By the 1920s Frank, the second son of Amandus, had left Orara and, after a short time at Inverell, lived in Coffs Harbour.  Harold, the eighth child, and his wife had separated and while he moved to Sydney his children initially lived with family members and hence were also in Coffs Harbour.

There are mentions in newspaper articles of Hoschke’s in the Surf Life Saving Clubs in the years from 1923 to 1925. There is mention of males with the initials W, L and E who, presumably, were Walter and Lionel Edgar the sons of Frank.  The females involved were Ede (Edith) and Rene (Irene) the daughters of Harold. There were two clubs int the area – one was the Coffs Harbour club and the other was the Jetty club. If anybody has more accurate information about who the males were please let us know.

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Boxing Day Carnival – December 1923

In 1923 a carnival was held on Boxing Day, this was a fundraising and publicity event for the club. The carnival included displays, a grand procession from top town, footraces and entertainment as well as the surf carnival. Walter Hoschke was part of the R&R Team who participated on the day and is photographed below with the team.

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Surf Queen Crowned – April 1924

When the Jetty Surf Club held their weekend carnival recently, much at the success that attended their effort was due to the untiring and most friendly manner in which the two candidates in the Queen of the Surf Competition labored to gain the coveted honor. Although defeated by a narrow margin by Miss Edie Hoschke (Jetty), Miss Edna Bray (Top Town) proved a sterling battler for the club and was one of the first to congratulate her opponent when the final figures were announced ….

His Grace, with all due dignity, then placed the crown upon the head of the fair young lady and handed her the sceptre, amidst much cheering and applause. Miss Hoschke and Miss Bray were each presented with a gold bangle as a memento of the occasion ….

A most enjoyable entertainment terminated at about 2 am. The best thanks of the club are due to Mr. Moss for constructing the throne, etc., and to Mrs. Moss for her artistic work in arranging the robe and crown for the coronation. Mrs. G. H. Lloyd kindly forwarded a donation of 10s.

APA citation SURF QUEEN CROWNED. (1924, April 12). Coffs Harbour Advocate (NSW : 1907 – 1942; 1946 – 1954), p. 2. Retrieved October 11, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188552519

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Bronze Squads & Alarm Reel Race Team – Coffs Harbour SLSC – 1924

In the very early days the Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Medallion was the accepted qualification for surf club members. This was later superseded by the Surf Bronze Medallion, but because of the difficulty in getting examiners for squads, any member who was keen was allowed to start at carnivals.

Carnival days at Coffs Harbour were arranged to coincide with the arrival of excursion trains from Grafton and Kempsey. These trains would bring hundreds of visitors, including surf club members, and it was not uncommon for visiting clubs such as Yamba to bring their latest bronze medallion squads to Coffs Harbour to be examined in the morning by Tom Saul, of Kempsey, and then compete in the afternoon carnival. Tom Saul was one of the very few examiners in the Branch which extended from Newcastle, NSW, to Burleigh, Qld.

Edward J. “Ted” Ovens, Coffs Harbour Surf Lifesaving Club, 1923 -1983: The First 60 Years (1983). Coffs Collections, accessed 13/10/2023, https://coffs.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/66233

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Farewell to Edith Hoschke – May 1925 (excerpt from longer article)

On Friday night, in the Empire Hall, the many friends of Miss Edith Hoschke assembled to bid her farewell prior to her departure for Sydney. Messrs. W. Curran and R. Fern spoke on behalf of the Jetty Surf Club, Miss Hoschke being a prominent member of the Lady Life Savers, whilst Mr. Reg Young eulogised Miss Hoschke’s good qualities and the work she had rendered to the Jetty Tennis Club. Mr. W. H. T. Riding, on behalf of the Coffs Harbor Surf Club, thanked the guest for the many great services she had rendered the black and golds. He then presented Miss Hoschke on behalf of her many friends, with a xylonite trinket box as a token of the esteem in which she was held. Supper was then served by the ladies, and dancing was carried on until the early hours of the morning.

APA citation – COFF’S HARBOR (1925, May 19). Daily Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1915 – 1954), p. 3., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195402693

As we can see, the Hoschke grandchildren were continuing the example set by Amandus, by being involved in the local community, whether it be through the serious work of church or business or as we can see above the joy of surf life saving. We’d love to hear of any young Hoschke’s still enjoying Surf Life Saving?