Toowoon Bay: Tower set to be named after legendary lifeguard Allan Cook
A push to have the patrol tower at Toowoon Bay named after legendary local lifeguard Allan Cook has received unanimous support.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
For more than 40 years — 34 of which as Wyong Council Lifeguard Superintendent — Allan Cook stood sentinel over local beaches keeping people safe.
With an almost unsurpassable record of more than 1000 rescues and never having lost a life on a beach under his watch, Mr Cook was also a fierce advocate for the establishment of patrol towers, professional female lifeguards and the Disabled Surfers Association.
Through his tireless efforts as Superintendent, Mr Cook saw Toowoon Bay become one of the first local beaches to have a patrol tower built and for then Wyong Shire Council to become the first council in Australia to employ a professional female lifeguard.
It is only fitting then that a report to Central Coast Council’s meeting on Tuesday recommends the Toowoon Bay tower be named in memory of the legendary local lifeguard.
The push to have the tower named in his memory began soon after Mr Cook’s sudden and unexpected death in July 2019, aged just 67.
However with the dismissal of the elected council in 2020 and the global outbreak of the Covid pandemic no such action was taken.
It has since received the support of Toowoon Bay Surf Life Saving Club and local state and federal Labor MPs David Mehan, David Harris and Emma McBride.
“Whilst it will be impossible to adequately express the gratitude, respect and high regard Allan was held in, the simple naming of the lifeguard tower where Allan spent so much time serving the community would be of great comfort to his family,” The Entrance State Labor MP Mr Mehan said in his letter of support.
Mr Cook’s wife Shayne and adult children Daniel and Hayley have also expressed their consent to the naming proposal, describing how they were “humbled as a family by the community’s outpouring of thanks to Allan”.
More Coverage
Join the conversation
Street racers likely to avoid jail over horror smash
Two young street racing hoons, who sparked a crash that left an elderly man fighting for life just before Christmas, are unlikely to ever see the inside of a prison cell, a court has heard.
Read more
Drug dealers ‘pistol-whipped’ lackey but deny shooting him
Two drug dealers who “f’n smashed” and pistol whipped a lackey when he failed to sell enough cocaine have denied later breaking into a house and shooting at him, a court has heard.
Read more