Ithaca - Caloundra City Life Saving Club Inc
History of the ClubThe Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) was founded in England in 1891 to combat a high drowning toll. The techniques advocated by the Society were soon adopted by many countries and today the RLSS represents the largest single organisation dedicated to the teaching of lifesaving and the prevention of drowning.
The first Australian Branch was formed in New South Wales in 1894 and the movement soon spread to all States, with Queensland Branch opening (by Royal Charter) in 1905.
In December 1924, a dual system of lifesaving was established with Surf Life Saving Australia being responsible for ocean beaches and the Royal Life Saving Society Australia responsible for all other waterways and stillwater environments.As this Club is physically located on a passage (which is an inland waterway), although adjacent to the Ocean, the Club has remained affiliated to the RLSS (Queensland Branch).
Now the History of The ClubThe Club started operations in March 1954 with a group of six men whose aim was to form a Royal Life Saving Club that catered for men. This was unusual at the time, as Surf Clubs catered for men, while Royal Life Saving Clubs had female members. The Club was started at Ithaca Pool after the men returned from the National Championships in Tasmania. The leasee of Ithaca Pool was Mr Joe Venning, son of the Frank Venning who was heavily involved in Life Saving at the time. Metropolitian Life Saving Club (which at the time was affiliated with RLSSQ, and is now know as Metropolitian - Caloundra Surf Life Saving Club) also trained at the Ithaca Baths and members used to travel two/from Caloundra together to patrol.
By the late 1950s and early 1960s the Club had grown to a reasonable size. During this time, patrols commenced at Bulcock Beach, Caloundra. It is believed that this location (Bulcock Beach) was chosen after the death of two swimmers, who had decided to swim to Bribie Island from Bulcock Beach and were never seen again.
Originally the Beach was patrolled by women only. Later on, men and women patrolled on alternate weekends and mixed patrols began in the 1970s.Our archive collection of photos show some of our early members competing in the Reel and Line and the March Past events in Life Saving competitions. Right from the beginning, the Club colours were Royal Blue and gold - the colours of the sand and the sky.
The original Clubhouse was a tent at the nearby Carvan Park (adjoining the Coast Guard) which was replaced by a semi permanent timber building. After a storm in the 1970's this building almost fell over and the Club took over an old boat & bait hire shop at Bulcock Beach. This was located on the site of the present Clubhouse building, next to the White Fleet shop which was a general store that hired out boats. Older members have many fond memories of the crowded accommodation and the fun times that they had!In 2004, the Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a reunion of over one hundred and fifty past and present members. It was a great opportunity to swap memories and reminisce about the past as well as make plans for the future.
History of the Word "Ithaca"Queensland’s inaugural Governor, Sir George Bowen was previously the Governor of the Ionian Islands off Greece. Ithaca is a town on the Ionian Island, and is also a suburb of Brisbane, presumerably named by Governor Bowen. Whilst the suburb of Ithaca still exists, it is no longer an official suburb of Brisbane, but it is part of Paddington.
The Club was originaly known as Ithaca Life Saving Club, changing its name to Ithaca - Bulcock Beach Life Saving Club, and finally to the present name (Ithaca - Caloundra City Life Saving Club). The Club has considered on many occasions of dropping the word Ithaca from its name, however support for the history of the Club has been such that it has always remained. Newer members refer to the Club as Caloundra City Life Saving Club, however older members still refer to the Club as Ithaca Life Saving Club.
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The photo to the left was taken in the 1980's, at a Royal Life Saving Society Queensland (RLSSQ) Beach carnival at Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast. The RLSSQ used to run an Annual State Beach Carnival, with all RLSSQ affiliated Club competing, however with only two patrolling Clubs remaining affiliated with RLSSQ, the Carnivals ceased in the 1990's. |
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Another photo from the same era. |
| On the right is a photo of the Old Clubhouse, which was previous a bait shop. This photo was taken around 1988/9, just before it was demolished. The present Clubhouse is in the same location, with the stairs (to the beach) to the left of the Clubhouse, being in the same location as the prsent stairs. | 
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A very rare photo showing the point (which is now eroded away), Beach (with stumps from diving boards being just visable), and The White Fleet, Bait and Boat Hire next door. |