Picture: Glenn Hampson; Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

In March 1974, Old Boy Billy James (1965) performed one of the most challenging surf lifesaving rescues in Queensland history. Recently, at the 2022 SLSA National Awards of Excellence he was honoured with a Surf Life Saving Australia Meritorious Award. This award recognises acts of bravery by members who have gone above and beyond, putting their lives on the line to rescue people who have found themselves in trouble.

The rescue itself occurred at Surfers Paradise Beach 48 years ago amid extremely dangerous conditions. With three tropical cyclones battering the Gold Coast and South-Eastern Queensland, the coastline was being hammered by destructive winds and flooding. In waves that were averaging between four and five metres, Billy successfully rescued a board rider, who having lost his board had been dragged out to sea and was hanging on to the shark nets one kilometre offshore.

Billy is a Walsh Fellow and Foundation Life Member of the Surfers Paradise Surf Lifesaving Club. Also heavily involved with the club and known to be one of the greatest surf lifesaving competitors of all time is fellow Old Boy Peter Lacey (1964), whose own lifesaving achievements are recognised with a statue on the beachfront at Surfers Paradise.

Churchie students and Old Boys have a long history of surf lifesaving involvement dating back to the 1950’s. Along with Billy and Peter, among the many prominent members of Surf Lifesaving Australia from this era are Barrie Munro (1963), Peter Mitchell (1964), Don Marriot (1966) and Paul Lacey (1966).

Congratulations to Billy and a special thank you to all of our Churchie Old Boys who have been and are currently involved in Surf Lifesaving and many other volunteer rescue organisations. To read more about Billy’s infamous rescue, please click here.

Old Boy Peter Lacey (1964)