Helensburgh-Stanwell Park SLSC christened its 14th IRB on 27 March 2022 named the Jeff Lucke.
Jeff was joined at the club with his wife Brenda and Daughter Emma, along with about 30 club members and special guests.
Jeff joined the club in the 1980’s, completing their Bronze Medallion in 1982. The Bronze Squad was one of the club'ss bigger Bronze Squads in the 1980s.
He quickly became an active contributor to the club and in 1989/90 was in the winning patrol for the patrol of the year and was named Club Member of the Year.
It was clear early that Jeff's contribution was going to be more than patrolling, after gaining their Advanced Resuscitation Certificate in 1984 became an Instructor/Training Officer. From that became the clubs Chief Instructoe from 1987 through to 1990. The same year he won Illawarra Life Saver of the Year becoming the club's first Illawarra Life Saver of the Year.
He spent 13 years as a District Supervisor (kind of like todays Duty Officers) looking after the northern end of the Illawarra.
Education and Life Saving was not Jeff's only focus, he had roles at Branch Level for the Juniors and became a surf sports official.
As a surf sports official Jeff excelled, officiating at Club, Branch, State, Australian and World Championships. Mostly on the beach, he was well known for having the best most accurate beach flags setup at a carnival.
Jeff was awarded Life Membership of the Club in 2005, Branch in 2004 and NSW in 2007.
He was awarded a Citation of Merit from the International Life Saving Federation for services to the cause of life in an aquatic environment.
The new IRB Hull will be named after the man who brought himself a RED & YELLOW Tracksuit when he won Illawarra Life Saving of the Year – Jeff Lucke.
Jeff has been an awesome contributor to surf life saving over many years, he has quietly gone about bettering surf life saving for all, and despite some recent illness has got back into assisting the club with training and juniors.
Congratulations Jeff, thankyou for your service.
