Shellharbour Surf Lifesaving Club

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NameShellharbour Surf Lifesaving Club Date1937Geolocation^[1] Last edited by: Will Chittick

AddressShellharbourDescriptionKeith Hockey was 16 years old when he attended the foundation meeting of the Shellharbour Surf Club at the ‘Ocean Beach Hotel’ in 1937.

Keith played a major part in the development of the club after World War Two. Local man, Jim Cullen, who lived at the ‘Ocean Beach Hotel’, was a Captain in the Army. He managed to secure a Nissan Hut from near the Steelworks that had been used as an army canteen. The men from the club had to raise £150 pounds for its purchase. Mr. Cullen donated £100.

The hut was cut into sections and brought back to Shellharbour on a truck. Many men worked on the construction of the Surf Club House. The Shellharbour Workers Club promised the Surf Club £5 rent per week if they could use the Nissen Hut hall.

Keith Hockey was also instrumental in establishing life saving on South Shellharbour Beach; a result of tourists not walking over to North Beach to swim.

In 1955, Keith and friends started the Learn to Swim program. They taught many local kids to swim for free. One of his students was Beverly Whitfield who won a Gold and Bronze Medal at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

‘Voices of a Lifetime’, Shellharbour City Libraries, 2009.

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