Darren Browning

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Darren Browning has given more than 15 years of exceptional service to Broulee Surfers SLSC — as a patrolling member, committee secretary, Nippers coordinator, RWC operator, surf sports competitor, and one of the Club’s most reliable volunteers. His life membership recognises a contribution that spans almost every aspect of Club life.

Patrol service

Darren has maintained an almost exemplary 100% patrol attendance record since obtaining his bronze medallion — a remarkable achievement over more than a decade of patrolling. He has served as Patrol Captain of Patrol 3 for over a decade and has received continuous 5-year 100% patroller recognition from the Club.

Darren was one of the branch’s original RWC operators, achieving this qualification in 2009, and has been a key part of the Club and branch’s emergency callout and support operations team ever since. Major incidents he has been involved in include the plane crash at Barlings Beach, an upturned boat at Broulee, fire responses at Durras and Broulee, body searches at Moruya, Narooma and Tuross, and numerous search and rescue callouts over many years as an RWC operator.

He is also the Northern RWC Coordinator, responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the RWC and callout gear, and is always one of the first to put his name down for water safety at the Broulee Bay to Breakers Ocean Swim, junior and senior carnivals, and Nippers.

Committee & leadership

Darren served on the Broulee Surfers SLSC Committee for over a decade as secretary, playing an active role in some of the Club’s most significant milestones — including the Phase One Clubhouse Redevelopment and the renovation of the gear shed.

Throughout his time at the Club, Darren has given up numerous weekends to ensure annual proficiencies are conducted, trained multiple members in their RWC course, run cadet training sessions, and carried out maintenance of equipment including IRBs, callout gear, the gear shed and radios.

Nippers

Darren served as Nippers Coordinator and Age Manager from 2006–2013, mentoring, coaching and developing over 30 Nippers — one of the largest age groups the Club has had. He ran multiple inter-club training sessions for clubs across the Far South Coast and played a significant role in introducing the Batemans Bay Nippers to the Club when their program folded.

He has also mentored and encouraged numerous patrol captains, patrolling members, cadets and their parents over the years, helping them achieve awards including IRB Driver/Crew and RWC qualifications. A testament to his influence is the number of members from Darren’s patrol who have received the Club’s Junior Lifesaver of the Year award in recent seasons.

Surf sports

A keen and accomplished surf sports competitor, Darren contributed significantly to the Club retaining the Jack Beale Trophy for multiple consecutive years. He has represented Broulee Surfers at Branch, Country, State and Australian championships, and completed four Coolangatta Golds. In addition to numerous Branch, Country and State medals, Darren placed third in the O50s male flags at the Australian Championships in 2017.

Awards & recognition

Darren holds 64 awards in Surfguard and has completed over 750 patrol hours in the past 10 years. His qualifications include:

• Bronze Medallion
• Silver Medallion
• Gold Medallion
• IRB Driver and IRB Crew
• Patrol Captain
• First Aid and Spinal Management
• RWC Operator

He has also received the following Club and Branch awards:

• 2010 — Patrolman of the Year
• 2012 — Club Person of the Year
• 2017 — Branch Overall Competitor of the Year
• 2017 — Branch Lifesaver of the Year

Community service

Darren’s contribution to the community beyond the beach was never more evident than during the 2019–20 bushfires. He was responsible for relocating Club assets including an RWC, IRB, first aid kits and oxygen to Tomakin, and helped operate the clubhouse as a community recovery centre in the weeks after the firestorm. He also facilitated the provision of brand new sheds to numerous local families who lost property during the fires.

In 2018, Darren was selected to carry the Queen’s Baton in the Commonwealth Games Baton Relay — a national honour recognising outstanding contribution to surf lifesaving and the broader community.

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