Bondi Lifesaver: A history of an Australian icon

(Hardback)

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Description

Shortly before 8 pm on the evening of Saturday, 21 February 1907, a small group of men, old and young, local and non-local, gathered in the smoke-filled lounge of Bondi's Royal Hotel. After a spate of drownings on Bondi Beach, these passionate surf bathers had decided in the face of government inaction to work together to acquire the necessary skills to protect themselves and other bathers in difficulty. That night, an Australian legend was born: the Bondi lifesaver. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of their foundation, the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club has commissioned one of Australia's most distinguished sport historians to write the history of their club. The resulting book is not only an account of the birth of the surf lifesaving movement in Australia, but tells the fascinating story of the rise of Bondi Beach from its early days as a humble seaside resort to its iconic status as a symbol of Australia and the Australian way of life that is instantly recognisable around the world. Impressively researched, engaging and well written, this is compelling book will appeal to beach lovers and history buffs, visitors and locals.

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Surf lifesaving/Australian history

Author Bio

Dr Sean Brawley is Senior Lecturer in History at the University of New South Wales where he writes and teaches sport and military history. The Bondi Lifesaver is Dr Brawley's seventh book, and third on the history of surf lifesaving in Australia. He has also published scholarly articles and chapters on surf lifesaving's origins, ethnic identity, volunteerism and the professionalism of competition. He is a former surf lifesaver and a past Honorary Historian to Surf Life Saving Australia.