Anglesea lifesaver Lachie Holbery-Morgan made history when he became the first person to win both the Australian Lifesaver of the Year and Australian Lifeguard of the Year awards.
Holbery-Morgan, who earlier this month was named Victorian Lifesaver of the Year, capped a memorable year with the announcement.
"I can't verbalise how I feel, I'm incredibly happy and suprised, it's a great honour" the 24 year old said at the presentation.
During his reign as surf lifesaver of the year, Holbery-Morgan aims to continue with his state projects and use this honour to increase possible opportunities.
"I'm going to keep doing what I do, use my year (as surf lifesaver of the year) to work on a few projects I've been doing and hopefully now will be able to look at them on a bigger scale".
Holbery-Morgan has held a range of positions at Anglesea as well as at state level as a volunteer lifesaver and professional lifeguard, including director of rescue services, patrol co-ordinator and manager, patrol captain and senior lifeguard.
Anglesea SLSC spokesman, Jim Geary, said the triumph continues the club's proud tradition of producing top-quality lifesavers.
It is the third consecutive year that an Anglesea number had won the Victorian John Wishart medal for Life Saving Victoria. Lifesaver of the Year, but the first time that a state nominee had gone on to win the national award.
In results on the water from the championships, Torquay's Emily Bews won gold in the under 17 surf ski championships, while Jan Juc finished second in both the men's and women's open boat race titles.