The smiles worn by people who have just learnt to swim or save a life are the reason Norman Farmer has spent six decades around water.
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The 66-year-old Victorian has dedicated himself to life saving at national and international levels and promoting water safety initiatives.
"Watching the smiles on people's faces that show 'hey I can swim' or 'I can rescue someone' or 'I can show others I can help them' it's the recognition of personal achievement by others (that) is the greatest pride I can take," he told AAP.
"That's the wonderful thing."
His love for water, swimming and teaching others stems from his early memories of his parents' work at suburban Melbourne's Mentone Life Saving Club.
As a child, Mr Farmer would go to the club and watch his father, the club secretary, while his mother fundraised for the tight-knit community.
"We would learn to swim, learn our water safety, learn teamwork, really because our parents took us down there. After that it became a passion for me and I continued on with it," he said.
Mr Farmer's family shifted down the road to bayside Mordialloc, so in his teens he attended that life saving club and from there his career blossomed.
He's spent decades enjoying educating people, being part of a team while nationally and internationally helping those less fortunate.
Among his roles, Mr Farmer is vice-president at the International Life Saving Federation and The Royal Life Saving Society acting executive director.
"Drowning death is preventable. By providing the skills and knowledge and competencies, we can save lives," he said.
"We still have a long way to go, but without that training, education and guidance, the number of people that would drown would be so much more."
His years of service to the life saving community will see Mr Farmer appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia as part of Monday's Queen's Birthday Honours.
And now he will turn his attention mentoring others to eventually pass on the baton.
"The need for continual education and opportunities for people to be taught swimming and water safety is just paramount," he said.
Australian Associated Press
