Today Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club christened its newest surf boat and celebrated a long serving member’s surf life saving career in the naming of the boat.
Around 100 club members, family and friends, including 16 life members of Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving were on hand to help celebrate the christening of the club new surf boat.
The surf boat was funded thru the sale of a surf boat, Friday Night Drinks and the on-going support of Peabody (Metropolitan Coal).
The club member joined Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club 50 years ago this season as a nipper and gained his Bronze Medallion in 1970. Over the years he held many positions within the club including Club Captain, Instructor, Chief Instructor, Vice President, Secretary, and District Supervisor. He went on to support the Illawarra Branch in a number of roles mainly around instruction and examinations, and more recently (the last 30 odd years) as a competition official. He has officiated at the highest levels of surf life saving competition - Branch, State, National and World Championship, and has been a sectional referee in the craft & swim areas at the Australian Championships.
For the past 7 seasons his focus moved to surf boats, and again became heavily involved in the boat area as a supporter of the club and carnival official. The timeframe lines up with when one of his boys passed the “boatie test” and jumped in a surf boat.
Apart from his roles in an official capacity in surf life saving, he has been a consistent club member contributing in many aspects of club life and supporting the club on many levels, including the recent club house renovations, being a committed winter swimmer, and a patrol member.
The club’s new surf boat will bear the name of Club Life Member, Illawarra Branch Life Member and Surf Life Saving NSW Life Member Robert “Bobo” White.
"Bobo" Christened the Surf Boat the Robert "Bobo" White assisted by his wife Kerry, and sons Ed and Russell.
The surf boat was launched with a crew consisting of Brooke Dent, Chris Ryder, Ed White, Toby Lea and Sweep Mark "Bluey" Lea.
