3. Mission:
“To engage the Australian community in recognising the contribution of surf lifesavers in the past, present and future and, to maintain the relevance and sustainability of Surf Life Saving.”

4. BRIEF HISTORY
24/03/1907 – first appearance of surf belt and reel on Sydney beaches
18/10/1907 – Surf Bathing Association of NSW (SBANSW) founded – with 7 clubs plus affiliated associations. This body later became SLSA
2/1/1910 – first surf bronze medallions were issued
1915 – first Association Titles, Bondi Beach
1925 – WA State Centre formed
1930 – QLD State Centre formed

5. BRIEF HISTORY
1932 – Australian Championships held on Bondi Beach to celebrate Harbour Bridge opening
1935 – red and yellow flags introduced, although the colours were divided diagonally, not horizontally
6/2/1938 – Black Sunday, Bondi Beach
1939 – patrolling lifesavers ordered to wear red and yellow quartered caps
1946 – Victorian State Centre formed

6. BRIEF HISTORY 1948 – Tasmanian State Centre formed
1949 – NSW State Centre formed (as a separate entity to SLSAA)
1952 – South Australian State Centre formed
1952 – Holger-Nielson method of resuscitation replaced Shafer method
1960 – Expired Air Resuscitation (EAR – otherwise known as ‘mouth-to-mouth’) adopted
1966 – Iron man race held at Australian Championships for 1st time

7. BRIEF HISTORY 1960s – first IRB trials
1973 – National Junior Association of Surf Lifesaving formed
introduction of Helicopter rescue Service in Sydney (with team of 28 Surf Lifesavers)
1/7/1980 – Females became eligible to become full members of SLSAA for first time
2006 – 305 clubs, 110,000 members nation wide
2007 – Year of the Surf Lifesaver

8. KEY DRIVERS
1. Awareness To increase public knowledge of the historic role of surf lifesavers in the development of Australian culture and to promote awareness of Surf Life Saving’s key capabilities and challenges
2. Authority To consolidate our position as Australia’s leading water safety and rescue authority with all relevant stakeholders

9. KEY DRIVERS
3. Surf Safety Education To ensure that all school children have access to basic surf safety tools by introducing surf safety education programs in all Australian primary schools
4. Membership To increase recruitment by extending an open invitation to all Australians to join the volunteer surf lifesaving community and to improve retention rates by creating a heightened sense of value within our current membership
5. Income Generation To create a financial legacy for the future of Surf Life Saving through fundraising, sponsorship and cause related marketing

10. At a glance Stamp Release National Launch Coin Release
NMA Travelling Exhibition
Australia Day celebrations
Ambassadors Program
Media Partnerships
Icon events
Stamp Release
Coin Release
Fundraising activities
History book
Gala Dinners
Closing ceremony
State and local events

11. YSL CELEBRATIONS
Launch of history book ‘Between the Flags Summers of Australian Surf Lifesaving’

12. YSL CELEBRATIONS
Travelling exhibition ‘Between the Flags: 100 Years of Surf Lifesaving’ in partnership with the National Museum of Australia

13. YSL Coin Launch in partnership with the Royal Australian Mint
YSL CELEBRATIONS
YSL Coin Launch in partnership with the Royal Australian Mint

14. YSL INITIATIVES
Introduction of a Surf’s Up, a cross-curricula resource, into all Australian Primary Schools

15. MEDIA PROMOTIONS

16. For more information visit
THE FUTURE
The Year of the Surf Lifesaver provides a unique opportunity to review our history, assess our present and plan our future.
For more information visit