Gerringong Surf Lifesaving Club honoured six of its members with life memberships on Sunday, recognising their outstanding service to the club and the wider community.

Andy Depree, Gary George, Mitchell Payne, Richard Payne, Shane Wicks and Wendy Quinn were selected by a committee chaired by fellow member Mark Booth.

“The reality is that a small number of our members carry an enormous load to ensure the safety of our beachgoers and the smooth and efficient functioning of the club,” Booth said.

“There could be no more worthy recipients of the club’s highest honour than these dedicated and selfless members.”

Quinn, the only female recipient, admitted she initially felt unworthy of the recognition - but came to see her contributions in a new light.

“Realistically, I don't have the qualifications that they do. But I think a surf club should be harmonious and welcoming - a place where people belong. And I said, I can help you do that,” she explained.

“Then I looked at what they wrote and how they spoke about me in the meeting, and I thought, that’s actually everything I was trying to achieve. You don’t have to be the president or lead rescuer.

"You can do small things that quietly add up, and you don’t even realise it until someone points it out.”

That quiet dedication has marked her 20-year involvement with Gerringong SLSC - a journey that began with uncertainty but grew into a deeply valued contribution.

“I was always involved with the surf club because my children were surfers, and we’re very beach-oriented people,” she said. 

Wendy being awarded 2024 Patrol Person of the Year at Presentation Night. Photo: Gerringong SLSC

“Our patrol captain, Mark Booth, is so encouraging. He made me realise that you didn’t need to be the fastest swimmer or the best rescuer - that there was a role for everyone. That’s when the light went on: I can be good at this, and I can encourage others, too.”

Today, she is well known around the club not only for her warmth and leadership but also for her record-breaking patrol hours - which earned her the title of Patrol Person of the Year for 2024.

From welcoming new members and boosting female participation to serving as the club’s grievance contact officer, Quinn is a linchpin of the Gerringong SLSC community. And of course, there’s her famous food.

“I've always been on patrols with lots of children - that’s why I started feeding them,” she laughed.

“I’d make them really beautiful, big lunches, and they would say to their mums, ‘Oh, Wendy, let me go surfing at patrol and she also made my lunch'.

“Food brings people together. We’re now seeing kids progress from nippers to cadets to patrol members - and they’re happy to be with us. I’m like their surf club grandma, really.”

Her story is an inspiring reminder that meaningful contributions come in many forms - and that creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space is just as vital as saving lives in the surf.