Lifesaver’s decades of achievement recognised with Medal of the Order of Australia

For a lifetime contribution to lifesaving, Rozlynn Grey has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in today’s Australia Day Honours List.

Grey’s early passion for swimming and lifesaving led to involvement in water safety instruction and participation in pool life saving. Initially gaining her Bronze Medallion over 55 years ago, Grey subsequently gained her teaching qualifications, becoming a Royal Life Saving Examiner.

In 1970, she obtained her qualification as a pool life saving official and has volunteered as a State, National, and International Pool Lifesaving Championships official to date, and has acted as a mentor for competitors and officials alike.

She instructed local community and swimming club members in water safety, survival, rescue, resuscitation and CPR. Initially this was at Enfield Pool and then at Engadine Pool from the mid-1980s until today.

With a love of the sport, Grey competed in Pool Life Saving competitions until the early 1990s when she represented NSW in the Masters at the Royal Life Saving Society - Australia (RLSSA) National Pool Lifesaving Championships. 

Grey has been an active volunteer at life saving competitions since 1972, and is recognised as one of Australia’s leading Royal Life Saving officials. Current NSW Chair of the Club and Competition (Sport) Committee, Grey’s reputation now extends to Commonwealth and international level with her appointment as one of the Chief Referees at the 2016 World Championships.

Reflecting on her extensive list of pool life saving volunteer duties, Grey stated “I always feel privileged to know that I have played a small part in athlete’s journeys.

“I enjoy seeing people I have mentored going onto become instructors, coaches, officials or that they are still competing at a masters level.

“However, what gives me the most satisfaction is when a person, takes the time to contact me to tell me about how their CPR, water safety or first aid training kicked into gear when faced with an emergency situation and thank me for providing them with those skills.”

As a valued member of Royal Life Saving, Roz has received a multitude of Royal Life Saving Society Honour awards over the years in recognition of her dedicated work with the organisation. 

A fuller list of leisure industry figures rewarded in the 2018 Australia Day Honours List will follow tomorrow.