31/03/2026
Surf Life Saving Sydney (SLSS) is pleased to announce the election of Peter Carney as its new President. The organisation also extends its sincere gratitude to Gary Driscoll for his service as Acting President.
Across our coastline, Surf Life Saving Sydney continues to adapt and evolve in response to emerging challenges, embracing diversity and inclusion as central strengths. Our members not only save lives but also educate, connect, and protect our communities, by the community, for the community, and that is something we are deeply proud of.
Surf Life Saving Sydney respects and acknowledges the traditional custodians across all the lands on which we live, work and patrol, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Background Image credit: 'Eora Dreaming' depicts the community of the fifteen Surf Life Saving Clubs throughout Sydney, stretching from North Bondi south to Burning Palms in the Royal National Park - Artist 'Billy Reynolds', proud Dharawal and Yuin man.
Branch Honours are awarded to members who have contributed outstanding service to SLSS for over a period of at least 12 years. These members have contributed service that is both sustained and has provided a conspicuous contribution.
Life Members
Life Membership is the highest award that can be bestowed by Branch, in recognition of distinguished, sustained and conspicuous service to the Branch for over 12 years.
Life Member Recipients
Our amazing Life Members are listed below. Note that the Sydney Metropolitan Branch split in 1959/60 into Sydney Branch and Manly Warringah Branch (now Sydney Northern Beaches). All recipients prior may come from either side of the harbour.
2020 - current
2021
Matthew Evans – Maroubra SLSC
2022
Doug L. Hawkins – Coogee SLSC
2023
Kerryn P. Briody – Bondi SBLSC
2024
Peter E. Carney – Elouera SLSC
2025
Marissa B. Saunders – Bondi SBLSC
2010-2019
2010
Gary R. Daly ESM – Coogee SLSC
2011
Michael J. Batty PSM – Elouera SLSC
2011
Graham Bruce AM – Cronulla SLSC
2011
Graham F. Evans (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
2012
Peter Burst – Bondi SBLSC
2012
George H. Shales OAM – Maroubra SLSC
2016
Gregory A. Allum AM, OAM – Wanda SLSC
2016
Richard B. Bignold OAM – Cronulla SLSC
2016
Michael W. Bretherton – Garie SLSC
2017
Glen W. Clarke – Clovelly SLSC
2017
Margaret G. Pearce – Burning Palms
2017
Joan M. Vaughan OAM (dec) – Burning Palms SLSC
2018
Michael P. Hodsdon – Garie SLSC
2018
Warren A. Rennie AM – North Cronulla SLSC
2000-2009
2000
Peter M. Pearce OAM – Burning Palms
2001
Ronald M. Camilleri – North Cronulla SLSC
2001
Geoffrey C. Foreshaw OAM (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
2001
Neil S. Miller (dec) – Bondi SLSC
2003
Clive J. Owens OAM – Tamarama SLSC
2005
Peter G. Quartly OAM – Bondi SBLSC
2006
Peter Agnew AM ESM – North Bondi SLSC
2007
John M. Restuccia OAM – Maroubra SLSC
2009
Ian A. Goode OAM – Cronulla SLSC
1990-1999
1992
Rex J. Sargeant (dec) – Wanda SLSC
1993
Kenneth E. English – Cronulla SLSC
1993
Maurice C. Singleton (dec) – Elouera SLSC
1996
Keith M. Grima OAM – Maroubra SLSC
1996
Ronald E. Pears OAM – Elouera SLSC
1996
Stephen R. Strange OAM – Burning Palms SLSC
1999
John C. De Cean OAM – Wanda SLSC
1999
Bradley J. Taylor ESM – Garie SLSC
1980-1989
1980
Ronald V. Buist (dec) – Tamarama SLSC
1981
John C. Dewey (dec) – North Cronulla SLSC
1985
Charles Ian Badham OAM – Burning Palms SLSC
1986
Robert (Bob) P. Davison – Era SLSC
1987
Trevor D. Elliott – Wanda SLSC
1989
William (Bill) T. Gray (dec) – Elouera SLSC
1970-1979
1971
Harry J. Brown OAM (dec) – North Cronulla SLSC
1971
Gus B. Staunton MBE (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
1973
G.R.M. Challis (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
1975
Kevin C. Andrews (dec) – Tamarama SLSC
1976
N.A. Dixon (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
1977
Percy V. Ainsworth (dec) – Wanda SLSC
1977
Ted M. Brooker OAM (dec) – Elouera SLSC
1977
K.F. Messenger OAM – Coogee SLSC
1977
Ernest B. Stephens OAM – Wanda SLSC
1977
W. Jack Young (dec) – Bronte SLSC
1979
Bill G. Marshall OAM (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
1979
Frank Osborne (dec) – Era SLSC
1979
John B. Wardell (dec) – Tamarama SLSC
1960-1969
1960
A.J. Purcell (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
1960
Walter A.T. Crain MBE (dec) – Freshwater SLSC
1961
William (Bob) J.R. McKenna (dec) – North Bondi SLSC
1962
Ron M. Howells OAM (dec) – Era SLSC
1962
E.J. Marsden (dec) – Maroubra SLSC
1963
E.C. Sier (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
1963
Jim R. Switzer OAM (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
1964
John K. Vaughan OAM (dec) – Burning Palms SLSC
1967
Leslie J. Buck (dec)
1967
Albert Moseley OAM (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
1950-1959
1951
W.J. Foerster (dec) – Queenscliff SLSC
1951
Lionel McDonald OAM (dec) – Freshwater SLSC
1951
R. Michaelis (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
1952
Victor A. Besomo (dec) – Bondi SBLSC
1952
Alf R. Loton (dec) – Dee Why SLSC
1953
A.W. Castleman MBE (dec) – Manly Warringah
1953
A.D. Olson (dec) – South Curl Curl SLSC
1954
George .A. Lindsay (dec) – North Narrabeen SLSC
1954
Vince J Williams MBE (dec) – Maroubra SLSC
1955
Don C. Lucas OBE (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
1956
Tom W. Meagher OBE (dec) – Bondi SBLSC
1958
Gordon Wilson (dec) – North Palm Beach SLSC
1959
Jim W. Dempster (dec) – Dee Why SLSC
1959
George Williams (dec) – Manly Warringah
1949
1949
Michael J. Bourke (dec) – Tamarama SLSC
1949
Jack R. Cameron (dec) – North Narrabeen SLSC
1949
Geoff S. Cohen (dec) – Coogee SLSC
1949
Sir Adrian Curlewis CVO CBE (dec) – Palm Beach SLSC
1949
F.H. Dargan (dec) – North Steyne SLSC
1949
Gregory S. Dellitt (dec) – Collaroy SLSC
1949
J.B. Dillon (dec) – North Cronulla SLSC
1949
Noel Hayton MBE (dec) – Coogee SLSC
1949
John N. Hodge (dec) – North Bondi SLSC
1949
George H. Johnson (dec) – Manly Warringah
1949
J.S. McRorie (dec)
1949
Cecil Mack (dec) – North Bondi SLSC
1949
George Millar (dec) – North Steyne SLSC
1949
Thomas Francis Moran (dec) – Dee Why SLSC
1949
Roger B. Moroney (dec) – Freshwater SLSC
1949
H.A. Small (dec) – Cronulla SLSC
1949
Lal D. Turner (dec) – Dee Why SLSC
1949
Kenneth W. Watson MBE (dec) – Manly SLSC
1949
G.R. Webb (dec)
1949
C.W. Whitehead (dec) – North Steyne SLSC
1949
Stan J. Windon (dec) – Coogee SLSC
President's Medal
Presidents Medal is awarded to members who have rendered significant and outstanding voluntary service to SLSS for over a period of at least 12 years.
President Medal Recipients
2020 onwards
2024
Ron Hammond – North Cronulla
2022
Gordon McKirdy – Wanda
2020
Jeffrey “Charlie” Brown – Wanda
2010 - 2019
2017
Ron Hegarty – Elouera
2014
Karl Solomonson OAM – Maroubra
2012
Robyn Allan – Elouera
2012
Raymond Robinson (dec) – South Maroubra
2011
Frank Ridley (dec) – North Cronulla
2008 - 2009
2009
Ray Hitchenson (dec) – Wanda
2008
Peter Steenson – South Maroubra
2008
Michael Batty PSM – Elouera
2008
Arthur White (dec) – Elouera
Branch Honours News
31/10/2025
Surf Life Saving Sydney congratulates Peter Agnew AM ESM on his election as President of Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA).
11/09/2025
‘After Party’ details VALE Joan Vaughan OAM
09/09/2025
Congratulations to Peter Quartly who has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
08/09/2025
Vale – Joan Vaughan OAM Life Member of Surf Life Saving Sydney Friday 5 September 2025
29/08/2025
Vale – Barry Bede (Gus) Staunton MBE
Life Member of Surf Life Saving Sydney
Thursday 28 August 2025
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Barry Bede (Gus) Staunton MBE.
24/07/2025
Reminder : Tomorrow is the funeral of Life Member Grahame Evans.
05/07/2025
The Best of the Best
The most anticipated honours of the night.
Congratulations to Bondi’s Marissa Saunders
Branch Honours Events
17May
SLSS Surf Boats End of Season Function
SAVE THE DATE – more details will be available soon. Time TBC
Last updated: September 14, 2025