Founding member of surf club dies aged 81

A MUCH loved community stalwart who was a founding member of South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) has died aged 81.

John Ludlow pictured at the club in 2009 with his grandkids Adam and Isabella. Picture: Erin Byrne.

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A MUCH loved community stalwart who was a founding member of South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) has died aged 81.

John Ludlow volunteered countless hours for numerous organisations across the southeast of Sydney including Australian Winter Swimming Association, Matraville Soldiers Settlement Primary School and Wylies Baths Trust.

Mr Ludlow, who lived in Matraville, died this week.

He was a life member of South Maroubra SLSC, having been one of the founding members in 1959.

John Ludlow pictured at the club in 2009. Picture: Erin Byrne

He had held numerous positions within the club including club captain, president and deputy president.

“The entire membership of South Maroubra SLSC past and present pay tribute to John and his significant and long-time support of so many special community projects,” club president Paul Fownes said.

“In particular his contribution to the growth and wellbeing of the club.”

He was involved in numerous rescues including saving a man from a shark attack in 1961.

He also served 43 years as president and seven as treasurer and was a life member of the South Maroubra Dolphins Winter Swimming Club.

John Ludlow pictured at the club with his grandkids, Adam and Isabella, in 2009. Photo: Erin Byrne.

He was life member of the Australian Winter Swimming Association, where he served six years as president and five as treasurer and was a life member of the Soldier Settlement Primary School. He was school treasurer for eight years.

He also served 33 years on the committee of Management for Wylies Baths Trust.

To leave your tribute to Mr Ludlow email [e-mail].

THE DAY JOHN LUDLOW SAVED A MAN FROM A SHARK ATTACK

John Ludlow and other members attended the Australian surf championships at Moana, South Australia, in March 1961.

Following the event Mr Ludlow, the then vice-captain, and vice boat captain Ken ‘Spud’ Murphy began the long drive home.

When they arrived at Warrnambool, Victoria, they came across some of the local surf club members taking part in a swim around a buoy in the bay.

It was then that one of the local swimmers, a 21-year-old called Ken Smith, was attacked by a shark and brought to the beach on a skiff.

“Spud and I waded into water with others to help carry him up the beach,” Mr Ludlow recalled for an article on the club’s history. “Fortunately, the shark victim was a very big and heavy set man for the shark had attacked him from the side in the stomach, hip and buttocks areas where he had plenty of flesh.

“We carried him out of the water and up onto shore. Something I will never forget as I walked beside him was carrying his intestines in the palms of my hands.

“They marvellously put him back together at the Warrnambool hospital and he survived.”