The late Duke Gillies will be remembered this weekend at the 75th anniversary of the Otago Surf Life Saving Association in Dunedin.
Gillies, who died in his late 90s, joined the St Clair Surf Life Saving Club in 1925, and was a stalwart of the sport for the next 70 years.
He was a foundation member of the Otago Surf Life Saving Association when it was formed in 1933 and his deeds will be remembered by Dunedin City councillor Colin Weatherall who will talk about the first decade of the association at the anniversary dinner.
A knee injury forced Gillies to give up serious competitive sport in 1932 and he spent the next 50 years establishing surf life-saving in Otago, receiving an MBE in 1974 for his efforts.
Gillies always embraced the latest and best of everything. He designed the country's first surf canoe, and taught every life-saving technique to the younger club members.
There will be 140 to 150 guests at the anniversary dinner at the Glenroy Auditorium tonight.
There was a get-together at the St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club last night.
The programme today consists of a photo session at St Clair beach from 2pm and the dinner from 6pm at the Glenroy Auditorium.
The 76th annual general meeting of the association will be held at the St Clair club tomorrow from 11am.
