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VALE – Graeme Bardsley
- Tim Tucak
- Jun 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 26
VALE – Sydney Graeme Bardsley
27th July 1939 - 9th June 2026
It is with sadness that the Club informs you that Graeme Bardsley passed away on Tuesday 9 June 2026.
The Funeral Cortege for the Late Sydney Graeme Bardsley will assemble at the Main Entrance of Karrakatta Cemetery for a Service at the Brown Chapel on Thursday, 25 June 2026, commencing at 2.00 pm. Livestream will be available from the Simplicity Funerals website.
Graeme joined the Club in the 1955/56 season, quickly gaining his Bronze Medallion, WA No. 127 on 4 December 1955 with the Swanbourne Nedlands SLSC. Along with Graham, the Bronze Medallion squad included Peter Butterworth, Lyn Shelton, Robin Vaisey, Graham Gillet, John Wood, Fred Strauss, James Paterson, Sydney Treharne, Vincent Hodgins, David Schwenke, Raymond Anderson and Brian Cooper.
Graeme served the Club as Surf Boat Vice Captain in 1958/59.
Graeme won the Caris Cup in 1956/57. He was Club Surf Race Champion and Club Belt Race Champion as a Junior (Under 18) in 1956/57. He was Points Races Long Swim Champion as a Junior in 1956/57.
His membership was from 1955 to circa 1958 - 1960s, before he returned as a foundation member of the Swanny Veterans Group in 2013. Graeme was a solid contributor in our activities including bacon and egg cooking for the Swanny Ocean Classic each year and will be very much missed.
Graeme was husband of Roselyn (deceased) and father of Bruce, Neil and Colin. Graeme was an airline pilot and all three sons have followed him, becoming airline pilots. Graeme’s only brother, Neil, was briefly a Member at Swanbourne Nedlands SLSC as a Juvenile in 1950/51.
From the Eulogy delivered by Harvey Deegan, celebrant for Graeme's service on Thursday 25 June:
Graeme and his older brother (Neil) grew up in Griver Street, Cottesloe.
As a 16-year old, Graeme undertook a carpentry apprenticeship. He became fully qualified.
One of his early creations was a wooden surf ski that he put to good use as a member of the Swanbourne Surf Life Saving Club.
Graeme won the Caris Cup in 1956/57. That is an annual endurance marathon, challenging participants to a gruelling multi-stage course of swimming, running and board paddling.
He was also the club's surf race and belt race champion as a junior and he was surf boat vice captain in 1958 and 1959.
Graeme returned as a foundation member of the Swanny Veterans Group in 2013.
And it was at the club that Graeme met the love of his life, Roselyn Hunt, in the mid 1950s.
Legend has it that Roselyn joined the club in order to attract Graeme.
Apparently, someone mischievously threw one of Roselyn's shoes into the bush and Graeme went and fetched it, gave it back to her and from that point the couple hit it off and they started dating.
I think it might've been called courting in those days.
