Lifeguard’s ‘bittersweet’ day as he calls time on 44-year career

A Queensland lifeguard has hung up his rescue tube after more than three decades standing sentinel over the state’s busiest beach.

Senior City of Gold Coast lifeguard Rob Dorrough setting up the red and yellow flags at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Jerad Williams

The longest-serving lifeguard in Surfers Paradise has hung up his rescue tube after more than three decades standing sentinel over Queensland’s busiest beach.

Rob Dorrough retired on Friday after a stellar lifeguarding career that began 44 years ago.

The 63-year-old fought back tears as he farewelled the famous beach where he performed countless dramatic rescues and rubbed shoulders with everyone from visiting celebrities to the homeless.

“It’s a bittersweet day,” he said.

“I’ve got so many great memories of the wonderful people I’ve worked with and met here but at Surfers but the time’s come to call it a day, surf more, play more golf and ride my bike.”

A plumber by trade, Mr Dorrough began casual lifeguarding at Greenmount in 1980 under legendary lifeguard John Cunningham.

He became a permanent lifeguard in the mid 1980s at Northcliffe before serving at Burleigh Heads and then moving to Surfers in 1993 where he was stationed ever since.

Surfers Paradise is renowned as Queensland’s busiest beach - and one of its most treacherous - with thousands of tourists and locals packing its golden sands on any given day.

Rob Dorrough has called on his time as a lifeguard after 44 years. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr Dorrough recalled he and a colleague once performing 56 rescues on a single day as swimmers kept getting swept out in a rip.

“It was a beautiful day and the surf was as flat as a pancake but people just kept on getting into trouble off this little sandbank. It was like a conveyor belt.

“Surfers Paradise beach can be very hectic, especially with all the overseas tourists.

“You never know who you’re going to get on the beach or what’s going to happen.”

Mr Dorrough remembers the late great cricketer Shane Warne was a regular visitor to Surfers during annual family holidays. The owner of 1992 Melbourne Cup winner Subzero, Graham Salisbury, once brought the cup to the beach which Mr Dorrough guarded.

He also fondly recalls many chats with former Surfers Paradise icon Al ‘The Suntan Man” Baldwin, who used to spray tourists with suntan oil and hire out beach umbrellas and chairs.

“The PR side of things working on a tourist beach like Surfers is massive,” Mr Dorrough said.

He said the advent of jet skis and lifeguard towers were among the most significant advances in lifeguarding he had been part of but he and his colleagues still used their trusty rescue tubes and paddleboards for the bulk of rescues.

Chief lifeguard Chris Maynard said Mr Dorrough had left a major legacy.

“Rob’s not only saved thousands of lives but has left a lasting impact on all the people who have visited one of the world’s most iconic beaches over the decades, and on all the young lifeguards he’s mentored,” he said.

“He’s got such a positive outlook on life, a love of life and treats everyone with respect and a friendly smile. The lifeguard service and the community are really going to miss him.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate congratulated Mr Dorrough on his “great service”.

“Our lifeguards not only keep us safe and save lives, they are the face of the city and our best ambassadors.”