Myril Bunt – Moruya SLSC
A much loved member of the Moruya Community, Myril has had a long association with the Surf Lifesaving movement.
In 1950, at 19 years of age Myril and her younger sister joined the Mollymook SLSC Ladies March Past team. A requirement of the ladies’ membership was to complete a successful resuscitation test demonstrating their competency. The team competed at carnivals in Wollongong and throughout the Far South Coast Branch. The Mollymook girls were a well drilled outfit and experienced great success. Their team discipline set them apart from their competitors and could be traced back to their coach who had spent some time in the Army and was fulfilling his duties as a young Policeman in the Milton / Mollymook area – his name was Arthur Bunt. With marriage, Myril and husband Arthur moved to Moruya where their young family of five children grew up. Swimming and surf lifesaving skills were developed and Myril and Arthur became part of the fabric of Moruya Surf Life Saving Club.
Myril’s long and sustained involvement in the Moruya Club also extended to the Far South Coast Branch over a number of decades. Performing roles such as Club Secretary, Registrar and Treasurer, Myril displayed outstanding administrative skills which were recognised by her peers. It wasn’t long before she was approached to perform similar roles at Branch level. Myril’s skill and contribution were recognised in 1998, when she was presented with the honour of Life Membership to Moruya SLSC and the following month, Life Membership of the Far South Coast Branch. It would be easy to think that raising a family and serving the Lifesaving movement as Myril did, would leave little time for other interests. Apparently, there was some spare time, and Myril put it to use serving the Moruya Amateur Swimming Club, Moruya District Meals on Wheels and the Moruya Sub -Branch RSL Women’s Auxiliary. Myril was also honoured with Life Membership of each of these organisations. In 2016, Myril’s ‘service to the community of the Sapphire Coast’ was celebrated and recognised with the Order of Australia medal.