Freshwater SLSC's John Mills receives life membership

"Millsy" as he is known along the hallowed sands of some of Australia's famous beaches, has been awarded SLSA Life Membership after dedicating his life to the iconic movement with over 75 years of voluntary service.

An honour truly befitting as he approaches his 94th birthday in December, he has become SLSA's 308th Life Member after having only just retired from his remarkable day-to-day coaching career in Coffs Harbour.

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Not only is he the latest Life Member in 2021 he is also the oldest lifesaver to ever receive the SLSA's highest distinction having received his bronze medallion in Coffs Harbour in 1945-46 - joining Freshwater in 1951 and having a continuous record of service ever since.

The former champion surf, belt and R and R man also remains the oldest surviving member of the Australian Lifesaving Teams - the sole survivor of the National Team that toured New Zealand in 1950.

The self taught distinguished North Coast swimming and surf champion trained in the tidal currents of Coffs Creek - becoming unbeatable in any conditions - eventually lured to Sydney - and scooped up by Freshwater.

The boy from Coffs Creek often matched the city swimmers in flat water and raging surf before heading to Sydney in 1951 where he spent 30 non-stop years competing and coaching with the Freshwater club - dominating Manly-Warringah, Sydney, NSW and Australian championships.

Freshwater's wall of fame is adorned with his competitive feats. Mills and his NSW and Australian team mates like Ray Matheson, Barry Lumsdaine, Jock McPhee, 1948 London Olympian Bruce Bourke and legendary broadcaster Norman "Nugget" May adorn those walls, celebrating the club's golden era of the 1950s and 60s.

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The famed four-time Australian R and R champions (1952-53, 1953-54,1958-59, 1959-60) coached by "the little general" Lionel McDonald were among the most feared teams in a decade of dominance.

In individual races, Mills would mix it with the best of the best, often lining up against Olympians and Commonwealth Games swimmers in the surf and the pool, including the likes of Bob Barry, Don Morrison, Stevie Wilkes, Max Riddington and the great Bobby Newbiggen.

Finishing second and third and fourth on numerous occasions in the Australian Open belt and surf race championships and winning NSW titled as the Freshie boys continued to dominate the rigours of R and R.

All the while preparing the next generation of young swimmers and lifesavers - a rare teaching talent which he continued to pursue for over 75 years of dedicated vigilance and service.

For the last 40 years back home in Coffs Harbour, his coaching has centred around board and ski paddling and ironman competition from Nippers to Elite Open competitors and Masters - creating new State and Australian champions.

Driven by Freshwater's retiring Executive Officer and a one-time Mills pupil in Wayne Freakley, with strong support from Coffs Harbour SLSC, Mills application covered eight remarkable decades of continuous and distinguished service.

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It is estimated that Millsy has coached over 3,500 young Australians to swim, surf and to win countless Branch, NSW, Queensland and Australian championships.

He is a coach with an innate ability to create champions out of average lifesavers - and making a difference in their lives.

He became recognised as not only a champion swimmer and lifesaver but a master coach, a life coach, a mentor to so many. He is the ultimate volunteer who has taught the rigours of the surf to thousands of young Australians.

His hours of volunteering on Freshwater Beach alone would add up to extraordinary numbers - a dedicated lifesaver and a coach to behold.

The Freshwater junior R and R teams between 1966 and 1972 were only beaten a handful of times, winning countless Branch and Metropolitan crowns, two silvers and a bronze at NSW Championships and fourth at the Australian.

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John's influence also shone through again at Freshwater towards the late 1970s through to the 1980s - helping steer the maroon and whites to another golden era with multiple NSW State and Australian individual and surf teams titles. It was a rare dominance, with the finish of NSW State cadet surf race final at Bondi in 1978 a classic example, where the first five competitors to cross the line were all wearing Freshwater caps.

The unique nature of these victories and this golden era is that it was led by a group of competitors who had zero experience in the surf prior to joining the club.

One of those swimmers, Jon Harker, and fellow Australian champions Darren Bogg, Tim Ford, Brad Hill and Michael Venis, were all from Sydney's west.

"None of us knew how to read the surf nor catch a wave but at Freshwater we found great coaches in George "Barney" Mullins and John Mills OAM," recalled Harker.

"Mr Mills was a giant of a man whose own exploits in R&R and surf swimming had already made him a legend at the club.

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"He would head down to the beach, often in terrible back pain and guide, not just future champions, but anyone who was willing to have a crack."

Future Australian champion and Australian representative, Michael Venis said: "Mr Mills was a significant figure in my family's personal and sporting development and achievements.

"He coached my sister Jo-Anne and I when we joined Freshwater SLSC and Mr Mills helped coach and nurture our transition to the surf, and progress our journey to Branch, State and Australian surf lifesaving teams."

The great champion and Australian representative Darren Bogg, another with multiple State and National titles to his credit, still recalls the guidance that helped transform him into the best competitor of his generation.

"He taught me things about belt swimming that I would never have even thought of. He was always there to help. He coached some great R&R teams as well. His contribution to the club in that era was outstanding," he said.

Commonwealth Games swimmer Tim Ford's outstanding competitive surf career, as a multiple Australian title winner and Australian representative was followed by time spent as Freshwater club captain and president.

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He knows the value of volunteers willing to dedicate countless hours helping others be better.

"Surf Lifesaving was built by people like John Mills. There he would be, day after day, giving his heart and soul to others. It's not just about being a better competitor, it's about knowing the surf, understanding how to read it and use it. John Mills has spent a lifetime helping people be better lifesavers, and better people," Tim said.

"My memories of big Jack Mills remain as vivid and vibrant as the man himself, standing on the shoreline no matter the conditions, cajoling and inspiring kids to be better. I can still hear his voice in my mind, lifting me to be best I could be. His contribution to surf lifesaving is impossible to calculate. Like the waves themselves his influence on the movement goes on, because those he coached go on to help future generations.

"John Mills embodies the spirit of surf lifesaving and this honour is recognition of a life dedicated to surf lifesaving and the service of others."

Like John Mills (Australian representative in 1950), Tim Ford (1980), Darren Bogg (1982) and Michael Venis (1983-84-85 and 87) all went on to represent the Australian Life Saving Teams - carrying on a remarkable legacy in the green and gold - thanks in no small part to the contribution of John Mills OAM, one of the all-time greats of Australian Surf Life Saving.

His tireless efforts were rewarded with Life memberships of Surf Life Saving NSW and both Coffs Harbour and Freshwater Surf Clubs and now Surf Life Saving Australia.

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Since moving back to his beloved Coffs Harbour in 1980, he has very much been the North Coast's gain, albeit often returning to Freshwater to check up on the club's latest talent pool.

A true Aussie icon - a distinguished and humble champion volunteer - a man of extraordinary talent and dedication - a lifesaver's lifesaver. A man who has risked has life on numerous occasions and coached and instructed so many young Australians to follow in his footsteps - teaching anyone who comes knocking on his door - to become a better lifesavers, better swimmers, board paddlers, ski paddlers and Ironmen and women - but more importantly better people.

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