Surf life saving costume from West Australian Leonard Trainor

Date1930s

Object numberV00054298

NameSwimsuit

MediumCotton

ClassificationsClothing and personal items

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Johanna Trainor

Terms

DescriptionThis collection of surf life saving 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 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.History SignificanceThis surf life saving 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 wearibng the apparel. They includeearly 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 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.

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.