about the club
The Woodridge Surf Lifesaving Club (SLC) is a voluntary community service club established in 1973. Members provide voluntary water-safety patrols every summer at the Main Beach St Francis, making this club the oldest and only continuous community service at Woodridge. It is also, to our knowledge, the only school-run fully-functional club of its kind in the world.
Our members have successfully performed 350 rescues and are held in high regard by the bathing public and the lifesaving fraternity.
how it began
In line with the philosophy of Kurt Hahn, compulsory community service was a very important aspect of the Woodridge educational experience. Boys were expected to perform chores as they would at home. All facilities, from ablutions to common rooms, and even hostel gardens, were run and maintained by the pupils. Other voluntary services included a fire-fighting team, a mountain rescue squad, and an annual College project, such as grassing Rushmere Field (1973) or maintaining the white stone signage below Carter House.
In 1973, Headmaster Mr Keith Starck introduced the Woodridge Surf Lifesaving Club as a community service option for boarders. Mr Peter Cuff became the club’s inaugural Master in Charge, and under the leadership of Captain Rob Smith, the 1st Team went on to compete at the South African Championships in 1974.
What it takes
Becoming a qualified lifeguard requires extensive practical and theoretical training, which can be challenging for busy pupils.
Members receive comprehensive training in essential life-saving skills, including CPR, spinal injury management, surf techniques, first aid, and water-safety patrol procedures. Training for new candidates and annual retests takes place at the school and on the beach in Cape St Francis.
Beyond technical competence, the club places strong emphasis on leadership development: pupils take primary responsibility for their training, lead squads, and carry out key club duties with minimal adult intervention. This hands-on, youth-led approach builds confidence, decision-making ability, and teamwork. This prepares members to act calmly and effectively in emergencies and to take on leadership roles both in and out of the water.
Members currently perform voluntary duty patrols at Main Beach, Cape St Francis, from 09:00-17:00 every Sunday during both summer terms.
club highlights
The Woodridge Surf Lifesaving Club has competed every year at both Eastern Cape and South African Championships, making for a very proud record.
Despite being one of the smallest clubs in the country, our members perform at the highest level.
A major highlight for the club was when Nicola Harcus (Class of 2024) and Alexander Moolman (Class of 2025) were selected to Captain the South African National Team to the World Lifesaving Championships in Australia in 2024.
get involved
To become a qualified lifeguard, members must commit to the training and duty programme, be at least 14 years old, be able to swim 400m in under 8 minutes, and be able to swim 25m underwater.
Send an email to wayne.rathbone@woodridge.co.za to get involved.