This award aims to recognise excellence in lifesaving and service delivery, measured against industry best practice and operating procedures.

Lifesavers and Lifeguards provide an essential service to communities throughout New South Wales. Many exceptional rescues and first aids performed each year are over and above normal duties and showcase excellence in lifesaving training, skills and procedures.

The ‘Rescue of the Month’ (ROTM) aims to recognise excellence in lifesaving and service delivery, measured against industry best practice and operating procedures. It is not to encourage unnecessary risk, or neglect safety considerations and Standard Operating Procedures.

The program is designed to:

  1. Increase the recognition and promotion of lifesavers, surf clubs, lifesaving services (Support Operations) and ALS lifeguards after an incident; and
  2. Increase the number of worthy Meritorious Awards.

Note: The ROTM is a separate recognition program to the SLSA Meritorious Awards. Members, Clubs, Lifesaving Services (Support Operations) and the Australian Lifeguard Service may nominate to both programs separately using the relevant nomination forms.

Nomination Process

Clubs, Lifesaving Services (Support Operations), and ALS lifeguards are to nominate using the official Rescue of the Month Nomination Form.

2023/24 Key Dates

Nomation PeriodOnline Form to be Submitted bySLSNSW Closing DateNSW ROTM Announced
1-31 July 2023

(July)
4/08/202311/08/202325/08/2023
1-31 August 2023 (August)8/09/202315/09/202329/09/2023
1-30 September 2023 (September)6/10/202313/10/202227/10/2023
1-31 October 2023 (October)3/11/202310/11/20231/12/2023
1-30 November 2023 (November)8/12/202315/12/202329/12/2023
1-31 December 2024 (December)5/01/202412/01/202426/01/2024
1-31 January 2024 (January)9/02/202416/02/20241/03/2024
1-28 February 2024 (February)8/03/202415/03/202429/03/2024
1-31 March 2024

(March)
5/04/202412/04/202426/04/2024
1-30 April 2024

(April)
10/05/202417/05/202431/05/2024
1-31 May 2024

(May)
7/06/202414/06/202428/06/2024
1-30 June 2024

(June)
5/07/202412/07/202426/07/2024

August 2023

Lifesaver(s) involved: Matthew Truman, Matthew O’Connor, Kurt Wegenaar, Timothy Hext, Natash Spencer, Max Puddicombe, Luca Stein, Amanda Cannon, Terence Durnin, Larry Stein, Michael Golden, Samuel Allen, Tracey Hare-Boyd, Robert Stark, John Molnar, Jake Cleal-Cook 

Club: North Curl Curl SLSC, South Curl Curl SLSC, SNB Support Operations, Lifesaver 21

July 2023

Lifesaver(s) involved: Peter Ingle, Anthony Vieceli, Melissa Pye, Joseph Badaoui 

Club: Manly LSC

June 2023

Lifesaver(s) involved: Nathan de Rooy, Bruce Higgs, Joe Williams, Beth Lee, John Quinn, Greg Randall 

Club: Lower North Coast RWC, Forster IRB and Lower North Coast Duty Officer 

May 2023

No nominations received.

April 2023

Lifesaver(s) involved: Patrick Jacob

Club: The Entrance SLSC

March 2023

Lifesaver(s) involved: Liam Drake

Club: Ocean Beach SLSC

February 2023

Lifesaver(s) and Lifeguard(s) involved: Nicole Krite, Andrew McKellar, Tammy Payne, Emily Zytaruk, Tim Grant, Kirron Duncan, Brett Pritchard, David Kowald, Ashton Prowse, Xavier Byrnes, Austin Alexander, Mal Boon, Kaitlyn Byrnes, Paul Byrnes, Tara Collier, Brooke Collins, Bailey Duncan, Holly Edmunds, Lee Edmunds, Greg Gillan, Chris Hall, Madison Hall, Andrew Hay, Amelie Humphries, Robert Humphries, Neill Hunt, Dean McLennan, Mikaela Mead, Steven Mead, Jack Prowse, Kayla Pyett, Ross Pyett, Will Soulos, Joshua Walmsley, Brady Bacon, Jye Collier, Karl Gillan, Ryan Gillan, Charlotte Wisdom, Megan Kessey, Tulley Lane, Layla King, Reagan Boggiss, Annika Freiheit, Kirra Hidge, James Hards, Ashlyn Lloyd, Milly Newton, Jane Lanham, Sarah O’Connor, Michael Bonicci, Louise Skjeime, Mackenzie Hannington, Zachary Roja, Callum Redrup, Chris Iredale, Bede Elphick

Club: Elouera SLSC

January 2023

Lifesaver(s) involved: Claudia Hamilton

Club: North Bondi SLSC

December 2022

Lifesaver(s) involved: Michael McPherson, Lee Szlachetka, Andrew Oakley, Jane Brennan, Craig Adams, Ramzy Fawzy

Club: Wamberal SLSC

November 2022

Lifesaver(s) involved: Nick Welch, Kai Hodson, Kai Mitchell, Stuart Harvey, George Ruzek, Jason Barnes, Mitchell Renouf, Gordon Jones, Jeff Barnes, Matt Mitchell, Trent McRae, John Mitchell, Garry Clarke, Millie Parker, Finn Mitchell, Brad Mitchell, Floyd Mitchell, Zack Visconti, Brooklyn Mitchell, Harry Armstrong

Club: Avoca Beach SLSC

October 2022

Lifesaver(s) involved: Grahame Ball, Brienna Elford, Rod McDonagh

Club: South West Rocks SLSC

September 2022

Lifesaver(s) involved: Jeanette Allen, Jerrad Allen, Michelle Ellis, Barry Jones

Club: LNC RWC Team / Pacific Palms SLSC Callout Team

August 2022

Lifesaver(s) involved: Darren O’Rafferty

Club: Australian Lifeguard Service

July 2022

Lifesaver(s) involved: Nicholas Sampson, Jason Dale

Club: Avalon Beach SLSC

May 2022

Lifesaver(s) involved: Ty McCartney, Cody Bell

Club: Australian Lifeguard Service

April 2022

Lifesaver(s) involved: Glenn Bowles, Peter O’Malley, Paul Quick, Toni Jones, Deb Barnes, Chayse Coleman, Jill Heaton, Nigel Heaton, Ric Morrey, Adam Brierley

Club: Terrigal SLSC

March 2022

Lifesaver(s) involved: Phillip Everett, Anthony Logue, Phillip Daniel, Stuart Daniel, Carolyn Jeffries, Sharon Taylor

Club: Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest SLSC

February 2022

Lifesaver(s) involved: Mariah Jones and Hugh Stewart

Club: Australian Lifeguard Service

January 2022

Lifesaver(s) involved: Peter Craik, Brett Beswick, Vince Malone, Paul Nichols, Andrew Collins, Andrew Manser, Chris Hill, George Ruzek, Stuart Harvey, Levi Kasun, Fletcher Berry, Kye Blair, Lynnette Varadin.
Club: Avoca Beach SLSC

December 2021

Lifesaver(s) involved: Alexander Buckton, Hardus Van Vuuren, Graham Cook, Richard Whipp, Robert Buckton, Alex Gold, Chamonix Van Vuuren, Richard Andjelkovic, Adrienne Lowe, Michael Wasley, Tracey Hare-Boyd, Trae Hare-Boyd, Frankie Bryant, Belinda Dobson, Brianna Coyte and Northern Beaches Council Lifeguards
Club: Narrabeen SLSC

November 2021

Lifesaver(s) involved: Darcy Morrow, Zac Swan
Club: Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore SLSC

October 2021

Lifesaver(s) involved: Members of Bulli SLSC, with assistance from members of Bellambi SLSC, Woonona SLSC, Sandon Point SLSC, Thirroul SLSC, Wollongong City SLSC, and SLS Illawarra Support Operations
Club: Bulli SLSC

September 2021

Lifesaver(s) involved: Matilda Harvey, Matilda Coleman, Violette Wolters, Rocky Wolters, Stuart Harvey
Club: Avoca Beach SLSC

August 2021

Lifesaver(s) involved: Jodie King, Toni Darben
Club: Coogee SLSC

July 2021

Lifesaver(s) involved: Tom Bedingfield, Jack Watt
Club: Manly LSC

May 2021

Lifesaver(s) involved: Mia Campbell
Club: Cooks Hill SLSC

April 2021

Lifesaver(s) involved: Jason Armbruster
Club: Ballina Lighthouse Lismore SLSC

March 2021

Lifesaver(s) involved: Richard Nicholas, Courtney Date
Club: Bondi SBLSC

February 2021

Lifesaver(s) involved: Maoiu La Gavia, Angel La Gavia, Jazzmyn Fillingham, Huxely Luntungan, Riley Wait, Aston Walters, Jeremie Camgrand, Keaton Watts, Christain Wait, Chris Fillingham, Julie-Ann Fillingham, Rob Coote, Saxon Lumsden, Wade Clemens
Club: Shelly Beach SLSC, members Toowoon Bay SLSC, Central Coast Council Lifeguards

January 2021

Lifesavers and Lifeguards involved: Adam Turner
Club: Austinmer SLSC

December 2020

Lifesavers and Lifeguards involved: Lachlan Crawford, Cameron Pyett, Jon Hayman, Michael Byrne, Kane Hughes, Elouera Patrol Members
Club: Wanda SLSC, SLSS RWC (Support Ski 2), Elouera SLSC, Sutherland Shire Lifeguards, SLSS (Sutherland 20)

November 2020

Lifesaver(s) and lifeguard(s) involved: John Walker, David Solman, Ben McCulkin, Brayden Hawkins, Cooper Sweeney, Daniel Lahey
Club: The Lakes SLSC

October 2020

Lifesaver(s) involved: Jerrad Allen
Club: Lower North Coast Support Operations

September 2020

Lifesaver(s) involved: Lachlan Muldrock
Club: Umina SLSC

July 2020

Lifesaver(s) involved: Andrew Sharp, Nathan Neal
Club: Elouera SLSC

June 2020

Lifesaver(s) involved: Anthony Turner, Lachlan Pritchard, Darren Weidner, Jamie Caldwell, Peter Evert, Markus Meier-Lindner, Keith Caldwell, and Bulli SLSC members
Club: Support Operations Illawarra

May 2020

Lifesavers and Lifeguards involved: Kyle Mathiesen
Club: Thirroul SLSC

March 2020

Lifesavers and Lifeguards involved: Glen Dunkley, Ben Fruend, James Worall, Stephen Leahy
Club: Fingal SLSC, Port Support Operations

February 2020

Lifesavers and Lifeguards involved: James McLennan, Kirsty McLennan, Eric Kammerer, Marcos Puga, Ivan Power, Matthew Johnston, Waverley Council Lifeguards and members Bronte SLSC
Club: Bronte SLSC

January 2020

Lifesavers involved: Clayton Schilg

Club: Tweed Heads Coolangatta SLSC