The Bribie Island Surf Life Saving club is one of the oldest community organisations within the Moreton Bay Regional Council with last season being the 85th anniversary of patrolling Woorim beach. The Bribie Island Surf Club was founded in 1933, however patrols on Ocean Beach Woorim began in 1923 by members of the Metropolitan Swimming Club in Brisbane.
The Club went into recess during World War II. After World War II the club regenerated itself with many members once more travelling from Brisbane. During these earlier times the club’s members would use various means to get to the island. At this time there were few residents living on the island and most residents were fishermen. The members used to come across to the island by barge. There are several stories telling of members missing the last barge but determined as they were to make it to their beloved club they would proceed on their way by borrowing a local’s row boat. This of course caused a few problems when the local wasn’t informed of the borrowing and came out early in the morning to go fishing to find their boat missing.
The clubs small membership gradually grew over the decades. Bribie was a very popular beach for bathers because of its close proximity to Brisbane. The patrolling members of the sixties and seventies tell of ever crowded beaches. They say at times they even had problems finding a place to set up patrol because of the high number people packed onto the beach.
During these early times the club had to deal with the hardships of its first and second clubhouses being destroyed by fire. The current clubhouse was built in 1964 with the licensed Supporters club being added in 1979.
At the end of the seventies the club saw the addition of nippers and in 1980, after 60 years of male only membership, the surf lifesaving movement and Bribie Island opened its doors to accept women members.
In the eighties and nineties the Bribie Island Surf club expanded further with the nipper and female membership of the club increasing continually. With the member influx the club extended and added various buildings, so that it is better able to cater for all members.
During the 1990s and into the new millennium the club proved its patrolling dominance within the Sunshine Coast region by winning the prestigious branch patrol competition for a record 13 consecutive seasons. The club was also successful in securing the well sort after Buhk Wilkes Trophy, for patrolling and surf club excellence in 2001, 2002, 2004
During the late 90’s and to present day the club has also been successful in the Surf Sports Arena holding Australian Titles in a number of event areas including: Women’s IRB racing, Male IRB racing, Male Beach Relay, 6 man R& R, masters flags and sprint titles.
In 2005 the club enjoyed the completion of the stage 1 refurbishment of the surf club, this saw increased lower level floor space with an office, improved restroom and shower facilities, specialised training rooms and a nipper shed becoming part of the club facilities. It is hoped that in the near future stage 2 of the redevelopment will also take place so that additional training rooms and member bunk facilities are once again fully available.
