Introduction

Trove
1938, Pix Associated Newspapers Limited, Sydney, N.S.W viewed 2 February 2020
https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/257342830

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Cover

Page 2  THIS   WEEK'S   COVER   Demonstrating the latest beach vogue (rubber flippers which give you speed in the water) are models Betty Gardiner (seated) and  Valerie May.   This new beach device has a long and interesting history and apparently a big future. See pages 15-17.

Page 15

Beach flippers   Worn by frogmen in the war, rubber web-feet are the latest thing for surfers. They give that extra nip of speed to catch the breakers.   See next pages.

Page 16

To enter surf in flippers you must walk backwards.  Party wearing flippers shuffles backwards into the surf. Once in the water they’ll  take the breakers on their backs too until they get a shoot. If they face the waves, flipper wearers may be tripped or tipped over. Left to right: Bondi lifesaver John Bradshaw, Bondi surf champion Reg Irons, model Betty Gardiner, lifesaver Peter  McIntyre, model Valerie May, and Australian Surf Champion Team member Jim Cully. SLIPPING INTO FLIPPERS, the trick is to wet both feet and the rubber.   Then they slide on easily. Models Betty Gardiner and Valerie May show how it’s done gracefully, lying back on the sand.  MRS. M. D. TURNBULL, (centre) wife of  the inventor of the new flippers, shows how to use the web-feet when swimming.  They are not much use in breast-stroke, but they give a powerful kick in the crawl.

Page 17

UNDER-WATER SPEARMEN find the flippers give them greater thrust when diving, help them to stay on the bottom. Spear Fishermen’s Association member Bondi Iceberg George Owens, ready for a plunge.

BELTMAN JIM GILLY lifts his feet high to run through the shallow water as he comes from the surf in flippers.  Surf clubs are keenly interested in the flippers. They are testing them under all conditions.

BEACH flippers are becoming increasingly popular on Australian beaches. 
They are the same kind of broad rubber web-feet that frogmen used in the war to help them in diving and swimming under-water to remove entanglements and blow up mines  when they cleared the way for the Allied invasion of Europe on D-Day. 

Peace time flippers, adapted by Bondi engineer-inventor M. D. Turnbull for the use of women and children as well as men, are getting an increasing foothold on Australian   beaches. 
Surfers find that with these artificial fins on their feet they can cut down their swimming times in the breakers, get underway quicker to catch a shoot. 
Four Queensland surf clubs have adopted the new style as part of  their equipment.
Sydney clubs are now testing them out under all conditions. 

THESE FROGMEN USED DIVING SUITS with flipper feet in daring under-water operations during the war. They trained ex-WAAF Gwennda Davies (in the centre) to help them give demonstrations of war work. NAVAL VOLUNTEER BEING TRAINED as a frogman during the war. Teams of these men opened up the way for the Allied invasion of   France. They swam into the beaches, cleared obstacles, blew up mines.