Carl Melvey, Grant Turnbull

L/R Carl Melvey, Grant Turnbull
A few memories of Carl Melvey – Life Member North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club

Carl was larger than life, both in body, mind and spirit. He was loyal, ….. to an extreme. He was engaging, ….. and convincing. He was also a bit of a larrikin, especially how he weaved his family life between work, surf club, skiing, Scalabrini aged care and other ventures.

Surf Life Saving became a love, when he purchased a large rundown bungalow on Bondi Beach’s northern Ben Buckler point in 1958. He was very excited when he found out about North Bondi Nippers in 1965 and entered all his male children as soon as they turned 5. Then, he thought it would be a good idea if all the parents of Nippers should have their Life Saving qualifications, to help guard the future life savers. When he moved into the Senior Club, he became Chief Instructor for many years. Times were tough for numbers during the 1970s, but In one great year, the North Bondi Club achieved over 300 awards in one season. On a few occasions, his large body hindered the beach, as he swamped a rubber ducky rescue boat, and tipped over many recue boards. Carl had the energy and desire to make things happen.

He also terrorised our Southern Sydney counterparts (we will not mention the actual club) in developing the OxyViva for use in near fatal rescues. He disagreed with some technicalities, had a few words of wisdom at various meetings, then helped the same gentlemen start the Advanced Resuscitation Certificate. This new SLSA course has saved many, if not thousands, of lives. It is amazing how he could so antagonize some people, then become their greatest supporter years later, all for the sake of Surf Life Saving. It demonstrates how to respect people, and still work for a common cause.

His manners were impeccable, and his etiquette to all members, was something to observe, especially to ladies. Probably his greatest achievement was continually lobbying for 4 long years, then succeeding to have females as full award and voting members of the club. In the first couple of failures, he was not bitter about the result, and just reasoned there had to be a smarter way to convince the committee and members. He found it and won, to make North Bondi one of the most progressive and active clubs in Australia.

Carl is a Life Member of North Bondi Surf Saving Club.

Then, there were the “other” families he had: Dawn Trading for work, Scalabrini Aged Care and Snowsports. How he fitted them all into his daily life, was another entanglement.

Carl became the Australian Team manager to the World Cross Country Championships in 1982 at Oslo, Norway. In trying to create a platform for proficient racers, he struggled with old ideas whilst lobbying for women in sport and less cumbersome qualifying conditions. He fought hard and won. To this day, he is warmly remembered as a pioneer in Cross Country Olympic circles throughout the world.

In helping athletes, he was notorious for bogging snowmobiles between Perisher and Charlottes Pass during yearly races. But, almost all the athletes would then thank him for his care and race safety. He was never concerned about his own welfare, just that of the racers. Carl, was also one of the first Australians to be accredited as a rules official in world skiing races.

Carl is a Life Member of the Australian Ski and Snowboarding Federation