FAREWELL TO "MR DEE WHY" NELSON CHAD

June 1: Surf Life Saving has lost one of its most distinguished members, Dee Why's 1971 Australian Surf Team captain Nelson Chad - the former celebrated CIB detective and bodyguard to Prince Charles.

Chad died in a New York hospital late last week after suffering complications following a fall while on holidays in the US with wife Kerryn and friends. He was 72.

The man known as "Mr Dee Why" had battled Parkinson's Disease and failing eyesight in recent years but according to Dee Why club president Simon Moriarty never once complained - very much the measure of the man.

"He was everything that surf lifesaving stands for - he was dedicated, strong-willed and he just lived for Dee Why," said Moriarty, who hosted the club's presentation night on Saturday, forced to tell the members of the tragic loss of their popular Life Member.

"In recent times he played such a significant part on our centenary committee and in particular our history.

"His career as a lifesaver and a policeman was extraordinary and although there is a chapter dedicated to Nelson in our book "100" it is merely a snapshot. He never craved the limelight.

"But he was a special human being who touched so many different people's lives and as one of his former pupils told me the other day - he was the kind of man who would bring out the best in you.

"He knew so many people from different walks of life and he helped so many people - he will be sadly missed but there is no doubt in anyone's minds that Nelson Chad has left a life long legacy - he has made a difference to so many of us and to surf lifesaving."

Chad was a powerful belt swimmer, R and R man, instructor and official,  who was involved in countless dramatic rescues in the surf, often putting his own life at risk.

He captained the first Australian SLSA instructional team to Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan in 1971 when he led Kirra's star-studded Australian champion R and R team of Bob Littler, Cameron Leigh-Murray, Col Wright, Vic Arnall, Peter Wippell and Peter Kelly, with legendary instructor Arch Nicholson.

The Kirra team had won the title in Perth, earning the right to represent Australia.

Chad was also part of a four-man instructional team that set up Surf Life Saving in Bali two years later.

He told Dee Why Surf Club biographer, Daily Telegraph sports writer John Taylor that around 300 people turned up on the beach for the first training day.

"They were soldiers, policemen and firemen, with others from the air force. We didn't know how to cope with training that many of them, so we told them they had to swim first. A lot of them said, "No, no!" recalled Chad.

"Only 44 successfully negotiated that swim. We trained the 44 in three weeks and they all got their bronze medallion. Since that day, lifesaving in Bali has become quite an established organisation.''

Chad lived for the surf lifesaving movement and he went on to coach the Manly-Warringah Branch Representative teams and also coached the Freshwater club to the NSW State R and R Premiership Flag at Bondi in 1978 - for the first time in 18 years.

In 1996-97 he made a comeback to competition when one of the Freshwater team had to leave the Australian Championships in an emergency. A man always at the ready.

His bravery in the line of duty as a celebrated detective was legendary.

And his excuse for arriving late to R and R training one afternoon in 1979 certainly left the Freshwater boys gob smacked.

"Sorry boys....but you wouldn't believe what happened this afternoon," said Chad, who was later commended for the role he played in a major incident at Sydney's International Airport.

Taylor recalls the story. "It was April 4, 1979, when a crazed man threatened to detonate explosives in a plane. Nelson went inside the aircraft and tried for 20 minutes to induce the surrender of the disturbed offender, who was armed with a knife and two explosive devices.

"Fortunately for the passengers on board, the offender was fatally wounded by another police officer before he could explode the bombs."

In 1974 Chad and Olympic kayaker and SLSA Hall of Famer, Maroubra's Dennis Heussner were selected as bodyguards to look after Prince Charles on one of his many visits to Australia.

They were asked to take him surfing at Bondi.

 "It was about seven in the morning. I had a walk around and, when I came back, there was Dennis with the Prince," Chad recalled.

"I was sort of flabbergasted for a minute. I was stunned and said, ‘Hello, Your Royal Highness.' He replied: ‘Call me Charles.'''

Introductions completed, the three men spent some time in the Bondi surf.

"He was very courageous. He got dumped a few times and we were in the water for about an hour. It was freezing cold," said Chad.

"I did receive a letter from him to say thanks very much for guarding him. I found him to be very sincere and impressive.''

When asked about the effect the Parkinson's Disease had on his life, Chad recently told John Taylor: "It has been a battle but there are people worse off than me. Anyway, when I look back, I had so many wonderful years in surf lifesaving and made so many great friends. I feel I was very lucky."

Those touched by Nelson Chad were even luckier.

Chad leaves behind his wife Kerryn; first wife Jan and their three daughters Nicole, Rebecca and Jacqui.

A service to honour the life and times of the late Nelson Chad will be held in Sydney next week. Details to be confirmed. - By Ian Hanson (A member of Freshwater's 1978 R and R team).

* 100 - The history of Dee Why Surf Lfe Saving Club, by John Taylor, will be published in 2012.