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Clip description
This clip shows a surf carnival at Bondi Beach, Sydney in aid of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade. Surfers catch waves on longboards, lifesavers march on the sand and compete in wheelbarrow races.
Curator’s notes
Bondi Beach is one of the best known beaches in the world. The surf lifesaving movement began here in 1906 and surf carnivals have been an integral part of their culture since.
The surf-lifesaving clubs of Australia are made up of volunteers who patrol the beaches through summer every year. Apart from this, they compete in surf carnivals which feature sports such as swimming, sand running, mock rescues, surfboard riding and a march past, which is captured in this newsreel.
Here we see an observational and entertaining look at a surf carnival to help raise money and awareness of the St John’s Ambulance Service which was started not far from Bondi, in the suburb of Glebe in 1883.
