Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Surf life saving cap from Western Australian Leonard Trainor
Surf life saving cap from Western Australian Leonard Trainor

Surf life saving cap from Western Australian Leonard Trainor

Date1930s
Object number00054299
NameCap
Mediumcotton, metal
DimensionsOverall: 430 × 240 mm
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Johanna Trainor
DescriptionSurf life saving cap from Western Australian surf life saver Leonard Trainor from the 1930s, worn by him 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 life saving memorabilia from Western Australian surf life saver Leonard Trainor from the 1930s includes his swimsuit, cap, formal blazer and photographs. Leonard Trainor was a carpenter and an 'everyman' in surf life saving 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 shows the growth of surf life saving 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 life saving service.HistoryLeonard Trainor appears to have commenced his surf life saving 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 Sydney beaches.

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 life saving service.