Surf Life Saving NSW would like to congratulate a host of surf lifesavers who have been awarded the National Medal, as well as Second Clasps and First Clasps for their sustained service and commitment to Surf Life Saving.
Established in 1975 as a military recognition award, the National Medal has since branched out into government and voluntary organisations and is now Australia’s most awarded civil medal.
The National Medal is awarded to individuals on behalf of the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and recognises long and diligent service in organisations that are dedicated to protecting life and property at a degree of risk to their members.
National Medals can also be awarded to those who risk their lives or safety to protect or assist the community in enforcement of the law or in times of emergency or natural disaster.
“The National Medal is a prestigious award, and it always fills me with pride to see a large number of our NSW members among the recipients,” said Surf Life Saving NSW President, Peter Agnew AM.
“We are very lucky as a gazetted emergency service to be supported by 80,000 dedicated and passionate members, and this honour, in a way, is testament to their commitment to the movement and their character as individuals.”
Heading the list of those honoured in Batch 52 are six members from NSW receiving 2nd Clasps for 35 years of service, led by former SLSNSW Deputy President, John Restuccia OAM (Maroubra SLSC).
Clubmate, Michael Gray was also honoured with a 2nd Clasp, as was Paul Johnson (Bronte SLSC), Peter Brown (Dixon Park SLSC), Darren Palmer (North Bondi SLSC), and Bruce Kejda (Shellharbour SLSC).
National Medal – 2nd Clasp (35 Years)
Paul Johnson – Bronte SLSC
Peter Brown – Dixon Park SLSC
Michael Gray – Maroubra SLSC
John Restuccia OAM – Maroubra SLSC
Darren Palmer – North Bondi SLSC
Bruce Kejda – Shellharbour SLSC
National Medal – 1st Clasp (25 Years)
Warren Young OAM – Avalon Beach SLSC
David O’Grady – Avoca Beach SLSC
Paul Johnson – Bronte SLSC
Peter Brown – Dixon Park SLSC
Ronald Letters – Nowra-Culburra SLSC
Katie Dixon – Ocean Beach SLSC
Simon Falconer – Soldiers Beach SLSC
Michael Cook – Toowoon Bay SLSC
Lawrence Boyle – Warilla Barrack Point SLSC
Terry Wheat – Warilla Barrack Point SLSC
Bruce Serisier – Nobbys Beach SLSC
National Medal (15 Years)
Robert Hopton – Avalon Beach SLSC
Richard Cole – Avalon Beach SLSC
Geoffrey Ward – Avalon Beach SLSC
Peter Brennan – Avalon Beach SLSC
Jeffrey Nesbitt – Avalon Beach SLSC
William Elliott – Avalon Beach SLSC
Colin Campbell – Avalon Beach SLSC
Nicholas Wood – Avalon Beach SLSC
Michael Stanley-Jones – Avalon Beach SLSC
Roland Luke – Avalon Beach SLSC
Tim Hixson – Avalon Beach SLSC
Mark Heffernan – Avalon Beach SLSC
Jason Brown – Avalon Beach SLSC
Stuart Harvey – Avoca Beach SLSC
Romilly Madew – Bilgola SLSC
Peter Fenley – Bilgola SLSC
Levi Broughton-Rouse – Bilgola SLSC
Robert Farr – Bilgola SLSC
Andrea Whittet – Bilgola SLSC
Bruce Scheffers – Bilgola SLSC
Geoff Raper – Bilgola SLSC
Craig Poppleton – Bilgola SLSC
John Lawson – Bilgola SLSC
David Gillard – Bilgola SLSC
Greg Franks – Bilgola SLSC
Louise Edgley – Bilgola SLSC
David Edgley – Bilgola SLSC
Nigel Penn – Bilgola SLSC
Samantha Faragher – Birubi Point SLSC
Henry Go – Bondi Surf Bathers LSC
Cameron Miles – Bronte SLSC
Timothy Jeffries – Bronte SLSC
James McLennan – Bronte SLSC
David Jones – Bronte SLSC
Jochen Valdeck – Bronte SLSC
Paul Johnson – Bronte SLSC
Paul Brightwell – Bulli SLSC
Jeffrey Horn – Cape Hawke SLSC
Marian Smith – Cape Hawke SLSC
Jason Gay – Caves Beach SLSC
Phill Walmsley – Caves Beach SLSC
David Fittock – Coledale SLSC
Mat Johansen – Coledale SLSC
Andrea Johansen – Coledale SLSC
Davina Strauss – Coledale SLSC
Jodie Trim – Collaroy SLSC
Tom Molomby – Coogee SLSC
Helen Deas – Coogee SLSC
Gordon Smith – Copacabana SLSC
Tom Tseng – Copacabana SLSC
David Brooks – Copacabana SLSC
Deborah Greenwood – Copacabana SLSC
Anthony Higgs – Copacabana SLSC
Douglas Gill – Copacabana SLSC
Desmond Augey – Crowdy Head SLSC
James Tyrpenou – Crowdy Head SLSC
Terrence Bourke – Crowdy Head SLSC
Kerrie Carey – Crowdy Head SLSC
Allan Davis – Crowdy Head SLSC
Adam Eady – Crowdy Head SLSC
Richard Adams – Cudgen Headland SLSC
Allen Lakeman – Dee Why SLSC
Bradley Newman – Dixon Park SLSC
Dean Rowe – Dixon Park SLSC
Stuart Barnett – Dixon Park SLSC
Ross Burgess – Dixon Park SLSC
Toni O’Donoghue – Dixon Park SLSC
Neil Caddis – Dixon Park SLSC
Mark Wright – Dixon Park SLSC
Peter Brown – Dixon Park SLSC
Peter Meletopoulo – Elouera SLSC
Malcolm Boon – Elouera SLSC
James Brown – Evans Head-Casino SLSC
Darren Oke – Evans Head-Casino SLSC
Benjamin Freund – Fingal Beach SLSC
Angus Crowe – Macmasters Beach SLSC
Hamish Macpherson – MacMasters Beach SLSC
Timothy Cuthbert – Manly LSC
Michael Studden – Manly LSC
Robin Barham – Manly LSC
Philip Cooke – Merewether SLSC
Kevin Buckley – Merewether SLSC
David Hoar – Merewether SLSC
Rosemary Dan – Merewether SLSC
Iain Kelso – Merewether SLSC
Norman Rodgers – Merewether SLSC
Mark Fletcher – Newport SLSC
Benjamin Matthews – Newport SLSC
Andrew Thomson-Ko – Newport SLSC
Cathy Donnet – North Avoca SLSC
Gordon Schoffl – North Avoca SLSC
Alan Jowell – North Bondi SLSC
Wallace Correy – North Bondi SLSC
Wayne Smith – North Entrance SLSC
Gordon Cockburn – North Narrabeen SLSC
Colin Lawrence AM RAN – Nowra-Culburra SLSC
Benjamin Neighbour – Palm Beach SLSC
Ian Johnston – Queenscliff SLSC
Talia Field – Queenscliff SLSC
Kevin Harris PSM – Queenscliff SLSC
Robert McNamara – Queenscliff SLSC
Garth Hickey – Queenscliff SLSC
Anthea Martin – Sawtell SLSC
Mark Sherrin – Sawtell SLSC
Darryl Glover – Shellharbour SLSC
David Harris MP – Soldiers Beach SLSC
Peter Shapcott – South Narrabeen SLSC
Troy Stephen – South Narrabeen SLSC
Belinda Reid – South West Rocks SLSC
Sandra Fox – Tamarama SLSC
Sue Jackson – Tamarama SLSC
Phillip Daniel – Tea Gardens Hawks Nest SLSC
Stuart Daniel – Tea Gardens Hawks Nest SLSC
John Estens – Tea Gardens Hawks Nest SLSC
Craig Young – Tea Gardens Hawks Nest SLSC
Bruce Moy – Terrigal SLSC
Emma Amies – Terrigal SLSC
Greg Hobson – Terrigal SLSC
Christopher Fillingham – Toowoon Bay SLSC
Darryl Lennox – Toowoon Bay SLSC
Julie-Ann Fillingham – Toowoon Bay SLSC
Werner Koudela – Urunga SLSC
Terry Wheat – Warilla Barrack Point SLSC
Lawrence Boyle – Warilla Barrack Point SLSC
Susan Anderson – Windang SLSC
Stacey Paddon – Woonona SLSC
Thursday 13 February 2025