The inaugural surf carnival was held at the new beach at Myalup on 28 November 1937 and was attended by over 1,000 people from Harvey and surrounding districts. The Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club entertained the crowd with various drills and it was hoped, due to the popularity of Myalup Beach, that a surf life-saving club would be formed there.
Following are newspaper articles and photos pertaining to the event.
In preparation:
SURF CARNIVAL. Sites Selected. The committee in charge of the arrangements for the conduct of the surf carnival at Myalup Beach met on Wednesday evening Mr G Durack who presided at the meeting reported that several members of the committee had motored to the beach that afternoon and selected sites for the various dressing rooms and dining tents and the arena in which the programme by the Cottesloe Surf Club will stage their events. Arrangements were shown to be well in hand for a very successful day’s outing on Sunday…
The road from Harvey was recently completed and is in first class condition right to the beach. Hot water will be available in the camping area at the end of the road and there will also be cool drinks and fruit stalls on the beach and in the camping ground.
Buses will be leaving Harvey throughout the day from an early hour during the morning and it is anticipated that a large crowd from Harvey and the surrounding districts will avail themselves of the days outing.[1]
The actual day:
SURF LIFE-SAVING. Displays at West Myalup. Nearly 1,000 people from Harvey and surrounding districts journeyed to the new beach at Myalup in the West ward of the Harvey Road Board yesterday to watch inaugural surf life-saving displays by teams from the Cottesloe men’s and women’s clubs. The teams were met by Messrs. J. Lowes (chairman of the Harvey Road Board), and Gerald Durack (chairman of the beach committee) and several members of the committee and prominent citizens. The new beach, known as West Myalup, is 15 miles from Harvey and is wide and open, extending from opposite the track from the road for at least two miles in either direction. It is clean and free from rocks and in the water there are no signs of rocks or channels. There is a small bank which should disappear in the near future. A medium southerly breeze whipped up some nice surf and the crowd, estimated to be nearly 500 before lunch, watched a grand march past of teams, a beach relay and a surf relay. Luncheon was then taken about 100 yards from the beach in a sheltered hollow, which will later be turned into a playing field and camping area. The area is surrounded by high hills and only the lightest breezes filter through. Officials stated that there was an ample supply of water, and that grasses would be sown. During the past 12 months the Harvey Road Board has metalled nearly six miles of track to complete the road from the townsite.
Immediately after lunch the surf teams gave displays of rescue and release methods, and a complete demonstration of the rescue and resuscitation methods. These were followed by an alarm reel and surf relay. All movements were detailed by Mr. G. Baron Hay (president of the Cottesloe club). A touch of reality was given to the display when the three teams were doing the rescue and resuscitation event. The rescuers had gone out and had secured their patients and the teams were pulling the lines in when one broke, with the patient only two-thirds of his way back to the beach. As soon as the linesmen saw that the weight had gone from the line and that the rescuer was holding up his patient, they entered the water and assisted to complete the rescue. Apparently the line had become tangled in the heavy seas with other lines and snapped. Before the close of the display Mr. Gerald Durack thanked the visitors, and said that a local club was likely to be formed and young men of the district would be trained to act as guardians of the people who would now be able to enjoy bathing near their homes. Mr. Baron Hay briefly responded and Mr. A. Prior (captain of the Cottesloe club) appealed to young men to join the club. He stated that the beach was one of the best in the State and the surroundings made it an excellent holiday resort. The beach committee responsible for the arrangements was supported by members of the Harvey Road Board, Harvey Swimming Club and the Fish and Game Society of Harvey.[2]
‘The March Past is an event that has an iconic role in the history of Surf Lifesaving Australia. The event involves a team consisting of twelve members marching around a soft sand course. The team is required to march in time with music played, which is often performed by a live marching band.’[3]
A beach view of the alarm reel and surf relay.
A demonstration of the resuscitation method.
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[1] Harvey-Waroona Mail, 26 November 1937, p. 1.
[2] West Australian, 29 November 1937, p. 14.