ken Vance, Life and Foundation members, pass away.
Alfab donate new surfboat.
1997-98 New IRB and motor donated by BP Aust and C- Lite.
Life member Vic Strong passed away.
1998-99 Extensions to Gear shed commenced.
1999-00 40 Anniversary celebrated
Warilla Bowling and Recreation Club donate a new surfboat
David Smith named South Coast Branch Junior Competitor of the Year and Shellharbour Junior Sports Star of the Year
Cassie Haines named South Coast under 16 of the Year
Nicole Sheedy named under 18 of the Year
Warilla won overall point score in at Branch, Junior, Senior and IRB championships
Warilla Barrack Point SLSC opens its website www.warillasurf.org.au
2000-01 Gary Trotter, Laurie Boyle and Tony White are made life members of the Club
Warilla Bowls Boat series commences
KJ Scaffolding donate a new boat and trailer
David smith selected in the state Team
Warilla Barrack point remain Branch Junior, Senior and IRB champions
2001-02 Warilla Bowling and Recreation Club donate a new IRB and Trailer
Ron strong is awarded an OAM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours
David Smith named Shellharbour Junior Sports Star of the Year
Juniors won Country and Branch
Norm Barker, treasurer for the past 30 years, retires
2002-03 Sydney Water Surf Premiership introduced, Warilla - Barrack Point the inaugural winners, D Smith 2nd U/16 Surf and Britney Sharkey 3rd U/19 Iron Person at the Australian Titles, David Smith selected in the NSW State Team

2003-04

Warilla - Barrack Point win the Sydney Water Series for the 2nd Year, David Smith & Britney Sharkey selected for State Team, NSW Junior & Senior State Titles at Shellharbour (huge seas for Juniors) – Warilla wins total of 26 medals – our highest ever at this level. David Smith & Cameron Warren win the U/19 double ski at the Australian Titles. At the Mason’s Awards for Excellence Marty Smith wins the Coach of the Year Award, David Smith wins the Country Competitor of the year. Warilla Bowls Boat Series attracts 70 crews, Warilla Bowling club donates Quad (Gator), extensions to Gear Shed completed.
 2004-05 Britney Sharkey, David Smith & Jordan White selected for the NSW State team, for the 3rd year in a row Warilla - Barrack Point wins the Sydney Water Surf Series, 25 year awards presented to Laurie Boyle & David Arapali, Ron Strong receives 50 year award. A total of 26 Bronze Medallions awarded
 2005-06  Jim Bradley arranges for donation of Disabled Aquatic Chair to the club, Warilla again wins the Sydney Water Surf Series. NSW Open Championships – club wins 18 medals. At the Aussies the club wins 7 medals. 15 year patrol awards presented to Tony White, Gary Trotter and Alan Beveridge. World Titles held in Victoria, IRB crew win bronze at the Australian IRB Titles.
 2006-07 Sydney Water Surf Series champions, Warilla Bowling Club donates an IRB & Motor. Kim Day, Bruce & Bev Tener get their Bronze Medallion (all over 50 yrs of age!). Alan Beveridge & Jim Poplin awarded Life Membership of NSW SLSA.
 2007-08  Marty Smith nominated and granted Life Membership.  At the Aussies club wins total of 33 medals Warilla Barrack Point finished in 12 place. Building plans for clubhouse submitted to council. David Smith selected in the K4’s for Olympics in Beijing. Surf boats being refurbished by Warilla Hotel & KJ Scaffolding. Club Constitution reviewed and updated.
2008-09  Bruce Webb becomes Club 17th Life Member. Again we take out the Sydney Water Series, club overall NSW Country Champions, WPB finishes in the top 10 Clubs at Australian Titles, Plans for the Club’s 50 Anniversary to be held in Oct 2009 get underway.
 2009  Our 50th Anniversary celebrations

Ron Strong, Laurie Boyle, Graeme Morrison
 
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