Chief lifeguard Warren Young among Gold Coast Australia Day Honours winners

Chief lifeguard Warren Young was among multiple winners at Gold Coast Australia Day awards for his five decades of work. SEE THE FULL LIST

Chief Life Guard Warren Young. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

WARREN Young has lived and breathed the Gold Coast’s golden sands daily for nearly 50 years.

His legendary dedication to the Coast and its beaches from a volunteer clubbie to the city’s Chief Lifeguard was recognised on Thursday night when he was named Citizen of the Year.

Mr Young said he was blown away by the award.

Winner of the 2021 Citizen of the Year award, Chief Life Guard Warren Young. Photo: Scott Powick,

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“It was very unexpected. The boss at work asked me to come along to an Australia Day ceremony the council was hosting but I had no idea I was in line for this award,” he said.

“To be honest with you mate, I will look to phase out and move into semi retirement at some stage in the near future.

“Having spent 47 years in the job I’m just so thankful to all the wonderful people I’ve met and worked alongside.

Princess Anne at Kurrawa Beach with Gold Coast Chief Lifeguard Warren Young in 2000. Picture: Paul Riley.

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“We all want the same thing and this is a city worth being passionate about. I’ve been lucky to travel overseas to places like the Maldives and Indonesia but there’s no place like this city.”

Mr Young grew up in Brisbane but his love of surfing drew him to the Gold Coast in the 1960s.

He joined Miami Surf Life Saving Club as a teenager in 1968 and became club captain in 1971.

Chief Lifeguard Warren Young at Burleigh Heads Beach in 1996. Picture: Paul Riley.

In 1973 he signed up with the Gold Coast City Council to become a beach inspector at Burleigh after being offered a job by surf legend Marshall Kropp and proved to be highly capable at the job, being promoted to chief lifeguard just 15 months later.

At 71 years old, he has seen plenty of highs and lows in his time watching over beachgoers, including a spate of drownings at Surfers Paradise in the 1980s which earned the area the unwanted title of “death alley”.

Among his highlights was carrying the Queen’s Baton in the lead-up to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and showing around some of our most famous visitors, including Princess Anne.

Chief Life Guard Warren Young receives his Citizen of the Year award from Mayor Tom Tate. Photo: Scott Powick.

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Cr Tate said the award was a tribute to Mr Young’s long career.

“(Warren) is a deadset Gold Coast legend. There are few Gold Coasters more loved or recognised than Warren. His contribution to our city is significant,” he said.

The annual Australia Day Awards are given by the council to recognise excellence across the community.

Among those recognised were Mudgeeraba 16-year-old teenager Elijah Palmer for his commitment to wheelchair racing, North Gold Coast RSL Sub-Branch secretary Melanie Annand, administrative and life support for fellow veterans.

Warren Young reacts in shock after the award is announced. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast Titans Community and Game Development general manager Renee Cohen received an award for her commitment to celebrating diversity within the sporting community.

Friends of the Gold Coast Botanic Gardens was honoured for its work while Ken Dinh won the cultural achievement award for his work supporting international students in the past year.

Cr Tate praised the work of the winners.

Warren Young at a lifeguard tower in 1993. Picture: Michael Ross

“Each of these citizens has helped make the Gold Coast an even greater place to live,” he said.

“This is our way of thanking these local legends for their ongoing commitment to the Coast – your hard work and dedication to our city does not go unnoticed.”

Winners of the 2021 Gold Coast Australia Day Awards, (Back Row L-R) Alex Jakimoff and Rana Bagulry from Friend of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, Ken Dinh Cultural Achievement Award, (Front Row L-R) Renee Cohen Sports Award, Melanie Annand Community Service Award, Mayor Tom Tate, Warren Young Citizen of the Year, and Elijah Palmer Young Citizen of the Year Award. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast Australia Day Honours winners

* Citizen of the Year: Warren Young

* Young Citizen of the Year: Elijah Palmer

* Community Service award: Melanie Annand

* Sports Achievement award: Renee Cohen

* Environmental Achievement award: Friends of the Gold Coast Botanic Gardens

* Cultural Achievement award: Ken Dinh