HUNDREDS FLOCK TO FRESHIE FOR BLUEYS FINAL WAVE

December 2, 2011, Surf Life Saving: They didn’t come any better than Kevin “Bluey” Myers – a champion lifesaver, expert boat sweep and coach, mentor to many, loving husband, father and grand-father – “Bluey” ticked all the boxes of life. Freshwater member Ian Hanson remembers the life and times of a lifesaving legend.

Hundreds of lifesavers, family and friends flocked to “Bluey’s” beloved Freshwater Surf Club today to pay their respects to the man who for over six decades lived and breathed maroon and white and everything the famous northern beaches surf club stood for.

They came for the final wave to a man who was as synonymous with Freshie as the maroon and white quartered cap; “Duke” Kahanamoku and a century of vigilance and service to the Freshwater (Harbord) community.

Young and old stood side-by-side in a crowd sprinkled with maroon Honour Blazers as they crowded into a club adorned with so many great champions looking down on the final farewell to a man respected across the surf lifesaving and surf boat fraternity.

Myers died aged 76 last Saturday after a long battle with liver cancer, which he never let stop him from enjoying his life with his family, the men he called “his boys” from the many boat crews he nurtured and steered to Aussie gold and his cherished “House of Lords” – the club’s group of learned gentlemen.

Across an extraordinary career “Bluey” Myers won over 24 National and NSW State medals – including four Australian gold medals and seven State Championship gold; represented NSW; was awarded Life Membership of the club; awarded the OAM for his services to Surf Life Saving and a 50 year Membership badge.

He had the distinction of sharing so many of his golden moments with son Grant – two Australian titles in fact, the last one in the Masters aged 63 before his last hurrah when he rowed in a Masters crew with three legendary Australian champion rowers in Ken Bucknall, Kim Marsh and Chris Branson at aged 70 when they won the NSW State Masters in heavy seas.

Nothing in the boiling briny would stop the man known as “Bluey” and one of his more remarkable feats came in huge seas at Portsea as reported in the Freshie 100 year history.

“Myers and his crew of Phil Seres, son Grant, Julian Delany and Mick Burk were on a two metre wave and ‘looking good’ in the final of the inaugural Uncle Toby’s Surf Boat Series when North Cottesloe slewed behind them and slammed into the Freshie tuck, knocking Bluey on his backside and onto their bow.

“In the chaos of runaway boats and oars, Myers clung to the West Australian boat as it careered to shore. Using his surfing guile, he noted as the boat breached that his winning post was close.

“The much younger North Cottesloe bowman was up and running, but Myers simply stepped off his “free ride” and with a shorter dash touched first in a spectacular victory of brinkmanship.”

A spectacular chapter in the legendary status of the great boatman, who was honoured in front of over 300 people in a special video tribute night staged by Freshie champions then club president Tim Ford and the talented Jon Harker in 2002.

In front of the celebrated gathering of boatmen at Freshie today, one of “Bluey’s boys” – former State Champion and Australian silver medallist, life member and 10 year Club President John Swan gave a moving tribute to the man he regarded, as many did, as his second father.

“Swanny” stood in the hallowed halls and described the long list of championships he won over a 60 year career – many of them standing at the back end of the Freshwater boat – in recent years at the back of his own boat, christened the Kevin “Bluey” Myers but it was his attributes as a person that made the man.

Surrounded by the clan of family and friends were “Bluey’s” wife and soul-mate, Myra, sons Glen and Grant and daughter Julie and their partners and the next generation of the Myers family.

In Swanny’s words: “Thank you to Myra, Glenn, Grant and Julie for asking me to speak about “Bluey’s” association with Freshwater Surf Club.

“It is an honour for me to be able to talk about Bluey on behalf of not only Freshie members but all clubbies from around Australia and overseas who have been fortunate to have met Bluey over many years.

“Some of the words used to describe Bluey by his friends and foe have been, intelligent, a man with a steady attitude, fair, dedicated, thoughtful, understanding, influential and hard (the opposition talking as he was always out to win).
“But one word that stood out for me was gentleman…Bluey Myers was forever the gentleman, no matter what was happening around him! And to many of us who rowed for him, (his boys, as he would say) he was much more than just a sweep.

“Bluey was a mentor, a confidant, a friend and in many ways a second father to us all.

“Someone who was always available to listen, give advice when sought and
generally assist us in any way he could as we grew into adults and family men.

“As time moves on Bluey’s amazing record will always be there. The only thing missing in the future will be that those who read or heard of his achievements will not have been fortunate enough to have met and learnt from the gentleman that made the history.”

Stories and beers flowed long into the afternoon as boat sweeps and boat rowers recounted the life and times of one of the greats.

RIP Kevin “Bluey” Myers – an Australian surf lifesaving legend whose memory will live on in the club that he loved, he lived for and spent countless hours ensuring that its future was as secure as his loyalty to all who have worn the maroon and white.

In a celebrated career, Kevin “Bluey” Myers:

Joined Freshwater SLSC in 1949/50 at 14 yrs of age
Obtained his Bronze Medallion on 17 Feb 1952
Club Captain 1966, 1967
Club President from 1969-70 to 1977-78 for nine seasons and between 1981-82 and 1983-1984 for three seasons
Received his 25-year Badge in 1975
Awarded Life Membership, Freshwater SLSC 1979
Received his 50-year Badge in 2000
Served as the Boat Captain for over 20 years
Awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1990 for his contribution to Surf Life Saving
Inducted in Australian Surf Rowers League Hall of Fame in 1999
Australian Championship gold: Under 18 Surf Boat – 1977-78; 1984-85; 1989-90
NSW State Championship gold: Open boat – 1982-83; Reserve Grade Boat 1973-74; 1985-86; 1986-87; 1987-88; Under 18 – 1984-85; 1989-90.
NSW State Team 1983.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

ONE - Above Left: FRESHIE GOLD: Australian Junior Boat Champions 1977-78 at Kingscliff: (From left) - Tim Moane, Steve Warman, Ian Coad, Grant Myers, Kevin "Bluey" Myers.

Above Right: ROWED TO SUCCESS: With Kevin "Bluey" Myers at the helm the Freshwater crews wins the opoen boat final at the 1987 Australia Day carnival in heavy seas at its home beach. The crew Phil Seres, Andrew Jones, Ian "Crash" Craddock and Mick Burk were regarded as one of the best crews of the 80s. (Photo: Harvpix).

TWO - BLUEY'S BOYS - Winners of the Bicentennial open and reserve grase boat finals - Back row (L-R) Andrew Jones, Phil Seres, Kevin Myers, Grant Myers, John Swan. Front row (L-R): Mick Burk, Ian Craddock, Troy Noyen, Brad Hill.