Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (12:07): The New South Wales South Coast is best known for its beautiful beaches. We are a water community and we have some of the most famous beaches in Australia and indeed across the world. Hand in hand with that, of course, means we have some of the best surf lifesavers. For National Water Safety Day, I want to talk about the amazing work our surf lifesavers do in our community.

I recently visited beautiful Kiama to chat with Brad from Surf Rescue 50. This jet boat is a vital asset that is almost unique to the South Coast. Manned largely by volunteers, last summer this team responded to over 20 emergency call-outs and accumulated over 700 patrolling hours. It is an incredible achievement and a stark reminder why boat and surf safety is absolutely critical.

Many of the rescues this team does would not be possible without their ability to mobilise quickly and efficiently around the clock. We are so lucky to have them on our South Coast. Thankfully, the work of our local surf lifesavers does not go unrecognised. When you have the best beaches and the best surf lifesavers, you also have outstanding rescues. Last year I was proud to present three of Kiama's surf lifesavers, Rhys Dawson, Brad Dawson and Toby Streamer, with the National Rescue Medal in Parliament House for a harrowing rescue of a rock fisher who was swept out to sea in dangerous surf on 4 August 2019—remarkable. Well done and thank you to Rhys, Brad and Toby.

It isn't just Kiama that is lucky enough to have award-winning surf lifesavers. In November, Batemans Bay Surf Life Saving Club captain, Anthony Bellette, was named the winner in the surf lifesaving category of the 2020 Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards. Congratulations to Anthony.

Far South Coast surf clubs deserve special recognition here, and there is no doubt that Anthony played a pivotal role in the response to the summer's bushfires. The volunteers did a simply remarkable job of helping and supporting the local community during the bushfires. Across the Batemans Bay, Broulee and Bermagui surf clubs, teams of volunteers—led by Anthony, Andy Edmunds and Cheryl McCarthy—sheltered over 7,000 people on New Year's Eve.

Devastatingly, thousands of local people ended up on those beaches during the fires, trying to find a means of escape. In the middle of the night, teams of surf lifesavers snapped into action, arranging food and water. They provided medical support to those who needed it, and when buildings around the Batemans Bay club caught fire they evacuated people from the clubhouse to the beach. All of the clubs used their ATVs to collect people from the nearby streets and bring them to safety. They literally saved lives in what were terrifying conditions. Broulee came under direct and significant ember attack with 1,000 people in the clubhouse, many of whom the volunteers had helped to evacuate there. They all ended up on the beach. It was incredible.

The clubs stayed open the next day and for weeks after as community recovery centres. In the immediate aftermath of the fire, as soon as the highway was open, I visited the Batemans Bay surf club to see firsthand how they had kept this incredible effort going. The club was now a donation hub. Food was being cooked for those without power or homes. They just kept going. So it is no surprise that club captain Anthony won this award. It is also no surprise that the club won the Far South Coast Branch's rescue of the year for the bushfires or that the Batemans Bay Bushfire Response Team won the Services Team award at the New South Wales Surf Lifesaving Awards of Excellence. All of these clubs deserve this and so much more. Thank you to all the clubs' members and all the amazing volunteers for their efforts not only during the bushfires but every day.

I grew up on the South Coast, and I understand how important our surf lifesaving clubs are. That's why in the 2019 election I committed with Labor to a new training centre for the South Coast Branch of Surf Lifesaving, as part of the Integrated Emergency Management Centre in Nowra. I was thrilled when the government matched my commitment, and I was pleased to see the contract for construction signed last week. Like so many local people, I am incredibly proud of our surf lifesavers. There are too many amazing clubs to name here, but you all deserve recognition. Thank you for everything you do.