spending my life saving
I’ve been keeping watch for over 70 years…
Swimming the nal lap in the pool, I gave it my all. “You’ve aced the test, Billy!” the club’s president yelled.
It was 1949 and at 17, I had just quali ed to represent the Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club.
Back then, surf lifesavers were the coolest blokes around.
I wasn’t the ttest so I’d thrown myself into training to pass the swimming test: 200m in under ve minutes.
Starting out,
I honed my craft by patrolling Maroubra Beach.
In 1980, I moved to Queensland and joined the Rainbow Bay Surf Life Saving Club.
Surf lifesaving was second nature at this point. Still, some rescues put me through my paces.
One of the toughest came while out on patrol at Rainbow Bay.
I’d spotted a couple of surfers who’d lost their boards in the wild swell.
ey were desperately gripping to the shark nets encircling the bay.
“Send backup!” I radioed the tower.
I headed out, tackling the choppy surf on my paddleboard.
Pushing myself to the limit, I reached the pair in record time. e relief on their faces when I arrived spoke volumes.
“Hold tight to the board, boys,” I shouted.
But there was no way to bring both to shore on my board.
I kept the men a oat until a rescue dingy nally arrived and they were winched aboard. Although I was chu ed when the story made the news, the real reward was the two lives saved.
e beach was my home, so it was no surprise I met the lady of my dreams there in 1985.
Every day, she would make a point to stroll past my post on her lunchtime break.
She was 18 when we rst met and I was 45 so, being a gent, I kept my interaction to a friendly hello.
Eventually, she introduced herself as Lynne Hudson, and after four years’ acquaintance, a romance was sparked.
I was nervous when Lynne invited me to meet her parents, but I quickly gained their approval.
“Whatever makes Lynne happy!” they encouraged me.
Over seven decades, I competed in hundreds of surf lifesaving competitions and won more medals and trophies than I could count.
Lynne even took up paddleboarding, too, and won a medal in 1995 for her e orts. I was so proud!
In 2022, I competed in the Australian Masters Championships and took second place in the 75-andover board race.
Last year, Surf Life Saving Australia awarded me a medal for my long service.
“You’re one of the association’s oldest members,” the chairman announced proudly.
And at 89, I’d say he’s right!
ese days, I still make sure people swim between the ags and I’m always training for upcoming competitions.
Working out twice a day keeps me match t.
Sadly, my beloved Lynne passed away from cancer ve years ago and is no longer there to cheer me on.
After she died, I made our rings into a single band, which I’ve worn ever since.
Some days, the diamonds shine brightly; I believe it’s her way of telling me she’s here.
I’m heartbroken but it’s my love of the beach and saving people that keeps me going strong.
The real reward is saving lives
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