The TIN SHEDDERS

The original members of the WEST BEACH SURF LIFESAVING CLUB today call themselves the 'Tin Shedders' because that was what their first home on the beach actually was - a single-garage size tin shed planted more or less solidly in the sand hills of West Beach.

The beach itself is almost directly west of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, on the shores of Gulf St Vincent.

A small group of the Tin Shedders is trying to organise an event to celebrate the 50 year milestone.

If this interests you then please read on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The pages that follow are an historical record of the planning, proposals and the actual proceedings of the jubilee re-union of a mob of nice young guys and girls whom the expiry of time has treated in all sorts of different and wondrous ways. Some people were seen all during the festive night jockeying for positions close to others who they though made them look good by comparison

The record starts just below, about early April 2005, and is an ongoing project (at September 2006 at least) with developments that have occurred after the reunion being recorded on the page headed, "After the Ball is Over". 'After the Ball is Over' now also records those of our mates for whom the ball really is over; those we have lost since this chronicle of our planning began. Look for the link at the bottom of these pages.

** There are now two 'Roll Call' lists, the second shows the members of your Bronze team and the date of your exam. It is underneath the alphabetic list - just scroll down when you get to that page. (Look for the link at the bottom of this page.)

Also there are a couple of photos of the female form added. Do you have more?

There have been two interstate Tin Shedder groups formed following the big weekend, one in Perth, Western Australia and one on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. A smaller event is being planned in Adelaide for early 2007 with one day of the weekend organised by the WA group and the other by the local SA committee. This should make for an even more interesting and diverse weekend.

Stay in touch.

E-mail the Keeper of the Records, Barry Maloney, email@barry-maloney.com or phone him on 0412 832 832 or 07 5474 3704, Fax 07 5474 3795.

Does this bring back memories? I remember the kiosk and the toilets and the two blues chequered door to the shed's boat extension. The 'tranny' (a pre-TV, battery powered, transistor radio if you're a youngster) in the foreground is an unmistakable sign of the late '50's.

* The second extension is the lean-to part on the right which housed the boat and the last

The tower is the subject of two stories in the 'Members Stories' section (see link below) and many more un-written memories I'm sure. The floodlight on the power pole at the left is the one which many amorous couples in the sand hills on Saturday nights (members included) paid to have turned off.

On the 30th of November, 2005, the WEST BEACH LIFESAVING CLUB will be 50 years old, or maybe that should be 50 years young?

Whatever you decide it should be, the original Tin Shedders have their own answer.

On that 30th of November in 1955 a meeting was convened by the Mayor of the City of Henley and Grange, Mr Don Newland, in Joe Everett's home at number 6 The Esplanade (now called Seaview Road), on the corner of Chetwynd Street.
The house still stands in 2007.

Although the suburb of West Beach was delineated in 1929 for many years there were only two magnificent houses in Rockingham Street at the end of this wilderness area and one on the corner of West Beach Road and Chetwynd Street. The two were owned by the Lodge and Hill families and the third by the Everett's. To be blunt, the development of the suburb at this time was an obvious failure.

The mobile young and the young marrieds of post-war Adelaide were looking for opportunities however, and the beach attracted them as it had attracted all Australians since the founding fathers stepped ashore in Botany Bay and subsequently attracted the earliest South Australian settlers who had stepped ashore in Holdfast Bay just a kilometre south of the new suburb.

The area grew in popularity and was just 'hitting its straps' in the mid 50's. The need for a Lifesaving Club between the established clubs at Glenelg and Henley Beach was quickly identified by the community and the Mayor.

Initially beach patrols were provided on alternate weekends by trained members of Henley and Glenelg SLSC's. During this time the new club was recruiting members, aided without doubt by the interest of the first elected President Jim Fischer and by the interest of his successor, Mel Cameron, a popular radio announcer and a resident of Henley South who managed to regularly sneak comments about the club into his programs. The initial equipment for West Beach was loaned by these clubs, along with two notable instructors, Ian Tothill from Glenelg and Max Gamlin from Henley who later joined the new club as Chief Instructor and Founding Captain.

The Tin Shed in the sand hills opposite the end of Stanhope Street attracted local attention and interest and many of the foundation members were also residents of the growing district. The club and the new suburb grew together and the excitement and enthusiasm of both could almost be felt in the air.

Four of those Tin Shedders, lead by Barry Maloney, have thoughts of a WEST BEACH JUBILEE WEEKEND during which a number of events might be held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the lifesaving club and the real foundation of the suburb and perhaps rekindle the enthusiasm of those years.

* Contact us. Click this and an e-mail page will open with our address already filled in.

*** After The Ball Is Over - - -. Pictures and stories of that magical weekend - and now also added, - 'WELL AFTER THE BALL IS OVER' - outlining what's happened following that great weekend.
Also in this section, regrettably, we remember those of our mates who didn't quite get to the celebrations or whom we lost shortly afterwards.