| Back when boards were long and
bikinis were wide, Golden Four Drive was the highway and local
lads played on the disused rail line that ran beside it. The
Bilinga Inn dominated the skyline and the Gold Coast was still
years away from Max Christmas' vision of high-rise heaven.
Don
McCulloch was the club captain in 1968 and answered to either of
his nicknames: 'sewerage' or 'slooshguts'. The clubhouse was a
two-story fibro and timber building set close to the beach and
was said to have been half of the old Kirra toilet block. Some
remember it painted a luid green. |
It shared the block with the
boathouse and tower. Downstairs on the northern corner facing
the beach was an eating area packed with trestles. Behind that
was a rough kitchen and behind that, stairs to the bunkroom
which took the whole top floor.
Initiation for new members are
worth asking former clubbies about and parents were not at all
happy with the drinking songs. "Lady from Spain I adore you. Let
me pull down your pants and explore you." |
In 1968, Bilinga was a place where
everyone knew each other and the surf club was an important
community center. The simple old clubhouse was not only home to
members, but was a stomping ground for many other locals.
Everyone turned out with crowbars and hammers on the appointed
day and the old building came down easily. Similarly, there were
plenty who helped to erect its successor.
Chris Green
January 1998 |
