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.

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.

Allan Cook was a professional lifeguard for 34 years and a volunteer life saver for longer. Picture: Kelly Rohan

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.

The tower at Toowoon Bay is expected to be named after local lifeguard legend Allan Cook. Picture: Google

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”.

Mr Cook (left) pictured in 2005 held many swimming and surf life saving records. Picture: Bill Rosier