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.