You won’t see Stephen Strange on patrol between the red and yellow flags any more, but that doesn’t mean the surf lifesaving veteran has lost his passion for the community organisation.
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You’ll still find the 71-year-old, from Minnamurra, working behind the scenes and regularly visiting the surf club he’s been a member of for more than 40 years.
Mr Strange’s service to surf lifesaving, which spans decades and multiple tiers of the organisation, has seen him awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
The retiree described the accolade as “a real surprise”.
“It certainly is an honour to be recognised,” he said.
Mr Strange completed his bronze medallion in 1977 and began patrolling as a lifesaver at the Burning Palms surf club the same year. He is a life member of the Royal National Park-based club.
He also holds life membership with Surf Life Saving Australia, Surf Life Saving NSW and Surf Life Saving Sydney, and has held a number of roles with the International Life Saving Federation.
Mr Strange said he was “a bit too long in the tooth” to still be on patrol but had maintained links with Burning Palms and two nearby clubs, Garie and Era.
“That passion is still there. In fact, I still work behind the scenes for the state and national levels of the association, doing work on the carnival side of things,” he said.
