Congratulations to Mark Fabik who has achieved distinction with the world famous Bondi surf lifesavers. Within 12 months of leaving the shores of the Serpentine for a life in Sydney with his partner Kristy McIntyre, Mark has won the 2014 John F Cox Memorial Shield thanks to his consistent placings in the club’s swimming races during the season.
John F Cox was a member of the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club and one of 292 club members who served in the world wars of 1914-18 or 1939-45; and the club regularly pays respect to past colleagues and all Australian soldiers who fought and died defending the nation.
Ten of 82 Bondi surf lifesavers club members who fought in the First World War lay fallen and never returned, while 14 of the 210 members who served in the World War II lost their lives. Inside the clubhouse, memorial boards line the walls which record the bravery of the club’s wartime heroes.
The Bondi lifesavers traditionally carry the club flag as a symbol of remembrance to all servicemen. Past club members who gave the ultimate sacrifice serving their country included John F Cox, who died in Japanese captivity on the Burma-Thai railway during World War II. His surfboard is proudly mounted in the clubhouse and the names of past winners of the John F Cox Memorial Shield are engraved on it. Mark's name is the current name to be added to that list.
The Bondi Surf club holds races on Sundays mornings at 10:30; with all swimmers racing in the surf according to their handicap. Dori Miller, a previous winner of the award says “it's a fun social swim with participants ranging in age from 10 to late 70s. The distance varies, depending on the surf conditions and mood of the race organiser. Occasionally the course varies during the swim, like when a buoy drifts off towards New Zealand with a loose anchor.”
An overall point score is kept during the year. Some days are designated for memorial races, like the memorial swim that Mark won. Being a handicap race, 40 seconds is added on if you win, 30 seconds for placing second, and 20 for third. So, it would seem that the dark art of the swimming handicapper exists globally. Mark, the former club handicapper at Serpentine SC claimed that he just went out to enjoy every swim and hadn’t realised that he had won the award.
He has his name on the boards now, and as Dori says, “he is forever part of one of the most iconic institutions in Australia. Now Mark just needs to get on Bondi Rescue.” And having swam the English Channel quite some years ago, he also needs to complete another distance swim.
Finally, Bondi Icebergs, which is the name of the club’s winter swimming club, has a tradition for the 13th heat in the 40 metre race. The winner gets 13 schooners of beer (you have a week to spend all your beer vouchers). You have to win without blowing your handicap... i.e. going too fast. And when Fabik appears in London, he can explain how he “won” whilst also not obliterating his handicap at Icebergs... Failing that he can just buy beers until we are satisfied with his explanation.
