1980

Until 1980, women were barred from becoming life savers in Australia. Authorities believed it unsafe for women to operate rescue equipment or swim in heavy surf because they were not strong enough. In October that year, however, a group of young women from the Bondi Surf Bathers Surf Life Saving Club - Terri Corbett, Susan McGilvray, Susan Murray and Julie Blacker - qualified for their surf bronze medallion and became life savers. They passed on their second attempt.

The squad faced great scrutiny and resistance from the panel of examiners. On their first assessment, a bigger-than-usual panel grilled the women intensely and failed the squad for a loose reef knot and for not having a patient lying straight enough.

The women’s trainer and club captain, Phil Easson, believed surf club politics and rivalry played a part in the squad failing the first exam. A week later, the squad passed their assessment in under five minutes.

Despite the ban - which was overturned as a policy in July 1980 after much discussion - many women were heavily involved in the surf life saving movement from its earliest years, despite not having Bronze Medallions. They would form ladies’ surf clubs and compete in carnivals, especially outside Sydney. During World War II, women acted as life savers on many beaches while men were at war. Since 1980, the number of active surf life savers has almost doubled.

Courtesy Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club.