On Saturday, November 2 the Mad Boaters Tea Party will be in full swing at the at the Pambula Surf Life Saving Club, providing a night of music, food and dancing to support the supersonic women of the south coast - the Pambula Women's George Bass Team.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Known as the longest, toughest surf boat race in the world, the George Bass Surf Boat Marathon sees women and men row a gruelling 190km over seven days, from Batemans Bay to Eden.
Commenced in 1975, this biannual marathon was the brainchild of Bega Newspaper editor Curly Annabel and in its first year saw clubs from Tathra, Cronulla, Point Lonsdale and even Wales compete.
Women rowers weren't included in the race till the late 1990s, which reflects the gendered views of surf lifesaving of the time.
It wasn't till 1980 that women were admitted as full members of the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia, and women were banned from qualifying for the surf bronze medallion as it was argued that women were not strong enough to operate the equipment or swim in heavy surf.
However, in some clubs, especially out of Sydney, women were allowed to participate, including at Terrigal a whole team of women became lifesavers during the second world war when 73 of their 76 lifesavers had been called to war.
The Pambula Surf Life Saving Club has operated patrols since 1914 and although women worked on committees behind the scenes from its inception, they too weren't permitted to be official lifesavers till the 1980s.
However, it wasn't long till women demonstrated their equal athleticism and strength in the surf. By 1985 Pambula's women lifeguards were in the first to drive inflatable rescue boats in NSW and in 1997, Pambula brought the youngest female competitors to race in the George Bass - "The Pambula Babes" - who swept into fifth place in their maiden marathon.
Today, the women's masters team has steadily risen as the team to beat, rowing to victory in the last two events, training for almost 200 hours over seven months, under trainer and sweep Chris Briggs.
This year's race will begin at Batemans Bay on December 29 and finish at Eden on Saturday, January 4.
The Mad Boaters Tea Party on Saturday, November 2 is an opportunity to step out and support the women of surf lifesaving and help the George Bass women's team float their boat.
With a fancy dress theme of vintage seaside and mad hatter's afloat slip on your 50s frock, Victorian neck to knee swimsuit, Hawaiian kitsch or don a boater, cravat, parasol or hat. Dance till you drop with a DJ spinning some soul and funk feels, tuck into a buffet spit dinner and some delicious gourmet salads, and sip on a drink from the bar.
Tickets $45 pp. Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=560176