Secret Harbour surf club wins top gongs

Years of dedication to keep the community safe at the beach paid off for Secret Harbour Surf Life Saving Club at the weekend when it claimed three national titles, including the DHL Club of the Year at the Surf Life Saving Australia Awards of Excellence.

The judging panel praised the club's expansion of its patrols with volunteers now monitoring 17km of beach and Penguin Island and flexibility which enabled fly-in, fly-out workers to be involved. The club's director of lifesaving Robert Bates, who was named DHL Lifesaver of the Year, was regarded as instrumental in increasing the club's patrol services and delivering public education programs to increase safety.

"It's a huge honour which hasn't quite sunk in yet," he said.

Mr Bates said he faced a panel interview which tapped into his character, enthusiasm for the job and lifesaving knowledge.

He said it was "unbelievable" for the club to take the top honour and a "combination" of its success over the past four years as WA Laerdal Patrol Club of the Year.

Club president Digby Wilson said it was a "fantastic reward and achievement for the members."

"It's all about giving our members the opportunity to develop, either on or off the beach, and creating an environment where they're valued, belong and can have fun."

Fellow club member Sharee Hart was also named the 2014 assessor of the year.