100 Years

The origins of Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club trace back to August 1915, when 91 allotments of land owned by Thomas O’Connor at the “rising seaside resort of Alexandra Headland” were auctioned in Brisbane.

The land, noted for “good fishing and surf bathing” and “magnificent views,” attracted buyers including several residents from the hinterland town of Woombye: Mr J. McClintock, J.T. Wilson, Mr A. Pringle, and Mrs Lather.

Over the following years, others from Woombye, such as Albert Tainton and Eric Bennett Fox, acquired allotments from initial buyers who had purchased land speculatively. By the early 1920s, more than a dozen holiday homes, mostly built by Woombye families, dotted the Headland. During peak holiday periods, visitors pitched tents along the dunes stretching from Maroochydore to Alexandra Headland.

In 1923, some young men from Woombye had joined the Mooloolaba Life Saving Club – just a year after its foundation – and had gained lifesaving qualifications. Recognising the need to protect swimmers and surfers at their local beach, a group of Woombye residents approached these men to form a dedicated club at Alexandra Headland.

On 24 July 1924, a public meeting was held at the Woombye School of Arts, officially establishing the new Club. The meeting was chaired by E.E. McNall, secretary of the Woombye Fruitgrowers’ Co-operative and the driving force behind the Club’s formation. He was elected President; Thomas O’Connor became Patron; E.B. Fox was appointed Honorary Solicitor; and George Edwards was Secretary Treasurer.

The Nambour Chronicle soon reported:

“A Club has now been formed of Life Saving enthusiasts to guard the Alexandra Headland. Plans are underway to acquire a reel and lifeline and appoint an honorary instructor early in the season. The Club intends to patrol its beach during the Christmas holidays. The new Club will also compete for the Thos. O’Connor Shield at Christmas and the Whalley Cup at Easter.”

The Club began with 32 foundation members, mostly in their early twenties and nearly all from Woombye or nearby areas. Many were active lifesavers, including notable members such as Stan Barlow, Charlie Kuskopf, Bill Buhk, Jim Menary, Albert Tainton, and the youngest four of the six Pringle brothers – famously known as “thirty feet of Pringle” for their imposing stature.

Some had already earned their bronze medallions with Mooloolaba, while others completed their qualifications at Alexandra Headland. Lifesaving certification at the time required earning a bronze medallion in still water rescue before progressing to the Royal Life Saving Society’s Surf Medallion.

The Club’s black and gold colours were adopted from the Woombye Rugby League team, reflecting the significant overlap in membership between the two clubs. The black represented the black snake, and the gold symbolised the wattle. The original Club caps featured a black and gold quartered design. In 2024, to mark the Club’s centenary, this quartered black and gold cap design was revived as a tribute to the Club’s heritage.

A few weeks later the Nambour Chronicle announced:

A Club has now been formed of Life Saving enthusiasts to guard the Alexandra Headland. It is proposed to obtain a reel and life line almost immediately and to appoint the Club’s hon. instructor early in the season. The Club intends to patrol their beach during the Xmas holidays. With this new club along the beach there will be another entrant for the Thos. O’Connor Shield and the Whalley Cup contests at Maroochy, the former being competed for at Christmas, the latter at Easter

There were 32 foundation members of the Club, mostly aged in their early twenties. The majority were active lifesavers, and nearly all lived in Woombye or in the surrounding area. Some of the other foundation members were Stan Barlow, Charlie Kuskopf, Bill Buhk, Jim Menary, Albert Tainton, and the youngest four of the six Pringle brothers, huge men whose size prompted the saying ‘thirty feet of Pringle’. A few of the foundation members had already gained their bronze medallions while at Mooloolaba, the remainder went through at Alexandra Headland. In those days it was necessary first to obtain a bronze in still water rescue techniques, and then present for the Royal Life Saving Society’s Surf Medallion

The club colours of black and gold were the same as the colours of the Woombye Rugby League team. This was not particularly surprising, as there was a very considerable overlap in membership between the two clubs. The black came from the black snake, and the gold from the wattle. The original Club caps were black and gold quartered. In 2024, the Club cap has returned to this black and quartered design in a nod to the Club’s centenary celebrations.