"A gleaming stretch of golden sand, extending a little more than a mile, lined with white crested billows of the heaving Pacific Ocean, a veritable Bathers Paradise, and backed with a fringe of beautiful North Coast scrub, forms the eastern boundary of Park Beach Reserve.

At the southern end of the beach, the picturesque Coff’s Creek empties itself into a small estuary, forming a perfect bathing area for children, and joining the sea over a miniature bar.

This, together with good level land clothed with beautiful shade trees from the waters edge, and extending back to the railway platform, a quarter of a mile distant, inadequately describes “The Park”. “A centre gem in the necklet of North Coast Beaches. By H.M. Henderson". Extract from Guide Book for Coffs Harbour and District, published in 1926}

'Surf Life Saving in Coffs Harbour is fast approaching 100 years of history and it is with justifiable pride that our Club can look back on our part of that history.' I quote from Charlie Kuhn, Bill Walker, John Mills and Ted Ovens “The First Sixty Years”

By 1909 surf bathing had become a main pastime of Top Town and The Jetty, as recorded in the following Advocate newspaper reports-
September 17, 1909 “Coffs Harbour Surf Bathing Club.-At a well-attended meeting in the Pier Hall last Monday night, Mr W. Moore presiding, it was decided to proper launch surf bathing this summer in Coffs Harbour. The matter of where the dressing sheds should be built was discussed at length and eventually it was decided to raise funds to build two on the Coffs Harbour Beach between the jetty and the headland, and two on Boambee Beach.

“It was determined that the four sheds could be built at a total cost of sixteen pounds and it was thought that an energetic canvass should result in the necessary amount being raised. Membership tickets in the surf bathing club are to be sold at five shillings each and there is no doubt that this pleasant and health giving pastime will be more popular than ever in Coffs Harbour.

Messers A. L. Walsh, Scott, Gilles, Stark, Givney and Moore were appointed to report on the best sites for the sheds”
January 8, 1910: “Erection of Bathing Sheds.-Subscription of three shillings each towards erecting bathing sheds on Coffs Harbour Beach are now being received by Mr A. L. Walsh, honorary secretary. The movement deserves the support of every resident of this district. It is intended to erect one for the ladies and one for the gentleman, and later on to have similar structures built on the beautiful Boambee Beach. Arrangements are to be made for an exhibition of life saving by a Sydney team.”
The Jetty club steadily grew until 1914 when World War I took all the districts young men away, however it was reborn by 1920 when the survivors of the Great War drifted back into town.
In the 1922-23 season the first surf life saving awards were gained by the following members: Roy Fern, Tom Gleeson, Claude Langbridge, H.R.Townsen, Bill Curran, Bill Hayes, A. J. Shrives, Sam Hearfield and Charlie Hawkins.
The club provided a vital service until 1937 when Jetty Beach was fully enclosed and led to clubs demise.

The Start of Coffs Harbour Surf Life saving Club Park Beach

In February 1923 a meeting was held in the School of Arts at Top Town to discuss the formation of a second club. This was followed by another meeting on March 1, at which officers were elected, and a further meeting on March 15 to consolidate the formation of the new club.
This was the genesis of the Coffs Harbour S.L.S.C.
Some members of the Jetty Club joined the new club, but according to one of the new original members, Ernie Eeley, “it was not a breakaway move”, and members of the new club had no affiliation with the Jetty Club.
The original President was Horrie Riding and the Secretary was Reg Shanahan. The original motion to commence the new club was moved by Life Member E. A. Gailer.

The first Bronze Squad in 1924 consisted of Horrie Riding, Reg Shanahan, Walt Hoschke, Ern Hoschke, Ern Eeley, Vic Williams, Percy Russell, Hilton Thompson, Roy Blanchard, Bill Anderson, Dick Gailer and Eddy Smiles.
Things were very difficult in the early days and white ants made a quick meal of the original amenities constructed by the Surf Club at Park Beach and in 1926 it was decided to “go the whole hog” and build in brick. The bricks were transported, via the Park Beach track, to the clubhouse site by a horse team, driven by Jim Keener. The transport cost was more than the 3000 bricks.
All the other building materials were carried over the B.A.T. bridge by club members at weekends. The bricks were laid by Dan Rogeburg and the building was officially opened on Sunday October 3, 1926. The ceremony was notable for the people, who didn’t come, including the town band.

A name that keeps popping up in club records is Mr H.M. Henderson, member of the Park Beach Trust. He gave of his best to ensure that the new surf club prospered. The rent for the new clubhouse site was fixed at one shilling a year.
Owing to the popularity of the railway excursions trains from Grafton and Kempsey, a station platform was constructed just north of Coffs Creek and named Park Beach, on Horrie Riding’s suggestion.

Club Colours

In 1927 club colours were changed from Black and Gold to Blue and Gold and again in 1932 to Blue and white. They remained this colour to 1980 when present colour caps were designed. This was instigated by Dick Pickering and designed by Ted Hilton and others following a number of minor placings following blanket finishes. We always seemed to be placed fourth in these situations wearing the old caps.

Notable happenings in the 1930s were:

• Royal Visit Duke of Gloucester 1934
• First Surf Boat “Miss Park Beach” 1936

In 1936 the club secretary was authorized to investigate the purchase of a surf boat. He found one, and on September 25 that year Clarrie Williams was requested to visit Cronulla Club and assist in the negotiations for the boat. It cost twenty pounds, plus freight, but including oars etc.
The surf boat arrived at Coffs Harbour as deck cargo on a steamer and was lowered into the harbour, with its club crew, who rowed her around to Park Beach. It was the first time in a surf boat for most of the crew.
The boat was named “Miss Park Beach” and so began the club’s entry into the surf boat arena. The craft was a double-ender, hard chine boat, clinker on top, carvel below the chine, and painted blue and white.

Water installed into Park Beach dressing shed by club members
In 1937  the Park Beach Trust put a proposition to the Surf Club to assist in laying water mains from the Park Beach railway platform to the dressing sheds ~ and surf clubhouse ~ on the reserve. The Trust President, Mr D. McGregor, asked that the club members assist in digging the trenches. This task was completed in three weekends with most club members involved.

• Coffs Harbour dominate competition.

By the late 1930s Coffs Harbour Club competitors began to dominate the carnival scene in the North Coast Branch, with John Pollack having an outstanding record.

The following is a short outline of competition history from the Advocate newspaper dated from March 23, 1948.
“outstanding swimmers who have made club history: John Pollock, present Captain and member of many R & R teams and past club and branch champion in surf and belt races. “Meggsy” Parker, member of R & R teams and excellent surf and belt swimmer. “Minty” Smith still swimming, and a good club member. Late Doug Riding R & R member and holder of surf championships of club and branch. Late Ernie Franklin, R & R member and a club captain. “Bunny” Bastian, R & R member, captain, surf and belt swimmer and ex boat captain. Late Berry Ulrick junior champion of the club and branch, also senior surf champion of the club and represented the club in the junior championship at the Australian title carnival. Late Gordon Cunningham, noted march past standard bearer, R & R member and ex boat captain, Jack Mills, one of famous Mills family, present holder of senior surf and belt titles of the club and branch, and member champion R & R team. Keith Mills, another of the ilk, present holder of junior surf title for club and branch, and outside branch. Dick Pearce, present junior belt champion of club and branch. Bobby Williams, who made the champion R & R team two months after getting his bronze medallion. J.Lawler, R & R member for many years and also boat captain of the club.
The members of the R & R team which represented Coffs Club at Bondi were
 J. Pollock, J. Mills, T. and W. King, R. Goodenough and R.Williams.

War Service 1939 - 1945

Coffs Surf Club has a magnificent record of war service on the part of its members. At the out break of World War II membership strength was 68 and of these 64 enlisted and served with the Australian Forces in every field of action. Of the 64 nine paid the supreme sacrifice – D. Riding, E. Franklin, J.Patterson, T.Scott, C. Goodenough, J.Pollett, F.Lowery, M.Malouf and B.Ulrick.

One member, Alf Short, who was Captain of a Beaufort medium bomber, has the distinction of sinking, by torpedo, a Japanese cruiser, the Noshiro{6200 tons}.

From 1945 onwards

By the end of the war, little remained of the clubhouse, except the lower brick portion, which the sand had finally claimed.
Frank Bastian {Secretary and Life Member}recalls:
“Faced with the problem of erecting a new clubhouse, a meeting of the few remaining club members was called at which it was decided to construct a new building. Permission was obtained from the Department of War organisation to erect a 30ftx20ft building. This was to be a memorial to club members who had given their lives in the service of their country. Unbeknowns to some club members Frank Bastian and Reg Shanahan had local builder Bill Mellefont draw up plans for the new building and Wally Lane was contracted to build it on wages.
The Following gentleman agreed to guarantee a club overdraft at the Bank:
Ray Plunckett, Jack Gerard, Jack Veripatis and Jim Walters.
Voluntary work was the order of the day and the concrete floor was laid by club members. A building committee was formed comprising R. Shanahan, F. Bastian, T. Slack, H.Burgess, C. Braithwaite. The new clubhouse was opened by Mr Roy Doyle, National President, on October 21, 1945.

Our Surf Club was back in operation with Reg Shanahan, President; Frank Bastian, Secretary; and John Pollock, Captain. John Lawler, Boat Captain.
A new surf boat at a cost of 190 pounds was purchased and was delivered in October 1946, it was named “Miss Park Beach II”.

Top Competitors

John Mills excellent record at Coffs Harbour is shown below;
Third Australian senior belt champion 1948-49
Member of Australian team to New Zealand 1950
Won NSW senior surf championship 1950-51
Fourth in NSW senior belt championship 1950-51
Second in NSW senior belt championship 1951-52
Member of NSW State Team 1951-52
Third in NSW senior championship 1951-52
Third in Australian surf championship 1951-52

John Bloomfield came to Coffs Harbour from the Kiama area with the Australian junior belt title to his name. In his first year as a senior with our club he won the NSW senior belt championship at Byron Bay and again next year at “The Caves”. In 1953 he was 3rd in the senior belt race and a member of the R & R team that finished 3rd at Terrigal. John won the senior belt race at the Royal Carnival at Bondi in 1954; toured with the Instructional Team to Hawaii in 1951; and was a member of the Australian team that toured South Africa in 1954.

John Loader was the fastest beach sprinter the club has produced. He combined his sprinting ability with a good record as a clubman. His major competitive achievements are as follows:
1958-59 second State champions junior beach sprint
1959-60 second State championships senior beach sprint
1960-61 second musical flags and third Australian championship beach sprint

Other team placings
1953-54 senior R & R third NSW State championships, team J. Gorman,
J.Bartlett, J.Bloomfield, K.Mills, J.Orman, J. Emery and R. Nicholson
1955-56 junior R & R third NSW State championships
1958-59 junior R & R third NSW State championships

Another memorable year for our club was 1957, this extract taken from the NSW State Centre Annual Report; “This years State Surf Championships were held at Park Beach, which is patrolled by the Coffs Harbour Surf Life Saving Club, on Saturday, 23rd March, 1957. The carnival was organized by Reg Shanahan, Noel Condon, G.Voight, R. McDonald and J.Gorman.

In March 1956 a third surf boat “Miss Park Beach III” was delivered. Boat Captain was Boyce Seccombe.

From 1960 onwards

Reg Shanahan Foundation Member, Life Member passed away in August 1960 he had convened our first meeting and spent all his life promoting the Coffs Harbour Surf Life Saving Club. His club record was:
President 1944-45, 46, 47, 48
Hon Secretary 1923-24, 25, 26, 27 and 1956-57
Chief Instructor 1928-29, 30, 31, 32 and 1936-37, 38, 39
He was a Life Member of the Coffs Harbour Club, North Coast Branch, NSW State Centre and Surf Life Saving of Australia.

Competitors of the 1960s include;
Senior boat; Boyce Seccombe, J. Enevoldson, J.Fuller, F.Nolan, R.Sare
Junior boat; K. Horschke, B.Mackney, A.Warnes, J.Petersen, H. Griffiths
Senior Teams; Ron Olive, Warren Bingham, Noel Olive, G.Gillies
March Past; A.Warnes, N.Olive, J.Smith, D.loader, B.Lucas, J.Hodson, D.Llewellan, F.Smith, R.Olive, K.Hoschke, W.Bingham, W.Small.

From 1970 onwards

Dick Pickering and Ken Holgate reporting on the new clubhouse said ~

This was a larger project than we at first envisaged. There were major problems associated with obtaining the site from the Lands Department, which was eventually secured with the help of Mr Matt Singleton MP.
During the struggles to obtain the site, plans were drawn up by the club architect Mr Trevor Reddacliffe, and it was the 5th set of plans that were eventually accepted by the Shire Council, and then with modification to the direction of the boat ramp.
Building commencing. Noel Amos ran the job and an approach was made to the bank to finance the project to first floor height. Material was begged, borrowed and obtained by other means. The first floor level was reached, formed up and steel placed and Mr Fred Farlow and his team placed the concrete. Fred donated his teams time for the job.
Mr Wendel Blake supplied the bricks at no cost and the second stage went up. This called for some financial help. Mr Rex Sare, one of  our boaties built a spec home for the Rotary Club and from the proceeds of this venture, $6000 was donated to our club, which cleared the debt on the first stage. This enabled the club to negotiate a loan to finance stage 2 and after some problems the building was completed and we had today’s magnificent clubhouse.