Stockton Surf Life Saving Clubs Harry ‘‘Rowly’’ Rowlatt saving lives for 70 years By LILY RAY Oct. 5, 2014, 10 p.m. ROLE MODEL: Harry Rowlatt was just 17-years-old when he joined Stockton Surf Life Saving Club. Picture: Peter Stoop See your ad here CAREER highlights, for many people, include promotions, awards or meeting sales targets but, for 87-year-old Harry ‘‘Rowly’’ Rowlatt, they’re literally saving lives. The Hunter’s very own hero celebrated 70 years of continuous service to Stockton Surf Life Saving Club on Saturday. Mr Rowlatt joined the club when he was just 17-years-old on October 1, 1944, and is still an active member to this day, running surf races and championships. ‘‘There wasn’t much else to do in those days,’’ he said. ‘‘We would go swimming in the summer and play football or something in the winter. ‘‘So I joined the surf club as a summer sport and it’s the best thing I ever did. ‘‘I’ve made some wonderful friendships.’’ But, as his son Colin pointed out, it’s not just his dedication that makes the family, the club and even Newcastle so proud of him. The surf lifesaver has been involved in some high-profile Hunter rescues. See your ad here During the Maitland floods of 1955, Mr Rowlatt rescued a man, his wife and their baby from the top of a haystack inside a barn. ‘‘The boat got caught in telephone wires and all sorts of things,’’ said Mr Rowlatt. ‘‘But we got them back into the boat.’’ The year before, a convoy of amphibious tanks and army ducks were swamped during a training exercise in the dead of night. Mr Rowlatt and other lifesaving team members pulled more than 150 soldiers to safety, despite huge seas. He is the only surviving member of that team, and remains a reluctant hero, according to Colin. ‘‘But now that he’s reached 70years, we want to make a fuss of him,’’ he said. ‘‘Back in those days, they just did those sorts of things without expecting accolades or anything. ‘‘He just saw it as part of his job.’’ Colin said his father was an excellent role model. ‘‘He’s a very resilient man, always looking on the positive side of things, he’s just that sort of person. ‘‘He doesn’t want a fuss made out of it but he deserves it. ‘‘The whole family are very proud of his service and selflessness.’’
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 12:44:25 +0000
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