The Stories That Shaped Cronulla: Discover Our Surfing Heritage
Surfing has always been more than a sport in Cronulla. It is part of our identity, our coastline and our community.
Cronulla RSL has recently released a special episode of the Cronulla RSL Friends By the Beach Podcast, bringing together Joe Glendenning, Tim Vanderlaan and John Veage to share stories from Cronulla's rich surfing history. Listen here.
At the heart of the podcast are three local voices who have each played a unique role in documenting and shaping Cronulla's surfing culture. Joe Glendenning shares the story of the cultural shift that shaped modern boardriding in Cronulla, from the visit of the USA Lifeguards in 1956 and the influence of Greg Noll, through to Southside Malibu and the importance of protecting our coastline. John Veage, a surfer, photographer and founding Life Member of Cronulla Boardriders, reflects on decades spent documenting the people, places and stories of the Shire, and his passion for preserving this history for future generations. Tim Vanderlaan takes us behind the lens, sharing his experiences as a surfer and photographer, along with the techniques, cameras and custom water housings he used to capture generations of Cronulla's surfing culture. Images displayed on the walls throughout the Club also feature Tim's work, capturing the waves, surfers and characters that have shaped Cronulla's surfing history.
To bring these stories to life, a temporary display is now located on Level 2 at Cronulla RSL, featuring photographs, memorabilia and personal collections from Joe, Tim and John. The collection offers a glimpse into the people, places, equipment and stories that have helped shape Cronulla's unique surfing
Stories You Can See
The display brings together a collection of objects that help tell the story of how Cronulla's surfing culture has evolved across generations.
At the centre is a surfboard featuring one of Tim Vanderlaan's custom-built water housings, the equipment he used to take his camera into the water and capture Cronulla's waves and surfers from a unique perspective.
Alongside it is memorabilia from local boardrider clubs, reflecting the clubs, friendships and communities that became an important part of Cronulla's surfing culture.
The collection also includes 35mm negatives and photographic slides, offering a glimpse into the pre-digital world of surf photography and the techniques used to capture Cronulla's coastline.
Together with books, photographs, club memorabilia and other pieces collected over the years, these objects provide a tangible connection to the people, places, equipment and culture that have shaped Cronulla's surfing story.
Visit the display on Level 2 at Cronulla RSL and scan the QR code to listen to the full episode. Find out more about the display and stories here.
Listen online:
John Veage, Joe Glendenning & Tim Vanderlaan at Cronulla RSL, with some of the items on display.