Forget Bondi Rescue, Bilgola has its own lifesaving superstar climbing the ranks
Bilgola’s Tilly Hobbis has something extra to look forward to in the school holidays this April – she’s headed to the State Program for Junior Lifesaver of the Year in Collaroy, having been announced as the female recipient of the Sydney Northern Beaches award.
“I was definitely very surprised when I was named Junior Surf Lifesaver of the Year. It’s such an amazing experience and I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” Tilly explained. “I think it was a very hard decision for the judges, everyone was a great candidate.”
Mum Asha, who is a fellow surf lifesaver at Bilgola Surf Club, said that the whole family is incredibly proud of Tilly and the dedication she shows both personally and within the community.
“We’ve lived on the Northern Beaches for the last 10 years, we love our beach lifestyle,” Asha explained. “We love that she wants to be part of keeping our beaches safe. Being able to read the ocean the way she does, make good choices and help people who might not have the same knowledge – that’s a skill she will carry for life.”
Tilly, who completed her Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC) at 13, started in the Under 6s before taking a break and returning at age 11 in the Under 12s. From there she progressed into her SRC training.
She’s not content stopping with her position as Junior Lifesaver of the Year, and is planning to practice for her bronze medallion and get onto crew, with the ultimate goal being to become an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) driver.
Tilly says she is inspired by fellow Bilgola SLSC member, Brianna Dahdah. “She’s just very easy to be around, easy to talk to and always there to help. She’s an inspiration to me because of her humble, kind nature,” Tilly says. Brianna started in SRC and worked her way up to IRB crew – Tilly wrote about Brianna in her submission for the Junior Surf Lifesaver Award.
For Tilly, surf lifesaving isn’t just about learning to keep people safe – it’s a way for her to engage in her community and learn to be a leader. She says she also enjoys patrolling alongside her mum and helping others.
Tilly says meeting the other junior lifesavers at the State Program and working on her leadership skills are the parts she’s looking forward to at the program, which runs from 8 to 10 April.
“Everyone comes from different areas and has different skills. Although the Northern Beaches is a great place, it doesn’t give us any advantage. It’s going to be a fun experience getting to meet all the amazing people and hear where they’re from.”