With the school holidays upon us and the weather warming up, Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Philips has given a shout out to the region’s volunteer surf life savers that keep our south coast beaches safe.

Stretching along more than 200 kilometres of coastline from Kiama to Tuross Head, Mrs Phillips said the Gilmore was home to 10 surf life saving clubs.

“Our volunteers do such a wonderful job and dedicate many hundreds of hours patrolling our beaches and keeping a watchful eye over thousands of visitors and locals every summer,” she said.

Mrs Phillips said, as well as keeping our beaches safe, local competitors have once again left their mark at the 2024 Australian and world surf life saving championships.

Mollymook’s Master Surf Boast crew smashed the competition, taking home gold at the world titles held on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

“What an amazing achievement by long-time clubbies Marty Drysdale, Russell Bartlett, Kevin Whitford, Paul Jones and Paul Newman,” Mrs Phillips said.

“And it was fantastic to see Mollymook’s dynamic duo dominated on the sand, with Sam Zustovich securing gold in the Open Male Beach Flags and Payton Williams also picking up gold in the Open Female Beach Flags.”

Jake Stewart, Brock Scrivener, Jack Bridges and Jamee Smith grabbed gold in the Open Male Beach Relay, while Ashton Neall took home a bronze medal for Mollymook in the Open Male Beach Sprint.

The success continued when 18-year-old Mischa Boniface claim three gold medals for Mollymook at the Youth World Lifesaving Championships.

“Not to be outdone, the brilliant Batemans Bay surf club boatie legends also scooped two gold medals at the world champs in the 160-years male and 180-years female events,” Mrs Phillips said.

“Representing Australia, the Kiama Downs IRB team also collected a silver at the World Titles, and Broulee’s Dan Harding made a splash winning two silver medals in the world Pool Rescue competition.”

At only 14 years of age, Moruya surf life saver Zara Hall achieved a remarkable result placing sixth in the world against much older competitors in the under 18s Female Beach Flags.

“What a sensational rising sports star,” Mrs Phillips said.

Off the beach, Broulee surf club member Nikki Ayres and her partner Jed Altschwager claimed Australia’s first ever para-rowing gold medal in the PR3 mixed doubles sculls event.

“It’s been a big year for our local surf club members, with local legend, Simon Fillery, from the Nowra Culburra surf club, announced as the 2024 Shoalhaven Volunteer Emergency Services Officer of the Year, while Broulee volunteer Andrew Edmunds was awarded the Emergency Services medal in this year’s Kings Birthday Honours list.”

Mrs Phillips also congratulated Mollymook Surf Life Saving Club’s Mick Crowle who recently took home the state Awards of Excellence Official of the Year gong.

“And I must make a special tribute to Mollymook Surb Club member Ivan Johnson OAM who has clocked up 70 years of continuous patrol service,” she said.

“What an astonishing milestone – and its great to see that Ivan remains an active participant on patrols.

“I congratulate these incredible community volunteers on their selflessness and commitment – on and off the beach - and thank them for training, mentoring and inspiring the next generation of surf life savers.”

The 2024/25 NSW beach patrol season started on Saturday 28 September 2024 and finishes on Sunday 27 April 2025.

Visit the Surf Life Saving NSW website for information about patrolled beaches and staying safe on the water this summer.

Photo: Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips with members of the Sussex Inlet Surf Club.

Media contact: Katrina Condie 0437 662 967