This postcard, taken at the Exchange Studios, Sydney shows the members of the North Steyne Surf Life Saving Club Rescue and Resuscitation team. This group of life-savers won the NSW R&R championships in 1909-1910 and 1910-11, in those days virtually the Australian championships. Over those two seasons this group won many trophies - the one they are posing with here is the "West's Pictures Shield". It is not known at which surf carnival this prize was on offer, but West's Castle Pictures cinema was located at North Steyne, Manly, not far from the Steyne Hotel. It was in business under this name between 1910-1912, suggesting that the photograph was taken in the 1910 or 1911 season.
Each of the men in this photo was in the group from the North Steyne club who were awarded the first ever twenty Bronze Medallions of the Surf Life Saving Association on 3rd April 1910. Several of them fought in World War One, and J Vernon was killed in 1917. Ozzie Merrett, in the centre of the photo, went on to become the team manager of the successful Australian Olympic Games team in 1924.
John MacRitchie
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