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HOW IT ALL BEGAN
At the 1948 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships being held at St Clair Beach in Dunedin, a group of N Z Surf Life Savers met to discuss the possibility of setting up a "club" for those who had been in the movement for a period of 21 years, or longer. Coincidentally, there were found to be 21 people present. After considerable discussion concerning the objects of the club, membership, etc. a ballot for membership numbers was held. The numbers drawn in the ballot were recorded in the Membership Register one higher than that drawn, with the person drawing number 21 being recorded as member No. 1.
The following are those 21 members:-
1 Bill Griffin - Lyall Bay, 1923
2 Jim Sutherland - Sumner, 1921
3 Reid Rodgerson - St Clair, 1915
4 Brian Hughes - Maranui, 1918
5 John Swan - St Clair, 1924
6 Frank Coira - Lyall Bay, 1909
7 Duke Gillies - St Clair, 1925
8 John McIndoe - St Clair, 1915
9 Mark Rodgerson - St Clair, 1927
10 Richard Pelham - Worser Bay, 1927
11 James McIvor - Lyall Bay, 1926
12 Nevell Berge - East End, 1917
13 Paddy Ryan - Lyall Bay, 1924
14 Jack Blakely - Lyall Bay, 1927
15 Fred Jackson - Maranui, 1926
16 Hugh Henderson - St Clair, 1912
17 Alexander Stokes - New Brighton, 1918
18 William Jenkins - St Clair, 1912
19 Kenneth Herriott - Sumner, 1926
20 Ronald Pearce - Lyall Bay, 1926
21 Cecil Lewis - St Clair, 1922
These original 21 members then "invited" a further 14 of their fellow surf life savers to form the inaugural membership.
The following are those "invited" members:-
22 Frank Chapman - Maranui, 1918
23 Alex Ross - Maranui, 1913
24 William Gerrie - Worser Bay, 1914
25 Victor Allan - Worser Bay, 1910
26 Harold Winstanley - Lyall Bay, 1919
27 Phillip Edwards - Maranui, 1921
28 John Whisker - Maranui, 1918
29 Harold Dickson - Lyall Bay, 1925
30 Wilfred Smith - Opunake, 1923
31 George Griffiths - North Beach, 1927
32 Claude Cooper - North Beach, 1912
33 James Hunter - Island Bay, 1922
34 Ken Bassett - Sumner, 1912
35 Herbert Feast - Lyall Bay, 1921
Each year the club conducts its AGM and a social function, at the time of the New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships, traditionally on the Friday evening. It is usually attended by about 120 members, with wives & partners joining for the pre-meeting social hour and the meal after the AGM. Of recent years, wives and partners have been permitted to be present at the AGM, but "without a voice".
Although originally a "men only" club, lady members are now admitted. Some years ago a Ladies "21" Club was set up, and this has now been amalgamated into the "mens" club.
An annual fee of five dollars (NZ) is levied to each member in order to cover administration costs.
On the page titled "Inaugural Meeting", there is displayed, a copy of the minutes of the Inaugural Meeting held on the occasion of the 1948 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships, at which the "21" Club was formed.
On the page titled "Club News" there is displayed a copy of the minutes of the most recent AGM.
THE LOGO FEATURED AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE WAS THE ORIGINAL LOGO USED FOLLOWING THE CLUB'S FORMATION
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RECENT "HISTORY"
Following the 2009 AGM held at the Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club, in Gisborne during March of 2009, on the occasion of the NZ Championships at Midway Beach, the membership figure had reached 725, with Vaughn Garrett being appointed as our member 725 at that AGM.
Of that total, two honorary memberships have been granted. Membership is for life, and the Register Number allocated is associated with that member forever and is never re-allocated.
Over the years there have only been two honorary membership granted. The first was to Murray Faulding, awarded at the AGM in the year he supplied the NZ Championships Sound System for the 21st time, with the second being to Vaughan Garrett, at the 2009 AGM, in recognition of his services to the movement and 21 Club members at the NZ Championships for a great many years.
The death of Duke Gillies MBE, Member No. 7 on Sunday December 15th 2002 saw the last of our original 21 members passing on to leave No. 64 Cyril O'Neil QSM of the North Beach Club in Christchurch, as the most senior member. June McGregor OBE, of Gisborne is our most senior lady member. All of the original 21 members and the 14 (No's 22 to 35) "invited" members have now passed on, leaving Cyril O'Neill as the most senior member, by number. Following a majority decision at the 2003 AGM held in Gisborne on the occasion of the 2003 NZ Championships, the 21 Club became registered as an Incorporated Society, making its official title "The 21 Club Incorporated".
WOULD YOU LIKE SOMETHING INCLUDED ON THIS WEBSITE ?
Send the information, including any photographs, to the Secretary/Treasurer - see contact details below
THE CLUB'S ADDRESS
Secretary/Treasurer
The 21 Club (Inc.)
P O Box 9205
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
To email the Secretary/Treasurer - click on the link below
Email Message to the Secretary/Treasurer |
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