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Surf Lifesaving celebrates 100 years in the sun

Media Release - 15 August 2007
images to accompany release

The history of surf lifesaving in Australia and the joys and dangers of the beach are explored in a new exhibition on show at the South Australian Maritime Museum from September 1 – November 11 2007.

Between the Flags: 100 Years of Surf Lifesaving traces the proud history of the surf lifesaving movement, which emerged in 1907.

A century after the formation of the movement which became Surf Life Saving Australia, members have made over 500,000 rescues across Australia’s 11,000 beaches.

The exhibition celebrates the lifesavers who have made our beaches safer places, helped Australians to enjoy the surf and played a role in creating Australia’s beach culture.

“Lifesavers hold a very important position in our community and culture and they have come to represent Australia and Australians to the rest of the world,” said South Australian Maritime Museum Director Kevin Jones.

“Lifesavers are ordinary people doing an extraordinary job, voluntarily. They are almost mythical figures because of their role in making us feel safe in one of our favourite places.”

Between the Flags looks at the golden age of lifesaving, when the lifesaver joined the bushman and the digger as national icons. It traces changing technologies, the push to admit women to the ranks, the emergence of surf sport competitions, and the lifesaver’s cultural icon status at events including the Sydney Olympic ceremonies.

The exhibition, developed with Surf Life Saving Australia, includes surf caps from across the nation, rescue gear, medallions and a surfboard with a shark bite taken out of it.

Between the Flags includes personal stories from surf lifesavers, historic beach footage and a children’s trail with secret beach clues for younger audiences.

Between the Flags is a touring exhibition from the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, supported by Visions Australia, an Australian Government Program supporting touring exhibitions by providing funding assistance for the development and touring of cultural material across Australia.

Between the Flags: 100 Years of Surf Lifesaving is on show at the South Australian Maritime Museum from September 1 – November 11 2007

What    Between the Flags: 100 years of Surf Lifesaving exhibition    

When>   1 Sep – 11 November 2007

Cost     Museum Admission: Adult $8.50, Child $3.50, Concession $6.50, Family $22.00                                                           

Media Contact: Kearin Hausler, Marketing Co-ordinator
Phone   +61 8203 9868
Mobile   0431 908 231
Email     khausler@history.sa.gov.au

South Australian Maritime Museum: 126 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide SA 5015. Phone: +61 8207 6255