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About Us

The Mildura Life Saving Club in a community group of like-minded people focused on water safety education specialising in inland waterways.

As we are affiliated with Life Saving Victoria our core responsibility is to patrol Apex Beach on the dates specified by Life Saving Victoria.

We typically patrol from 1pm - 5:30pm every weekend from the last weekend in November through to the March long-weekend and again for Easter.

Club History

Since the 1960’s Mildura Apex Park Beach has been the home to Australia’s only rural inland beach. Established by Michael O'Donnell, a policeman stationed in Mildura in the early 60s, a five time Victorian Belt Champion Lifesaver from Torquay. After attending several drownings at Apex Beach, Michael started the Mildura Life Saving Club. He was the first President and trainer and when he and his family left in 1970 there had been no more drownings. The Mildura Life Saving Club was Australia's first inland Life Saving Club and he was very proud of starting this Club (and rightly so) that is still going after 50 plus years.

By 2013 there were only 14 club members, eventually in 2013 these members dwindled away with the President, Greg Rhodes the only active member left. The club was in danger of folding and could no longer patrol the beach. With the support of a dedicated community along with Life Saving Victoria, the Mildura Life Saving Club has steadily grown from 1 patrolling member to more than 30 patrolling members who have competencies as Inflatable Rescue Boat drivers and crew members, ATV operators and Beach Managers.

The Mildura Life Saving Club would like to thank the following dedicated community members who saved the club in 2015: Greg Rhodes, Louise Tarrant, Alisa Totenhofer, Daryl Beasy, Dennis McLaughlan and Tracy Rudman.