Six decades on patrol: Phillip Lane’s service to Surf Life Saving and his community

FEW volunteers can claim six decades of frontline service, but Macksville–Scotts Head Surf Life Saving Club member Phillip Lane is doing exactly that, marking 60 years of active patrol duty as this season comes to an end. 

Phillip joined the club in 1966 as a 15-year-old and has remained on patrol ever since, a commitment spanning generations of beachgoers and lifesavers.

Now a Life Member, he continues to serve on the front line, rostered for 13 patrols over the 25/26 season alone.

Over the years Phillip has held numerous roles within the club, including Club Secretary, Patrol Captain and IRB Captain.

This season he has once again taken on the IRB Captain role, maintaining the inflatable rescue boats, affectionately known as “rubber duckies”, to ensure they are ready to launch at a moment’s notice.

Macksville–Scotts Head SLSC President Eric Graham told News Of The Area, “Even during periods when he did not officially hold the position, Phillip was central in ensuring the equipment remained operational.”

His involvement with IRBs dates back to the early days of the craft.

In the 1970s, Phillip and two other local members travelled to Sydney to become among the first people trained to drive the new inflatable rescue boats.

Since then, he has trained many club members in their operation, passing on vital skills that continue to save lives.

Phillip’s service has extended far beyond routine patrols.

He has been involved in numerous major rescues, including the recovery operation following the aircraft crash at Scotts Head in early 2025, where he and the Club Captain located one of the pilots.

In 1999, when the asylum seeker vessel Zhou Gan Tou ran aground at Scotts Head, Phillip again played a key role in emergency response efforts.

At that time he was also serving with the Macksville Fire Brigade, effectively wearing two hats during the incident.

Phillip served with the brigade for more than 28 years, including many years as Deputy Captain, before retiring several years ago.

Like his surf lifesaving work, this role was entirely voluntary and required him to be on call around the clock.

“We are fortunate to have a SLSC with members like Phillip and others whose contribution is difficult to overstate,” Eric added.

“Without dedicated volunteers like him maintaining safe beaches for the community would be a far greater challenge.”

Despite receiving numerous awards over the years, Phillip remains a humble and reliable presence on the beach, continuing to turn up patrol after patrol.

By Mick BIRTLES