BY PETER GARDINER 
Coolum Beach SLSC (Active Club Member)  

BACK To Coolum Day – the Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club’s annual gathering of past and present members was held on Saturday, October 11.

At the core of the lively gathering were club legends Keith Peterie, Ron Want, Dick Lugge, Paul McCarthy, Lindsay Crofton and Ian Norman.

Sadly, all bar a still very fit and active Ian Norman are gone now, but at Coolum Beach SLSC their extraordinary contributions will never be forgotten, nor should they.

Club President John White made a special welcome to the families of these members, before first paying tribute to former paramedic Lindsay, a chief training officer, talented surf boat rower and ocean swimmer who has been posthumously awarded life membership of the club.

The mine safety expert, who performed more than 600 surf patrol hours over 19 years of service, tragically died on Father’s Day 2022 during his regular morning surf swim.

“Words alone cannot do justice to Lindsay’s dedication to this club,” John said.

“His passing was a profound loss.”

Coolum’s elder statesman Dave Cush, who still leads Patrol 13 after six decades of service, then presented life member Ian Norman with the second-ever Coolum Beach SLSC Life Governor jacket – the surf club’s highest honour.

Ian joined the club as a teenage rookie in 1974 and has never missed a season patrolling by the flags.

Mr Cush, who is also Coolum’s inaugural Life Governor, said that with over five decades of unparalleled service, Ian has cemented his place as “one of the club’s most esteemed members.”

Ian remarked that it was “an honour.”

“If you had told a 14-year-old Ian Norman in 1974 that some 51 years later he’d be still here patrolling, he would have said you’re a lunatic.”

PETERIE/WANT MEMBERS’ ROOM 
Then came the official reveal of the surf club’s newly renamed Peterie/Want Members’ Room, complete with a photo tribute and storyline to the club’s enduring icons.

These two clubbies were the very essence of surf lifesaving’s creed of vigilance and service, having been on patrol as young “Bronzies” on the ‘black’ 1948 Boxing Day at Coolum Beach when three people drowned.

One of the victims was returned decorated war hero Dick Lugge, whose surf rescue belt was dragged under in wild surf as he attempted to save members of the public on his very first patrol.

The following season, the club was struggling to come to terms with the loss, and the teenagers Keith and Ron were literally the last two active members standing.

Instead of walking away, they recruited and trained squads of local youth to help keep the beach safe and saved the surf club from folding.

“These two gentlemen at a very tender and young age decided we’re not going to let this club die,” Ian said.

ARMED SERVICES CONNECTIONS  
Dick’s incredibly brave and selfless act that day lives on by way of the annual Dick Lugge Award for best patrol person for the season, and he remains an inspiration for many of the Coolum members who have served their country – a military connection going as far back as the Boer War.

Life Member John Ellingsen, alongside Vietnam vet and the surf club’s military historian Basil Caffery, gave a special presentation highlighting Coolum’s strong connection with defending our country.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War’s end, they highlighted the 12 known clubbies to serve during that conflict and at least 55 members who signed up to fight fascism in World War II.

Special mention was made of former Coolum national champion surf boat rower and Air Force doctor and Squadron Leader Paul McCarthy, who tragically was one of nine service personnel killed in the 2005 Sea King helicopter crash as part of a humanitarian relief mission to Indonesian earthquake victims.

Club president John White said Paul was a “special young man” who once competed with a mate in a 5000km trans-Atlantic rowing race, finishing second.

“Paul died still helping people, and we’ll never forget him.”

In recognition of this above-and-beyond service, Coolum SLSC Supporter’s Club President Lee Francey announced a $1000 donation to Legacy, which supports the families of Australian servicemen and women.