Leading with the tide of change, Stockton Surf Life Saving Club’s first female president, Jo-Anne Dryden, is making waves with her commitment to inclusivity and passion.
“As the first female President in Stockton Surf Club’s proud history since 1908, I’m honoured to lead with integrity, inclusiveness, and passion. Our strategy is to build on the strong foundations laid before us, while driving continuous improvement. At our core are people – our members, volunteers, and community – and we will ensure everyone feels welcomed, valued, and supported. We will strengthen our culture, embrace diversity, invest in development, and adapt to grow. Above all, we’ll continue looking out for each other, both on and off the sand, staying true to the values that make our surf lifesaving club so special.”
Jo-Anne Dryden
Stockton Surf Life Saving Club is committed to being a valued part of the Community, to serve the surfing public of Stockton Beach and its surrounding areas by protecting life, preserving safety and preventing incidents by proactive and contemporary lifesaving practices through vigilance, service and continuous training.
Situated on the northern side of the Hunter River on Worimi Country, Stockton Surf Life Saving Club (SSLSC) has been a cornerstone of beach safety and community spirit for over a century.
Established in 1908, Stockton Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) stands as one of Australia’s oldest surf lifesaving clubs, deeply rooted in the rich maritime history of Stockton Beach. The club’s origins trace back to the perilous conditions at the entrance to Newcastle Harbour, where numerous shipwrecks occurred, particularly around the Oyster Bank area. In response to these dangers, volunteer lifeboat crews and later, a Rocket Brigade, were formed to conduct daring rescues of mariners in distress .
The formal inception of Stockton SLSC occurred on January 15, 1908, following a public meeting chaired by Stockton Mayor Alderman J.P. Rees. This meeting attracted members of the Stockton Rocket Brigade, many of whom became the club’s inaugural members and office bearers. In its early years, the club’s members performed numerous rescues, earning Meritorious Awards from the Royal Humane & Shipwreck Relief Society and the Royal Life Saving Society.
Over the decades, Stockton SLSC has evolved, embracing advancements in lifesaving techniques and technology. Today, the club continues to serve the community, providing vital beach safety services and fostering a strong sense of camaraderie among its members.
The committee are bound by the club’s constitution, and surf lifesaving club regulations and are committed to protecting our members of all ages.
We have a long and rich history in Newcastle and the within the local Stockton community.
Stockton Surf Life Saving Club is honoured to have presented a long list of Life Members who have contributed valuable time and resources to the club. We would like to thank the following Life Members for their hard work and dedication.
1924: M Callan*, J.J Fairless*, J.W Hocquard*, J.W Oldham*
1925: G Childs*
1932: A Purdon*
1933: J Bourke*
1934: V.J Hodges*SP
1940: W.H Webster*
1944: R.V Brady*
1945: R.A Ancliffe*
1948: R.L Williams*, T.H McIntyre*, W.E Davies*
1949: J Jones*, H Deveraux*, A.C linich*
1956: W.E Arthur*
1957: C Whyte*
1958: H.B Rowlatt*, K Burke*
1964: D.T Bland, B Jones*
1968: R Thomas*
1969: R.B Dingle*
1948: R.L Williams*, T.H McIntyre*, W.E Davies*
1949: J Jones*, H Deveraux*, A.C linich*
1956: W.E Arthur*
1957: C Whyte*
1958: H.B Rowlatt*, K Burke*
1964: D.T Bland, B Jones*
1968: R Thomas*
1969: R.B Dingle*
1974: R.T Evans
1977: J.R Brady*, J.M Bevan*
1985: K Anderson*, J Newton, I Cartwright
1987: P Moffet*, J.S Anderson
1989: R.A Boyd*
1992: N.A Burns, B.T Evans
2002: R Littlewood
2004: R.McMahon (Mrs)
2005: T Upton
2007: R Bevan, W Mason, J.H Rowlatt
2010: L Bevan (Mrs), K Grainger, W McMahon
2015: K Jackson
2016: J Upton
1977: D.T Bland
1979: K DeFiddes*
1982: G Conway*, L Newton
1990: R Slade*
* denotes deceased
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