The Coolangatta connection.
The First Major Event in the very early days of our young club was the selection of Coolangatta Beach for the Royal Visit Surf Carnival on the 7th March 1963. Noted in the Historical records “Surf Life Saving Queensland “by JR Winders OBE “Although his Royal Highness , Prince Phillip , Duke Of Edinburgh is the Chief Patron of SLSA of A, to see a Royal Carnival is a rarity“.
Mr J R Winders OBE, President of Queensland State Centre, SLSA of Australia also noted “How we got the carnival is no mystery, with Sir Francis Nicklin as Head of State at the time State centre had its foot in the door from the start. (Premier Nicklin opened our Club on the Beach 1966)
The conditions were cold enough for the Prince Philip to remark to the club members selected from each club as a guard of Honour. “It’s Brass Monkey Weather Boys ” and from that day I have been a fan, perhaps it was his extensive service and tour of duties in the Royal Navy where he developed a down to earth sense of humour.
A total of 53 clubs were represented and competed in the Surf events with 47 each from Queensland and 6 each from Far North Coast Branch.
A full carnival programme was completed with perfect surf conditions and it is reported that the Royal Couple were enthralled with the exciting events.
An Impressive Royal Dias was set up in front of the Hotel Coolangatta and the following photographs will highlight the wonderful view that the Royal Couple had of this very special Surf Carnival.
Representatives from 53 Clubs dressed in March Past uniforms formed a Guard of Honour for the Royal Couple on both Entry and departure to the Official Dais.
RIP Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Where does freeze the balls off a brass monkey come from?
The story goes that cannonballs used to be stored aboard ship in piles, on a brass frame or tray called a ‘monkey’. In very cold weather the brass would contract, spilling the cannonballs: hence very cold weather is ‘cold enough to freeze the balls off.