1980
WOMEN JOIN LIFESAVING
Bribie Women in
Life Saving
Women were admitted as qualified life savers in 1980 by the movement and made an impact from the beginning Australia wide and locally at Bribie SLSC. Our first squad of female life savers namely, Karen Giles, Clare Hampson, Kathy Craddock and Kim Dunstan passed their exam on 13th December 1980. Over the many years the female membership in the club has grown to be on par with the males. Training, patrolling, competing, participating, and contributing in all aspects of Club life has made for a diverse and resilient Club.
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Today at Bribie SLSC we have a strong female membership and have women holding many senior leadership positions within the club including Patrol Captains, Club Captain, Chief Training officers and Supporters President. Surf Life Saving Clubs are stronger today with the inclusion of females into the ranks and Surf Life Saving was a leader of inclusive practices of allowing females to participate in its movement and competition before many other organisations and have reaped the rewards becoming stronger by having a more robust and diverse membership.
Left - Clare Hampson part of the club's first female bronze squad. She is pictured with brother Bryan who is offering some helpful tips in regard to the reel and belt. Belt swims were an important component of the Bronze medallion course and assessment until the early 1990s.
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Right - Bribie Island Surf Life Saving Club's first 'mixed' bronze squad. Helen Box (left), Michelle Foran and Kim Dunstan carry the only male member of the squad David Edwards up the beach (Jan 1981).
