Between the flags
Issue: Volume 29 Number 3
Between the Flags: One Hundred Summers of Australian Surf Lifesaving
262 pages
Edited by Ed Jaggard
Published by University of New South Wales Press Ltd, 2006
$39.95 (including GST)
Between the flags: One Hundred Summers of Australian Surf Lifesaving provides a unique and intriguing review of the history of the Surf Lifesaving movement covering the establishment, growth and development of this unique movement throughout Australia.
Not many people know that Surf Lifesaving ‘nippers’ began as a response to surf clubs’ declining membership in the 1960’s. Nor do they know that women weren’t fully inducted into lifesaver ranks until as late as 1980. It took Sydney’s palm Beach until 1971 to even allow women on the club’s back lawn - and even then only on Sundays, and only after 5pm, and few will recall the 1956 Australian surf championships in Victoria’s Torquay, where US participants first displayed a new-fangled short, manoeuvrable board – they called it the Malibu.
Throughout the book there are many fascinating insights into some of the amazing rescues that have been carried out over the last 100 years by the countries surf lifesavers, along with the awards and recognition that these heroes of the surf have received.
The editor of the book, Professor Ed Jaggard, is Surf Lifesaving Australia’s national historian. He is former Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Edith Cowan University and has written two books and several articles on surf lifesaving history. He has had a lifelong involvement in the surf lifesaving movement.
For the Surf Lifesaving enthusiasts, this book is a must read and gives a through and well-researched review into the history of the iconic Australian movement. For those with little knowledge of the culture of surf lifesaving other than the image of the bronzed Aussie that has been portrayed on cereal packaging since the early 80’s, this book is a great way to gain an insight into the history, personalities, culture and direction of this uniquely Australian organisation.
