PAST rivals and now friends, the Beach Girls met on Friday at Souths Leagues Club, Merewether, to celebrate their 25th reunion.
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![GOLDEN: The original Nobbys and Cooks Hill girls at their annual get-together L-R Ann Boyd of Warners Bay (ex-Cooks Hill), Joan Gibbs of Stockton (ex- Cooks Hill), Audrey Arms of Hamilton North (ex-Nobbys), Marcia Martine of Carrington (ex-Cooks Hill), Jean Cowley of Whitebridge (ex-Nobbys), Jean Stott of Newcastle (ex-Bar Beach), Val Gibbs of Merewether (ex-Cooks Hill), and Nettie Petersen of Merewether (ex-Nobbys). Photo by MAX MASON-HUBERS. GOLDEN: The original Nobbys and Cooks Hill girls at their annual get-together L-R Ann Boyd of Warners Bay (ex-Cooks Hill), Joan Gibbs of Stockton (ex- Cooks Hill), Audrey Arms of Hamilton North (ex-Nobbys), Marcia Martine of Carrington (ex-Cooks Hill), Jean Cowley of Whitebridge (ex-Nobbys), Jean Stott of Newcastle (ex-Bar Beach), Val Gibbs of Merewether (ex-Cooks Hill), and Nettie Petersen of Merewether (ex-Nobbys). Photo by MAX MASON-HUBERS.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-FpfGGuwqR7rj6zdBpRq7QF/8b5a61b0-e4b5-44ed-9323-941ba87b39bb.jpg/r0_3_1200_678_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The ladies group, comprised of 99 women, meet twice a year to reminisce and toast to their enduring friendship.
The Beach Girls were originally made up of women who visited either Bar Beach and Nobbys beaches, which were once viewed as rival locations.
‘‘It was girls who had fun and contributed at surf clubs and married boys from the surf clubs,’’ Val Gibbs, event organiser said.
But word spread of the fun luncheons and anyone is now welcome.
The only criteria for joining the group is that ‘‘if you’ve had your toes in the sand you qualify,’’ she said.
Some of the ladies have been friends for up to 69 years and have helped each other through tough times.
‘‘It’s all about friendship and fun,’’ Val said. ‘‘We do like a white wine too’’.