R.I.P Owen Mercer - Life Member

It is with regret to announce the death of Owen Mercer, aged 80 years, on February 23 2011. Owen passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family after battling a number of medical conditions in Wollongong & Port Kembla Hospitals.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Owen's funeral service to be held at St Augustine's Angilican Church, Park Road Bulli on Monday 28 February at 11.00am. Club members are asked to wear Bulli Surf Club attire. A celebration of his life will also be held at Bulli Workers Club after his funeral.

The Mercer family is legendary at Bulli Surf Life Saving Club as a 4th generation family with both of Owen's sons, Christopher and Rodney, being  members of the boat rowing fraternity. His grand-son Heath is now part of the current Men's A crew, another grand-son Kyle has just done his bronze in the past few months and has started training/learning with the boat rowing section and his great grand daughter Noumea is part of the nipper movement at the club.

A short history of Owen Mercer and his involvement with Bulli Surf Club shows he joined the club in season 1945-46 when he gained his qualifying certificate and bronze medallion.

Owen was a person who was a great believer in not comparing members and their records, but many a time over a beer he was regarded as one of the club's greatest club captains ( 8 seasons) and also widely aknowledged as one of the club's best members. The greatest honour bestowed upon him was being awarded Life Membership in the season 1962-63.

Owen held many positions in Bulli Surf Club, but the thing that stands out was that he held at some point every senior executive position within the club (President, Deputy President, Secretary, Treasurer & Club Captain).

Owen continued to maintain his interest in Bulli Surf Club up to and including this season, attending social functions, general meetings, always keen to have a beer with old & new acquaintences, his advice and knowledge valued by past and current executive members.

I know every member that knew Owen and his family offer their thoughts at this time and as one member commented recently "RIP Owen Mercer - surf club patriarch and all round gentleman"