The Tannum Sands Lifesavers & Miss Tannum Sands

After WW2 the Gladstone Lifesavers began watching over the Tannum Sands Beach instead of South End. Jack Mortensen and Alan Ruddell were responsible for building the first clubhouse when they acquired a large weatherboard laundry, the only building still intact after the Royal Hotel/Embassy Theatre fire in 1947. They borrowed a truck from Viv Jenkinson, a carrier, and soon had the building on the northern end of what is now the Millennium Esplanade, near Jim McCormack’s Store. Alan and Jack virtually fitted it out on their own and this was the humble club house for the lifesavers at Tannum Beach. The Tannum Sands Progress Association began holding a sports day on New Years Day at the turn of the decade. A Miss Tannum competition was introduced into the proceedings and soon became the highlight of the program, attracting crowds of all ages. It was a yearly tradition, and the girls paraded in bathing costumes and then in beach outfits. They were awarded points for deportment, dress, facial expressions and figure. With these huge functions at Tannum Sands, the Lifesaver movement thrived, and many people played a part behind the scenes as the group went from strength to strength. Peter Smith and John Dahl were two long-term members who worked hard for the organisation and Snowy Hill. Snowy assisted with fund-raising for the lifesaving movement and, on one occasion, sponsored a surf boat. By 1987, the club had grown so much that the clubhouse underwent major improvements. In 2001 membership, which included females, was about 500 and growing.

Photo from Jimmy Harris: Miss Tannum Sands 1952