About

Our Members

The Albany Surf Life Saving Club is proud to have more than 400 members, ranging in age from 5 to 60+ years. From our youngest Nippers through to Masters competitors and long-standing volunteers, every member plays a part in making our club strong and welcoming.

Each summer, members come together at Middleton Beach to take part in surf sports and training from November to April. Weekly Sunday competitions feature beach sprints, flags, swimming, board paddling, surf boat rowing, and other water events — with opportunities to progress to regional, state, and national championships. Mid-week training sessions also give members the chance to further develop skills and fitness.

We currently have around 150 active patrolling members who dedicate their time to keeping our community safe on the beach. [Find out more about our Patrol here.]

But being a member of Albany SLSC is about more than competition and patrols. It’s about:

  • Teamwork – building skills and friendships that last a lifetime.
  • Contribution – giving back to the community through a vital public service.
  • Growth – learning new skills, staying active, and stepping up to new challenges.

There is a role for everyone — whether it’s lifesaving, coaching, officiating, mentoring, administration, or simply lending a hand at events. Our members are at the heart of everything we do, and together we make Albany SLSC a club where people of all ages and abilities can belong, learn, and thrive.

History

The Albany Surf Life Saving Club has a proud history that stretches back more than a century. What began in 1917 as the Naval & Military Sea Bathing Club quickly grew into a cornerstone of the Albany community, bringing people together around the beach and the water.

By the 1950s, the club had become such a vibrant part of local life that the start of each summer was celebrated with a street march down York Street, drawing crowds and marking the beginning of another lifesaving and surf sports season.

Training and education have always been at the heart of what we do. Generations of members have achieved their Bronze Medallions, with proud records from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and continuing right through to today. The medallion remains a symbol of the skills, teamwork, and commitment required to serve as a surf lifesaver.

Over the decades, the club has seen many changes — in equipment, training methods, and the size of our membership — but the spirit has remained constant: a community of volunteers dedicated to keeping our beaches safe, developing young people, and celebrating the surf life saving tradition.

As we look to the future, we honour the legacy of those who came before us and continue to build on more than 100 years of service, competition, and community connection at Middleton Beach.

Life Members

NameYear Awarded
Ian Lawrence1959
Ralph Hutchinson (dec)1959
Doreen & Ray Kelly (dec)1996
Andrew Jay1999
Celia Waugh2000
Tom  & Sandra Marron2003
John & Sheila Beaton2006
Kerry Oakley2009
Les Paxton2013
Rob Lucas2013
Guy Castieau (dec)2014
Ken Clark2015
Jo Lucas2018
Jeff Medcalf2023
Perdita Beebe2023
Dani Lynch2024
Byron Bird2024
Pat McSweeney2024