History of the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club celebrates the first fifty years (1945-1995) of the largest surf life saving club in Victoria. The book features historic photographs of the surf club and the famed Torquay Surf Beach on Victoria rugged Surf Coast. The book also features chapters on the historic, cultural, social and competitive areas within the club.This bok is significant because it represents the first official history of one of the largest and most influential surf life saving clubs in Australia.Blue leather hardback book with gold lettering on blue representing the colours of the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club. Authors name - Ken Pollardbells beach, torquay surf life saving club, d s club, peter troy, vic tantau, terry wall, ken pollard, torquay surf beach, pioneer surfers, jim wall, dick garrard, sprint walker, owen yateman, alan coulson, ron hussey, joe sweeney, sharon heathcote, ray brewin, frances murphy, bryan hayden

This Memorial Booklet was put together by family, friends and members of the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club for a special memorial service held at the club on Saturday 6th November, 2010. 'China' Gilbert was a popular member of the surf club who passed away from ill health in Torquay on 28th September, 2010. The booklet contains a mixture of tributes, black and white and colour photographs of 'China' from his youth through to modern times highlighting his activities at the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club and a pioneer surfer in the 1940's and 1950's.This booklet is significant because it commemorates the memory of one of the oldest and most popular members of the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club. The booklet contains historic and rare photographic images of 'China' from his earliest days as a young surfer through to his time as a competitor for the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club and finally senior club member. 'China' was known around Australia for his surfing, mateship and 'larrikin' streak. Over 500 people attended his memorial service and paddle out at the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club.24 page full colour booklet with a photo of 'China' Gilbert on the cover holding a bright yellow Quiksilver surfboard. 'China' signature and graphic of a tree.rex china gilbert, china, torquay surf life saving club, longboard, 1956 melbourne olympics, torquay surf beach

These images capture for all time Light Horsemen travelling through Geelong on their way to camp at Torquay for the last Group meeting in Australia . information following - details obtained from .........https://torquayhistory.com/light-horse-brigade/ On Australia Day, 1997, Sir John Young unveiled this plaque on Point Danger, Torquay. Torquay history, Light Horse Training Camp, WW2 Plaque at Pt. Danger Note----- (See images to view plaque) The plaque identifies a significant event in Torquay’s history and the sentiments of ‘change’ for the Light Horse Brigade – from horses to machines. In 1940 the four Light Horse Regiments (4th, 8th, 13th and 20th), some 5000 Light Horse and 2000 horses camped and trained at Torquay. Three other regiments, formerly mounted on horses, were also at Torquay ‘mounted’ on privately owned trucks and cars. Division troops included Artillery, Engineers, Signals, Field Ambulance and other branches of the Army necessary to enable a Division to function. It wasn’t just the sheer numbers of men coming to this little town that made the event significant, it was also the fact that the men of the Light Horse were dramatic, almost glamorous figures and it is easy to see their exploits as some splendid adventure. Horses have played a special role in the story of Australia. They were the only means of transport across this huge country, so it was necessary for everyone to have the ability to ride a horse. When war broke out in 1899 between Britain and the Boers of South Africa (“Boer” was Dutch for “farmer”) Australia sent troops to fight. At first Britain was wary of using untried, unprofessional colonial cavalrymen but soon saw that the slouch-hatted Australian “bushmen” were a match for the fast-moving and unconventional mounted commandos of the Boers. The Australians proved themselves to be expert rough-riding horsemen and good shots. Bush life had hardened them to go for long periods with little food and water. They also showed remarkable ability to find their way in a strange country and use its features for cover, in both attack and defence. By 1914, when Australia joined the war against Germany, there were 23 Light Horse regiments of militia volunteers. Many men from these units joined the Light Horse regiments of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Men were given remounts (if not using their own horses) – army horses bought by Commonwealth purchasing officers from graziers and breeders. These were called “walers” because they were a New South Wales stockhorse type – strong, great-hearted animals with the strains of the thoroughbred and semi-draught to give them speed, strength and stamina. On 1st November, 1914, Australia’s First Infantry Division and the first four Light Horse regiments sailed for England in a fleet of transport ships. The first of the Light Horse arrived at Gallipoli in May without their horses. Back with their horses after Gallipoli, they were formidable combatants across the Sinai and Palestine. Some British commanders observed that the light horseman moved with a “lazy, slouching gait, like that of a sleepy tiger” but described how the promise of battle “changes that careless gait, into a live athletic swing that takes him over the ground much quicker than other troops”. They had Light Horse, Torquay, training campdeveloped a reputation as formidable infantrymen. The Turks called them “the White Ghurkas” – a reference to their deadly skill with the bayonet. The Arabs called them “The Kings of the Feathers”. The plume had originally been a battle honour of the Queensland Mounted Infantry for their work in the shearer’s strike of 1891. During WW1 it was adopted by almost all the Light Horse Regiments. It was the proud badge of the light horseman. The most famous of their battles was the attack on Beersheba- the charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade. Mounted infantrymen and their superb walers had carried out one of the most successful cavalry charges in history – against what seemed impossible odds. They surprised the Turks by charging cavalry-style, when they would normally have ridden close to an objective then dismounted to fight. The fall of Beersheba swung the battle tide against the Turks in Palestine; and changed the history of the Middle East. While 19 men from the Surf Coast Shire served with the 4th Light Horse over the course of WW1, only four were involved in the charge of Beersheba- John GAYLARD, Philip QUINN.(Winchelsea); Wallace FINDLAY (Anglesea); Harry TRIGG (Bambra). After the war, Light Horse units played a key role in the Australian Government’s compulsory military training programme. The Citizen Military Forces (C.M.F.) thrived on the glamour of the wartime Light Horse tradition, ignoring the possibility that motor vehicles would soon replace the horses. When training was no longer compulsory, the C.M.F. regiments declined and horses became more of a luxury during the 1930s depression years of poverty and unemployment. Some regiments were motorised. Then, in 1939, Australia joined Britain in another world war. Training was increased for the militia at both home bases and regional training camps. The camp at Torquay in 1940, commanded by Major General Rankin, was at Divisional strength. By the end of the camp some felt that the Division was ready for active service. Gradually, over the next four years, the Australian Light Horse units were mounted on wheels and tracks and the horses were retired. Six men enlisted at the Torquay camp and another 57 men and women enlisted at Torquay for service in WW2. Those who served in the Militia provided valuable Officers and NCOs and men for the armed services during the war. Each infantry division of the 2nd AIF had a Light Horse regiment attached to it. But the day of the Australian mounted soldier hadn’t quite passed. During World War II, Australia’s 6th Cavalry Regiment formed a mounted unit they called “The Kelly Gang” which did valuable scouting work. In New Guinea, a mounted Light Horse Troop did patrol duty and helped carry supplies. Some fully equipped walers were flown into Borneo for reconnaissance in rugged mountain country. But by the end of the war, in 1945, the horse had disappeared from the Australian Army. References: Australian Light Horse Association www.lighthorse.org.au National Australia Archives Australian War Memorial Surf Coast Shire WW1 memorials www.togethertheyserved.com The Light horse- a Cavalry under Canvas Light Horse, Training Camp, Torquay, WW2 Late in 1939 it was decided to set up a Lighthorse training camp in Torquay to train both men and horses for the battles of the Second World War. Horses, men and equipment came on special trains from all over Victoria and NSW, and as you would expect horseman came from areas such as Omeo and Sale, the Wimmera and the Western District. They arrived at the Geelong racecourse for watering in the Barwon River and then were ridden across the ford at the breakwater and began their 11 mile trek to Torquay. Light Horse, Training Camp, Torquay, WW2 Tent city By the end of January 1940 the camp at Torquay accommodated some 5000 men and 2500 horses of the Second Cavalry Division. The rows of horses, tents and huts near Blackgate Road were quite a sight. While the cavalrymen engaged in exercises on the land and on the beaches, many of the troops took over the Torquay School for special training of men and officers. Mr Bob Pettit local farmer and Councillor for the Barrabool Shire, wrote about the Light horse in the Surf Coast Community News in 1985 saying “They used to travel about the district riding four abreast in one long convoy. To my annoyance they went through my property and shut all the gates behind them. I had certain gates open to let stock in to the water holes and it would take me three -quarters of an hour to follow the horsemen up and put all the gates right again” he continued “the men from the Light Horse were here when the fire went through in March 1940. He recalled an incident when early one morning, as some one blew the bugle, a soldier putting a white sheet on the line frightened the horses. They panicked and ran off in all directions. Six went over the cliff near Bird Rock, five were never found, and the rest were gathered up after nearly a fortnight in the bush around Addiscott and Anglesea" Light Horse, Training Camp, Torquay, WW2, Geelong Parade Geelong parade The training camp culminated in a parade through the streets of Geelong on March 12th 1940. The salute was given at the Town Hall and the troops continued on a route to the You Yang’s for a training exercise. Note-----(see media section for photograph) The Camp was abandoned in mid 1940 as it was deemed unsuitable for training during winter and the cost of a permanent camp could not be justified if it could not be used all year. Historic.......Rare,,,Interpretive.Sepia photographs.set of four ....post card size ....Horses &LighthorsemenNo 1, Lighthorsemen Regiment Geelong 1940......No 2 Light Horse at Breakwater Geelong 1938 to 1940....No 3 Light Horse at Breakwater Geelong 1938 to 1940.....No 4 Light Horse crossing Breakwater camped at Geelong Showgrounds. These markings are on reverse of photographs.light horsemengeelong 1940., world war 2

This book is a direct result of an incident on 16 March 2000 when Australian surfing champion Nat Young was physically assaulted at Angourie Beach after an altercation in the water. The book contains a series of eleven articles exploring the issue of aggression (rage) in the surfing community. The book features a forward by Drew Kampion and articles by a number of surfers including Nat Young, Derek Reilly, Nick Carroll, Fred Pawle and Torquay local, Gordon Stammers. This book is significant in that it was the first Australian publication to formally address the issue of surf rage on Australian beaches.SURF RAGE by Nat Young (a surfers guide to turning negatives into positives). Full colour, soft colour book with a photo of a tubing wave on the coverISBN 0-9585750-1-0surfing, nat young, surf rage, nick carroll, gordon stammers, tribal law, surfers, violence, anger

This book is the definitive history of the surf travels by Peter Troy. Troy's travels are the stuff of legends. An original and influential figure in the early days of surfing at Bells Beach, Troy left Australia in 1963 and roamed the planet with surfboard under arm from Europe to Hawaii, South America to South Africa, introducing surfing to Brazil and discovering untold perfect waves like Nias off the coast of Sumatra. He documented every step of this remarkable journey in letters home which were rediscovered after his untimely death in 2008.This book represents the major surf travel history of one of the great legends in world surfing Peter Troy from Torquay. In 1962 Troy was one of the founders of the Bells Beach Surf Contest, the longest running surf contest in the world. He was an intrepid surf traveller who during the period 1963-1966 introduced surfing to the country of Brazil and explored the four corners of the globe for waves. This book is a unique record of world travel by surfer(s)during this period.Full colour, hard bound travel surf book by Peter Troy OAM, edited by Brendan McAloon. Colour cover image of a young Peter Troy by Rennie Ellis.ISBN - 978-0-9808480-0-7torquay, rod brooks, surf, bells beach, peter troy, rennie ellis, hawaii, nias, vic tantau, terry wall, bells beach surf contest, brazil, world surfing championships, biarritz, european surfing championships, flying pineapple media, sean doherty

This event access pass was issued to staff, vendors and community volunteers at the 2000 Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach.The access pass is typical of the pass issued each year to the staff and workers at the longest running surfing contest in the world. The pass features unique Indigenous artwork by Torquay artist/surfer Glenn Romanis2000 Rip Curl Pro Access Pass. Full colour laminated access pass (Outside Staff) for the 2000 Rip Curl Pro and Sunsmart Classic. The pass features cover art by Indigenous artist Glenn Romanis and event management logos. The pass also features a site map on the back and access information.Event management logos on the front. Indigenous Bell artwork by Torquay artist/surfer Glenn Romanis.bells beach, rip curl, glenn romanis, surfing victoria, 2000 rip curl pro

On Easter Sunday 1965 competitors in the Bells Beach Surfing Contest were greeted with the sight of 15-18 foot waves marching into Bells Beach. Riding 9-10 foot boards with no legropes the bravery of many surfers was challenged on this day. A day when reputations were made.Easter Sunday 1965 went down in Australian surfing history as the day when the largest waves were ridden in a surf contest outside of Hawaii. It was a significant day in establishing the reputation of Bells Beach as a big wave surfing location.Bells Beach - Big Easter Sunday 1965 is a short video which features an interview with Torquay surfer/photographer Barrie Sutherland describing the huge surf at the 1965 Bells Beach Surfing Contest. The video also features a number of photographs by Barrie Sutherland taken on Easter Sunday 1965. Duration: 03.28 Available as an MP4 Video. Surf World Museum logo, Bells Gold logo

This pole was used in the construction of the first Torquay Lifesaving Club clubhouse in 1945. it was dug up by club members from the mouth of Spring Creek, where it had been laid as part of defence strategy during WW2. In the 1940s 'Tank Traps' were placed across low lying Victorian Beaches to stop potential invading Japanese forces. This pole was salvaged from the ashes of the fire which destroyed the first TLSC clubhouse in 1970.This wooden pole was used in the foundations of the first Torquay Surf Life saving Club club house. Timber pole associated with WW2 and Torquay SLSC, damaged by fire in 1970.torquay lifesaving club, 'tank traps', local war defences, world war 2

Part of a wooden oar that was broken during an international dory race at Huntington Beach California USA in 1971. A dory is a small flat-bottomed wooden boat with high sides that was used during ocean rescues. Dory racing pits two-person crews against each other to test their strength, endurance, and lifesaving skills.This oar is significant for its connection with the Torquay Surf Life Saving ClubPart of a wooden oar from the Torquay Surf Life Saving ClubPresented to Torquay SLSC by John Russell & Peter Milburn. This oar was broken by the above members in the international Dory race at Huntington Beach California USA 1971torquay surf life saving club

The Two Bays guesthouse badges were souvenirs but were also worn by staff. The Rice family owned Two Bays Private Hotel, purchased in 1919 when it was a small cottage called "Cooee". It was immediately extended and renamed "Two Bays". Effie Rice ran the guesthouse for 29 years, selling in 1948 to Fred Vairy. Milton and Florence Rowe became the managers and later purchased the business. The next owners were the Williams from c1957 and then John and Wilma Pettigroves until in 1985 Two Bays was sold and demolished for a new apartment complex.Two badges from the Two Bays guesthouse in Torquay. On the front is painted a beach scene with a surfer and surf board and surrounding it the name of the guesthouse. Two Bays Torquayguesthouses