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:
- Increase the recognition and promotion of lifesavers, surf clubs, lifesaving services (Support Operations) and ALS lifeguards after an incident; and
- 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 Period | Online Form to be Submitted by | SLSNSW Closing Date | NSW ROTM Announced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-31 July 2023 (July) | 4/08/2023 | 11/08/2023 | 25/08/2023 |
| 1-31 August 2023 (August) | 8/09/2023 | 15/09/2023 | 29/09/2023 |
| 1-30 September 2023 (September) | 6/10/2023 | 13/10/2022 | 27/10/2023 |
| 1-31 October 2023 (October) | 3/11/2023 | 10/11/2023 | 1/12/2023 |
| 1-30 November 2023 (November) | 8/12/2023 | 15/12/2023 | 29/12/2023 |
| 1-31 December 2024 (December) | 5/01/2024 | 12/01/2024 | 26/01/2024 |
| 1-31 January 2024 (January) | 9/02/2024 | 16/02/2024 | 1/03/2024 |
| 1-28 February 2024 (February) | 8/03/2024 | 15/03/2024 | 29/03/2024 |
| 1-31 March 2024 (March) | 5/04/2024 | 12/04/2024 | 26/04/2024 |
| 1-30 April 2024 (April) | 10/05/2024 | 17/05/2024 | 31/05/2024 |
| 1-31 May 2024 (May) | 7/06/2024 | 14/06/2024 | 28/06/2024 |
| 1-30 June 2024 (June) | 5/07/2024 | 12/07/2024 | 26/07/2024 |
February 2025
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Siobhan O’Toole, Spencer Watson, David Freedman, Mackenzie Palmer
Club: Bondi SBLSC & North Bondi SLSC
January 2025
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Herve Vichemont, Chris West, Craig Katen, Dave Spink, Matthew Molinia, Jeremy Ferguson, Colin Kjoller, Adam King, Bailey Dickinson-Bubb, Mark Rosenthal, Jenny Graves, Hamish Pankhurst, Lee Wellings, Matilda Langtry, Toby Hagon
Club: Dee Why SLSC
December 2024
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Phillip Daniel, Luke Rochester, Max Fortunaso, Jack Alterator, Anna Fortunaso, Gingerlily Shelton, Emily Klocker
Club: Tea Gardens Hawks Nest SLSC
November 2024
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Matt Aberline, Peter Derrin
Club: Queenscliff SLSC
October 2024
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Harry McNamara, Denny Rowlands, Paul Russell, Kaylene Walker, Lou Southwell, Alex Brown, Henri Carrera, Lawrence Scanlon
Club: Wanda SLSC
September 2024
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Robert Lowery, Angus Campbell
Club: South Curl Curl
July 2024
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Nicholas Rickwood, Mitchel Atherton, James Turnham
Club/Service: ALS Town Beach Port Macquarie
June 2024
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Stuart Mangion, Luke Mabey
Club: Toowoon Bay SLSC
May 2024
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Stephen Bryen
Club: Elouera SLSC
April 2024
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Steven Lee, Matthew O’Reilly, Matthew Farrugia, Martin Rea, Harper Kingsley, Harrison Kingsley, Mikaela Williams-Potts
Club: Shelly Beach SLSC
March 2024
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Nathan de Rooy, Reece Dodds, Gary Curtis
Club: Lower North Coast Duty Officers & Cape Hawke Call Out Team
February 2024
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Mark McManus
Club: ALS Northern Beaches Lifeguards
January 2024
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Adam Kovac, Saskia Rundle Trowbridge, Mark Bonney and Jacob Rodwell
Club: Warriewood SLSC & Mona Vale SLSC
December 2023
Lifesaver(s)/Lifeguard(s) involved: Rory MacPhail, Layna Matthews, Sven Loemker, Ashley Blake
Club: Australian Lifeguard Service – Tweed
November 2023
Lifesaver(s) involved: Harrison Smee, Zach Marsden, Max Laird, Alex Norris, Braith Davidson, George Griffin
Club: Kiama SLSC
October 2023
Lifesaver(s) involved: Toby Skelton, Jack Rivett, Zara Howes, Archie Warneford, Braede Cox, Bradley Hines, Alan Perry, Harrison Andrew
Club: South Curl Curl SLSC
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