Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As we head into the warmer months, it's timely to give a special shout-out to our amazing surf lifesaving clubs and the hundreds of volunteers that keep our South Coast beaches safe every summer. Stretching along more than 200 kilometres of coastline, from Kiama to Tuross Head, my electorate of Gilmore is home to 10 surf lifesaving clubs, all of which are held in very high regard in their local communities. Not only have our volunteers patrolled our beaches, keeping a watchful eye over the thousands of visitors and locals that enjoy our coast each year, but they have once again left their mark at the 2024 Australian and world surf lifesaving championships.

Mollymook's Master Surf Boat crew smashed the competition, taking home gold at the world titles held on Queensland's Gold Coast last month. What an amazing achievement by long-time clubbies, Marty Drysdale, Russell Barlett, Kevin Whitford, Paul Jones and Paul Newman. 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 saw Mollymook on the podium once again, this time at the youth Lifesaving World Championships. This awesome young competitor claimed three gold medals in the beach sprint, Oceanwoman Relay and Mixed Ocean Lifesaver Relay, as well as a silver medal in the Beach Flags and bronze in the Female Beach Relay.

Not to be outdone, the brilliant Batemans Bay Surf Life Saving Club boatie legends also scooped two gold medals at the world champs in the 160-years male and 180-years female events. Representing Australia, the Kiama Downs IRB Team also collected a silver at the world titles, narrowly pipped by a New Zealand crew. 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 lifesaver Zara Hallachieved 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. Representatives from up and down the coast shone on the world stage and helped the Australian team take out the top point score.

Off the beach, one of our local surf club members made a big impression on the water, representing Australia at the Paralympic Games in Paris. Broulee surf club member Nikki Ayres and her partner, JedAltschwager, claimed Australia's first ever para-rowing gold medal in the PR3 mixed doubles sculls event. What an amazing achievement.

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 in June. A patrol captain, IRB driver and jet ski operator, Simon has patrolled our beaches for 14 years and dedicated more than 700 hours to keeping beachgoers safe.

The accolades keep flowing for Broulee surf club, with member Andrew Edmunds awarded the Emergency Services Medal in this year's King's Birthday Honours list. Andrew joined the club as a nipper in 1992 and has gone on to complete hundreds of patrol hours, call-outs, water safety and club maintenance over the years. He is always the first to lend a hand when an emergency unfolds. The former club captain and current secretary, Andrew has won countless awards plus two rescue citations from Surf Life Saving New South Wales. Andy has also been on the Far South Coast branch committee for more than 15 years, and he was instrumental in the establishment of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service out of Moruya.

Another volunteer who deserves a huge congratulations is Mollymook Surf Life Saving Club's Mick Crowle, who recently took home the state Awards of Excellence Official of the Year gong.

Finally, a special tribute to Mollymook surf club member Ivan Johnson OAM, who has clocked up an astonishing 70 years of continuous patrol service. Ivan started out at Black Head Beach, before moving to Ulladulla in the 1960s. Ivan has held most positions at Mollymook Surf Life Saving Club over the years and remains an active participant on patrols and as the club's historian.

I congratulate these incredible community volunteers on their selflessness and commitment on and off the beach, and I thank them for training, mentoring and inspiring the next generation of surf lifesavers.