Why this Mid North Coast volunteer has given decades to Surf Life Saving

Gavin Burke has given most of his life to local surf clubs. Despite being described as “probably the most decorated sweep” for surf boats at Kempsey-Crescent Head Surf Life Saving Club over the past 20 years, he says the lifelong friendships are the highlight.

• “It’s about the people that I’ve met more so than the awards and the achievements,” Burke told the Mid North Coaster.

Decades of dedication: Burke grew up in Smithtown, in Kempsey Shire. At age 13, he completed his surf life saving certificate at the South West Rocks branch. At 18, he received his Bronze Medallion with the Hat Head club. It was here that Burke made friends with people he still calls mates today.

Now 66-years-old, he remains a Surf Life Saving member with Kempsey-Crescent Head and continues to compete in surf boat races.

Friendship foundation: Burke says John King, from Sydney, was responsible for restarting the Hat Head Surf Club in the mid to late 70s and created the foundation for the friendships formed between Tweed Heads and Coolangatta, North Curl Curl and Hat Head Surf Clubs.

Burke moved north for a couple of seasons with the Tweed Heads and Coolangatta surf club in the early 80s before returning home to the Macleay Valley.

• “That time up there just reinforced the friendships,” Burke said.

Back on the boat: Burke volunteered and competed as a Surf Life Saver for seven years before taking a break to focus on work, family and footy. 

When he returned in 2006, Burke joined his eldest son, Gibson, who was inspired to start rowing surf boats by one of his high school teachers.

• “I said, ‘if there’s a spot for me I’ll come row too’,” Burke said. “It’s the group of people that we’re with that keeps me there at Kempsey-Crescent Head. It’s just a great group of people”.

Major medals: Over the past two decades, Burke’s surf boat crews have been lauded as the top teams across the country.

Annually, there’s three main events for Australian surf boat crews: The Australian Surf Rowers League, NSW State Titles and The Australian Titles.

In the past, Burke was part of the winning crew of all three major events for surf boat crews in Australia. This year, his crew won a silver medal at the Australian Titles, a gold at the state titles, and a bronze at the Rowers League.

Burke said any achievement as a rower or sweep is due to the team’s effort and the wider club community.

• “I have a very, very good crew who trained hard,” Burk said. “It’s a whole club movement with surf club rowing.”

The Trig trio: As a Surf Life Saving member, Burke says his focus has been on rowing boats, training for comps and looking after the patrols.

• Unique to Surf Life Saving, each of the crew members are required to volunteer their time as surf life savers patrolling on the weekends in order to compete.

However, over the past four years, he has also helped organise the Trig marathon – an annual race from Hat Head Bowling Club to the trig point located at the top of Hat Head hill and back – alongside Warren Howe and Joe Notley. 

Howe, Notley and Burke completed their bronze together at Hat Head as teens, competed against each other in the Trig and now work together to bring the major local event to life.

New members needed: Surf Life Saving Clubs across Australia are looking for new members to join their local clubs to volunteer their time patrolling beaches, and to compete if interested. Kempsey-Crescent Head Surf Life Saving is one of those clubs.

Burke recommends signing up, and said the best thing about surf life saving is the strong connections made.

• “It’s about the culture and friendships being formed over long periods,” Burke said. "It's the people that make the journey with you.”

And for those interested in rowing surf boats?

• “Catching waves on a Sunday morning and then having a coffee and a chat with friends and family, well, it’s perfect Sunday morning,” Burke said. 

The veteran rower says while those interested in joining a surf boat crew must like adrenaline, new members are introduced to the sport in the calmness of Killick Creek instead of tackling the open ocean straight up. 

ℹ️ For more information visit the Facebook page or website or find a club near you https://sls.com.au/

📷 Thumbnail: Pictures supplied.