When Sutherland Shire Council beach inspector Bobby Larkin started his first shift in 1972 he was given a hat and a pair of Speedos and was expected to save lives.
The rescue equipment offered was a surf belt reel and line which had replaced the old buoy and box line and a five-man crew was needed to perform a rescue.
Now retired Bob thought the century of the council lifeguard service should be recognised with a panel in the Cronulla Central Surfing History walkway. Council agreed and the work was recently unveiled before a tight-knit group of former employees and their family.
Henry Hutchins was the head beach Inspector when Bob started and worked on Bate Bay beaches for 27 years before being replaced with legendary character Ron Siddons. Ron really put the SSC Lifeguards on the map building up a great team and coming up with a myriad of new and revolutionary life saving ideas and techniques.
Ron was awarded an MBE in 1980 and an OAM in 1990 for services to lifesaving and the Rainbow Club – where handicapped children were taught the joy of the water.
Now one lifesaver with a rescue board can do the job of a crew. Belts were replaced by the board and tube. Surfboats have been overtaken by jet-skis and IRB’s and helicopters search for swimmers from the air.
While the way a surf lifesaver does the job has changed, it still requires watching and waiting – vigilance and service.
