Surf club starts historic profiles series in newsletter

Killcare Surf Life Savings Club has started a series of "historic profiles" in the club's newsletter to ensure the club's history is not forgotten.

Long-term member Mr Lex Cameron featured in the first of the series.

Lex joined Killcare in 1954 as a junior and achieved his bronze medallion in 1956.

Surf races were his forte but he was selected in the successful Killcare open R and R team in 1958.

As a young surveyor, his position took him to reside in Nowra on the South Coast for three years and, during that time, he forged a great relationship between the two clubs: Nowra Culburra and Killcare.

On returning to Killcare, he threw himself into water competition belt races, surf races, R and R and even boat races. Beach sprinting was not Lex's go.

Lex was vice-captain in 1961 when he and the cub captain devised a plan to vastly increase membership, and win acknowledgement through competition.

A march past team was formed together with R and R teams, surf swimmers and belt race competitors, along with many beach event competitors.

The strategic plan was fulfilled when it realised 35 or so new members from Erskineville and Newtown plus locals. Killcare was on its way.

In the 1967-68 season, six years after the plan was implemented, Killcare won the Australian Beach relay title, and finally the plan was complete.

Lex Cameron has been president, club captain, vice-captain and chief instructor, amongst other roles.

He trained the R and R teams to many branch championships, has won surf races and is recognised as the best lifesaver and member ever from Killcare.

Life Membership was granted to Lex in 1992, joining an elite group of only 19 in the 85 years since Killcare was officially recognised.

Lex was also granted Life Membership of the Central Coast Branch, joining Dr Eric Martin, Alan Duall and Jim McFadyen as the only recipients to receive this award for Killcare.

Newsletter, 6 Oct 2016

Leah Fotofili, Killcare Surf Life Saving Club