Jack Harris Trust receives $200,000 bequest

THE trust set up to support the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club (TSLSC) has received the biggest donation in its history, thanks to a six-figure bequest from one of the club’s longest-serving members.

Last year, the Jack Harris Memorial Trust received word it had received a $200,000 bequest from the estate of Brian Beck, who passed away on March 21, 2023.

Trust secretary Richard Greenhough said Mr Beck had previously been a great supporter of the trust, having made generous donations over the years and asking trustee Peter Doyle to sell his last hand-crafted surf ski for the trust’s benefit, but the revelation of the enormous bequest in Mr Beck’s will had come as a surprise.

“It’s well in excess of some donations,” Mr Greenhough said.

“It nearly doubles the capital base we’ve got – it doesn’t double it, but it gets close.

“Brian’s donation was just amazing. When his son rang and told us what it was, I couldn’t believe it.

“We don’t go out seeking bequests; we hope club members will read about the trust and think about it.”

Mr Beck joined TSLSC in December 1949, gained his Bronze Medallion in January 1950 and patrolled at the club for many years.

He was a member for 74 years, and at one point was the club’s longest-serving member.

His roles at TSLSC included assistant board and ski captain in 1954-55 and gear Steward for five seasons (1993-94-1997-98), and he regulary volunteered to help out during carnivals and club fundraising events.

Competitively, Mr Beck excelled as a ski paddler. His plaudits included being the Victorian Single Ski Champion in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954 and 1955, the Southern States Champion in 1954 and the Victorian Double Ski Title (with Owen Yateman) in 1955 and 1956.

Founded in 1995 as a registered charity, the Jack Harris Memorial Trust preserves the capital of donations in perpetuity, with the interest generated used by the trust to reimburse TSLSC for purchases of core lifesaving equipment.

Mr Greenhough said the trust did not buy anything itself and would not make any contributions towards any future capital works at the TSLSC clubhouse, but supported the TSLSC committee, at its request, to get whatever gear the committee might need.

“We usually do IRBs, ATVs, a lot of the rescue boards, defibrillators, training mannekins… anything to do with lifesaving; that’s what it’s for.”