KIAMA Downs Surf Life Saving Club recently celebrated its 30th birthday, hosting a cocktail party at their Jones Beach clubhouse.
The club's usual conviviality was enjoyed by around 80 past and present members and guests, with good food and cocktails.
Since the club's foundation in 1982, membership has grown from 20 to its current 260, taking in combined nippers, cadets, seniors and associates, all involved in a range of life, leadership and member development activities, including first aid, competition, rescue and patrols.
With serving the community as its highest priority, the club has a proud history in lifesaving, logging 600 recorded rescues, the most recent being two all-night revellers who were plucked from a rocky crevice in extremely dangerous 2½ metre surf conditions on the eve of the cocktail party.
At top end competition level, the club has some Australian Surf Boat Racing medals, but its real competition strength lies in its multi-skilled Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) professionals.
The team have won many individual and team medals and scored second overall at the Life Saving World Championships in Adelaide last November.
Training and education is another club specialty, with a high ratio of First Aid, AQTF, Surf Rescue, bronze, silver and gold awards frequently achieved by its patrolling members, cadets, parents, and other volunteers.
Buoyed by a recent $52,000 state government grant and generous local sponsors, the family-oriented club now looks towards 2013 with an elevator and extended amenities upgrades.