For 61 years he has lived and breathed the lifestyle, been an active member, competitor, captain and president of clubs across the east coast, so it was only a matter of time before somebody recognised his commitment. Last month Rex was awarded a lifetime membership to Surf Lifesaving Australia (SLSA) but says he’s never been in it for the accolades.

“You don’t go into it for what you get out. It is very rewarding, the competitive side cements it, battling against the sea is a formidable element and you learn skills that you can’t learn anywhere else.”

Rex joined SLSA in 1948 in Tugun Queensland after club members noticed he had a knack for handling the surf. Before long the then 16-year-old had obtained his Bronze Medallion and ran first place in the Queensland Open Junior Surf Race.

A family move to Victoria meant Rex had to start fresh at the Sorrento-Portsea SLSC where he was again racking up medals as club captain surf belt championships. The harsh Victorian surf meant Rex made dozens of rescues during a single summer but he says there is one in particular that stands out.

“I’ll never forget it, I was swimming out on a rip to go beyond the break, so I could catch a wave, when I spotted a girl wearing a white one piece costume with red poinsettias on it – she was a stunning blond. She looked like she was in a bit of trouble so I swam over but just as I reached her a big wave rolled up so I grabbed her arm and it took us back to the bank. We got to our feet and she coughed up a bit of water and slapped me fair across the face – that was something I really wasn’t expecting.”

Rex moved to Sydney in the 1950s where he married and by the 1980s had become president of the branch - managing all 15 of Sydney’s surf lifesaving clubs.

A major undertaking on its own during his time as president Rex took up the inaugural chairman and director positions of the Sydney Helicopter Service – now known as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

Now in his seventies Rex is a long service member of the Hawks Nest Surf Club where he acts as a radio officer passing his wealth of knowledge onto the next generation.

“I’d certainly recommend surf lifesaving for kids. The training gives them grounding into handling themselves in group situations and Hawks Nest has a mentoring program which I’m involved in at the moment – helping a young bloke with my experience to make him a better lifesaver.”