Max Klinger OAM
Max Klinger OAM (17.11.1927 – 29.03.2008)
Max Klinger OAM joined Kirra SLSC in 1943 gaining his Bronze on 22 January 1944. Max held numerous positions in the club including Secretary, Deputy President, Treasurer and President.
Max’s life saving work also extended into Point Danger Branch. Max was an assessor for some 45 years as well as holding the positions of Deputy Superintendent, Superintendent and PDB Delegate to SLSQ. Max was also heavily involved in work at Surf Life Saving Queensland and was Deputy President from 1971—1977 as well as holding other positions such as Superintendent, Combined Services Officer and National Council delegate.
Max dedicated much time to Surf Life Saving Australia and was a Australian Championships carnival official from 1952—1982 as well as Secretary of the Australian Championships in 1966 and 1973. Max was instrumental in the set up and introduction of jet boats into life saving in Queensland and was a member of the original jet boat support service tem in 1973 and one of the first drivers in 1971.
Max was a true gentleman of life saving—with his obvious passion and love for Kirra staying with him throughout his life. In a life saving career spanning some 64 years Max’s dedication and commitment to his club, branch, state and country new no bounds. He is in fact one of the privileged few to hold Life Memberships across all aspects of life saving. We thank you Max for your time, your commitment and your inspiration.
FAREWELL FRIEND !
Ken Wiles
Ken Wiles joined Kirra from North Bondi SLSC in 1953 when his parents transferred to Brisbane. He had been talking to Graham Byrnes (Scott’s father) on the finishing line at the Australian Championships at Newport Beach, Sydney and mentioned he was moving to Brisbane. Of course Graham suggested he join Kirra.
Ken was a member of North Bondi Australian Champion Junior Surf Team in 1953. Coming to Kirra was a big boost for Kirra as Ken attracted other prominent swimmers to the Club.
Ken was a dedicated club man. His record is as follows: Vice Captain 1959/60 Captain 1960/62 Member of Club Junior R&R Team 1953-1955 Member of Club Senior R&R Team 1955-1963 Queensland Junior Belt Champion 1955 Queensland Senior Belt Champion 1958 and 1959 Australian Belt Champion 1959. Ken won the Belt Championship in big seas at Mooloolaba. His belt team was Robert Lewis, Ken Meehan, Arch Nicholson and Tony Young. Member of Queensland Team 1955-1960; 1961 and 1962. Captain 1960 and 1962. Member of Australian Team to New Zealand in 1960. Gained Examiners Certificate in 1960 Elected Club Life Member in 1971.
Ken was originally a Bank Officer before obtaining a lease of the Toowong Pool in Brisbane with Club Member Ken Jackson. He moved to Sydney in 1966 where he spent many years as lessee of the Sansouci Pool where he trained a number of Australian Champion Surf Life Savers. For many years Ken and fellow Club Member Tony Young followed Kirra R&R Teams to Australian Championships around Australia.
When Jack Evans built a pool on Snapper Rocks Kirra members trained there of a weekend. However Jack started training porpoises in the pool while we trained. One porpoise did not take kindly to Ken and gave him a hard time to the enjoyment of Jack Evans and Kirra club mates. Ken now lives in the Philippines where he has business interests. He still has property in Coolangatta.
Ron Gurnett
Ron Gurnett joined Kirra in season 1963/64. No-one realized when he joined what an outstanding Club Member he would be.
His record is as follows:
Kitchen Director 1965-66
Captain 1966-68
Deputy Chief Instructor 1969-76
Deputy President 1969-1976
Appeals Committee Delegate 1969-77
Vice President 1977-78
Assistant Secretary 1980-83
Member of Club Junior R&R Team 1963-64
Member of Club Senior R&R Team 1964-68
Member of Australian Champion Team 1968
Club Most Willing and Consistent Member 1965 and 1974
Club Outstanding Achievement Award 1982
Club Life Member 1973
Ron retired in 2009 as Chairman of the Kirra Old Boys after 25 years and 5 as Secretary. Ron was a prominent footballer as a member of Kedron Australian Rules Team and as a member of Valley Rugby League Team, Brisbane. He represented Brisbane in Rugby League.
Not many members can match Ron Gurnett’s dedication to the Kirra SLSC.
Arch Nicholson OAM
Arch Nicholson joined Kirra SLSC as a 15 year old junior in March 1948 and obtained his Qualifying (Surf Rescue) Certificate that same year, and following that achieved his Bronze Medallion in 1949. Arch followed this by obtaining his Instructors Certificate in 1953 then his Examiners Certificate 3 years later.
I can personally testify that Arch was an excellent Instructor as he put our Bronze Squad through in 1955.
I’m pretty sure that no person instructed by Arch ever failed to achieve his Bronze. In our Day you were a member of a 6 man Bronze Squad & you basically performed Similar to an R & R team does today. Except
you went through each position; Patient swim, then the Belt swim etc, all in the one examination. The drill had to be “spot on” as well. As most rescues were done with the Belt & Reel, there was plenty of Belt swim practice & training over many conceding weekends before attempting to do your Bronze.
During his long association with the Kirra Club Arch has held just about every Committee position, Registrar, Assistant Secretary, Secretary (9Y), Vice Captain, Chief Instructor (7Y), Deputy President, President, Sports & Competition Officer (8Y). His last appointment was Secretary of the Supporters Club for the
past 3 years.
On the Surf Sports Field, Arch was a member of the Junior R & R then the Senior R & R Teams over a 13 year period. Arch then went into the Coaching role & coached both Junior & Senior R & R Teams over the following 30 years. He achieved success in this, as, apart from many Branch & Queensland Titles, Kirra won 6 Australian Titles. Arch achieved his Level 3 Coach – 1984, an excellent achievement for a thoroughly dedicated Officer. Arch, is still coaching our March Past Team.
Arch still takes an active Roll in helping the Club maintain a high standard and he’s always available to lend a hand. He is currently doing Patrol Audits for the Club Captain to ensure that our Patrols are constantly on the ball and adhering to our Patrol contract agreement.
Apart from his Club commitments Arch was prominent in Point Danger affairs. He served as a District Supervisor in the early 70’s, Publicity Officer for 10 Years and Treasurer for 3 years. Arch also served & continues to serve on various Branch Committees including, The Board of Examiners since 1954.
SLSQ has also benefited from Arch’s dedication, he served on the Board of Examiners for 20 years, Publicity Committee for 10 years, R & R Panel for 19 years of which he was Chairman for 14 years, Official & Referee over countless years, and was a member of the Queensland Coaching Panel. Arch was Coach of the Qld Team to Perth -1965
In his spare time Arch helped out on the Australian SLS scene. Being a member of The Australian R & R committee for 10 years which he Chaired for 3 years. He was also a member of Aust. R & R Editorial committee for 4 years. Arch also was Coach of the Australian Team for the Tour of Asia 1971.
When considering the amount of time Arch has put into Surf Life Saving it was fitting that the Surf Life Saving movement recognized his dedication. Arch has
been awarded the following:-
Life Membership Kirra SLSC – 1961
Life Membership Point Danger Branch – 1967
50 Years Service Award 1998
Life Membership SLSQ – 2000
Awarded “The International Life Saving Federation Citation of Merit” – 2000
Awarded “Australian Sports Medal” – 2000
Queensland Govt. “Certificate of Appreciation” – 2001
Awarded, “International year of Volunteers Certificate of Appreciation. – 2001
Australian Government Award. “Medal of Order of Australia” – 2005
Awarded Surf Life Saving Australia “Presidents Medal” – 2009
Apart from all the Official Competition, Coaching, and Administration work Arch performed as the Surf Carnival Beach Broadcaster for about 25 years. He was then asked by Radio Station 466 Gold Coast (now Sea FM) to be the Official Radio Announcer for Surf Life Saving which he did from 1965 to 1991, broadcasting from as far away as Cairns, Hobart & Perth. In 1969 Arch called Rugby League Football for 4BC Brisbane, some of his broadcasts were sent to Australian Troops in Vietnam one of whom being our own life member Vic Arnell.
The Kirra Club has been blessed with many, outstanding dedicated and “Australian Recognised” members such as Sir John Pidgeon, Jack Winders OBE, S.W. Winders MBE, Earl Smith AM, Bob Gear AM, Graham White OAM, Arch. Nicholson OAM. and Scott Byrnes OAM. On reading their Profiles, amount of work done for the community, the Kirra Club and the Surf Life Saving movement over the past years is it any wonder we can take great pride in their outstanding achievements & be privileged to have known some of these great men.
Tony Wadeson, Kirra SLSC President, May 2010.
Earle Smith AM
Earle joined Kirra in 1942 and gained his Bronze Medallion that year. What followed has been dedication to Surf Life Saving which is hard to surpass.
Positions held by Earle in Surf Life Saving are as follows:
Kirra SLSC
Honorary Register 1945-1946
Chief Instructor 1948-1952
Vice Captain 1950-1952 & 1960-1963
Club Captain 1952-1958 & 1959-1960
Deputy President 1963-1965
Point Danger Branch
Honorary Secretary- Board of Examiners 1948-1949
Honorary Secretary- Board of Examiners 1948-1949
District Supervisor 1950-1952
Deputy Superintendent 1956-1959
Superintendent 1959-1966
President 1993-1996 & 1998-2003
Patron 1998-2000
Surf Life Saving Queensland
Press Correspondent 1959-1960
Deputy Superintendent 1967-1971
Superintendent 1971-1978
Deputy President 1978-1988
State Councilor 1993-1996 & 1998-2003
Surf Life Saving Australia Gear Research & Development Officer 1976-1984
Australian Championships Sectional Referee 1966-1986
Besides the many positions Earle has occupied, in 1961 he found time to develop the Angled Ross Safety Belt as well as Inflated Surf Rescue Belt. He was also one of four life savers who put their lives at risk as volunteers to demonstrate that Expired Air Resuscitation does work.
He has gained the following Awards -
(a) Queensland Amateur Swimming Association Coach
(b) Speed Boat License
(c) St John’s Ambulance Certificate
(d) SLSA Instructor’s Certificate
(e) Examiner’s Certificate
(f) All Awards for IRB’s and Radio
(g) Silver Medallion Patrol Captain
(h) Level 3 Surf Sports Awards for Beach Sprint, Board Paddling, R&R Surf Ski and Surf Swimming
He also found time to;
– Coach Kirra Junior R&R Teams 1946-1959
- Win an Australian Gold Medal in R&R for Kirra in 1947
- Be a member of the Queensland Surf Team in 1954
- Manage the Queensland Surf Team in 1964.
Earle has been awarded the following Awards –
Life Membership – Kirra SLSC 1953
Point Danger Branch 1959
Surf Life Saving Queensland 1963
Surf Life Saving Australia 1970
International Life Saving
Citation of Merit 1979
Australian Medal 1989
In recognition of his outstanding accomplishment and exceptional contribution to Surf Life Saving, Earl was inducted into the Surf Life Saving Australia – HALL OF FAME.
Earl, who has contributed so much to Surf Life Saving, is still actively involved, as he is the current District Supervisor for Currumbin SLSC. You will often see him on a Sunday morning down at Kirra, keeping a check on the Club’s progress. For those of you who have never had the pleasure of meeting him go up & introduce yourself and make yourself known, he will always be glad to meet you.
By the way, Earle spent two years in the RAAF serving in the Pacific Islands. What is not known by many is that he has coached, tutored, taught, mentored, and advised many young men, which has assisted them to be better citizens. Kirra has been fortunate and proud to have a member such as Earle Smith AM.
Top Ten Patrol Hours
Top Ten Beach Patrol hours for season 2010-2011 1. Laurie Cavill 2. Joel Kinneally 3. Jake Kalisperis 4. James Callaghan5. Alan Comans 6. Glen Edmonds
7. Ben Banner
8. Elisha O’Neill 9. Anthony Cassone 10. Brodie Page Congratulations Laurie on an excellent effort!