Category: Updates from Balmoral Beach Club

Storytellers – Des Kearney

Caps where compulsory in the 1960s’s L-R: Dick Morath (slightly obscured), Des Kearney (pointing), Lou Morath, Tim Anderson, John Bagnall, Angus McKenzie (behind John), Vin Morath (foreground) – Click image to enlarge.
At the 100th Meeting Karel Moray shared some wonderful stories about her father club legend Des Kearney. This fabulous presentation of anecdotes and insights to the true Des Kearney was followed with a surprise celebration with a spectacular cake and champagne to mark the 100th meeting milestone.
Convenor Clive Mancey with the spectacular cake to celebrate the 100th meeting
The way members have embraced the Storytellers has made it all worthwhile and we all know a little bit more about each other. It’s a fun way to spend an evening being entertained once a month and now helps accumulate some good stories for the BBC Bicentenary publication!
Daughter – Karol Moray
Karel told us how Peter Desmond (call me Des) Kearney was born

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SUMMER OF FUN – HELPERS NEEDED

As Christmas draws near so does the Summer of Fun. Eight days of swimming races, beach sports and extracurricular activities. As always this year will see the introduction on some new events that will test not only the physical skills of contestants but their mental ability as well. More on these later.
Now I have your attention! Yes – the wine is free and is of high quality.
Every year at the end of the Summer of Fun Terry Carroll hands out bottles of wine to those who help out at the festival. So if you have some spare time over the Xmas period and want to hop on the wine wagon please email us email me or add your name to the ‘Helper’ poster which will be placed in the front club room at the beginning of December.
Being a helper allows you to meet and integrate with the active members and

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Storytellers – A Scotsman Held for Ransom & The Flight of the Elephants

For the last meeting of the year we were fortunate enough to have two excellent presenters. Regular Storyteller Jon Attwater told the story of his Scottish Great Grandfather A.C. Mackay who left home at the age of 10, went to sea and finished up being held for ransom in Manchuria. Jon was followed by Guy Cooper, who has had a 25-year association with Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoo, presenting the “Flight of the Elephants” – the journey to Australia of eight Asian Elephants covering events both chronicled and unrecorded.
Jon knew from a young age a little about his Great Grandfather Alexander Clarke Mackay but there was limited detail. However, through a conversation with member Chris Barrie who said he had some photos of Jon’s Grandfather (turned out to be his Great Grandfather), he was prompted to roll his sleeves up, get out the old trunk in the garage and

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SUMMER OF FUN – 2018 EVENTS

SUMMER OF FUN – 2018 BEACH EVENTS
We’re keeping the program at the top, scroll down for more…
Full Program – Download PDF

Click to Show / Hide Full Events Program

DATE

RACE
Dist.
OTHER EVENT

Sat – Dec 22
7:30AM
Day 1
Summer of Pain Trophy – the Round Bay
1,000M
Opening day of the Summer of Fun

Tue – Dec 25
7:30AM
Rex Hayhow Trophy
1,000M
Regular BBC Event

Wed – Dec 26
7:30AM
Foundation Cup – Round the Bay

Skins 1

Thu – Dec 27
7:10AM

Chariot Race – Demonstration

Thu – Dec 27
7:30AM
Cord Cup – Club to Peggy’s Rocks & return
1,250M
Skins 2

Swim/Paddle/Run

Fri – Dec 28
7:30AM
Hunter Bay Classic – Club to Peggy’s Rocks & return
1,250M
Skins 3

8:15AM

120M
SOF Calcutta

Sat – Dec 29
7:00AM

Rugby Sand 4’s

Sat – Dec 29
7.30AM
Smugglers Keg – Baths to Bathers
1,080M
Skins Quarter Final

8:15AM
Charm 500
500M

Bikini Bash – Champagne Cup

Sun – Dec 30
7:10AM
Masters Race
200M

7:30AM
Balmoral Blue – deadmans to Peggy’s Rocks & return
1,500M
Skins Semi Final

Generation Relay
Children’s Sprint

Mon – Dec 31
7:30AM
The Final Siren – Round the Bay
1,000M
Skins Final

8:15AM

Team’s Relay

Tue – Jan 1
7:30AM
New Year’s Gift – Round the Bay
620M

8:00AM

280M
Boardshorts

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ERIK MATHER 2 4 6KM SWIM – SATURDAY 24TH NOVEMBER

The 2,4,6 km invitational open water swim established by Erik in 1998 and renamed in Erik’s memory, is on again. Register on-line early as numbers are limited.
Register here
Balmoral Beach Club members and member’s guests participating in the race are encouraged to make a donation, in lieu of an entry fee, in support of the Melanoma Institute of Australia (MIA). Melanoma has touched the lives of many Club members, their families and friends, so it is meaningful that the swim makes a significant contribution to MIA’s research into a cure. Last year the swim raised $15,000 for MIA, help us beat that this year.
Swim Details
Date: Saturday 24th November 2018
Participants: Open to Club members and their friends
Time: Registration from 6.15am. 7am start.
Location: The Balmoral Beach Club, 6 The Esplanade, Balmoral.
Distance: 2, 4 or 6km
Course: Bay to Chinamans’ and return
Entry: Donation, in lieu of an entry fee
Registration: Online or 6:15am on the day

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SUMMER OF FUN 2018 – THE “FUN” EVENTS

The Summer of Fun is not just about swimming – a major part of the festival is the extra curricular events. If swimming is not your thing you can always swing a club on the golf day, test your palate at the Wine Tasting, a relaxing game of bowls, or hike with Denise to Manly. There is something for everyone at the Summer of Fun.
First up is sailing day – Thursday December 27th at 11.00AM. If you have a boat and wish to take part or would like to crew please respond to the link at the end of this note and Jack Stening will contact you to co-ordinate your involvement.
Next up on the Friday is Golf Day at Royal Northbridge. Tee off will be at 1:00PM. Come as a single or put together your own foursome to challenge for the prizes.
The most popular event at the SOF is the

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SUMMER OF FUN 2018 – THE TEAMS CHALLENGE

Yes! One of the foundation SOF teams ‘The Mullets’ have thrown out the challenge. Led by their patriarch ‘Big Tony’ their narcissism is unmatched – only Donald Trump comes close.
This is what the SOF is all about – the unabashed swagger of your typical Premier League Football Club supporters. Last year’s winner, Team Neoprene is toying with the idea of rebadging themselves as ‘Mullet Trawlers’ to bring this bunch of burly to the feasting table.
Accordingly we are looking to get all teams in place early this year. The early registration will open up a “Transfer Season” where if you are not happy with your current team or you are looking to strengthen your team there will be an opportunity to get your agent out there to hawk your services to another team or snap up some novices with potential.
Listed below are the teams from last year, listed in finishing

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