History Part 1

In 1946, Members of the Rockingham Progress Association Committee asked Mr George Trewenack, who had been very active in the Kalgoorlie Amateur Swimming Club, if he would be interested in forming a swimming club in Rockingham for the benefit of the young people in the area. He said he was very interested, and with the help of the Progress Association, a meeting was arranged for all those interested in forming a Swimming Club.
At that meeting the Club was formed and after much discussion over an appropriate name, it was moved that the Club be called the "Rockingham and Districts Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club".

The Office bearers elected were:

President		Mr Stan Grey
Vice President		Mr George Trewenack
Secretary/Treasurer		Mr Stan Tonkin
Captain		Mr George Trewenack
Patron		Mr George Grigg, OBE
Vice Patrons		Mr T.G. Smith
		Mr Reg Grigg
		Mr Charlie Hopkin
		Mrs Francis Friedlander

Rockingham Swim Tru 1946-47 showing turning pipes centre and HMAS Karanghi in the back ground.

With approximately 23 Members, the next problem was that when enough competitions were available, where to conduct the swimming races. Eventually after receiving permission from the Royal Australian Navy to use the jetty and facilities at Palm Beach, it was decided on that site. So that the competitions could have turning boards, the committee decoded to purchase tubing and fittings from the salvage of the Submarine Boom Fence, which had been erected between Point Peron and the Southern end of Garden Island. This was done and the members and suppliers erected the pipes to form a distance of fifty metres to provide longer distances. These pipes were replaced two seasons later, by a floating platform which was also constructed by the members out of timber and a great number of 44 gallon drums. This floating platform was replace also next season with a more modern and stable platform. This was erected out of parts of the old "Millars Timber Company" railway line on which the trams used to transport timber from Jarrahdale to Rockingham. This turning platform remained in use until it was decided to transfer the activities of the Club from Palm Beach to Rockingham for the 1951-52 season.