CURRUMBIN VIKINGS NAME TWO NEW LIFE MEMBERS

July 16: Long standing chief instructor and treasurer Les Brodie and popular club captain Mark Goodwin have both been awarded Life Memberships of the Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC.

The pair were formally inducted into the Vikings "Life Membership Club" at Currumbin's Annual General Meeting last Sunday.

It was a double celebration for Brodie who the night before had been awarded Currumbin's Clubman of the Year at the annual presentation night.

Brodie, 67, has been a tower of strength at Currumbin over the past two decades with his tireless work on the beach, in the boardroom and in the surf boat.

His role as chief instructor has been inspirational with Currumbin leading the way in the Point Danger Branch with over 170 lifesaving awards for 2009-10 - including 80 new bronze medallions.

Brodie has patrolled Currumbin beach since 1991 and has been chief instruct tor on two occasions between 1992 and 1994 and from 2006, a position he still holds as the 2010-11 season approaches.

He has also acted as the club's treasurer since 2002-2003 and as well as acting as a first aid officer is also a current patrol captain and State, Australian and World Masters surf boat medallist.

"I just love coming down to this club and get a kick out of seeing young people achieve in an enjoyable atmosphere," said Brodie.

"It is not that hard when you really enjoy what you do and although none of us start out looking to become a Life Member it is a real honour to be elevated to such a position at such a great club."

Goodwin, the driving force behind Currumbin's enthusiastic approach to patrols and competition, has adopted a disciplined but fair approach in the club's diligent lifesaving activities.

He has led from the front, often donning the red and yellow cap for countless hours on patrol himself, setting an example to his peers and the young members.

Goodwin gained his bronze medallion in 1984 and between 1984 and 2000 chalked up over 400 hours of patrols, before acting as club vice-captain between 2004 and 2006 and his appointment as club captain in 2007 - a position her still holds today.

In 2004 Goodwin was named Currumbin's Most Improved member and in 2006-07 and 2008-09 topped the patrol hours for the club and was named Boatie of the Year in 2006-07 and Clubman of the Year in 2008-09.

"It is an absolute honour to receive Life Membership of Currumbin and like Les said you don't set out to become a Life Member you set out to do a job to the best of your ability," said Goodwin.

"I am lucky to have a great right-hand man in my vice captain Grant Harrison and a great team behind me and I look forward to many more summers guiding the patrols on Currumbin Beach."

For Goodwin, himself a former rugby league premiership winning player with the Tugun Sea Hawks, it completed a rare Life Membership double.

It follows his Life Membership of the Sea Hawks RLFC and is due recognition of one of the Gold Coast hardest working and often unheralded sport's administrators.