Community
30 January, 2026
Honour for life saving club
THE Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) has received a special Australia Day award in recognition of its hosting of the Life Saving Victoria Senior State Championships.
The event, hosted by the Warrnambool club, was named the 2026 Warrnambool Community Event of the Year at the city’s recent Australia Day celebrations.
The 2025 championships brought more than 1000 people to Warrnambool across the three-day carnival, with competitors travelling from across Victoria to take part in beach, sand and boat events.
Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club Director Membership and Leadership Development Jacinta Roache said the club has highly-skilled members with a strong volunteer culture.
“We’re all really proud of our club. Every year, the commitment from our members is mind boggling, in hours, in knowledge and enthusiasm,” she said.
“We have so many members putting their hand up prepared to jump on board.”
She said the benefits extended well beyond the club, with visitors returning year after year.
“It’s not just about what it brings to our club, it’s what it brings to the broader Warrnambool community, because it brings so many people here to our beautiful coastline.”
Warrnambool mayor Cr Ben Blain thanked the Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club for its enormous contribution to Warrnambool.
“To host a major state championship is a big achievement. To do it every year for over a decade is unheard of for a regional city,” he said.
“It’s only made possible through the dedication and professionalism of so many people at the Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club who continue to put their hands up year after year to help make is a success.
“As a coastal city, we’re very proud of our beach, and this event is a real showcase of that. We’ve got beautiful Lady Bay where events can be moved to different sections depending on the conditions.
“And many of the competitors stay at our foreshore caravan parks and just really enjoy the precinct. When you’ve got the beach to one side, Lake Pertobe on the other and the city centre just up the hill, it makes for a pretty good place to spend a long weekend.
“Congratulations to everyone involved, and I’m looking forward to another successful event in March with the Junior State Championships to be hosted in Warrnambool.”
