Clubbie of the Month – November 2019 – Colin Cook

Colin Cook One of Colin Cook's many claims to fame is that he is the same age as the Club (1). Colin joined in the 1947/48 season and obtained his Bronze Medallion on the 20th February 1949. Few members have enjoyed such a long career as Colin Cook: swimmer, beltman, one-time long distance runner, and champion lifesaver. Colin swam in the belt at carnivals for over twenty years, being a tough, tenacious competitor. Unfortunately erratic eyesight hampered his swimming (girls were far easier to focus upon than buoys), but in his prime he was among the best in the state and a member of the State Team in 1950-51. Colin also won a State Champion Lifesaver title, and every trophy that the Club could offer (2). Colin was Club President for two seasons from 1974 to 1976 and continued to serve the Club as a dedicated administrator and organiser. He was  Club Vice President from 1986 until 1990. Between 1996 and 2003 he was the Club’s Buildings Officer, diligently looking after the facilities, doing a lot of the handyman maintenance, organising repairs and cleaning up after parties. He also was responsible for hiring out the hall for private functions, including securing a long term rental for yoga classes. The Annual Cottesloe to Swanbourne Swim-Thru (now named the Swanny Ocean Classic) has become the most important and successful fundraising event on the Club's calendar. The Swim-Thru started in 1986 after repeated requests from two long-serving members, Colin Cook and Ron Haigh. It was said that Ron Haigh was the inspiration for it - He didn't do any of the work for it, mind you - Cookie did all the work. This analysis sounds a bit harsh, as Club records show that both men were keen to start a Swim-Thru and both worked hard in the first few years to make it a success. The workload, being carried by only two members, was immense, and no one at the Club at the time can fail to remember how hard Cookie, in particular, worked to make it a success. He did everything from designing and printing the entry forms to running the event itself, and even cooking the breakfast afterwards. In recognition of Cookie's contribution to starting and running the event for the previous thirteen years, the Swim was renamed the "Cottesloe to Swanbourne Colin Cook Swim Thru" in 1999. But Cookie’s major contribution to the Club has been in the competition arena. As a competitor in the Masters, Cookie is the most decorated member in the history of the Club. He has won no fewer than 16 gold medals, 39 silver medals and 23 bronze medals at the Masters State Championships, in events including beach sprint and flags, surf race, board race, ski race, ironman and ski and Taplin relays. Two of the highlights of his career are competing at the Australian Masters Championships in Collaroy in 1992, and beating Don Morrison in the ironman in 1999 (3). Footnotes: 1 - Actually the Club is about 6 weeks older than Cookie. 2 - Bronze Medallist, Junior Surf Teams Race, 1951 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships Gold Medallist and State Champion, Senior Champion Lifesaver, 1962 WA State Surf Life Saving Championships Silver Medallist, Senior Champion Lifesaver, 1963 and 1964 WA State Surf Life Saving Championships Member, State Team 1951 Swanbourne Nedlands SLSC Best Clubman 1963 and 1971 Swanbourne Nedlands SLSC Life Member 1969 Surf Life Saving Western Australia Life Member 1996 Club Champion Lifesaver 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 Club Champion Beltman 1953, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964 Surf Race Club Champion 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964 Board Race Club Champion 1964 3 - Competition Record OpenGold 1961 - 62 Colin Cook Senior Champion Lifesaver Silver 1962 - 63 Colin Cook Senior Champion Lifesaver 1963 - 64 Colin Cook Senior Champion Lifesaver Bronze 1964 - 65 Colin Cook Senior Champion Lifesaver MastersGold 1982 - 83 Colin Cook Over 45 years Surf Belt Race 1983 - 84 Colin Cook 50-55 Years Men’s Surf Race 1984 - 85 Colin Cook 50+ Surf Ski 1984 - 85 Colin Cook O/50 Beach Flags 1986 - 87 Colin Cook 50-55 Years Men’s Beach Flags 1986 - 87 Colin Cook O/50 Single Ski 1993 - 94 Colin Cook 60 yrs & over Beach Flags 1994 - 95 Colin Cook 60 yrs & over Beach Flags 1994 - 95 Colin Cook 60 yrs & over Ski Race 1995 - 96 Colin Cook 60 yrs & over Beach Flags 1996 - 97 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Ski Race 1997 - 98 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Ski Race 1997 - 98 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Beach Flags 1998 - 99 Colin Cook 60 yrs & over Ironman 1998 - 99 Colin Cook 65 yrs & over Board Race 1998 - 99 Colin Cook 65 yrs & over Ski Race 1999 - 2000 Colin Cook, Antony (Tony) Leaversuch, Peter Brigg 130+ yrs Taplin Relay 2001 - 02 Colin Cook 55-59 Years Men’s Beach Flags Silver 1982 - 83 Colin Cook Over 45 years Malibu Board Race 1983 - 84 Colin Cook 50-55 Years Men’s Single Ski 1983 - 84 Colin Cook 50-55 Years Men’s Beach Sprint 1984 - 85 Colin Cook 50+ Men’s Surf Board Race 1990 - 91 Colin Cook 50-55 Years Men’s Single Ski 1990 - 91 Colin Cook 50-55 Years Men’s Beach Sprint 1990 - 91 Colin Cook 50-55 Years Men’s Rescue Tube 1992 - 93 Colin Cook 55 Years + Men’s Beach Sprint 1992 - 93 Colin Cook 55 Years + Men’s Beach Flags 1992 - 93 Colin Cook 55 Years + Men’s Surf Board Race 1993 - 94 Colin Cook 60 yrs & over Rescue Tube Race 1993 - 94 Colin Cook 60 yrs & over Ironman Race 1993 - 94 Colin Cook 60 yrs & over Single Ski Race 1993 - 94 Colin Cook 60 yrs & over Surf Board Race 1994 - 95 Colin Cook 60 yrs + Surf Board Race 1995 - 96 Colin Cook 60 yrs + Rescue Tube Race 1995 - 96 Colin Cook 60 yrs + Single Ski Race 1995 - 96 Colin Cook 60 yrs + Surf Board Race 1996 - 97 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Board Race 1996 - 97 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Surf Race 1996 - 97 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Ironman 1996 - 97 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Beach Sprint 1996 - 97 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Beach Flags 1997 - 98 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Board Race 1997 - 98 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Surf Race 1997 - 98 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Ironman 1997 - 98 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Beach Sprint 1997 - 98 Colin Cook 60-64 yrs Rescue Tube 1998 - 99 Colin Cook 65 yrs & over Beach Flags 1998 - 99 Colin Cook, Ivan Martinovich, Deane Pye 150+ yrs Ski Relay 1999 - 2000 Colin Cook 60+ yrs Surf Board 1999 - 2000 Colin Cook 60+ yrs Surf Race 1999 - 2000 Colin Cook 60+ yrs Rescue Tube 1999 - 2000 Colin Cook 60+ yrs Ironman 2000 - 01 Colin Cook 65+ yrs Rescue Tube 2000 - 01 Colin Cook 55 to 59 years Beach Flags 2001 - 02 Colin Cook 65 years plus Surf Race 2001 - 02 Colin Cook 65 years plus Rescue Tube 2001 - 02 Colin Cook 65 years plus Beach Sprint 2001 - 02 Colin Cook 60 - 64 yrs Ski Race Bronze 1983 - 84 Colin Cook 50-55 Years Men’s Beach Flags 1984 - 85 Colin Cook 50+ Years Men’s Beach Flags 1990 - 91 Colin Cook 50-55 Years Men’s Surf Race 1990 - 91 Colin Cook 50-55 Years Men’s Board Race 1991 - 92 Colin Cook 50+ Years Men’s Surf Board 1991 - 92 Colin Cook 50+ Years Men’s Ski Race 1991 - 92 Colin Cook 50+ Years Men’s Beach Sprint 1991 - 92 Colin Cook 50+ Years Men’s Surf Race 1991 - 92 Colin Cook 50+ Years Men’s Rescue Tube 1992 - 93 Colin Cook 55+ Years Men’s Ski Race 1992 - 93 Colin Cook 55+ Years Men’s Beach Sprint 1992 - 93 Colin Cook 55+ Years Men’s Surf Race 1992 - 93 Colin Cook 55+ Years Men’s Rescue Tube 1993 - 94 Colin Cook 60 yrs & over Surf Race 1993 - 94 Colin Cook 60 yrs & over Beach Sprint 1993 - 94 Colin Cook 60 yrs + Surf Ski 1994 - 95 Colin Cook 60 yrs + Beach Sprint 1995 - 96 Colin Cook 60 yrs + Beach Sprint 1995 - 96 Colin Cook 60 yrs + Surf Race 1997 - 98 Colin Cook, Peter Goff, Deane Pye 150+ yrs Surf Teams 1997 - 98 Colin Cook, Peter Goff, Deane Pye 150+ yrs Taplain 1998 - 99 Colin Cook 65 yrs & over Beach Sprint 1999 - 2000 Colin Cook, Antony (Tony) Leaversuch, Peter Brigg 100+ yrs Ski Relay 2000 - 01 Colin Cook 65 years plus Mens Surf Race 2000 - 01 Colin Cook 55 - 59 yrs Mens Board Race 2001 - 02 Colin Cook 55-59 Years Men’s Board Race