Goya Dmytryshchak
Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club started soon after the Spanish flu and will celebrate its centenary in the grip of the COVID pandemic.
A book detailing the club’s history from 1920-2020, by Jacqui Hewitt and Kaye Tomkins, will be showcased as part of this month’s Hobsons Bay Seniors Festival.
The book tells of the dangers of swimming at Williamstown in 1900, including the possibility of being shot from a nearby army rifle range.
“Keen bathers who did not wish to competitively swim were more concerned with the dangers of swimming such as shark infestation, rocks, denuded sand, thistles, sewerage, cleanliness, immodesty, and possibly being shot from the close proximity of the Rifle Range,“ the book states.
President Paul Sullivan said the club started around the time of the Spanish flu and now had to celebrate its centenary online.
“Whilst much has changed in 100 years, the Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club’s core role, providing a safe beach environment for the community, remains the same,“ he said.
“What also endures is that our club continues to be a place of community connection, a local treasured landmark and a place where members share their love and respect for the water.
“It’s remarkable to think that our club was established in Melbourne as the world emerged from the grip of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which was estimated to have infected 500 million people worldwide.
“Today, as the world grinds to a halt in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to close our club temporarily to members for the first time in 100 years.
“This has been a sad but necessary decision for the health of our members and the wider community.
“Reading this history of our club it is a great reminder of the incredible resilience and strength the club and its members have.“
Co-author Jacqui Hewitt, who was the club’s first and only female president to date, said recounting the club’s history had been a wonderful experience.
“Some members have done some amazing rescues, some have competed at high levels, and all have contributed to the club at some level,“ she said.
“Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club has been a real contribution to the swimming public at Williamstown beach.“
The presentation is on Tuesday, October 20, at 6.30pm.
Bookings essential. Register via email at library@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au.
