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.
“On behalf of our organisation I would like to congratulate the NSW recipients of this honour,” said Surf Life Saving NSW President, Peter Agnew.
“We are very lucky as a gazetted emergency service to be supported by more than 76,000 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 are Rodney Austin OAM, Keith Claxton, and Ivan Johnson (Mollymook SLSC), Robert Dan (Merewether SLSC), Darcy Morrow (Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore SLSC) and Valoria Georgina Crick (Woonona SLSC) who received their Second Clasp for 35 years of service.
Surf Life Saving NSW volunteers with a minimum of 30 patrolling hours over a minimum period of 15 seasons, are eligible for the National Medal.
Batch 49
National Medal – 2nd Clasp (35 Years)
Rodney Austin OAM – Mollymook SLSC
Keith Claxton – Mollymook SLSC
Robert Dan – Merewether SLSC
Ivan Johnson – Mollymook SLSC
Darcy Morrow – Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore SLSC
National Medal – 1st Clasp (25 Years)
Keith Claxton – Mollymook SLSC
Gary Curtis – Cape Hawke SLSC
Robert Dan – Merewether SLSC
David Ellis – Pacific Palms SLSC
Brendan Guiney – Cape Hawke SLSC
George Kolek – Mollymook SLSC
Tracey Lake – Narrabeen Beach SLSC
Darcy Morrow – Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore SLSC
Keiren Paull – North Avoca SLSC
Matthew Slattery – North Avoca SLSC
Kevin Whitford – Mollymook SLSC
Damien Woods – South Maroubra SLSC
National Medal (15 Years)
Nigel Ball – Avoca Beach SLSC
Cassandra Bickhoff – North Avoca SLSC
Aiden Blair – Wollongong City SLSC
Karen Bryce – Elouera SLSC
Lauren Budd – Newport SLSC
Jean-Paul Buhagiar – Bondi Surf Bathers LSC
Neville Bunn – Soldiers Beach SLSC
Robert Burfitt-Williams – Whale Beach SLSC Inc
Glenn Cairncross – Elouera SLSC
Diego Carrasco – Broulee Surfers SLSC
Shane Carter – Shelly Beach SLSC
Jessica Clifford – Kiama SLSC
Amelia Cole – Terrigal SLSC
Richard Cowan – The Entrance SLSC
James Crittenden – Freshwater SLSC
David Dawson – Sandon Point SLSC
Belinda Dobson – Freshwater SLSC
Richard Donaldson – North Steyne SLSC
Joshua Douglas – Kiama Downs SLSC
Matthew Edwards – Newport SLSC
Simon Falconer – Soldiers Beach SLSC
Josep Font Sadurni – Bondi Surf Bathers LSC
Deborah Foote – North Steyne SLSC
Stephen Foster – Sawtell SLSC
Kiva Galgut – North Bondi SLSC
Brian Gallagher – Mollymook SLSC
Gregory Gardner – Freshwater SLSC
David Gaston – Shellharbour SLSC
Gregory Gigas – Bellambi SLSC
David Gorman – Kiama SLSC
Naida Guy – Kiama Downs SLSC
Steven Guy – Kiama Downs SLSC
Paul Haes – Coogee SLSC
Michael Hass – Shellharbour SLSC
Peter Heald – Nowra-Culburra SLSC
Richard Hermens – Cooks Hill SLSC
Michael Holz – Kiama Downs SLSC
Bradley Honey – Kiama Downs SLSC
Anthony Ireland – Mollymook SLSC
Trina Jensen – Kiama Downs SLSC
David Johnson – Mollymook SLSC Inc.
Ian Keller – Byron Bay SLSC
Ronald Krite – Bondi Surf Bathers LSC
Daniel Lavery – Coogee SLSC
Geoffrey Leong – Coogee SLSC
Douglas Luckman – Kiama Downs SLSC
Mark Maddox – North Steyne SLSC
Alan Mahn – Avalon Beach SLSC
Nathan Mcinerney – Kiama SLSC
Rebecca Mister – Coogee SLSC
Drew Morgan – Redhead SLSC
Douglas Patrick – Collaroy SLSC
Andrew Pitt – Kiama SLSC
Stuart Presgrave – Elouera SLSC
Alexandra Salier – North Steyne SLSC
Brett Schweitzer – Kiama Downs SLSC
Paul Seymour – Elouera SLSC
Robert Sinclair – Kiama Downs SLSC
William Soulos – Elouera SLSC
Matthew Sproll – North Avoca SLSC
Stephen Strong – Kiama Downs SLSC
Andrew Sugerman – Elouera SLSC
Rosemarie Taliano – North Bondi SLSC
Mark Taylor – Elouera SLSC
Clive Thompson – Collaroy SLSC
Carolyn Tyne – Kiama SLSC
Grant Walsh – Nowra-Culburra SLSC
Susanne Whitford – Mollymook SLSC
Batch 50
National Medal – 2nd Clasp (35 Years)
Valoria Georgina Crick – Woonona SLSC
National Medal – 1st Clasp (25 Years)
Neville Bunn – Soldiers Beach SLSC
National Medal (15 Years)
Matthew Evans – Maroubra SLSC
Mitchell Jon Hermens – Cooks Hill SLSC
Alan Moran – Avalon Beach SLSC
Bruce O’Sullivan – Mollymook SLSC
Symone Pearsall – Coledale SLSC
Adam Giles Taylor – Queenscliff SLSC