Skip to content

Open/Close Toolbox

Format: Collection

Share this on Facebook

Share this on LinkedIn

Share this on Tumblr

Share this via email

Tools

Download Add to My Collection Add to my basket Contact us about this Citation for this item

Celebrating Waverley

Menu

Lifeguard Oral History Project

Description

Scope and contents

The Waverley Council Lifeguard service started in 1913 and has operated continuously for over a century. In 2001, realising that the history of the Lifeguard service had been largely undocumented, the then Local Studies Librarian and senior Lifeguard at Bondi Beach began conducting interviews with retired Lifeguards and their families.

It was obvious that these older Lifeguards had unique, irreplaceable memories and their stories of working on the beaches were in danger of being lost forever. It was imperative to capture these stories before it was too late.

This collection of oral histories is now a core part of the Lifeguard History Project, housed in the Local Studies collection, Waverley Library. As well as the interviews conducted by Waverley Council staff, the collection also includes an interview done by Diana Ritch with one of the most famous Lifeguards to ever patrol Bondi’s golden sands, Aub Laidlaw.

Person

Warren Riley

Warren Riley

Ken Hawthorne

Charlie Christensen

Charlie Christensen

Ken East

Jim Spencer

Frank Norton

Brian Collins

Alex Menzies

Aubrey Laidlaw

Audio

Interview with the Pellicciari Family

Interview with the Pellicciari Family

Interview with Warren Riley

Interview with Warren Riley

Interview with Ken Hawthorne

Interview with Ken Hawthorne

Interview with Ken East and Charlie Christensen

Interview with Ken East and Charlie Christensen

Interview with Jim Spencer

Interview with Jim Spencer

Interview with Frank Norton

Interview with Frank Norton

Interview with Brian Collins

Interview with Brian Collins

Interview with Aubrey Laidlaw

Interview with Aubrey Laidlaw

Interview with Alex Menzies

Interview with Alex Menzies

Transcripts

Transcript: oral history interview with the Pellicciari Family

Transcript: oral history interview with the Pellicciari Family

Transcript: oral history interview with Warren Riley

Transcript: oral history interview with Warren Riley

Transcript: oral history interview with Ken Hawthorne

Transcript: oral history interview with Ken Hawthorne

Transcript: oral history interview with Ken East and Charlie Christensen

Transcript: oral history interview with Ken East and Charlie Christensen

Transcript: oral history interview with Jim Spencer

Transcript: oral history interview with Jim Spencer

Transcript: oral history interview with Frank Norton

Transcript: oral history interview with Frank Norton

Transcript: oral history interview with Brian Collins

Transcript: oral history interview with Brian Collins

Transcript: oral history interview with Aubrey Laidlaw

Transcript: oral history interview with Aubrey Laidlaw

Transcript: oral history interview with Alex Menzies

Transcript: oral history interview with Alex Menzies

Document

Lifeguards: Fast facts

Lifeguards: Fast facts

Guido's Famous Gelato

Guido's Famous Gelato

Organisation

Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club (BSBLSC)

Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club (BSBLSC)

North Bondi S.L.S.C Carnival, 1937-38

North Bondi S.L.S.C Carnival, 1937-38

Connections

Related collectionThe Oral History CollectionSubject - Topical TermSurf lifesavingTaxonomySpecial Collections | The Oral History Collection | Lifeguard Oral History Project

Linked To

Related collection

The Oral History Collection

Person

Related collection (11)

Audio

Collection (9)

Transcripts

Collection (9)

Document

Related collection (2)

Organisation

Related collection

Waverley Council acknowledges the Bidjigal, Birrabirragal and Gadigal people, who traditionally occupied the Sydney Coast, and we pay respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders both past and present.

Waverley Library

32-48 Denison St, Bondi Junction, NSW. 2022 Australia

Email: local.history@waverley.nsw.gov.au

Disclaimer | Privacy and Copyright | Sitemap | Accessibility

© Waverley Council | ABN: 12 502 583 608