NORTH Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club life member Adrian Ridderhof describes the club that was founded 100 years ago as “rebellious”.
“We broke away from Cottesloe, we’re a little bit rebellious,” Mr Ridderhof said.
“There’s a great rivalry between the two clubs.”
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READ NOWThe rebellion was obvious when the Western Suburbs Weekly caught up with Mr Ridderhof and fellow life members Mike MacDermott, Jack Alliss and Dennis Hawtin.
Between them, they have been members for no less than 200 years and life members for 50 years.
They’ve won countless state and national surf lifesaving medals and Mr MacDermott was the first club member to represent Australia.
He also recalls the sale of the original clubhouse on the opposite side of Marine Parade in 1966 for 23,000 pounds.
“It cost 60,000 pounds to build the new place (on land leased by Cottesloe Council) and it was built by the end of that year,” Mr MacDermott said.
Mr Ridderhof said there were 200 members when he first joined and 2000-plus now.
“Surf lifesaving has generally increased memberships but especially North Cottesloe because we can be a bit more relaxed,” he said.
“In the late 80s we started more education program and became more high profile.”