Much of the club's history is missing prior to 1953. In 1982 the original minute book of 1933 was returned to the club, this enabled us to determine when the club was formed and helped fill in some of the gaps in our history. As I delve into the club's archives I will attempt to reconstruct the club's history on this Web Page. The information that follows was taken from an article written by the local newspaper about the club's 50th anniversary in 1983.

IN THE BEGINNING

The Port Noarlunga Surf Life Saving Club was originally formed in the mid 1920's by Dr Davis, who at the time was concerned about the safety of the bathing public at Port Noarlunga. Together with a group of people, Dr Davis formed the first Port Noarlunga Lifesavers in 1926. In these early days, Port Noarlunga was a very popular holiday destination. Many of the these holiday makers became interested in lifesaving and would travel down to Port Noarlunga each weekend to assist in Patrolling the beach.. When the Great Depression hit in the late 1920's, membership dropped and so did the clubs finances. By 1929 the club went into recess after only three years of existence.

On February 7th 1933 a public meeting was held at the local institute and the club was reformed. The club became affiliated with the Royal Life Saving Society and had 21 associate and 15 active members in it's first year. The colours of chocolate and gold were chosen as the club's colours. The club rented a bathing box from the local council as it's club house for the first year.

Club members proceeded to raise funds in that first year to pay for a new club house. One of their more entrepreneurial ventures was to display a shark that had been caught at Port Noarlunga and charge the public a silver coin to see it. By September of 1934 the first club house was completed.

In 1936, club patron Mr Hugh Corpe donated the club's first rescue boat, which was officially launched on New Year's Day 1937. The boat was named the Pete McKay in honour of a local resident who was instrumental in saving a number of lives. On April 17 1938 the boat broke it's moorings and was wrecked at Christies Beach.

THE ADVENT OF WORLD WAR II

With the beginning of World War II, many of the club's members decided to enlist in the armed forces. The Advertiser reported that 46 members of the Port Noarlunga Surf Life Saving Club were in the armed forces. Of those serving, three were reported as killed and one missing. With so many of the club's active members away fighting in the war, the club had to rely on a group of young women to fill the depleted ranks . If it hadn't been for the dedication of these women, assisting with patrols and competiting in carnivals, then the Port Noarlunga Club would have surely folded as it had 10 years earlier.

In the 1944-45 season the Port Noarlunga women were March-Past Champions and the club was also credited with gaining the highest number of awards for the year.

A NEW ERA

After 20 years of being affiliated with the Royal Life Saving Society, the Port Noarlunga Club becomes affiliated with the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia in 1953. It was decided that the original clubrooms had become inadequate and plans were set down for a new club house. In November 1954, Judge Adrian Curlewis laid the foundation stone for the new clubrooms.

Left to Right: Geoff Price, Gerald England, George Hann, Brian Hammer, Peter Barrington, Harold Briscoe, Cliff Hann, John Hann, Judge Curlewis and Bob Reid

In the background is the old White House once owned by club patron's Mr & Mrs Hugh & Frieda Corpe, who gave the club much financial support in the early days. The house is still standing.

Left to Right: Harold Briscoe, Peter Barrington, Robin Weatherald, Frank Harris, Bob Reid and Geoff Price.

The mid to late 1970's saw a change in rescue methods as club's started to purchase IRB's (affectionately referred to as "Rubber Ducks"). Port Noarlunga was one of three clubs in South Australia to purchase one of these boats in 1976. With the introduction of these rescue boats into Surf Life Saving, clubs could perform rescues much faster than the old methods of Surf Reel and Belt.

In the late 1970's the Noarlunga City Council decide to redevelop the forshore of Port Noarlunga. This included the building of a new club house complex. By the 1980-81 season the construction was well under way and the club had to operate out of a trailer which was towed to the beach each weekend. By the start of the 1981-82 season the new clubrooms were completed (except for the internal fittings) and the club moved back in. The 1981-82 season proved to be a very hectic one for the club as they hosted the Junior State Titles and co-hosted the Australian Titles at Moana. This season also saw the club perform extremely well in patrolling the beach, with the highest number of rescues (12), first aid cases (83) and awards gained by members (99) in the state for that year.