Branch president Steve Jones said 14 people received Bronze Medallions at Culburra Beach on Sunday, while another four junior members received their Surf Rescue Certificates with CPR endorsement.

“It means we’ll have an extra 18 patrolling members in our surf lifesaving pool, just in time for the busy summer holiday period,” Mr Jones said. “We now have 150 patrolling members in the area, which is huge.”

The numbers represent a 200 per cent increase in local lifesaving services over the past few years, which Mr Jones credits to the community’s strong volunteering spirit.

“Even as recently as five years ago, we had only 50 patrolling members on our books, so it’s been very well supported. It’s become a family activity, where parents and kids are involved together, and it makes a fantastic human resource for the community.”

Bomaderry resident Jason Watson can attest to the family appeal of surf lifesaving. Both he and his son Joshua received their Bronze Medallions on the weekend.

“The club provides a vital community service and at the same time has a fantastic social and family-oriented atmosphere,” he said.

Mr Watson is already employed as a paramedic with the NSW Ambulance Service, but says saving lives on the sand will still be a new experience: “I look forward to patrolling the beach and making a worthwhile contribution to the community.”

Son Joshua has just turned 18 and will be travelling overseas on a gap year in 2010, but he’s already been asked to use his lifesaving qualifications in the UK.

“It’s a bit of a universal skill to have, which is why it’s great to see so many locals out there every weekend,” Mr Watson said.

Culburra Beach’s lifesaving contingent has been gathering steam for some time now, with the club recently acquiring two new surf rescue boats.

“We now have four boats capable of surf rescues, with two standby crews available at all times,” Mr Jones explained.

The growth has also seen the beach become something of a breeding ground for the Shoalhaven’s wider lifesaving needs – as well as other areas in the state.

“A lot of our members are school-leavers, so they go away for work or study commitments in the New Year,” Mr Jones explained. “It’s great to see them pop up in at Sydney or Newcastle’s surf clubs, or even around the world.”

Many local patrollers are also contracted by the Shoalhaven City Council to help provide a stronger beach presence over the Christmas period.

“A lot of our members are contracted for the council patrols,” Mr Jones said. “It’s great for tourists visiting the area, but it’s also great for the local community.”

But not all beaches in the Shoalhaven have such a rich lifesaving pool. Mr Jones said there were “ongoing problems” with adequate numbers at Sussex Inlet.

“The problem there is it’s on a peninsular and has a very small community to draw from,” he said. “Sussex Inlet relies heavily on lifesavers from the St Georges Basin and Wandandian communities, where they are always running promotions and training courses to keep their numbers up.”