Canberra’s Joel Doble was announced as the recipient of the award for his tireless work within the Batemans Bay Surf Club. 

While his family have been regular visitors to the Bay for a number of years, he said it was another surf club which initially inspired him to get involved in surf lifesaving. 

“I’ve always been a big fan of Bondi Rescue,” he said.

“I remember watching it when I was younger and saying to my parents that it is what I wanted to do.

"We have always lived in Canberra, so I was surprised when they said I could.”

Joel is part of a growing number of Canberra juniors who are part of surf clubs on the Far South Coast.

Such was the demand for surf lifesaving in the ACT that the Broulee Surfers Surf Lifesaving Club even set up a Nippers program based at Lake Burley Griffin last year.

After nearly six years as part of Batemans Bay Surf Club, however, Joel said the distance isn’t an issue for him anymore.

“I’m used to it now,” he said.

“Before I joined nippers, we used to come down here for holidays, so I’ve always been pumped to travel to the coast.”

The past year has been a busy one for Joel, who has helped out in patrols on Christmas Day and New Year.

He said he has revelled in taking on more responsibility at the Surf Club.

“I really enjoy giving back to the community,” he said.

“I’ve made a lot of friends here and it always heaps of fun helping out at such a great club.”

As part of the award, Joel will travel to the Northern Beaches in Sydney during the first week of the April school holidays with the other branch winners for a special development camp.

He already has his eyes on a bigger prize, saying he “can’t wait” to be interviewed for the State Junior Lifesaver of the Year award.