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A Little Bit of History
First we would like to acknowledge the early members and supporters of the Club:
Patron and Vice Patrons
Messrs: Sir Thomas Maegher, T.G. Smith (Dec.), George Grigg (Dec.), Alan Lindtayler (Dec.), Hec McClaren (Dec.), Ben Mathews (Dec.), Stan Grey, George Burkett, Pat Kiochholds, Charlie Hopkins, John Murdoch, Reg Grigg, Jan Kimby, Ben xxbles, Frank Browne, Erle England, Francy Friedlander, Mr Doherty, Cliff Lynch, Charlie Grice.
Past Presidents
Stan Grey, George Trewenack, Cliff Lynch, Lyn Burkett, T.G. Smith, Charlie Hopkins.
Early Committee
Stan Tonkin, Ron and Wendy Anson, Cec and Gwen Guilfoyle, Gordon Meachim, Rod Thomas, Ben Hossell, Ted Forster, Cyril Franatovich, Harry Alben, Ron Thomas, Brian and Aden Mclean, John Smithson, George Machim, Phil Natoli, Merv Reglier, Kevin Tonkin, Ray Grigg (Dec.), Ray Friedlander, Merv Regher.
Ladies Committees
Rosalie Brown (Dec.), Maye Trewenack, Iris Smith, Kitty Williams (Dec.), Laura Kiochholds (Dec.), Florence Grice, Paula Forster.
For his services rendered and being a founder of the Club, Mr George Trewenack was made a Life Member in 1953. In later years other Life Members appointed were Mr Charlie Hopkins, Mr T.G. Smith and Mr Frank Daw. Any names omitted from any of these lists, we humbly apologise for. These early notes of the history of the Rockingham and Districts Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club were compiled to the best of his knowledge by George Trewenack Founder and Captain Coach and first Vice President of the Club.
A Club is Born
Through numerous raffles and very generous donations from the business people and the public of the Districts, the Club was able to purchase their own wooden piles and through the generosity of Mr Reg Grigg, using his employees and equipment, he sank the piles for the Club, which formed a fifty-metre pool. This continued to be used through the years through many storms and repairs until such time as the Rockingham Shire built the Olympic pool in 1974.
All members were very keen on Interclub competitions and two early events were provided for the 1947-48 season, of which one was the "Swim Thru Rockingham" and the forming of the men's West Australian Water Polo Association. The first Swim Thru attracted a large number of competitors from the Metropolitan Clubs, which commenced at Palm Beach jetty where the competitors swam East to a buoy half way between Rockingham jetty and Wanliss Street and finished at the Rockingham jetty, a distance of approximately 1-1/2miles. The course was laid out by the Captain and crew of the "HMAS Karanghi" as were a lot of the courses for future Swim Thru's.
Sir Thomas Meagher presenting
the "Swim Thru Rockingham" Trophy to Charles
Hopkins. winner from Metropolitan Club
The winner of the inaugural Swim Thru was Dan Christie (Dec.) of the City Swimming Club. The first local swimmers were G. Trewenack who was fourth and Miss Florence Grice who was the first lady. The first two competitors to take to the water were Mr George Grigg (Dec.) and Mr Henry Chandler, both of which had to retire early through lack of condition and cramps.
The first Rockingham swimmer to win a Swim Thru was Geoff Campbell as a Junior. Another early swimmer was West Australia's great entertainer Rolfe Harris who swam backstroke for the whole distance. (Well, now we know what he got up to when he wasn't tying his kangaroo down, sport!)
Rescue boats follow swimmers
during 1948 "Swim Thru
Rockingham"
The early members of the water polo teams showed a lot of courage and determination to enable them to compete in the Metropolitan competitions. Early water polo players Gordon Machim, Ron Anson, Bob and Geoff Campbell, Jan Jewson, George Machim, Brian and Adrian McLean, Phil Natoli, John Smithson, Merv Regher, Cec Guilflayle, Bob Burkett.
This meant travelling to Perth to the Crawley Baths every Thursday evening with little transport available. Through the generosity of Cliff Lynch and Mr Lindsay Burkett, transportation was made easier through the loan of a motorbike sidecar from Cliff Lynch and a three-ton tip truck from Cliff Lynch and Lindsay Burkett. Rockingham was able to field two teams in the competition and both acquitted themselves quite well. They were the first division team played off in the finals on two occasions and were runners up in the annual Douglas Jones Shield, which was held at Guildford each year and was a one day knockout competition between ten teams. The Club was very proud of three of the Water Polo players who were selected in the State sides.
Rockingham Swimming Club Tour
Team 1975
Life Members
1953 Mr George Trewnack
1955 Mr Stan Tonkin 1958 Mr Charlie Hopkin Mr J. Smithson 1965 Mr T.G. Smith 1970 Mrs I. Craven 1972 Mr Frank Daw 1973 Mr B. Tate 1974 Mr R. Sidworthy 1975 Mrs Y. Tate 1976 Mrs I. Smith 1978 Mr Les Blackburn 1979 Mrs Valma Swetman 1980 Mrs Joyce
Blackburn 1981 Mr Sedley Roberts 1982 Mr Charlie Grove 1983 Mrs josie Roberts 1986 Mr Edna Carruthers
1987 Mr Hans Klaus 1988 Mr K. Scutt 1990 Mrs Paula Harrison
1993 Mrs Sandra Easdown
1996 Mrs Cheryl Fritchley
Mr John Blackburn 1997 Mrs Lyn Marinich 1998 Mrs Liz Polini 2000 Mrs Linda Sartori 2002 Mrs Kerry Williams
Mr Jeff Williams 2003 Mrs Carolyn Blackburn
2002 Mrs Cindy Rogers Mr Geoff Rogers
