Pukerua Bay Surf Lifesaving Club

Pukerua Bay Surf Lifesaving Club march past at the Eastbourne Carnival, 1954. Left to right Judy Doyle, Carole Murphy, Ann Gavin.

Original members of the Pukerua Bay Surf Life Saving Club. Back row: Rewa Prince, Judth Doyle, Pat Garden. Front row: Rona Prince, Ruth Doyle, Kay Newth, Cynthia Gibson, Ann Garvin, Carole Murphy.

In January 1950 Norman Price aged 15 of Haunui Road was drowned after being caught in an undertow at Pukerua Bay beach. His 14 year old friend Kevin Baker tried to save him while two young men, Edward Foothead and Ralf Thomas, went out in a dinghy. Nothing could be done in the nearly five metre breakers.

After the tragedy Joe Duffy led residents in the formation of the Pukerua Bay Surf Life Saving Club. The first members were all teenage girls: Ruth Doyle, Pat Garden, Ann Gavin, Cynthia Gibson, Carole Murphy, Kay Newth, Judith Doyle, Rona Prince, and Rewa Prince. Later members included Ngaio Renner and Inawa Prince.

By 1953, when all members were qualified life savers, the Club taught lifesaving skills and patrolled the beach. They used the changing sheds, which were at Brendan Bay – known to the surf lifesavers as First Bay. The club maintained the sheds which had been opened in 1934, keeping them clean and painted.

Pukerua Bay Surf Lifesaving Club members at the National Championships, Lyall Bay, 1957. Left to right: Ngaio Renner, Inawa Prince, Pat Garden, Rewa Prince, Ann Gavin, Carole Murphy.

Their first competitive event was the Wellington District Championships at Lyall Bay in 1954. From then until the Club went into recess they regularly entered local and national surf carnivals and championships. All of this was possible because of dedicated support by parents.

In 1954 at Himitangi the Pukerua Bay Surf Lifesaving Club was first equal in the march past, beating a naval team from HMNZS Black Prince. Among their other successes were two second places in the 1957 National Championships at Lyall Bay, and Pat Garden’s win of the Cambrian Trophy for best resuscitation in the 1957 Championships. She was the fourth woman to have won since 1938.

Massey Retter of Pukerua Bay carved and presented the Kāpiti Shield to the club in 1954. The trophy was a carving representing the swim made by Kahe Te Rauoterangi from Kāpiti with her infant Makere on her back to warn of an attack on Ngāti Toa.

George Raynor, president of Pukerua Bay Surf Lifesaving Club with the Kapiti Shield carved by Massey Retter, 1954.

A Pukerua Bay men’s team started in 1955 although it was never as strong as the women’s. By 1960 many of the original members had moved away and the Club went into recess.

In 2008 the Club held a reunion and in 2010 Cynthia Gibson together with Rona and Rewa Prince published Pukerua Bay Surf Lifesaving Club the history of the Club.

Pukerua Bay Bay Surf Lifesaving Club at the Muritai Shield Carnival, 1954. Rear left to right: Cynthia Gibson, Pat Garden. Front left to right: Kay Newth, Ruth Doyle, Ann Gavin, Judy Doyle.

Pukerua Bay Surf Lifesaving Club reunion in 2008. Back row left to right: Ann Gavin, Cynthia Gibson, Kay Newth, Rewa Prince, Ruth Doyle, Pat Garden. Front row: Rona Prince, Inawa Prince.

Carole Murphy practicing resuscitation at Pukerua Bay.

Pukerua Bay Surf Lifesaving Club badge.

Acknowledgements


Cynthia Gibson

Gibson, Cynthia, Prince, Rona., Prince, Rewa. (2010) Pukerua Bay Surf Lifesaving Club.