From Lifeguard to Leader: Simon Peppler's Story

Simon Peppler's journey in the leisure and aquatic industry began when he was just 15 years old, completing work experience at the Six Villages Sports Centre in the south of England. That experience sparked his interest in the industry and led him to complete an AVCE in Leisure and Recreation at Chichester College before studying Sport and Recreational Facility Management at the University of Plymouth.

While studying, Simon gained his Pool Lifeguard qualification and worked at Carn Brea Leisure Centre in Cornwall, a unique centre operated as a not-for-profit organisation. At the same time, he joined a Surf Life Saving Club to further develop his swimming, first aid and lifesaving skills. This eventually led to a role with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) as a beach lifeguard at Perranporth Beach, one of the busiest and most challenging beaches in the UK.

Working as both a pool and beach lifeguard taught Simon some of the most important lessons of his career. Lifeguarding is about far more than watching the water – it is about teamwork, leadership, resilience and trusting those around you when conditions become challenging. The camaraderie that develops within aquatic teams is something that has remained with him throughout his career.

After spending three summers working on UK beaches and winters in leisure centres, Simon joined an ambassador exchange program that brought him to Australia. He was fortunate to alternate between the UK and Australian summers, working across Yallingup, Rottnest Island and Perth metropolitan beaches. It was an incredible experience that allowed him to further develop his skills and knowledge in the aquatic environment.

In 2013, Simon joined Surf Life Saving WA as Lifeguard Operations Officer, supporting the expansion of lifeguard services across Western Australia. The role involved everything from recruitment, training and rostering through to budgeting and managing local government contracts. It was a challenging but highly rewarding role that reinforced the importance of building strong teams and delivering quality services to the community.

Following roles at Craigie Leisure Centre and Crown Perth, Simon and his wife made the move to the South West, where he accepted a position at the Donnybrook Recreation Centre. He has now been with the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup for nearly five years, progressing from Recreation Centre Manager to Manager Community Services.

One of Simon's proudest achievements has been helping grow the Recreation Centre's annual revenue from approximately $230,000 to more than $400,000 while expanding programs and services for the community. More importantly, it reinforced his belief that when organisations listen to their communities and provide services that genuinely meet local needs, people respond.

Today, Simon's role extends across recreation, libraries, community development and economic development, but aquatics remains at the heart of his career journey. He still genuinely enjoys coming to work each day and feels incredibly fortunate to work alongside passionate staff and a community that continues to support and shape the services they provide.