The calibre and character of Brighton Surf Life Saving Club members was celebrated by those past and present during the club's 75th anniversary celebrations held in Dunedin over the weekend.
About 240 people took part in anniversary activities, which included a surf sports competition and demonstrations of surf-rescue techniques used throughout the decades.
Club patron and life member Maurice Bell convened the anniversary and said it was a wonderful weekend enjoyed by all.
People travelled to Brighton from throughout New Zealand and Australia, and from as far as Madagascar for the event.
''We had such a great turn-out, especially for a club of our size. It's been a very, very successful club over the years and has about 80 active members at present,'' Mr Bell said.
The relationships formed between the club's oldest and youngest members were particularly special, he said.
Some of the club's past members from the 1940s and 1950s attended the reunion.
''It was great for our older members to come back and see what the club has done and achieved under the same ideals and disciplines from the early days - and to see the quality of the younger members coming through,'' Mr Bell said.
''Looking back and celebrating the club's amazing achievements at a national level, right from the start, helped provide an impetus for the younger members going forward, especially as they could meet people that were part of that heritage.''
Mr Bell said the club, which was established in 1938, had a proud history.
There was a strong camaraderie among members, who were recognised as a central part of the wider Brighton community.
The club had not only served to protect beach users, but was also instrumental in community education and training, he said.
''I'm so proud of all the members who pitched in to help celebrate at the weekend. It's gone extremely well and everyone has thoroughly enjoyed the celebrations.''
Other anniversary events included a formal dinner at Glenfalloch, and participation in the annual White Island race hosted by the St Clair Surf Life Saving Club.
