Ron Rankin joined the Club in 1965 and gained his Bronze Medallion in 1966. He was Club Secretary from 1970 to 1974 and from 1976 to 1978. He was Club President from 1981 to 1984 and became Chief Superintendent of Queensland from 1984 to 1989. He was then elected President of Surf Life Saving Queensland in 1989, a position he held until 2002 becoming the longest serving President of Queensland. He was elected President of Surf Life Saving Australia in 2001, a position he held until 2010. Ron has held numerous positions at Club, Branch, State and National level and was an inaugural crewman and involved with the establishment of the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service from 1976.

 

He was Director and Vice President of the International Life Saving Federation from 2001 to 2010. He was awarded three ILS Citations of Merit and made a Life Governor of Irish Water Safety as well as being honoured by the DLRG in Germany.

 

He was named the Club Life Saver of the Year on four occasions and, twice State Lifesaver of the Year and twice National Life Saver of the Year, being the first national recipient of this award in 1982. He is a Life Member of the Sunshine Coast Branch, Surf Life Saving Queensland, Surf Life Saving Australia and was inducted into the SLSA Hall of Fame in 2007. Ron was awarded Club Life Membership in 1981 and made Life Governor in 1984.