Vale David Blackley
The surf lifesaving community lost a link to the past with the death last Friday of David Taylor Blackley (07/08/1933 – 27/06/2025).
David was a highly respected Life Member of the Fremantle SLSC (1963), SLSWA (1975) and SLSA (1979). At the time of his death, he had the honour of being the longest serving Life Member at both Club and State level. He was the first and so far only National Life Member nominated from Fremantle. David is perhaps best known for coaching the Club’s Rescue and Resuscitation (R&R) teams.
David joined the Leighton Club in 1949 as a 16 year old and gained his Bronze Medallion No 27542 on 20/11/1949.
In 2023, the Fremantle Club honoured David and his wife Sylvia with a morning team to mark David’s 60 years of Club Life Membership. Sylvia herself is a Life Member of the Fremantle Ladies Auxiliary as well as the Fremantle Swan Dragon Boat Club. National President John Baker ESM and then-State President Craig Smith-Gander both sent messages of congratulations on a remarkable achievement and thanking David for his dedication to surf lifesaving over the years.
David is survived by his wife Sylvia and their children Graeme and Charmaine.
A memorial service will be held at the Swan Yacht Club on Thursday 24th July at 2.30pm.
READ MORE…
https://fremantlesurfclub.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Vale-David-Blackley.pdf
