Five members from Freshwater SLSC have been recognised with National Medals for long-serving volunteer roles focused on swimmer safety at Freshwater Beach.
National Recognition For Long Service
The recognition formed part of a national honours round acknowledging 212 volunteers from Surf Life Saving Australia. The awards recognise long and sustained operational service across many patrol seasons, often in demanding conditions.
The National Medal sits within Australia’s official honours system and is based on verified operational patrol service, not club tenure alone. Freshwater recipients were confirmed in the national announcement and received the standard National Medal for long service.
Freshwater SLSC Recipients
The Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club members recognised in this honours round are Alexius Chan, Walter Dobrow, Kelly Dobrow, Andrew Jones and Jonathan McKenzie. Each has contributed many years of active patrol service as part of the Freshwater lifesaving team.
Their recognition reflects consistent commitment across multiple seasons, with service measured under national eligibility rules set by the Australian honours system rather than by Surf Life Saving Australia itself.
A Club With Deep Community Roots
Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club has operated at Freshwater Beach for more than a century, forming in the early 1900s as local residents responded to surf-related drownings. Since then, the club has played a central role in beach patrols, rescue operations, training programs and youth development.
The club’s volunteers patrol one of Sydney’s busiest beaches and support surf education programs that focus on prevention, skills development and public awareness. Generations of families have passed through the club, strengthening its ties to the Northern Beaches community.
Service Linked To Community Safety
National Medals are usually presented at club or service level. This links volunteer service to local communities. For Freshwater SLSC, the awards recognise service on the same stretch of beach year after year.
They also reflect long-term commitment built through teamwork, training, and community trust.
Published 29-December-2025
