As the 2025/2026 patrol season officially ended on Monday's Labour Day public holiday, QAHS is shining a light on a remarkable group of students and alumni contributing to beaches and communities across the Gold Coast.
This special two-part feature has been created to showcase the amazing humans behind the red and yellow. Beyond the patrol uniforms and rescue boards are young people balancing Year 12, university and work commitments while continuing to give back through one of Australia's most respected volunteer movements.
Across the coastline, QAHS students can be found leading patrols, supporting Nippers, competing at elite carnivals, mentoring younger members and stepping forward during emergencies, often before most people have even arrived at the beach. For some, that means driving the SSV along the shoreline before the flags go up in the morning, scanning conditions and communicating directly with SurfComm over the radio as beaches begin to come alive for the day.
Part 1 highlights four members of the QAHS Surf Lifesaving community whose stories reflect the diversity of pathways and experiences within Surf Lifesaving. Part 2, to be released during National Volunteer Week at the end of Week 5, will continue the series with further student stories from across the cohort.
For Taiga Daly from Southport Surf Lifesaving Club, Surf Lifesaving has grown from a childhood activity into a major part of life. Taiga first joined in Under 9s at North Burleigh before relocating to Southport the following season, where he has remained ever since because of what he described as the “family-like community" within the club.
Over the years, Taiga has become heavily involved across both patrol and leadership pathways. He has been a patrolling member since Under 14s, a surf sports athlete since Under 12s, attended multiple Gold Coast and State leadership programs was and recently selected to be a member of the Surf Lifesaving Queensland Youth Reference Group, helping develop youth opportunities for the next generation of lifesavers across the state.
Outside leadership, Taiga has also competed at the 2024 World Surf Lifesaving Championships and medalled at the National Ocean Kayaking Championships.
Reflecting on his involvement, Taiga described the Youth Reference Group as one of his most memorable experiences, explaining that it opened his eyes to the vast opportunities available within surf lifesaving beyond the beach itself. 
He also credited Surf Lifesaving with developing lifelong skills in leadership, critical thinking and adaptability, while highlighting the friendships and opportunities that naturally come through years spent training, volunteering and patrolling together.
At Palm Beach Surf Lifesaving Club, Miro Maitre has become involved in beach patrols and Nippers water safety after first joining through the SRC pathway following his Nippers years.
While Surf Lifesaving carries significant responsibillity, Miro admitted some of the funniest moments are often the unexpected ones, particularly tourists regularly approaching lifesavers for selfies while they are on patrol.
Behind the humour sits years of ocean training, volunteer service and patrol experience. Miro reflected that Surf Lifesaving has taught him the importance of beach safety, particularly living in a country so closely connected to the ocean.
For Alice Yao from Southport Surf Lifesaving Club, the movement has been part of life since joining Nippers in Under 8s.
Over time, Alice has progressed through Nippers, water safety, first aid operations and patrol duties, while more recently helping mentor and train younger SRC members within her patrol team.
One of Alice's most memorable experiences came during her SRC training week in Under 14s. After years of Sunday morning training sessions together as Nippers, Alice reflected on the experience of completing the final training week alongside close friends as “a truly rewarding and heartwarming end" to that chapter of their journey.
Alice also spoke honestly about the resilience Surf Lifesaving demands.
“Nothing can truly prepare you for a real rescue situation," she reflected, explaining that while members train extensively, real emergencies require young lifesavers to remain calm and composed under pressure.
She described surf lifesaving as both rewarding and gruelling at times, though ultimately transformative in building greater resilience and confidence. Alice also noted that the mindset developed through Surf Lifesaving has helped her navigate the pressure of Year 12 and the IBDP.
Importantly, the Surf Lifesaving journey at QAHS does not necessarily end at graduation.
QAHS alumna, Hannah Provenzano, from Mermaid Beach AEME Surf Lifesaving Club first became involved during the 2022/2023 season after joining through the CAS program in Year 11.
Since graduating in the Class of 2023, Hannah has continued her involvement through patrols, QA training sessions and Bush to Beach water safety programs, while also expanding her qualifications through First Aid, Advanced Resuscitation Techniques and IRB Crew training.
Rather than focusing solely on achievements, Hannah's reflections centred on the friendships, humour and culture that develop through Surf Lifesaving.
Among her favourite memories were Sunday morning club swims, patrol mornings where members looked after one another and the countless small moments that become part of surf club life over time.
One story that still makes her laugh involved demonstrating a two-person board rescue before immediately falling off because she forgot to hold the handles.
Hannah also reflected on the personal growth Surf Lifesaving has provided, explaining that it taught her how to remain calm while facing fears, step outside her comfort zone and develop both technical and interpersonal skills. “People should join SLS because it creates a sense of purpose and unity, fostering connections, while letting everyone have fun outside."
Across all four stories, one theme consistently emerged, Surf Lifesaving is not only about rescues and qualifications. It is also about resilience, friendships and shared experiences with people from all walks of life.
On patrol, QAHS students work alongside tradies, paramedics, retirees, business owners, university students, parents and long-term volunteers who have dedicated decades to protecting their local beaches. Through those experiences, students quickly learn that Surf Lifesaving is built on teamwork, trust and community.
There are serious moments, of course, difficult conditions, long patrols and situations requiring calm decision making under pressure. But there is also friendly banter in the patrol trailer, early morning club Sunday club swims, free food during patrol, stories exchanged between generations of volunteers and chats with the public about the surf conditions.
For many students, those experiences become just as meaningful as the qualifications themselves.
Since the QAHS Surf Lifesavers CAS program began in 2021, more than 100 students and staff have gained nationally recognised qualifications through surf clubs across the Gold Coast. Yet beyond the statistics, this feature exists for a much simpler reason. To recognise an exceptional group of young people doing something pretty special for their community. Sometimes that looks like racing in surf sports competitions. Sometimes it means mentoring a nervous Nipper or fellow QA member through their first ocean swim. Sometimes it is simply standing on patrol during a morning shift on a long weekend, to help keep patrons on the beach safe.
Part 2 of this feature series, to be released during National Volunteer Week, will spotlight further stories from Mia Watson from Surfers Paradise Surf Lifesaving Club, alongside Aaron Gilmour, Liesl-Mae Avin and Mattias Steljic from Mermaid Beach AEME Surf Lifesaving Club, continuing to celebrate the contribution of QAHS students across beaches and surf clubs throughout the Gold Coast.
Dion Obst
HOD Global Connect