Images(2)

Surf life saving costume

Date1930s

Object number00054298

NameSwimsuit

MediumCotton

DimensionsOverall: 760 × 360 mm

ClassificationsClothing and personal items

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Johanna Trainor

Terms

DescriptionNavy blue cotton stockinette racer back style men's swimsuit worn by Western Australian surf life saver Leonard Trainor at representative events in the1930s including the Commonwealth Games carnival, National Titles and the Inter Dominion Surf Life Saving Championships in Sydney February 1938. This collection of surf lifesaving memorabilia and apparel from Western Australian surf life saver Leonard Trainor dates from the 1930s and includes his swimsuit, cap, formal blazer and photographs. Leonard Trainor was a carpenter and an 'everyman' in surf lifesaving movement volunteering and competing from 1932, initially with the City Beach, City of Perth Surf Life Saving Club, and then with the Scarborough Club from about 1936. He was a member of the Western Australian State Surf Life Saving Team from 1934 to 1938 and also competed in swimming events. This material reflects the growth of surf lifesaving into a national movement in the interwar years, one which was proud of its heritage, sportsmanship and pageantry, and its genesis in voluntary self-sacrifice with links to war service.HistoryLeonard Trainor appears to have commenced his surf lifesaving career in 1932. Initially he served with the City of Perth surf life-saving club then moved to the Scarborough club around 1936. He would have patrolled City Beach and Scarborough Beach. Trainor was a member of the Western Australian State Surf Life Saving Team from 1934 to 1938. And participated as member of the WA Team in the Inter- Dominion Surf Life-Saving Competition in Sydney in 1938. He participated in other swimming events such as the Quick Surf Cup (where he came 3rd) and the McGovern Cup endurance events (where he came 1st). Trainor also played Australian Rules football with the Perth Metro Juniors from 1932 and also played with the Perth Football Team in 1938. Trainor enlisted in the RAAF on 30 January 1940 where he worked as a carpenter rigger at the Geraldton Air Force Base. He attained the rank of Sargent in the RAAF and was discharged on 16 October 1945. SignificanceThis surf lifesaving costume from WA surf life saver Leonard Trainor comprises the swimsuit emblazoned with the WA State team insignia, the cap in state colours and the formal blazer and is a rare ensemble valuable to ANMM because it is provenanced and dated and accompanied by photographs of Trainor as a surf life saver at the club house and in carnivals wearing the apparel. They include early patrols at City Beach and his representation in the WA State team in the national titles on the beach.

More specifically though, material representing Western Australia shows the growth of surf lifesaving into a national movement in the interwar years, one which was proud of its heritage, sportsmanship and pageantry, and its genesis in voluntary self-sacrifice, with links to war service and exemplified by its national competition as much as its lifesaving service.

In terms of national representation this WA story of Leonard Trainor, an 'everyman' in the WA team would be a highlight and in any interpretive program would complement the few badged costumes in the ANMM Collection - WA City Beach - coincidentally where Trainor first patrolled on joining the movement, Coff's Jetty, North beach near Wollongong and in Sydney Palm Beach and Cronulla.