After 42 years of dedicated service to the Gold Coast, Chief Lifeguard Chris Maynard has retired, with his final day spent on patrol at Surfers Paradise Beach.
As the City's Chief Lifeguard for four and a half years, Chris has showed his unwavering commitment to beach safety and his instrumental role in overseeing a team of hundreds of lifeguards.
Mayor Tom Tate said, "As Chris steps down from his role, his legacy and contributions to our City's lifeguard service will continue to be felt for years to come.
"His dedication, innovation, and leadership have set a high bar for future lifeguards and have ensured that the Gold Coast beaches remain safe and welcoming for everyone.
"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Chris for his 42 years of exceptional service and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement."
Chris has been a key driver in ensuring the safety of beachgoers, managing up to 280 lifeguards across 42 patrolled beaches at any given time.
His leadership has been key in implementing numerous safety measures and advancements that have solidified the reputation of the Gold Coast lifeguard service as one of the best in the world.
Reflecting on his career, Chris humbly acknowledges his achievements and talks about his fondness for his colleagues.
"I can retire satisfied that I've given my best for the City and more importantly made a difference with my commitment and passion needed to uphold the profile of our lifeguard service," Chris said.
"During my time with the City I have worked alongside like-minded staff who are passionate and proud to work as professional lifeguards here on the Gold Coast."
Chris said one of the highlights of his career was knowing that he had a major part in developing the careers of so many lifeguards he worked with.
"I'm extremely proud of the work our lifeguards do and their dedication in maintaining the high standards needed to provide a safe environment for everyone visiting our beaches.
"Not only have they become great lifeguards, they have developed into being good people and fantastic ambassadors for our service and the City.
"Our lifeguard team is like a family to me and I'm happy knowing that this won't change in retirement."
In his career as Chief Lifeguard, Chris has been responsible for the introduction of a digital surveillance and beach monitoring system, which provides real-time information about beach conditions.
This innovation has greatly enhanced the ability of lifeguards to respond swiftly and efficiently to any incidents.
Under Chris's guidance, the number of permanent lifeguards has risen, including the addition of 27 permanent part-time positions.
This expansion was a direct response to the rapid growth of visitors to Gold Coast beaches, ensuring the lifeguard service could maintain its high standards of safety.
Chris also played a major role in expanding the surveillance tower network, adding two new locations which further strengthened the ability to keep the beaches safe.
Long-term City lifeguard, William Ashley will take over the role of Chief Lifeguard for the Gold Coast.
