Pambula Surf Lifesaving Club treasure and legend, Jimmy McGrath, celebrated 50 years of surf life saving service with a party last Saturday night at the clubhouse.
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In true form, Jimmy had the club in stitches recalling incidents, accidents, rescues and sidesplitting anecdotes accrued over a lifetime of surf life saving.
Through the humour in his delivery shone his incredible commitment to the safety of our beaches and to the wellbeing of the surf club community.
“There are very few people club members over the years that Jimmy hasn’t supported in some way in their lifesaving endeavours,” club president Don Hay said.
In a testament to his commitment, rather than hanging up his red and yellow shirt after 50 years of service, Jimmy backed up the day after his party to join in the registration day of the new Nippers junior lifesaver development squad.
Then this past Sunday, Jimmy spent a typical day in the surf season providing three hours of IRB (duck) support for Nippers training and then another three hours assessing the newest young lifesavers in their Bronze Medallion training.
“Pambula Surf Club is not just a surf club, it is a way of life”, Jimmy advised a young surf club recruit, Andrew Holt, 20 years ago.
“20 years on and Jimmy is still living the surf club way of life,” Mr Holt, who remains and active club member and now-Nippers president, said.
The key to Jimmy’s wellbeing, despite being troubled by illness for much of his life, is that “he is and has always been extremely active,” club stalwart and long-time friend Frank Davey said.
Frank said Jimmy’s standard response when asked to help sums him up – “Nothing is too much trouble.”
Jimmy is a renowned legend in surf lifesaving circles, up and down the coast.
He is a character, an exceptional watercraft driver and a big-hearted, incredibly reliable, hard-working surf lifesaver.
Throughout his attendance at every George Bass Marathon since its inauguration in 1975, he has worked in some capacity, be it officiating, duck driving or in any other role required of him.
“Jimmy could be found on any night with a torch performing running repairs on a surf boat for any club in need”, Andrew Holt, a veteran of ten George Bass Surf Boat Races, said.
“He is known and loved by surf lifesavers across the state.”
The club presidency remained his role for 12 years, and he has performed rescues too numerous to count, swept surf boats, repaired engines, and officiated hundreds of surf carnivals, to name just some of his achievements.
He is one of the most decorated lifesavers in the country, and after 25 years of service, he received an International Citation of merit from the World Life Saving Association for “outstanding service, promoting marine safety and supporting the humanitarian goal of World Life Saving”.
His services to the wider community were recognised this year by the Bega Valley Shire, when he was elected Senior Citizen of the Year.
“At 65, he is probably the oldest jet ski driver in the surf lifesaving movement today,” Mr Hay said.
“He has rarely, if ever missed officiating at a Nippers carnival and can be sure to be found in some capacity officiating in senior local, branch and state carnivals.
“In recent times he has relieved the surf club at Mallacoota in Victoria.
“And each week he will always be back after the most tiring of days on the beach officiating, or on the water driving the IRB, to sell club raffle tickets!”
Jacqui Keogh
Publicity officer