Decimated by war in its early days, the Kiama Surf Life Saving Club is now bigger and better than ever.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The club's modern two-storey home, which sits at the back of Surf Beach, provides uninterrupted views of a 250-metre long section of coast from Church Point to Kendalls Point.
It's a stretch of sand bounded by dangerous rocky headlands, which club president John Ford said were areas of concern.
"We identified years ago it was very important for us to have something that was going to help with that, so we bought ourselves a jet boat," Mr Ford said.
"We're able to save people off these rock headlands or help out with rescues in dangerous situations."
He said the role of the surf lifesaver had been an important one since the club was formed in 1908.
"The club operated up until the [first world] war years, then it shut down for obvious reasons," he said.
From the end of World War I in 1918 until the start of World War II in 1939, Mr Ford said numbers were "pretty good".
"They worked out of a little hut on the beach for quite a while, then the Second World War came along and again the club was decimated with numbers," he said.
About 40 club members went to war and those who remained in Kiama sent packages to the servicemen, which included beef jerky and Anzac biscuits.
The clubhouse was built in 1960 and caters for 130 seniors and 245 juniors.