Royal Life Saving is proud to mark 130 Summers of service to the community with a special exhibition at NSW Parliament House this April. Waterway of Life – 130 Summers of Royal Life Saving celebrates our legacy, impact, and continued commitment to drowning prevention and water safety across New South Wales.

Last week, Royal Life Saving NSW proudly launched the new public exhibition to mark this extraordinary milestone — 130 Summers of Royal Life Saving.Titled Waterway of Life, the exhibition was officially opened at a special event attended by NSW Premier Chris Minns, Olympic diver and social media advocate Sam Fricker, Members of Parliament, community leaders, and representatives from across the aquatic, education, and emergency services sectors.

Located on the northern wall of the Parliament’s Fountain Court, the free exhibition showcases our organisation’s journey since its establishment in NSW in 1894. Through archival photographs, educational displays, data, and memorabilia, the exhibition highlights the people, places and pivotal moments that have shaped our mission to keep Australians safe in, on and around the water.

“For 130 summers, Royal Life Saving has worked to equip Australians with the skills to swim, rescue and respond,” said Royal Life Saving NSW CEO, Michael Ilinsky. “Whether it’s earning a Bronze Medallion, learning CPR, or being saved by one of our trained lifesavers, our work has touched generations of families across the state.”

“Our vision is for every Australian to enjoy the water safely. Sadly, drowning remains a major issue in NSW, and this exhibition is a timely reminder of the critical role water safety education plays in preventing tragedy.”

The exhibition is being hosted by Roy Butler MP, Member for Barwon, who praised the importance of the milestone:

“Swimming is part of our Australian identity, and the impact of Royal Life Saving's work cannot be overstated. This exhibition is an opportunity to recognise an organisation that remains as vital today as it was 130 years ago.”

Waterway of Life – 130 Summers of Royal Life Saving is open to the public on weekdays from 9am–5pm at NSW Parliament House, Fountain Court (6 Macquarie Street, Sydney), until 23 April 2025. Entry is free.

This exhibition is more than a look back — it’s a call to action. We invite all members of the community to visit, reflect, and celebrate our shared responsibility to keep every life safe around water.