Commemorative Grove & Spit Diggers' Amateur Swimming Club

Directly behind the Mosman sign are ten cabbage palm trees, which were planted in 1999 to represent the ten members of the Spit Diggers’ Amateur Swimming Club who lost their lives during active service in World War II.[1] The ten club members were:

· Flying Officer F. B. Beale RAAF, died Australia, 23.5.43

· Stoker G. H. McCredie RAN, Burma, 15.1.43

· Pilot Officer H. E. Beale RAAF, Gibraltar, 21.1.43

· Pilot Officer M. O. Merrett RAAF, China Sea, 7.3.34

· Flight Sergeant D. D. Benson RAAF, Darwin, 20.5.45

· Pilot Officer S. G. Thornton RAF, Hodeige, Belgium, 13.5.40

· Seaman P. Watt-Seng, Merchant Navy. New Guinea, 14.4.43

· Flight Sergeant J. H. Dyson RAAF, over Germany, 25.2.42

· Flight Sergeant R. W. D Weekes RAAF, England, 9.4.44

The Club was founded in 1917.[2] They held regular meets and competitions at the Spit Baths, which were opened in 1901 below Parriwi Road, is the site that the Middle Harbour Yacht Club now occupies. The Club still operates in the present day, however, they moved location to Balmoral Baths in 1962. Former notable members include Olympians Edna Davey and Kim Herford.

[1] Commemorative Grove, 1999. Inscription carving plaque. Parriwi Road, NSW, accessed 24 November 2021.

[2] “About Us,” The Spit Amateurs Swimming Club, <https://spitswimclub.org/about-2/>, accessed 23 October 2021.