The drowning of Mrs Lucinda Jarvis in February 1906 highlighted the dangers of surf bathing.

Mrs Jarvis and her nine year-old daughter went for an early morning swim at Cottesloe. Leaving her daughter in one of the shelter sheds, Mrs Jarvis, a strong swimmer, dived in. Soon after, Miss Winifred Abel heard cries for help but despite the best efforts of Winifred and another swimmer, Mrs Jarvis drowned. [fn]Trove: Evening Mail, 7 February 1906. [/fn]

In 1909, keen to assure visitors that swimming at Cottesloe was safe, the Cottesloe Municipal Council organised lifesaving and first aid classes for enthusiastic locals. Sergeant Smith of the Royal Life Saving Society ran the classes for men and women. The men’s class formed Western Australia’s first surf lifesaving club, the Cottesloe Life Saving and Athletic Club – only the second in Australia.